BGAN is a relatively new INMARSAT service with much higher speeds and smaller antenna needs than what has been available in the past. The service is new, but from what we hear it is working well so far.

The rub for cruising sailors is the lack of an antenna system to track the satellite, and – when these become available – the cost.

We were wondering if the FollowMeTV single axis tracker, like we use for our Direct TV reception, would work. We talked to the guys at BGAN about this and it sounded propitious, so we got Ray Barnard at FollowMeTV to chat with BGAN – tech-to-tech, so to speak.

The initial response we’ve gotten back is that the tolerance requirements for tracking the satellite are in the range of five to ten degrees of accuracy. This is looser than what the Direct TV requires. So, there’s a good chance this will work.

We’ve got lots more checking to do, but we are letting you know about this early on just in case you are about to make a satellite communications decision. Our advice is to wait and see what happens.

From one of the BGAN representatives we got the following information on costs and services:

• Voice (to every destination); $1.00 per minute
• Standard IP data: $6.50 per MB (there are many different packages available, but this gives you an idea)
• Live streaming (32, 64, 128 or 256 kb/s guaranteed bandwidth). This service is charged by the minute.
• Hardware: There are several models – pricing between $2200 to $2595
• Monthly subscription is from $45 or higher depending on the package (some packages are excluding Mbytes and some are including (20Mb, 100Mb 500Mb or 1000Mb)
• Service is available; coverage almost global (apart from Alaska and West Canada, East Japan and East Australia).

Above is the present coverage map for BGAN. Alaska and the Pacific are not covered. Apparently there is a satellite launch scheduled in the next year which will pick up this area.

This is the FollowMeTV single axis tracker. We’ve been using one of these since March 2006 aboard Wind Horse and it has given us good service at anchor and when underway (as long as the waves are moderate in size).

The concept we’re talking about is to mount the BGAN antenna on the FollowMeTV tracker, either on its own unit, or along with the satellite TV dish. The costs for data are a fraction of what Iridium or Globalstar costs, with orders of magnitude faster service. Voice, at $1.00 per minute, is a bonus where land lines don’t work.

More to follow.