VSAT stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal, which in plain language means a two-way satellite internet antenna that is less than 3 meters in diameter. Any ground-based satellite dish larger than that is considered a ground station.
VSATs come in all shapes and sizes, most are curved to concentrate the reflected radio frequency (RF) into a narrower area of focus where the antenna electronics can more easily receive it. VSATs can be installed on buildings, ships, vehicles, trains, airplanes, or mounted on the ground.
Building- or ground-mounted VSATs are typically larger than vehicle- or marine-mounted VSAT antennas. In most cases, the larger the VSAT antenna, the more data that can be received and transmitted. Larger antennas are naturally easier to place on buildings and ground mounts than on vehicles and boats.
Some VSATS are made to be highly portable, many breaking down into cases small enough that they can be checked as airline baggage; which also means they can be taken almost anywhere and in almost any type of vehicle, be it a commercial jet, jeep, small boat, trailer, helicopter, van, or any other method of transportation available to transport equipment to any remote location. location where temporary satellite communications need to be established.
These portable VSAT systems are commonly called Flyaway systems, named for their ability to “fly” on any commercial aircraft.
Marine VSAT antennas are typically housed within a radome that has been specially designed for optimal electrical performance so that they do not interfere with the strength of the RF signals received and transmitted from the VSAT antenna inside. These marine VSAT antennas are mounted on carefully balanced 2- and 3-axis stabilized pedestals that allow them to rotate extremely freely within the radome. A special satellite controller and drive motors help the marine VSAT antenna maintain a precise target on the desired geostationary satellite 23,000 miles away, regardless of how much roll, yaw and pitch the vessel experiences. At sea, a VSAT antenna is the only way to have Internet.
Vehicle-mounted VSAT antennas are designed to automatically fold down for travel, then automatically unfold and point to the satellite at the touch of a button on the indoor controller. These antennas are widely used by everyone including law enforcement, oil and gas exploration, businesses, race teams, mobile medical clinics, mobile bank branches, and RV consumers who need to maintain connectivity to Internet even while on vacation “off the grid”. .
For robust broadband that is always available, even in unattended or temporary locations, VSAT antennas are the only technology that always works everywhere with no “dead spots.”
For equipment ordering and pricing information, call 757 312 8300 to speak with a satellite expert.
