In 2019, I visited KVH’s headquarters in Middletown, Rhode Island, and was amazed by the network operations center. KVH manufactures cellular, Wi-Fi and satellite-communications equipment, and it manages and monitors a proprietary end-to-end network. Standing there, looking at the screens and maps, I could see every KVH-equipped vessel in the world, plus the operational status and performance metrics for each yacht’s KVH antennas.

Now, five years on, KVH is expanding its KVH One Hybrid Network by adding Eutelsat OneWeb’s constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites, giving yacht owners even more choices for how they want their systems to perform.

Satellite-communications systems have long leveraged geosynchronous (GEO) satellites that orbit around 26,200 miles above equatorial brine. These systems work fine, but they require a significant amount of power to bridge data across all those miles. The commute physically takes time, which is why satcom providers recently have been launching small low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites that orbit at elevations of 340 to 745 miles. They reduce power requirements and latency, and provide more satellites so that if a connection is lost, the equipment just finds the next passing LEO.

OneWeb isn’t the only LEO constellation aloft, but it’s the only one, as of this writing, with a hybrid solution involving GEO and LEO satellites. It also employs third-party antennas and guarantees speed, bandwidth and white-glove service.

Eutelsat OneWeb’s journey to low-Earth orbit began in 2012, when the company was formed with the goal of providing fast, low-cost connectivity to otherwise dark areas. In 2016, the London-based company partnered with Airbus to build satellites, and OneWeb’s first tranche of six LEOs attained orbit in February 2019.

The pandemic then stymied the company’s fundraising efforts. It declared bankruptcy in March 2020, but received support from the British government and Indian telecommunications giant Bharti Enterprises. In September 2023, the Paris-based GEO satcom provider Eutelsat merged with OneWeb. Bharti Enterprises, the British government and SoftBank remained significant stakeholders.

Eutelsat OneWeb’s network became operational in 2023, and it has 634 first-generation LEOs in polar orbit. Of these, 588 are active, and the remaining satellites are spares. Each OneWeb LEO operates in one of 12 synchronized orbital planes at an elevation of 745 miles above the equator.

“We’ve got coverage 35 degrees north, including the North and South Americas, and we recently had our coverage launched in Australia,” says Celeste Endrino-Cowley, Eutelsat OneWeb’s director for maritime and energy. “By the end of Q1 2024, we will also have live countries in Asia-Pacific. The remaining regions of the world will also be connected as soon as we complete the rollout of our ground stations and market access.”

Eutelsat OneWeb will offer a range of speeds. The basic option includes downlink and uplink speeds of 20-by-4 megabits per second, while the intermediate option yields speeds of 100-by-20 Mbps. High-end service delivers connectivity of 200-by-40 Mbps. By comparison, KVH’s GEO-based plans have downlink and uplink speeds ranging from 6-by-2 Mbps to 20-by-3 Mbps.

OneWeb also has maximum information rates (read: maximum data throughput) and committed information rates (read: guaranteed speeds). These prevent a tragedy of the data commons if, say, a cruise ship arrives at your anchorage.

As for latency, Endrino-Cowley says that data takes 70 milliseconds to make the one-way commute to or from a OneWeb LEO. By comparison, data typically spends 500 to 700 milliseconds traveling to or from a GEO.

Eutelsat also owns 35 GEOs, which it has integrated with its LEO fleet. Once Eutelsat OneWeb’s ground stations are complete, this integration will mean global, multiorbit, multifrequency coverage, and will allow Eutelsat OneWeb to move data along the most efficient routes. For example, bandwidth-intensive communications can be sent via GEOs, which offer higher throughput levels, while lower-bandwidth communications can travel via LEOs. This setup also opens the door to enabling higher- and lower-speed channels, such as for owners and crew.

Rather than building its own terminals, Eutelsat OneWeb partnered with terminal manufacturers Kymeta and Intellian, which build flat-panel antennas. Eutelsat OneWeb is also looking at antenna solutions through manufacturers that will be able to communicate with both GEO and LEO services. It also partners with companies such as KVH in the United States that resell antennas and airtime, and provide white-glove customer support.

“KVH One is our umbrella name for our multiple-orbit, multiple-channel network,” says Chris Watson, KVH’s vice president of marketing and communications. “The backbone of that has always been our [GEO] network, and then we brought in 5G, and we brought in Wi-Fi, and now we brought in Starlink, and now we’re bringing in OneWeb.”

KVH’s goal, he says, is for different communication channels to create a unified and stress-free user experience. Various costs will be involved. Starlink’s high-performance flat-panel antenna, for instance, fetches roughly half the expected retail price of Intellian’s yet-to-be-released OneWeb-ready flat panel.

“We’re going to be coming to market with OneWeb terminals and airtime pricing that will be competitive in the LEO space,” Watson says. “It’s going to be: What flavor do you like best? The functionality, the capability and the speeds are going to be very comparable.”

Watson also notes that Amazon and Telesat are building LEO networks: “It’s going to become a very robust ecosystem for LEO services in the next couple of years.”

Overall, the future looks bright for low-cost, high-speed LEO communications, especially when each network can serve as a spoke in the greater KVH One communications ecosystem. Based on what I saw during my visit to Rhode Island, KVH’s network can solve connectivity problems before boaters notice them. For yachtsmen seeking smooth data communications, few gloves are whiter than invisible ones.

Have It All

LEO networks are fast, but each has pros and cons. Modest costs mean that yacht owners can spec OneWeb and Starlink panels. For KVH One customers, a network’s bundled Wi-Fi, cellular and GEO-based satcom become a unified option.

Intellian is building OneWeb-ready parabolic antennas. Some of these antennas will be able to communicate with GEO and LEO satellites, while others will require discrete hardware for hybrid-constellation connectivity.

The post KVH Expands Its Hybrid Network with OneWeb’s LEO Satellites appeared first on Yachting.

KVH is adding an airtime plan and services in response to boaters’ demand for Starlink—which is now the fastest-growing service in KVH’s company history.

The company, founded in 1982, says it has activated more than 1,000 Starlink terminals since the start of 2024 alone. The new airtime plan and services are intended to make this maritime connectivity option more flexible for leisure boats and commercial vessels alike. 

“Starlink is an exciting part of our multi-orbit, multi-channel portfolio, one that offers outstanding communications to commercial crews and leisure boaters worldwide,” Brent C. Bruun, KVH’s chief executive officer, stated in a press release. “We’re thrilled to make Starlink available with expanded data plans and valuable supporting services, such as VoIP calling, global VSAT companion service, KVH’s advanced CommBox Edge Communications Gateway, and our premier 24/7/365 live airtime and technical support.”

The new KVH monthly data plans are structured in 100 GB, 300 GB, 600 GB and 2,500 GB packages. They expand the choices that boaters and fleet operators have to match the vessel and crew needs with the boat owner’s budget.

These plans are in addition to existing Starlink Mobile Priority Plans (50 GB, 1 TB, 5 TB, 10 TB, and 15 TB) that KVH also supports. 

At the same time, KVH is also offering voice calling via Starlink with its global VoIP service, which can outfit any Starlink-equipped vessel with two voice lines plus as many as 10 virtual local numbers. This type of technology means that calls to the vessel avoid long-distance charges.

“Owners of leisure yachts and commercial operators appreciate the breadth and quality of our integrated solutions and support,” Bruun added. “The result is the fastest growth of any connectivity service in our history, with more than 1,000 new Starlink terminal activations for new and existing customers since the start of the year.”

What other products does KVH offer? The company has TracNet, TracPhone and TracVision product lines, along with the KVH One OpenNet Program for non-KVH antennas, AgilePlans Connectivity as a Service, and the KVH Link crew wellbeing content service.

Where to learn more about Starlink: The company, which is a separate entity from KVH, has multiple plans that are designated for marine use. They start at $150 a month and are intended for regional as well as ocean cruising. Billing is one month at a time, so occasional cruisers don’t have to lock in for a whole year.

The post KVH Expands Starlink Maritime Options appeared first on Yachting.

KVH and GOST are two of the best-known brand names in marine electronics and security. KVH provides connectivity solutions ranging from maritime VSAT to Starlink, while GOST products allow for wireless security, monitoring, satellite tracking and more on board.

Now, the two companies are teaming up to offer exclusive superyacht packages for security, access control and video surveillance. At the recent Palm Beach International Boat Show, KVH and GOST announced that the packages combine GOST Apparition and GOST Watch HD with the KVH CommBox Edge Communications Gateway.

“The combination of award-winning security technology with world-class network and bandwidth management offers a versatile and powerful solution for yacht owners and crews,” Jim George, vice president of global leisure sales at KVH, stated in a press release. “Our new CommBox Edge Communications Gateway delivers seamless integration and control, consolidating GOST’s proprietary security technology with all external and local communication networks on the vessel.”

Brian Kane, chief technology officer at GOST, stated in the press release that the “Superyacht Security Packages include everything needed to remotely monitor all activities on board the vessel from anywhere in the world via computer or smartphone.”

According to the companies, the benefits are that yacht owners, captains and crew can use these Superyacht Security Packages to watch live video of the yacht as it leaves the harbor, or to view activities in the salon, staterooms or engine room, all via the GOST iPhone and Android apps.

Cameras can be set to record clips on motion detection. The security system will send push notices globally via KVH communication channels. At the same time, the CommBox Edge Cloud Portal and mobile application offer real-time control and reporting on yacht data usage, network activity and status of connectivity.

Can the Superyacht Security Packages be ordered with other services? Yes. Value-added services in addition to the Superyacht Security Packages include KVH Elite unlimited streaming. It has no overage or usage limits for streaming HD-quality entertainment anywhere on board. The KVH Elite service is available as a fixed weekly or monthly subscription, with daily extensions available and reservations extending beyond seven days. This service is compatible with all KVH 60 cm and 1 m hybrid and VSAT terminals, as well as with all KVH OpenNet terminals 60 cm and larger with no modifications necessary.

What about additional products from GOST? Its systems can focus on monitoring against everything from theft, fire and smoke to high water, low voltage, loss of shore power and intrusion.

Take the next step: click over to kvh.com or gostglobal.com

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Welcome to the third-annual Best Elex Awards, which honor innovative marine electronics and technology products that have been reviewed and approved by the editorial team behind the four leading titles in marine media: Boating, Yachting, Cruising World and Salt Water Sportsman. At the first of the year, the nominees were evaluated by our team of eight judges, including the editors-in-chief and electronics editors of the aforementioned brands. In the end, seven products set themselves apart. And the winners are:

• Editors’ Choice: KVH TracNet
• Leading Edge Technology: Simrad Halo 2000/3000
• Best in Navigation: Garmin Navionics+
• Best Integrated System: Lowrance HDS Pro w/ Active Imaging/ActiveTarget 2
• Most Innovative for Fishing: Furuno TZtouch3 w/ CHIRP Side-Scan Technology
• Best in Sonar: Garmin LiveScope XR
• Best in Entertainment: Kicker KMXL

Editors’ Choice: KVH TracNet Hybrid Antennas

What the Judges Said: “The most impressive feature is the antennas’ ability to seamlessly jump between cellular, Wi-Fi and VSAT networks, all with the lowest-cost routing and user experience in mind.” —David Schmidt, electronics editor, Yachting

Two of our eight judges gave KVH’s TracNet system perfect scores. And what’s not to like? This new system for onboard connectivity just might be as seamless as the internet setup in your home. And it doesn’t require an assortment of disparate parts, complicated connections and multiple bills. TracNet combines satellite, cellular and Wi-Fi under one dome. The system features automatic switching to keep boats connected using the best communication option at all times—without the need for hands-on tuning. The H30 ($18,995), H60 ($27,995) and H90 ($44,995) antennas match boats of 30, 60 and 90 feet, respectively. Paired to a belowdecks unit using an Ethernet power-over-coaxial cable, the H90 can deliver VSAT download speeds as fast as 40 Mbps (with Elite service). Boaters can also expect support for 5G/LTE cellular service where available, as well as the ability to add user-supplied SIM cards for local service. TracNet connects to shore-based Wi-Fi using an integrated bridge for additional speed.

Leading Edge Technology: Simrad Halo 2000/3000

What the Judges Said: “Veteran anglers have long sworn by power-hungry magnetron radars, scorning the advent of pulse-compression radars, for finding flocks of seabirds. But now there’s a pulse-compression radar that may change some minds.” —Jim Hendricks, electronics editor, Salt Water Sportsman and Boating

All the judges commented on the Simrad Halo 3000 Bird+ mode, labeling it innovative and a problem solver. In that mode, the open-array radar focuses all its juice toward finding birds for fishermen. It can reach out to 8 nautical miles, while other pulse-compression units might see flyers at 3 miles. Halo 3000 is available in 4- and 6-foot arrays, and delivers 130 watts for seeing out to 96 nautical miles. Its smaller sister, Halo 2000, is available in 3-, 4- and 6-foot arrays, and offers 50 watts of power for visibility to 72 nautical miles. Both arrays are equipped with ZoneTrack, which allows captains to track up to 50 vessels. Dangerous Target Alerts highlight the range, bearing and heading of other vessels. VelocityTrack shows color-coded targets to help identify threats. Halo 2000 starts at $6,399; the 3000 starts at $8,499.

Best in Navigation: Garmin Navionics+

What the Judges Said: “The big excitement for me is that Garmin has finally combined two excellent products into a single, intuitive interface. Throw in automatic daily updates, and the end user is the real winner here.” —Andrew Parkinson, editor-in-chief, Cruising World

When Garmin purchased marine-chart powerhouse Navionics about six years ago, boaters loved the idea of the two joining forces and the prospect of new navigational tools. And while the evolution took a little time, the process has come full circle with Garmin Navionics+. The all-in-one mapping solution features advanced autorouting, depth-range shading, vibrant colors, a streamlined interface, combined coastal and inland content plus a one-year subscription to daily chart updates through the ActiveCaptain app. Boaters can upgrade to Garmin Navionics Vision+ to add high-resolution relief shading, high-res satellite imagery, aerial photos and more. The charts come preloaded on a variety of new Garmin chart plotters and can be purchased online. Starting prices range from $149.99 to $249.99.

Best Integrated System: Lowrance HDS Pro w/Active Imaging/ActiveTarget 2

What the Judges Said: “HDS Pro delivers full ­networking with bow-to-stern boat control as well as compatibility with Lowrance’s latest live sonar—ActiveTarget 2—and the second generation of Active Imaging. That’s a lot of capability in one package.” —Chris Woodward, editor, Best Marine Electronics and Technology

How many features can you fit into one new multifunction display? If you ask Lowrance, the list appears to be near endless. With its latest system, Lowrance launches the HDS Pro line of multifunction displays, as well as increases the functionality of its side- and down-scan imaging and live sonar. The 1 kW-capable HDS Pro units also deliver full control of trolling motors, autopilots, engines, radar, communications and Power-Pole shallow-water anchors. The MFDs are available with 9-, 10-, 12- or 16-inch SolarMAX IPS HD touchscreens and cost $2,199 to $4,999. The ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar module and transducer cost $1,649; the module alone costs $799, and the transducer alone costs $1,099. Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducers for Lowrance Ghost trolling motors or transoms cost $399 to $449.

Most Innovative for Fishing: Furuno TZtouch3 w/Chirp Side-Scan Technology

What the Judges Said: “Low-frequency side-scan sonar opens this more-traditional freshwater and inshore-­saltwater product category to offshore fishermen, enabling them to spot fish hundreds of feet away.” —Randy Vance, editor-at-large, Fishing and Marine Group

Side-scan sonar helps anglers see under docks and into submerged trees and weeds, right? Yes, but that’s not all it can do, and offshore fishermen have long wanted a piece of the action. With Furuno’s latest software update, TZtouch3 users can see structure and fish 750 feet or more off each side of their vessels. Cruisers too can leverage that to find a safe path through coral reefs. To reach that distance, Furuno scans the water at a lower frequency (220 to 240 kHz) than other side-scan sonar brands. While lower-frequency chirps don’t deliver the same crisp returns as higher-frequency transmissions, this new technology aids anglers hoping to find new bottom structure, and yachtsman and sailors hoping to avoid hazards. The software update is free; the transducer costs $900.

Best in Sonar: Garmin LiveScope XR

What the Judges Said: “Everyone likes a product that can address multiple tasks well, and Garmin’s LiveScope XR does just that. With a single transducer, the user has the ability to adjust the system to see forward, out to the sides or directly beneath a vessel’s hull.” —Patrick Sciacca, editor-in-chief, Yachting

Like side-scan sonar, live sonar initially catered to freshwater and inshore boaters and anglers. But with LiveScope XR, Garmin delivers real-time videolike sonar from lakes out to blue water. In fresh water, LiveScope XR can see up to 500 feet in front of or below the boat; in salt water, that range is 350 feet. The system offers image clarity at close and long ranges simultaneously. The LVS62 transducer can be pointed forward or down manually or turned sideways with the included Perspective Mode Mount. The system includes a GLS 10 black box that mounts beneath a console. With a free software update, the transducer (sold separately) can be added to an existing LiveScope black box. The full system costs $2,999.99; the LVS62 alone costs $2,499.99.

Best in Entertainment: Kicker KMXL

What the Judges Said: “Kicker is truly working hard to deliver great sound in the audio-unfriendly environment that is a boat.” —Kevin Falvey, editor-in-chief, Boating

Innovative was the adjective most commonly used by our judges to describe Kicker’s latest speakers. The company’s tangential center-cone geometry—also dubbed horn-loaded technology—makes waves among wakeboarders who use uber-powerful tower speakers to push sound to the cockpit and to the rider. But the new Kicker KMXL speakers deliver that same technology to every boater. Kicker says the new coaxials—in 6 ½- and 8-inch sizes as well as 6 by 9 inches—deliver increased performance with optimal sensitivity, power handling and sonic accuracy. The speakers cost $649.99 to $869.99 per pair.

The post Best Marine Electronics and Technology Awards 2023 appeared first on Yachting.

The saying goes that necessity is the mother of invention. Robert Balog, KVH’s chief technology officer, experienced this firsthand a few years ago while cruising with his wife aboard their Viking Sport Cruiser 43. The couple was berthed in Nantucket, Massachusetts. While there were 20-plus Wi-Fi hotspots ashore, none offered serviceable bandwidth. The boat’s KVH-built LTE-1 provided cellular connectivity until the ferry arrived with data-starved tourists (think concerts). The couple could use their KVH-built satcom system, of course, but this was a more expensive option than shore-based cellular or Wi-Fi.

That’s when necessity met innovation as Balog pondered how a single radome could deliver next-generation connectivity.

After almost four years of hardware and network development, his idea is here. While these technologies aren’t new, KVH’s TracNet H-series terminals, which operate exclusively on KVH’s ONE hybrid network, are the first to bundle cellular, satcom and Wi-Fi antennas into one system.

In 2021, KVH unveiled its V30 satcom system, which operates on KVH’s HTS network and has ground-up architecture. This architecture is centered around an Ethernet-power-over-coaxial (EPOC) cable that shuttles data between the antenna and the system’s rack-mounted belowdecks unit (BDU) at a rate of 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps). To put this cable into perspective, V30 units transmit and receive data at up to 2 and 6 Mbps, respectively. That leaves a lot of untapped bandwidth.

Fast-forward a year, and KVH recently released its H30 ($20,000), H60 ($28,000) and H90 ($45,000) systems. The “H” stands for hybrid, referring to the ability to communicate via cellular, satcom or Wi-Fi. All three radomes have single-cable installation, allowing the stabilized satcom antenna to articulate freely inside the radome via a commercial-grade rotary joint that eliminates cable-wrap worries. All three send data to their BDU via a super-fast EPOC pipeline.

The single-channel H30 uses a 37-centimeter aluminum dish that’s stabilized across two axes. It can send and receive satcom data at up to 2 and 6 Mbps, respectively. The dual-channel H60 employs a 60 cm aluminum dish that’s stabilized across three axes. It sends and receives data via its high-speed connection at up to 3 and 10 Mbps, while its unlimited-use channel (read: crew and guests) delivers data at up to 3 and 8 Mbps. The H90 uses a 1-meter carbon-fiber dish that’s stabilized across three axes; it transmits and receives satcom data on its high-speed channel at up to 3 and 20 Mbps, while its unlimited-use channel delivers speeds up to 3 and 8 Mbps.

H60 and H90 customers seeking faster download speeds can select KVH’s Elite network, which yields speeds up to 25 Mbps (H60) and 40 Mbps (H90).

Additionally, all three systems bundle high-gain 5G/LTE and Wi-Fi antennas and radios in their radomes. This “modem in the dome” architecture is critical because cellular and Wi-Fi work on a line-of-sight basis, so having the antennas mounted up high enables better performance than systems with rail-mounted or belowdecks antennas. The radome-mounted cellular-communications equipment contains a built-in SIM card, and the BDU has an additional two SIM slots, one of which can be used by customers who want to purchase third-party cellular connectivity (say, for cruising the Bahamas). And Balog says the EPOC cable doesn’t suffer typical radio-frequency signal loss between the radome and the BDU.

All H-series systems run their cellular, satcom and Wi-Fi connections as discrete virtual local area networks (VLANs). “The [BDU] box has access to all three [VLANs], and the box decides which to use,” Balog says, adding that the BDUs employ a form of artificial intelligence to ensure lowest-cost data routing. “There’s a rules-based AI that’s looking at things like trends,” he says. The system attempts Wi-Fi connectivity first, then cellular, then satcom. “It ranks connectivity and calculates a score for each connection,” he says. “If it sees [this score] sliding, it will change connections.”

Each BDU includes a display with an intuitive graphical user interface that gives at-a-glance information about the system’s connectivity status.

H-series antennas operate exclusively on KVH’s ONE hybrid network. Satellite communications are handled by KVH’s proprietary network, while KVH partners with a global carrier for SIM cards and 5G/LTE airtime. Wi-Fi connectivity is provided locally and, like with smartphones, is typically free. Users pay a single monthly bill to KVH for their cellular and satellite communications.

Balog says it took KVH’s engineers three and a half years to create the H-series systems and ONE network. “Both were equally challenging,” he says. “We have equal-size teams working on both. It’s a mixture of hardware and software. There was nothing commercially available that could get it done, so we built all [the hardware] in-house.”

While KVH can’t optimize traffic over cellular and Wi-Fi networks the way it can with its own satcom network, Balog says the company still monitors third-party metrics, including packet loss, latency and jitter, to ensure a good user experience.

Cybersecurity is a growing concern, and KVH took big strides with the V30. This same thinking about building in protections went into the H-series antennas. “We incorporated state-of-the-art cybersecurity, from the lowest level of the bios all the way through the network security,” Balog says. “It’s so protected that even if a hacker had the box in hand, took it apart, and flashed code to change the antenna to get into the [KVH] network, it won’t run.” H-series cybersecurity includes encrypted system-level internal communications; interested owners can optionally build even taller cyber walls.

Balog says customers should see strong Wi-Fi performance with this setup, even on notoriously bad marina Wi-Fi networks. He cited a recent visit to Newport, Rhode Island, where he realized speeds of 60 to 70 Mbps using his H60 over a marina Wi-Fi network; the speed (or really, lack thereof) plummeted to less than 10 Mbps when he bypassed the H60 and just used his iPhone.

So, if you’re interested in bolstering your onboard communications and like the idea of an end-to-end satellite-communications network that’s piggybacked with cellular and Wi-Fi communications, KVH’s latest offerings are worth considering. The gains can be huge (pun intended), even if a ferry full of data-hungry tourists arrives just as you’re settling in for some après web surfing.

Rack-Mounted Cybersecurity

While KVH’s TracNet systems provide robust cybersecurity, yacht owners seeking enterprise-grade network security could consider adding a FortiNet firewall. This rack-mounted white box and attached subscription service ($250 per month) works with KVH’s hardware and network, and can, among other capabilities, determine whether an infected device is attempting to join a network.

The post Staying Connected with KVH’s TracNet and ONE Hybrid Network appeared first on Yachting.

KVH Industries in Rhode Island has unveiled its KVH One hybrid network along with TracNet terminals for fast, reliable connectivity at sea and at the dock.

The KVH One network includes more than 106 million square miles of satellite coverage using KVH’s global, layered HTS network, powered by Intelsat. The network offers VSAT speeds as fast as 20/3 Mbps (down/up), integrated support for 5G/LTE cellular service in more than 150 countries and the ability to add SIM cards for local service. TracNet terminals can also connect to shore-based Wi-Fi networks.

The TracNet H30, H60 and H90 terminals have satellite, cellular and Wi-Fi technology under one dome, with intelligent, automatic switching based on availability, cost and quality of data connection.

“Today, we are introducing a new standard for integration, convenience, speed and affordability for commercial seafarers and leisure boaters worldwide,” Brent Bruun, KVH’s president and CEO, stated in a press release. “Together, KVH One and the groundbreaking TracNet H-series terminals are the first to offer a fully integrated hybrid maritime solution of this type. We believe that they will deliver the best possible connectivity performance for nearly all types of vessels, even in rough seas or at high speeds.”

What are the KVH One airtime plans? There are unlimited-use and metered options, with month-to-month contracts for seasonal boaters.

Take the next step: visit kvh.com/one

The post KVH Debuts KVH One Hybrid Network appeared first on Yachting.

The past few years have been challenging. The good news, however, is that a nautical sabbatical can help. Whether it’s for a few days or a trip around the sun, some recently launched communications, navigation and networking equipment can boost situational awareness, lower stress and improve the onboard experience. 

Communications

VHF radios have long been the go-to technology for marine communications. But sometimes their user interfaces can feel clumsy when compared with touchscreens. Enter Icom’s M510 series (from $600). These fixed-mount VHF radios are the first from a mainstream manufacturer to give users command and control over systems using smartphones and a dedicated app. All M510 radios have built-in digital selective calling and NMEA 0183 compatibility; users can upgrade to NMEA 2000 compatibility with a CT-M500 black box. The IC-M510 AIS has a built-in AIS receiver.

The Intellian v45C is a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) antenna that employs an open contract. The v45C ($18,000) has a compact 45-centimeter antenna, making it Intellian’s smallest VSAT system. However, it offers data-transfer speeds typically found aboard a system with a 60-centimeter antenna. This smaller size (a v45C’s radome measures 24-by-24.6 inches) allows it to be fitted aboard yachts as small as 45 feet length overall. A single radio-frequency coaxial cable connects the v45C’s antenna with its belowdecks rack-mounted antenna control unit. A rack-mounted modem is also required, but this is supplied by one’s airtime provider. Each v45C uses three-axis stabilization to stay locked onto the right satellite in rough waters, and the open-contract structure lets owners choose airtime providers based on itineraries. As for speeds, a v45C that’s connected to, for example, an IntelsatOne Flex plan should deliver download speeds of 6 megabits per second and uplink speeds of 2 Mbps. Each v45C can support two or three cruisers and their paired devices.

KVH’s TracPhone V30 ($12,000) is a small, lightweight VSAT antenna that operates on an end-to-end network. The TracPhone V30’s radome measures 15.5-by-17.6 inches and contains a 37-centimeter antenna dish, with a ruggedized modem. The TracPhone V30’s radome weighs 23.4 pounds and uses 10 to 36 volts of DC power, making it suited for all-electric or DC-powered yachts (AC-to-DC converters are available). The TracPhone V30 is designed to operate exclusively on the company’s mini-VSAT BroadbandSM network, giving owners access to simultaneous tech support for hardware and network problems. The TracPhone V30 offers speeds up to 6 Mbps for downloads and 2 Mbps for uploads, and users can choose metered or unlimited airtime plans. Metered plans charge users only for the data they use at 50 cents per megabyte. Unlimited plans give owners a set amount of data at or near the network’s highest data-transfer speeds for a monthly fee (about $150 for 200 megabytes). Unlimited users aren’t charged for additional data use, but once they burn their monthly allotment, speeds are downthrottled.

Satcom systems work great, but the same ones and zeros can be transmitted for less cost via an onshore cellular network. KVH’s TracPhone LTE-1 Global ($1,700) allows users to connect to the internet in more than 150 countries from 20 nautical miles offshore, depending on their cellular coverage. The TracPhone LTE-1 Global’s high-gain dual LTE-A antenna arrays come bundled in a radome that measures 13.5-by-13.3 inches and weighs 6.5 pounds. As with all KVH products, customers buy airtime directly from KVH, providing one-call tech support.

While onboard Wi-Fi networks allow crewmembers and guests to connect to the internet with their personal devices, each connected smartphone, tablet and laptop represents a point of possible intrusion for a hacker. Firewalla Gold ($430) is a combination firewall, virtual private network, multi-gigabit router and network-monitoring tool for protecting data. It can also be used to block advertisements, provide network segmentation, and leverage administrative or parental controls.

Navigation

It’s always wise to pack ample lumens when navigating at night. ACR’s fixed-mount RCL-50 LED Searchlight (from $1,110) has a six-LED array that generates more than 100,000 candelas at peak luminosity. The RCL-50 has a 10-degree beam angle, and it can rotate through 360 degrees of azimuth and plus or minus 20 degrees of elevation. The searchlight measures 8.4 by 6 by 8 inches, weighs 7.72 pounds, and comes packaged in a marine-grade aluminum housing that’s triple-primed and sealed, making it ideal for tenders or for smaller to medium-size rides. Operators can control the searchlight via its remote control Point Pad.

For cruisers planning on wending through tightly packed archipelagos or rocky passages, confidence in positional accuracy is key. Garmin’s GPS 24xd ($300) has a multiband receiver that lets the sensor leverage the full global navigation satellite system, including the US-built GPS, the Russian-built GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo constellations. The GPS 24xd reportedly provides positional accuracy to 3.28 feet, as well as azimuth information accurate to 3 degrees. The sensor is NMEA 2000-compatible and built to IPX7 standards. It updates at 10 Hertz and has multi-SBAS (satellite-based augmentation system) compatibility that allows the sensor to automatically correct for signal-measurement errors while giving users real-time insight into the accuracy and availability of incoming signals.

Vessels ranging from 35 to 120 feet length overall that are equipped with a Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System can add the company’s Assisted Docking system. Assisted Docking doesn’t require any external sensors. It instead uses Volvo Penta’s GPS-based dynamic positioning system antenna; the vessel’s IPS drive, steering, transmission and networked engine data; and a navigation system that supports Volvo Penta’s Glass Cockpit system. A human operator dictates the yacht’s speed and direction via the IPS joystick, and the system moves the yacht in a straight line as commanded. If a user releases the joystick, Assisted Docking holds the yacht in situ. Assisted Docking accounts for externalities such as wind, current and tide by updating the yacht’s position and heading several times per second. This information is fed to Volvo Penta’s electronic vessel control system, which fine-tunes the IPS direction and thrust. A banner on the yacht’s Glass Cockpit gives operators real-time information, including GPS signal strength, how much assisted power is being applied and a digital compass that displays direction lines. The system’s Side Push feature lets operators apply lateral force when docking side-to.

Operations

BEP’s Smart Battery Hub (starting at $2,000) monitors individual batteries’ real-time voltages and the full house bank’s state of charge, then shares this data with other networked instrumentation via NMEA 2000 connectivity. BEP makes the Smart Battery Hub for twin- and triple-engine rides. Both versions are compatible with 12- and 24-volt systems, and come with IPX7 water-ingress ratings and the ability to network with and be controlled by CZone digital-switching systems.

Few weather-forecasting apps are as powerful as those offered by PredictWind. These include PredictWind’s standard and Offshore apps, the latter of which works with satellite or SSB connections. Both apps give users access to different global and regional weather models, as well as PredictWind’s proprietary forecasts, rain and isobar maps, and weather-routing and departure-planning tools.

SiriusXM’s Fish Mapping can help anglers get on the fish faster and with less fuel expenditure. This subscription service requires a vessel to have a satellite-communications receiver and a compatible multifunction display. The system then provides a wealth of angling information, including fishing recommendations, sea-surface-temperature contours, plankton-concentration contours and plankton-front strengths.

Backup Navigation

Garmin’s GPSMap 79s ($300) comes with a global base map, while the GPSMap 79sc ($350) carries Garmin’s BlueChart g3 cartography. Both have screens that are 1.5 by 2.5 inches (200-by-400 resolution) and use AA batteries for up to 19 hours of navigation time.

Snorkeling with Smartphones

SeaLife’s underwater SportDiver housing ($300) allows Apple and Android smartphones to capture imagery down to 130 feet below the waterline. The housing has large buttons, and its built-in moisture sensor and companion app let users test the integrity of the housing’s seal.

The post Tech Talk: Electronics That Will Improve Onboard Experience appeared first on Yachting.

Massachusetts Bay, August 2004: Huge square waves and stiff headwinds were reducing our boat’s velocity made good toward Canada’s Bras d’Or Lake to fewer than 2 knots. We reconsidered our plans and took shelter at a mooring off nearby Provincetown to wait for a better weather window, complicating an already-complex travel itinerary.

My dad’s J/44 was loaded with electronics, but we didn’t have a satellite phone or even iPhones—a lack of technology that made sorting out logistics tricky. We got it done, but not before wishing that a small, lightweight, affordable satellite-communications system was available for DC-powered boats.

In recent years, VSAT (very small aperture terminals) satellite-communications systems have gained popularity as their antennas have become smaller and less expensive to purchase and operate. KVH’s latest VSAT system, the TracPhone V30, is the same size and delivers similar speeds as its predecessor, the TracPhone V3-HTS, while operating on KVH’s mini-VSAT BroadbandSM network. However, the TracPhone V30 has new architecture and bolstered cybersecurity features, is priced at one-third less, and consumes DC power, allowing it to be fitted aboard smaller vessels.

The TracPhone V30 uses a 37-centimeter antenna dish that’s housed inside a radome measuring 15.5 inches wide by 17.6 inches high. It weighs 23.4 pounds. The antenna is stabilized across two axes, which allows the system to articulate its dish elevation from 7.7 degrees to 75 degrees while delivering unlimited azimuth rotation. Unlike KVH’s previous-generation VSAT systems, which have rack-mounted belowdecks modems, the TracPhone V30′s ($11,995) ruggedized modem is inside its radome, allowing KVH to spec a small belowdecks VSAT hub.

In terms of power needs, the TracPhone V30 uses 10 to 36 volts of DC power, allowing it to be fitted aboard center-consoles, sailboats, electric craft and vessels that don’t carry generators (AC-to-DC power converters are available). Power is sent to the TracPhone V30 across a single 50-foot Ethernet power-over-coaxial cable that also transports data.

“When we started the project, the number-one request was for DC power,” says Robert Balog, KVH’s chief technology officer.

TracPhone V30s send and receive data over Ku-band frequencies at speeds up to 6 megabits per second for downloads and 2 Mbps for uploads. This is an ample pace for making phone calls, running enterprise software, downloading GRIB weather files, web surfing, streaming high-definition content, or participating in Microsoft Teams or Zoom video calls.

Like all KVH VSAT systems, the TracPhone V30 operates exclusively on KVH’s mini-VSAT BroadbandSM network. While KVH customers can’t shop for cheaper airtime plans, they do get hardware and software engineered for the company’s global network, as well as tech support that can address hardware and network concerns.

“We offer two types of plans: metered and unlimited,” says Jim George, KVH’s director of satellite sales, adding that most customers opt for unlimited plans. “Metered plans cost 50 cents per megabyte and are for customers who use their boats on the weekends and want to stay connected.” As an example of usage, Teams meetings typically use about 1 megabyte per minute.

Alternatively, KVH offers six unlimited plans from $150 to $3,000 per month for 200 megabytes up to 10 gigabytes of data at (or near) the system’s top speeds.

“Once a customer hits their data limit, the system changes to slower speeds,” George says. Customers aren’t charged for additional data use, but their speeds are down-throttled once they cross their data thresholds. Customers can change their airtime plans any time and can winterize their plans during the off-season.

Irrespective of the airtime plan, KVH’s network-management toolsalso allow customers to control data usage. For example, networked wireless devices can be restricted from consuming background data, and customers can set data-usage alerts.

The TracPhone V30′s architecture, Balog says, is KVH’s antenna architecture for the next decade. “Satellite throughput on the V30 is 6/2 Mbps [downlink/uplink], but we’re running a 1,000 Mbps [EPOC] cable, so we’re ensuring all sorts of different things,” he says.

Down-the-road applications could include faster data-transfer speeds—should KVH upgrade its network—Internet of Things products, and transmitting networked NMEA 2000 data to third-party clouds for maintenance and performance monitoring. KVH already internally monitors its antennas’ data. “Every three seconds, the antenna [transmits] engineering data that tells us exactly how the antenna is performing,” Balog says. “We can look at coverage problems and, for example, show customers the mountains that are blocking their signal.”

This new architecture also means the system’s belowdecks VSAT hub can have a built-in Wi-Fi router, obviating the need for third-party devices to share connectivity with networked devices.

While future-proofing is a big reason that KVH created the TracPhone V30, so too is cybersecurity. “It’s absolutely jampacked with state-of-the-art cybersecurity,” Balog says.

In addition to architecture and cybersecurity, the TracPhone V30′s one-cable design is intended to simplify installation. It uses the same bolt pattern for the radome as older 37-centimeter KVH systems, Balog says. While TracPhone V30s ship with 50 feet of EPOC cable that’s terminated at both ends, customers can buy a KVH cable-adapter kit and reuse existing cable, say, from an old Inmarsat FleetBroadBand terminal.

As with all small VSAT systems, the TracPhone V30 may leave users encountering bandwidth issues if multiple people are streaming simultaneously or running video calls. “The V30 is perfect for email,” George says, adding that owners wanting to stream lots of content should consider a bigger antenna.

So, for those shopping for a small, DC-powered primary VSAT system—or a backup antenna for a bigger yacht—and who want the ease of bespoke hardware created for an end-to-end network, KVH’s TracPhone V30 can help take business and life interests aboard.

The post KVH’s Next-Gen VSAT System appeared first on Yachting.

KVH has introduced TracPhone LTE-1 Global, a marine communications system designed to give recreational boaters Internet access up to 20 miles offshore, in more than 150 countries.

The system uses LTE Advanced (LTE-A) cellular network technology, which KVH says is faster than regular 4G LTE. It builds on the company’s award-winning TracPhone LTE-1, which was introduced in 2018.

With a 13.5-inch dome, the TracPhone LTE-1 Global is suitable for small and midsize recreational boats including center consoles and sportfishers whose skippers often rely on cellphones for Internet access close to shore. The TracPhone LTE-1 Global is designed to enable various applications, such as streaming HD videos and music; Wi-Fi-based voice, messaging, collaboration and video applications; browsing the Internet; and posting on social media.

“The affordable, easy-to-install system means boaters can enjoy their connected lives while on the water,” Brent Bruun, chief operating officer for KVH, stated in a press release.

What’s part of the TracPhone LTE-1 Global system? A dual high-gain antenna array, modem, GPS and Wi-Fi inside the dome, with a multicarrier SIM to allow switching and roaming between LTE-equipped carriers. A single cable connects the antenna to a belowdecks power-over-ethernet.

Where to learn more: go to kvh.com

The post KVH Unveils TracPhone LTE-1 Global appeared first on Yachting.

The desire to build boats and explore distant horizons is one of humanity’s oldest pursuits, and the drive to innovate increasingly better craft and technologies has an equally time-honored heritage. Each year, Yachting celebrates trailblazers who have made significant impacts on the boating world. Please join us in raising a glass to the class of 2021.

Habib Dagher

When boatbuilders craft glass-reinforced plastic yachts, the work typically requires a significant investment of time to build the molds and lay down the fiberglass matting, core materials and resins. Habib Dagher of the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center took a decidedly different approach to boatbuilding: He turned on a bespoke 3D printer.

Dagher and his team spent several years searching for a company that could build a 3D printer to their specs, plus the 15 preceding years developing the biofibers (derived from corn and wood) that the printer used to create 3Dirigo, their 25-foot center-console, in just 72 hours in late 2019.

This work earned the team two Guinness World Records. The first was for creating the world’s biggest 3D-printed boat, and the second was for creating the world’s biggest 3D-printed object.

The accomplishments opened several important boatbuilding doors. For starters, the head-spinning time frame to print 3Dirigo means designers and builders could eventually fast-track prototypes to satisfy market trends. Secondly, the biofibers, which are roughly 1,000 times smaller than sawdust, represent a new way to craft strong, environmentally responsible yachts. Plastic objects with biofiber reinforcement exhibit properties much like aluminum but can potentially be recycled. Finally, Dagher’s team can print recyclable molds that boatbuilders can use to craft production and custom-built yachts.

While 3Dirigo is just 25 feet length overall, the Advanced Structures and Composites Center’s 3D printer can print monocoque objects that measure up to 100 feet by 22 feet. Better still, these objects can be joined to create much larger, multi-element objects. Say, a 200-foot superyacht.

Germán Frers

Yacht design has long been a family affair in the Frers household. Germán Frers Sr. founded Frers Naval Architecture and Engineering in 1925 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. By 1970, when his son, Germán Frers, took over, the company had designed almost 600 yachts.

Prior to 1970, the younger Frers, who was born in 1941, spent time working for the renowned Sparkman & Stephens design firm. Upon returning to Argentina, Frers began expanding on his father’s accomplishments. Frers-designed yachts have won almost all major international regattas, including the Admiral’s Cup, the Newport Bermuda Race, the Whitbread Round the World Race and the Louis Vuitton Cup.

In 1979, Frers joined forces with Nautor’s Swan to create the Swan 51. Some 700 Swans have since been built to Frers’ designs, ranging from the Swan 36 to the Swan 120. While their waterlines differ, these yachts share a design DNA that offers owners offshore cruising comfort, graceful style and racecourse performance.

Additionally, Frers has designed production sailboats for high-end builders including Hallberg-Rassy and Hylas, as well as custom designs that stretch into the super-maxi category. Hyperion, a 156-footer that Royal Huisman built in 1998 to a Frers design, was at the time the largest sloop ever launched.

While famous for his elegant sailboats with spacious, teak-adorned decks, Frers also has created some of the world’s most stunning mega-yachts, including the 279-foot Pacific, which Lürssen built in 2010. He also designed production motoryachts for Sirena Yachts.

Frers continues to work as CEO and principal designer of Frers Naval Architecture and Engineering, which has designed more than 1,300 yachts since 1925. His son, Germán “Mani” Frers, continues the family legacy from his studio in Milan, Italy.

Meade and Jan Gougeon

Brothers Meade and Jan Gougeon faced a tough decision in 1974. While their iceboat-building business had become the biggest in the country, their real interest was in creating epoxy systems for building light, strong and fast wood-composite boats, sans fasteners. As such, they made the tough call to shutter the iceboat business and focus on their groundbreaking epoxy business.

An early break came thanks to geography: The brothers opened a shop near the Dow Chemical Company, and they turned Herbert Dow, grandson of the company’s founder, on to iceboating. Herb gave the Gougeons access to the chemical company’s engineers, who helped the brothers develop revolutionary boatbuilding resins and hardeners.

Thanks to a well-timed capital investment from their middle brother, Joel, the brothers began packaging and selling their West System epoxy in 1971. As word of their company’s products spread, the brothers continued to build one-off and production sailboats—and sail and race (and win) extensively—while publishing newsletters, technical manuals and the biannual Epoxyworks magazine. In their spare time, they accepted projects such as building laminated wood samples for NASA and 65-foot-long composite wind-turbine blades for Westinghouse.

In the 1980s, the company introduced small, self-contained repair kits—dubbed Handy and Maxi packs—and supporting literature that helped DIYers and professionals repair fiberglass boats. In 1993, the brothers ceased commercial boatbuilding to focus entirely on their epoxy business. Other products followed, including adhesives, laminating epoxies and fairing fillers, but the brothers never lost their love for iceboating.

In 2015, three years after Jan’s death, they were inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame. Today, with Meade also having died, West System products live on. They are used worldwide on vessels ranging from dinghies to superyachts.

Rod Johnstone

When Rod Johnstone designed Ragtime in 1974, two key measurements were already locked: the boat’s beam, at 8 feet, 11 inches, and its length overall, at 24 feet. This was because he planned to build it in one of the bays of his three-car garage in Stonington, Connecticut, where the space measured 28-by-9 feet. When he pulled the boat out in May 1976, its rails rubbed the garage’s sides. A hull-raising party followed with friends, relatives and neighbors helping him to lift Ragtime onto its keel in the driveway. The boat immediately proved Johnstone’s yacht-design acumen.

Ragtime competed in 21 races in summer 1976, winning 19 and settling for second- and fourth-place finishes in the others. People started noticing. Johnstone reached out to his brother, Bob, a competitive sailor and marketing whiz who had recently entered the marine industry. After hearing his kid brother decline to sell Ragtime at the end of that summer, Bob pushed Rod to consider selling copies.

Enter Everett Pearson of the Tillotson Pearson boatbuilding factory. Pearson agreed to start producing J/24s. By 1977, Bob had left his day job and joined Rod to form J/Boats. More than 5,500 J/24s have since been built, and they are sailed and raced in almost 40 countries, making the J/24 the world’s most popular One Design keelboat.

Other designs followed, ranging from the J/22 to the J/65, as well as innovations such as the retractable sprit pole, which arrived in 1991 aboard the 34-foot J/105. While now common, sprit poles simplified spinnaker-handling for racing crews and daysailors.

Today, virtually all great sailors have raced aboard J/24s and other Rod Johnstone designs, and J/Boats continues to create popular One Designs.

Arent Kits van Heyningen

The cliché goes that father knows best, but sometimes it’s a son’s confidence in his dad that influences an industry. Such was the case with Martin Kits van Heyningen and his father, Arent Kits van Heyningen.

During the run-up to the 1980 America’s Cup, the French syndicate needed a tactical sailing computer. By chance, the team’s skipper met Martin, a Yale University undergrad who was working a summer job at a Newport, Rhode Island, boatyard. After learning that Martin’s father built computers, the skipper asked if Arent could help the team. Martin assured the skipper that his father could make anything.

Arent delivered the world’s first sailing computer, which he built in his basement. The problem, however, was that the French team’s analog fluxgate compasses weren’t compatible with it. So, Arent returned to his basement and built the world’s first self-calibrating digital fluxgate compass.

In 1982, Arent began building digital compasses with his sons, Martin and Robert, under the Sailcomp name. The family-owned business became KVH in 1985 and, in 1997, acquired the assets of a Chicago-based company that developed fiber-optic technologies. This acquisition let KVH become a player in the markets for inertial navigation and fiber optic gyroscopes.

In 1994, KVH introduced its first satellite-TV service for mariners. In 1998, the now publicly owned company began reselling satellite-communications airtime and equipment. In 2007, KVH introduced the TracPhone V7 stabilized satcom antenna, which operates on KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband network.

Other ideas and products followed, and as the years unfurled, Arent, Martin and Robert remained active sailors. In 2010, at 94, Arent became the oldest sailor to complete the epic 635-nautical-mile Newport Bermuda Race.

The post Yachting Innovators appeared first on Yachting.