SkyMAX Mobile Satellite Services
Robust Communications When and Where You Need Them
Knight Sky's Mobile Satellite Service solutions are fully turn-key, managed solutions via our own SkyMAX™ network. SkyMAX Mobile Services are designed for end-users that require a flexible managed network service for voice, video, and data applications, independent of terrestrial infrastructure. Knight Sky's Network Operations Staff manages all application services, such as VoIP, RoIP, and VTC, as part of the comprehensive end-to-end service.
Knight Sky's SkyMAX network provides Voice over IP (VoIP) coverage to the entire continental United States as well as Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Within that range of geographic locations, VoIP services are provided with no long distance charges. Knight Sky can supply 10 digit DID telephone numbers provisioned with local exchanges within the service area for the customer's satellite terminals, which limits potential long distance charges being engendered on the customer's terrestrial network-based originated calls to the VoIP phones operating via the satellite terminals.
We also provide personal mobile communications services such as Inmarsat BGAN and IsatPhone, Iridium handhelds, and Thuraya IP/XT, enabling truly global coverage to meet your most demanding communications needs.
Summary Comparison of Knight Sky's Voice and Data Offerings
Knight Sky's extensive complement of satellite services provides a diverse mix of offerings of data services, ensuring full support for your mobile and stationary satellite communications needs.
Voice Service/Hardware Comparison |
|||||
Characteristic |
Iridium 9555 |
Iridium Extreme |
Inmarsat iSatPhone |
Inmarsat BGAN |
SkyMAX |
Service Type |
L-band |
L-band |
L-band |
L-band |
Ku-band |
Form Factor |
Hand-Held |
Hand-Held |
Hand-Held |
Small Laptop |
1.2m Dish, |
Voice Quality |
Acceptable |
Acceptable |
Very good, as good, or better than cellular |
Very good, as good, or better than cellular |
Excellent, |
Latency |
Variable, |
Variable, |
Approximately ½ sec. |
Approximately ½ sec. |
Approximately ½ sec. |
Call Reliability |
Acceptable, long duration calls can drop due to satellite motion |
Acceptable, long duration calls can drop due to satellite motion |
~100% with direct line-of-site to satellite |
~100% with direct line-of-site to satellite |
>99.5%, limited only by brief intense rain outage or seasonal sun outage |
Call setup time |
< 1 min typically, sometimes longer due to satellite motion |
< 1 min typically, sometimes longer due to satellite motion |
1–2 minutes on cold start, <1min thereafter |
2-4 minutes on cold start, <1 min thereafter |
~ 5-10 minutes from cold start, < 10 sec thereafter |
Mobility |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes unless blocked by terrain/buildings |
Yes |
Yes |
GPS Enabled |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Bluetooth Enabled |
No |
No |
Yes |
N/A |
N/A |
SOS Button |
No |
Yes |
No |
N/A |
N/A |
Battery Life: |
~ 4+ / 30 hrs. |
~ 4+ / 30 hrs. |
~ 8 / 100 hrs. |
1-3 / 36 hrs. |
N/A |
Rugged |
No |
MIL-STD 810F (dust, shock, vibration, blowing rain) |
7.22' (2.2 m) |
No |
N/A |
Data Service Comparison |
|||||
Characteristic |
Iridium 9555 |
Iridium Extreme |
Inmarsat iSatPhone |
Inmarsat BGAN |
SkyMAX |
Transmit Rate |
2.4 kb/s |
2.4 kb/s |
2.4 kb/s |
64-128 kb/s typical; 492 kb/s maximum |
512 – 2048 kb/s |
Receive Rate |
2.4 kb/s |
2.4 kb/s |
2.4 kb/s |
64-128 kb/s typical; 492 kb/s maximum |
1048 – 5240 kb/s |
Data I/F |
Serial |
Serial |
Serial |
Ethernet |
Ethernet |
Data Compression |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No, but advanced features for TCP and Web acceleration |