Inmarsat C System Overview; Introduction - Furuno INMARSAT-C FELCOM 18 Operator's Manual

1. INMARSAT C SYSTEM
OVERVIEW
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Introduction

The Inmarsat C system provides worldwide telex and data transmission and reception
of written information to owners of an Inmarsat C transceiver or a terrestrial telex net-
work via satellite. Further, e-mail can be sent via the internet.
Communication mode is store-and-forward telex, which means all information sent are
first stored at an LES (Land Earth Station) and then delivered to designated party.
An EGC (Enhanced Group Call) receiver is built in the FELCOM system to receive the
following types of messages, broadcast by LESs:
• SafetyNET
ute maritime safety information to ships within selected areas.
• FleetNET
use this service to transmit trade information (for example, company news or market
prices) simultaneously to a selected group of ships, to provide up-to-the-minute in-
formation.
• EGC system-related messages are sent by Inmarsat to certain shipping companies
and geographical areas.
The FELCOM system allows you to make distress calls. They are given immediate pri-
ority over all other calls, and are automatically routed to a land-based Rescue Co-or-
dination Centre (RCC).
Besides its primary application of ship-shore, shore-ship or ship-ship communications,
the Inmarsat C service has also proved beneficial to trucking firms who have found it
indispensable for communicating with their vehicles. This manual, however, concen-
trates on ship applications, the main application.
TM
: Governments and maritime authorities can use this service to distrib-
TM
: Commercial subscription organizations or shipping companies can
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