Connecting The Terminal To Your Computer - Hughes BGAN HNS-9201 Getting Started Manual

9/34 Getting Started with the HNS 9201
NOTE: If the GPS indicator light is solid red, the GPS receiver is faulty. Contact your
Service Provider.
TIP: You can switch the terminal off after acquiring a GPS fix. The terminal stores
the GPS fix information in its memory. When you turn the terminal back on,
the GPS indicator light flashes green. This is normal behavior, and you can
connect the terminal to your computer, and register with the network as
normal.
About GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses 24 orbital satellites to fix the position of the terminal
anywhere on the globe.
•
In normal operation, a GPS receiver, such as that built in to the Terminal, needs to be able
to receive signals from at least three satellites so that it can then calculate latitude, a
longitude and an altitude – this position fix is referred to as a 3-dimensional or 3-D fix. If
only two GPS satellites can be seen by the GPS receiver, then the last available altitude
measurement is assumed and the GPS receiver calculates a position fix based on latitude
and longitude only. This simpler position fix is referred to as a 2-dimensional or 2-D fix
and is quicker and easier to obtain than a 3-D fix, but may be less accurate.
NOTE: You can register with the BGAN network with a 2-D or a 3-D fix.
•
The GPS receiver may take between a few seconds and 20 minutes to obtain a GPS fix,
depending on how frequently the GPS receiver is being used. The frequency of use
determines the how quickly the GPS Terminal is able to start.
Hot start - if the GPS receiver is being used frequently, (that is, at least every two to
o
six hours), it is regularly updated with data from the GPS satellites, and so only takes
a short time to obtain a GPS fix after being switched on.
Warm start - if a GPS receiver has not been used for more than six hours, then it
o
will take longer to obtain a GPS fix, perhaps up to 45 seconds.
Cold start - if the GPS receiver has not been used for some time or is 300 km or
o
more from where it was last used, it can take between 10 and 20 minutes to obtain a
valid position fix.
•
Following successful registration and providing the Terminal is left switched on and
remains stationary, the GPS is no longer needed. Periodically, the BGAN terminal contacts
the BGAN network to inform the network that it is still switched on. In addition, the
BGAN network periodically checks each terminal for activity, and if there has been no
traffic through the terminal, and the terminal has not automatically contacted the BGAN
network as described above, then the terminal will be de-registered from the network.
3.5.

Connecting the terminal to your computer

When you first connect the terminal to your computer, Inmarsat recommends that you use either
Ethernet or USB.
NOTE: USB can operate over a distance of up to 5m with standard cables. Ethernet
can operate over a distance of up to 100m with standard cables.