Soltero

One day Luis Soltero received a parcel with the latest development from SCS, the PTC-IInet. The founder of Global Marine Networks, LLC U.S., 47 years old, from  Tennessee, looked on the backside of the PTC and saw nothing but an RJ45 LAN plug, a plug for the HF-radio and a remote control. He frowns, what do the guys from Hanau want him to do with this new appliance? A patch cable is just at hand, the power quickly connected and with his browser he activates the web interface of the PTCII-net .

Parker

In less than 20 minutes, he pours himself a glass of the good Tennessee whiskey from the medicine cabinet and reaches for his mobile. “Hey Chris, where are you? Those Germans have sent their newest PACTOR Modem. You won’t believe it. Have you time to come over? Great!“

In the early morning Soltero and his friend and partner Chris Parker are still sitting at the table, busy making plans. “With this modem, we are finally able to set up a customer friendly PACTOR wireless network.” Each host station now only needs a modem and an HF-transceiver, nothing else. The troublesome PC is no longer necessary, or even better, is already included in the Modem and can be  monitored by Parker and Soltero everywhere in the world. The basis for a new worldwide PACTOR net; “The Xnet” is born.

Teamwork

Soltero is no novice to this subject. As a software designer he has previously revolutionized PACTOR communications with the GMN net. Data compression rates of up to 10 times before transmission (e.g. text and weather data via HF) shorten connection times, save energy and keep the frequencies clear. To achieve this compression, Soltero bundles not single mails or data, but the whole sum of information being sent or received in one session. The more data, the higher the compression rate and time saving.

In contrast to other PACTOR providers, GMN binds the modem into the Windows driver. Windows or any other operation system can, once connected, exchange data with the host station via HF just like via a normal telephone modem or cable LAN connection. To meet the naturally slow transmitting rate of the SSB communication, Soltero deactivates various irrelevant data and optimizes the system for only the information the user really needs, such as e-mails, size controlled attachments, selective weather information and position tracking.

Vesseltracking

XGate Software

Until just a couple of years ago, Soltero with his company GMN, used the external mail software, Calypso, to determine the transmission rates.  In the meantime Soltero designed a handy tool, the little program Xgate. This lets the user decide, if he wants to utilize Outlook, Airmail, Eudora or other POP3/SMTP based programs, to work his e-mails. Even the use of arbitrary and pre-existing e-mail addresses such as “peter.miller@aol.com” or “lisa455@hotmail.com” is possible. The only requirement is an e-mail account with the GMN, through which the whole traffic is being managed and compressed.

PTC Monitor Software

With Soltero’s tool and with the PACTOR monitor using Windows, the transceiver can be remote controlled. The frequency is chosen via one click and the user then gets clearly all the necessary information about the connection.

The advantage for the customer lies in the  rates for the use of the Xnet. Let’s compare the costs: To send a 25kb picture as an e-mail from anywhere in the world, one has to pay around 0,08 US$ with Xnet, but almost 3 US$ with Iridium. (each excluding hardware costs).

For the commercial user, the Xnet is a real alternative to the costly data transmission via satellite. The Xnet is flexible and customer orientated solutions can be created quite easily.  If, for example, a certain region doesn’t have a high performing host station, but a new customer produces relevant traffic, the investment to meet the new situation is relatively small. A new host station will be established.

New Antenna

The Xnet is an associative cooperation of all participating providers. Any radio station in the world with the required equipment can work as a host. Requirements are a PTC-IInet, a permanent internet connection, SSB radio, antenna and the licence for the commercial frequencies in the respective country. Xnet is particularly attractive to the service providers of offshore and off-road e-mail services. The applications seem limitless. For example these may include a remote hospital in Africa, a missionary station in Micronesia or an expedition to Antarctica. To encourage the establishment of a world wide net and to encourage radio stations to participate, the Xnet constitution states that all host stations will enjoy equal share of the profits. Thus, a station in Chile with less traffic will receive as much as Parker’s busy station in Florida. Currently the Xnet runs stations in North America, Sweden, and New Zealand. Anyone who may be interested in participating and enlarging the Xnet is more than welcome. Please ask for further information directly under:

info@xnetmail.com

or visit

www.xnetmail.com

www.globalmarinenet.com

Michael Wnuk, DL1JD
June 2006, Seychelles, Indic Ocean