Frequently Asked Questions // Thuraya IP Terminal


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Thuraya IP Terminal

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What is the Thuraya IP?

Thuraya IP is a reliable, affordable, portable, broadband data solution. Using an A5-sized, compact, light weight terminal, it is especially useful if you require reliable internet access in areas with inadequate terrestrial infrastructure. The service is available throughout Thuraya’s vast coverage area spanning more than 140 countries across Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. The service is based on Internet Protocol (IP) and offers broadband data solution on Shared Mode or Dedicated Mode.

Where is the service available?

The Thuraya satellite footprint covers more than 140 countries across Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Europe.

What are the types of services available on Thuraya IP?

There are two types of broadband data services available: standard IP and streaming IP.

Standard IP: Also called Background IP or VBR (Variable Bit Rate), this service offers up to 444 kbps data connectivity on shared mode or best effort basis.

Streaming IP: Also called CBR (Constant Bit Rate), this service offers dedicated data connectivity ranging from 16 to 384 kbps.

What types of external antennas are available?

Multiple types of external antennas are available to achieve the maximum throughput on Thuraya IP. These antennas cater to the needs of various market segments for land, vehicle and maritime applications.

Fixed Panel Antenna
This is a large flat panel antenna, designed to be permanently fixed onto a building or similar standing structure.

Portable Flat Panel Antenna
This is a lightweight, compact flat panel antenna, suitable for mobile applications on land.

Vehicle Antenna
Compact and light in weight, Thuraya’s 2-axis tracking vehicle antenna can be used on any land vehicle. We also provide a magnetic mounting kit, enabling the vehicle antenna to be securely mounted on your vehicle.

Do I need to use an external antenna with Thuraya IP?

Thuraya IP can be used either with or without an external antenna. It has an inbuilt antenna which can be used for standard IP connectivity of up to 444 kbps on the downlink. The internal antenna can also be used for streaming IP uplink connectivity of up to 256 kbps. The details of the bandwidth available and the antenna used are as follows:

  Thuraya IP Data Capabilities  Transmit  Receive
  Standard IP   Without External Antenna   202 kbps   Up to 444 kbps
  With External Antenna   Up to 404 kbps   Up to 444 kbps
  Streaming IP   Without External Antenna   16, 32, 64, 128, 256   kbps   16, 32, 64, 128, 256   kbps
  With External Antenna   16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 384   kbps   16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 384   kbps

Do I need to use an external antenna to get the highest bandwidth?

Yes, to get the maximum bandwidth (uplink/downlink), as detailed in the table below, the external antenna has to be used.

  Thuraya IP Data Capabilities  Transmit  Receive
  Standard IP   Without External Antenna   202 kbps   Up to 444 kbps
  With External Antenna   Up to 404 kbps   Up to 444 kbps
  Streaming IP   Without External Antenna   16, 32, 64, 128, 256   kbps   16, 32, 64, 128, 256   kbps
  With External Antenna   16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 384   kbps   16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 384   kbps

What cable is needed for the antenna, and what is its maximum length?

The antenna comes with a cable, connectors and the mounting kits, if required. The length of the cable varies with the type of the antenna used. For example, the length of the standard cable for EA 1426 is 10m, whereas for EA 1535 it is less than 30cm because the antenna is mounted on to the Thuraya IP terminal.

What are the key communication activities that Thuraya IP supports?

Broadband internet access, email, web mail, web browsing, Virtual Private Network (VPN), File transfer (FTP), video conferencing, video streaming, corporate intranet and e-commerce.

What kind of hardware do I need to access the service?

Thuraya IP satellite IP modem (portable, light weight, plug-and-play device) and a Thuraya IP SIM card. Simply connect the terminal to a notebook or a desktop PC via an Ethernet connection, USB Connection or WLAN, and you are online.

How is the service available to me?

The service is available to you through Thuraya IP Service Providers.

What is Thuraya IP’s Quality of Service?

Thuraya IP offers two types of Quality of Service (QoS):

Standard IP
This service offers shared channel resources among several users. This means that in any spot beam, the number of users logged on and actively using the service will be sharing the available channels. The throughput will vary depending upon the amount of data transmitted and received by various users sharing the channel, hence called VBR (Variable Bit Rate). Thuraya IP provides an internet connection using packet technology. The Thuraya GPRS Gateway is then connected to the internet, at which point Thuraya no longer controls the QoS.

Thuraya cannot guarantee certain throughput, but we continue monitoring the network to ensure that the best possible service is achieved.

Streaming IP
This service offers dedicated throughput on a channel. Within streaming IP, different types of QoS are available ranging from a 16 to 384 kbps for uplink, as well as downlink. In this mode, if you opt for 384 kbps uplink and 64 kbps downlink, and the network is available, the 384 kbps uplink bandwidth and 64 kbps downlink bandwidth are dedicated for you only. The throughput remains constant during the session.

Streaming IP offers numerous uplink/downlink bandwidth options. It offers unmatched flexibility of variable uplink and downlink streaming bandwidth to suit any type of dedicated bandwidth requirement. For example, a media customer who wants to cover a live event will demand the best possible uplink bandwidth at 384 kbps. On the downlink, however, they may not require huge bandwidth, and so may settle for 64 kbps or 128 kbps. This results in a huge cost saving.

You can choose any combination from the uplink/downlink matrix provided below:

Uplink / Downlink Bandwidth (kbps) 16 32 64 128 256 384
  16     16/16     32/32     64/16   128/16   256/16  384/16
  32     16/32     32/32     64/32   128/32   256/32  384/32
  64     16/64     32/64     64/64   128/64   256/64  384/64
  128     16/128     32/128     64/128   128/128   256/128  384/128
  256     16/256     32/256     64/256   128/256   256/256  384/256
 384     16/384     32/384     64/384   128/384   256/384  384/384

 

Where are the terminals made?

Thuraya IP is manufactured by Hughes Network Systems, Inc., USA.

What are features of the terminal?

Thuraya IP is a feature packed Satellite IP Modem, absolutely portable, robust; truly plug and play with unmatched flexibility in operations.

What does the Thuraya IP package contain?

The Thuraya IP package includes the Thuraya IP satellite IP modem, AC Mains power adapter and cable, Universal Power Adapter, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Ethernet cable, USB data cable, User Manual and CD containing USB Driver.

Do I have to install any software on my PC before connecting the Thuraya IP?

Thuraya IP is a true plug-and-play device. The browser on your PC should support Java. (The Java plug-in required on your PC for terminal control is located at www.java.com)

What are the supported Operating Systems?

Windows: NT 4.0, 98 second edition, 2000, ME, XP and VistaOthers: Macintosh OS 10.1 or later, Linux Redhat 9.Supported browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or later for Windows, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later for MAC, Netscape Communicator 7 or later, Macintosh Safari 1.2 or later, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later.

What are the basic steps to run Thuraya IP?

Insert your SIM, power up, and obtain a GPS fix. Connect using Ethernet/USB or WLAN, and point your Thuraya IP to the satellite. You are ready to move into Standard IP Normal Operational Mode to perform activities such as browsing.

Obtaining a GPS fix is taking a long time. What do I do?

Power cycle the terminal and retry, under a clear sky with no obstructions.

How do I connect my PC/laptop with my Thuraya IP terminal?

The Thuraya IP terminal comes with an Ethernet Cable and USB Cable. You can connect your PC/ laptop with the terminal by using either of these cables or WLAN.

What should I do to obtain a GPS fix?

Place your Thuraya IP outside on a flat surface with a clear view of the sky Power the unit up by pressing the power button. Thuraya IP is now attempting to locate itself using GPS. This may take up to five minutes. For optimum GPS signal reception, make sure Thuraya IP is positioned in a roughly horizontal placement. Since GPS receivers must “see” a large part of the sky without obstructions from buildings, mountains or trees, it may be necessary to take your Thuraya IP out to a clear space to obtain a new GPS location. It may be possible to obtain a new GPS location in a less favorable circumstance, but the time to completion may be longer. The most recent GPS location is stored in Thuraya IP even when the unit is powered down. Upon power up, if this stored GPS location is available, the display indicates “Using Stored Location.” Even so, Thuraya IP will attempt to update this GPS location since the Thuraya system will only allow access if your GPS location is not too old. If Thuraya IP is able to update the GPS location, the status changes from “Stored” to “Valid.” GPS location is shown as “Invalid” only under special circumstances when the stored information has been erased. In any case, you may wish to attempt network access to see if service will be granted. Please refer to the User Manual for additional queries. If you continue to experience difficulties, kindly send the GPS coordinates, error codes, if any, and other details to customer.care@thuraya.com.

How should I position the terminal?

Careful orientation of the terminal towards the satellite is required for establishing a connection. The more precise the alignment, the faster the data transmission. MMI Pointing details are contained in your User Manual.

What is wMMI and iMMI?

wMMI (Web Man Machine Interface) is the web based interface which you can use to configure, set up and use the Thuraya IP terminal.iMMI (Integrated Man Machine Interface) is the interface (LCD and few buttons) which is available on the Thuraya IP terminal for you to configure, set up and use the Thuraya IP terminal.

What is Antenna Pointing Mode?

In the Pointing Mode, information regarding pointing of the terminal to the satellite can be viewed on the MMI, and the terminal can be adjusted accordingly to provide the best signal strength. You have to Exit Pointing Mode either through the MMI or by pressing the Exit Pointing Button on the terminal to enter standard IP Mode.

How can I enter Antenna Pointing code?

If Pointing is Enabled, power off and on again. If Pointing is Disabled, enable it and then power off and on. On the wMMI, Go to Settings<Advanced Settings<select Enabled for Pointing. Save. Power off/on.

What if I am not able to view the Pointing Screen as shown in the User Manual after Power off/on?

Pointing may be Disabled (default setting). Enable it to see the Pointing Screen.

Do I have to go to the Pointing Screen each time I power up, even though I am using it in the same location?

No, Pointing is disabled in the default configuration. If it was enabled, you can disable it by going to the advanced settings page.

Can I change the SIM card with my terminal powered on?

No, the terminal must be turned off before replacing the SIM.

Where is the SIM card located?

The SIM card is in a small compartment adjacent to the battery.

How can I remove the battery and the SIM card?

Turn off the terminal. To remove the battery, unscrew the battery compartment cover, remove the battery connector by pressing and pulling it. Pull out the battery from the compartment. After you remove the battery, the SIM card can be removed by slightly pushing it into the compartment. The SIM card holder is a push in/push out type.

How can I access the web-based user interface (wMMI)?

Open any of the installed browsers. Enter http://192.168.128.100 in the URL field.

Can I access the user interface (wMMI) with proxy enabled?

Yes, if the local IP address used to access the wMMI is configured in the Proxy settings page under exceptions. In order to access the wMMI from the browser, ensure that proxy settings in your browser are disabled. You may need to enable this setting on return to other Internet connections.

How do I disable the proxy?

You must verify that the proxy server settings in your browser are disabledFor Microsoft Internet Explorer, select Tools/Internet Options/Connections/LAN Settings and uncheck the box labelled ‘Use a proxy server for your LAN’.For Netscape or Firefox, go to Advanced Preferences and select ‘Direct connection to the Internet’. For Safari, select System Preferences/Network/Built-in Ethernet/Proxies and uncheck the box labelled ‘Web Proxy (HTTP).’ When complete please close your browser. You may need to enable this setting on return to other Internet connections.

How does the Thuraya IP display work?

The upper level of the LCD displays status messages and menu items. Status messages are summarized in the table below:

  Display   Description
  Powering Off   Displayed while DSL+ is powering down
  Fault {code}   A hardware fault exists, preventing operation(see troubleshooting section for code explanations)
  Too Hot   A temporary thermal shutdown is about to occur
  Battery Hot   A temporary thermal shutdown is about to occur due to battery heating
  No SIM   No SIM is detected in Thuraya IP
  Locked   A security code is needed (entered via wMMII)
  PIN   A SIM pin code is needed (entered via wMMI)
  Pointing   In pointing mode
  GPS old   GPS is older than the stored SI time period allows
  Disconnected   PDP connection is disconnected, preventing traffic transfer
  Tx{rate}/Rx{rate}   Transmit and Receive active rates in bits per second
  Standard   Best efforts quality of service in both directions

Please refer to your User Manual for further information.

How long will the battery last, when the terminal is continuously in use?

One hour when continuously transmitting at maximum speed, and 2.5 hours continuous reception at the highest speed.

What is the stand-by time for the battery?

36 hours.

Are accessories like DC chargers, SIM card holders, carry case, battery, external antenna, solar chargers, available?

Yes, accessories including a travel charger and battery for Thuraya IP are available from your Thuraya Service Provider.

Does Thuraya IP operate indoors? What kind of antenna is needed?

Thuraya IP may be used indoors with an external antenna. Flat panel external antennas can be used with Thuraya IP terminal.

Can Thuraya IP SIMs be used in other Thuraya terminals/products?

Yes. Thuraya IP SIM cards can be used in the Thuraya DSL terminal, but the available speed will be limited to a maximum shared bandwidth of 144 kbps.

Can any other SIM cards be used in Thuraya IP?

Yes, you can use Thuraya DSL SIM Cards in Thuraya IP, but the bandwidth available will be limited to 144 kbps only. You may need to update your SIM profile through Thuraya Customer Care to enable this at customer.care@thuraya.com

How many concurrent users can Thuraya IP support using a switch or wireless?

Thuraya IP can support multiple concurrent users, and each user can have multiple sessions. The maximum recommended number of concurrent users is 12.

Can I use Thuraya IP when it is raining, without an antenna?

The terminal conforms to IP55/IK03 ingress protection standards, and can resist water spray. However, keeping it is not advisable to leave the terminal sitting in the rain.

Can I send files between Thuraya IP terminals? Do I need a static IP address for this?

Yes, you can send files from one Thuraya IP to another Thuraya IP. A static IP address is not required for this.

What ports are available on the unit?

The Thuraya IP terminal has one USB port, one RJ45 port and one WLAN connectivity option. For further details, check the Thuraya IP specifications sheet on our website.

Can I use voice on Thuraya IP?

Thuraya IP does not support Circuit Switched Voice; any VOIP application can be used.

Do I need a firewall on my computer or does Thuraya IP contain its own firewall?

You must use your own firewalls.

Can I block users from accessing some websites and stop the pop-ups from the unit?

No, this cannot be done from the unit, but can be done using the firewalls on your local network.

If I have 10 simultaneous users, do they share the available bandwidth equally?

No, the bandwidth available to each user depends on the application used by each, and the amount of data exchanged by that user. The higher the amount of data being pushed/pulled, the higher the bandwidth available for each.

What is the standard encryption available? Can I add other types of encryption?

You can use any standard data encryption on Thuraya IP. All the major encryption types have been tested and proven on Thuraya IP.

What do I need to setup VPN access on one unit?

You require a VPN client on your PC/laptop and a corresponding VPN server in your HQ to setup the VPN connection.

If the terminal is disconnected and I am downloading a file, will it resume the download from the point it stopped?

In general no, but it is subject to the application you have used to download the file.

Can I use streaming and standard IP simultaneously?

No, you cannot, you can only use one at a time.

Can I setup user profiles on Thuraya IP? If yes, can I give access to streaming to some of the users and normal browsing to others?

Yes, there are 4 default user profiles: standard, 128 kbps streaming, 256kbps streaming and 384kbps streaming. Each can be configured individually for streaming IP or standard IP service.

Can I use Thuraya IP with any videoconferencing equipment?

Yes, Thuraya IP can be used with various videoconferencing units including Scotty, Polycom, Tandberg, etc.

Do I need to setup the unit when moving from one location or country to another?

Yes, a new GPS fix has to be acquired.

Can I use fax over Thuraya IP?

Thuraya IP is a pure IP terminal. You can use any fax over IP software to send fax over Thuraya IP.

Does the bandwidth change when the connection rates drops from 80% to 70% for instance?

Yes. The bandwidth/throughput that you get on Thuraya IP is heavily dependent on the correct pointing. If the signal strength drops, the bandwidth available will also drop.

When I use the terminal in a maritime environment, do I need a special setup?

Yes, when using the terminal in a maritime environment you have to use a Spacecom stabilized maritime antenna.

Is the stabilized antenna mandatory in on an oil offshore platform?

If it is a floating oil platform, then the stabilized antenna is preferred. However, if it is a fixed oil platform, the flat panel external antenna can suffice.

Thuraya IP has been tested with multiple streaming media applications, the most important one being Quicklink.

Your Thuraya Service Provider can procure the Quicklink solution, comprising of the client side encoders and server side decoders directly from Quicklink.

Can I use Thuraya IP when there is a sandstorm? Do I need to add an antenna to increase its performance?

Yes, you should be able to use Thuraya IP during a sandstorm.

Can I use Thuraya IP indoors?

You can use your terminal indoors by placing an external antenna outside and connecting it to the Thuraya IP indoors, with a long antenna cable available with the EA 1426 antenna version.

Will my unit’s software be upgraded automatically if there is a new version?

No, you will need to download the new version from the Thuraya IP website and then upgrade the firmware on your terminal, as per the procedure described in the User Manual.

Do I have to add specific applications to improve the performance of my Thuraya IP?

The performance of any IP link (especially the ones over satellite) can be improved using special TCP Accelerator software/hardware. It is advisable to use the TCP window resizing software patch for the Windows operating system. This can be provided by Thuraya Customer Care atcustomer.care@thuraya.com or downloaded from our web site.

Am I notified in case there is a network outage?

Yes, Thuraya Customer Care sends the notifications for planned as well as unplanned outages to the Service Providers, who then notify the customers.

Can I remotely control my Thuraya IP or use command applications?

You can remotely control your Thuraya IP by accessing the computer controller attached to Thuraya IP.

Is the unit compatible with both Mac and PC?

Yes, Thuraya IP is compatible with both Mac as well as PC.

 Thuraya IP Technical Specifications
 Physical Characteristics
 Weight  1.3 Kg terminal and battery
 Size  158mm x 225mm x 50mm (A5 size)
 IP Data Services
 Background class of service  Up to 444 Kbps over a shared channel
 Streaming IP  Without External Antenna: 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 Kbps
 With External Antenna: 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 384 Kbps
 Tolerances
 Operating temperature  Running from External Supply: -25 °C to +55 °C
 Running from Battery: 0 °C to +50 °C
 Storage temperature  Including Battery: -20 °C to +60 °C
 Excluding Battery: -40 °C to +80 °C
 Operating humidity  95% RH at 40 °C
 Mechanical vibration  200-2000 Hz, 0.3 m²/s³
 Unpacked Drop  0.5 m on Concrete Surface
 Water and dust proofing  IP-55 standard
 Power
 External Power  Mains power supply adapter, 100-240 V AC at 50 -60 Hz
 Input Voltage  12 volt DC
 Battery
 Battery Life  Up to 36 hours standby time
 1 hour of continuous transmission at the highest rate
 Battery Type  Lithium-Ion
 Battery Charge temperature  0 °C to +40 °C
 Interfaces
 Connectors  Ethernet (RJ-45), USB
 User Interface  Web based graphical user interface accessible via standard web browser.
 External antenna connector  GPS, Active & passive antenna
 WLAN connectivity  IEEE 802.11b standard with:
 WEP encryption
 SSID Broadcasting control
 MAC address filtering
 DHCP
 Compatible Operating Systems
 Windows  98SE, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Vista
 Macintosh  OS 10.1 or later
 Linux  Redhat 9
 Compatible Internet Browsers
 Microsoft Internet Explorer  6.0 or later for Windows
 5.0 or later for Mac
 Netscape Communicator  7.0 or later
 Mozilla Firefox  2.0 or later
 Safari  1.2 on Mac
 Applications
 VOIP  Skype, MSN, Yahoo, AOL, Asterisk
 Video and Other applications  Streambox, Quicklink
 VPN systems  Cisco-VPN client V1 or V2.6.3
 Nortel-Contivity VPN Client V04_15.06
 Netscreen-Remote Client 8.1
 Checkpoint-V4.1
 Sonic WallIP Encryptor Omnisec 421 for Mobile IP VPN
 Governmental Security Solutions  (Encryption)  Omnisec IP-based VPN Solution based on well proven Omnicrypt System Architecture for  Remote Site IP VPN and Secure Videoconferencing
 Omnisec Secure Collaboration Solution  for Secure Collaboration

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