Thrane&Thrane Explorer 300 User manual

Getting started with
the EXPLORER®300
Version 02
15 May 2008
i
nmarsa
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Whilst the information has been prepared by Inmarsat in good faith, and all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure its accuracy, Inmarsat makes no warranty or representation as to the accuracy,
completeness or fitness for purpose or use of the information. Inmarsat shall not be liable for any loss or damage of any kind, including indirect or consequential loss, arising from use of the information and all
warranties and conditions, whether express or implied by statute, common law or otherwise, are hereby excluded to the extent permitted by English law. INMARSAT is a trademark of the International Mobile
Satellite Organisation, Inmarsat LOGO is a trademark of Inmarsat (IP) Company Limited. Both trademarks are licensed to Inmarsat Global Limited. © Inmarsat Global Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

Contents
1Introduction 1
1.1 About this guide 1
1.2 Other sources of information 1
1.3 Upgrading software 1
2Introducing the terminal 2
2.1 Physical characteristics 2
2.2 Interfaces 2
2.3 Services 2
3Setting up the terminal 3
3.1 Installing BGAN LaunchPad 4
3.2 Installing the SIM card and battery 4
3.3 Powering on and charging the battery 5
3.4 Obtaining a GPS fix 6
3.5 Connecting the terminal to your computer 7
3.6 Registering with the network 9
4Making voice, data and text connections 12
4.1 Making an analog handset or fax connection 12
4.2 Making an IP Data Connection 13
4.3 Making a Bluetooth connection 19
4.4 Sending or receiving a text message 23

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 1
1 Introduction
1.1 About this guide
This document introduces the EXPLORER 300 terminal, and explains how to set up the terminal for
use on the BGAN network, register with the network, and set up data, voice and text connections.
It is intended for first time end-users, Distribution Partners, Service Providers and anyone who
wants to use a BGAN terminal to connect to the BGAN network and use network services. A
previous knowledge of satellite communications is useful, but not essential.
The sections include:
•Introducing the terminal – a brief overview of the physical features and interfaces of the terminal,
and of the available services.
•Setting up the terminal – includes installing the battery and SIM card, connecting to a computer
and registering with the network
•Making voice, data and text connections – an explanation of how to make a voice call, how to
make IP data connections how to set up and open Bluetooth connections, and how to send and
receive a text message.
1.2 Other sources of information
•This is one of a series of PDF documents in the BGAN Solutions Guide. The Solutions Guide is
designed to help you make the most of your BGAN terminal. Other documents in the series are
available for download from www.inmarsat.com/bgan. Click on BGAN support, then click on
How to guides.
This Web site also gives further information on the BGAN service, including Industry solutions.
•For help in using BGAN LaunchPad, refer to the document “Using BGAN LaunchPad”, available
for download from www.inmarsat.com/support.
•For further information on the EXPLORER 300 terminal, refer to the “EXPLORER 300 User
Manual”, supplied in PDF format on the Thrane & Thrane CD.
1.3 Upgrading software
•To obtain the latest terminal firmware, contact your distributor.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 2
2 Introducing the terminal
This section introduces the physical characteristics, interfaces and services available on the Thrane
& Thrane EXPLORER 300 (called the EXPLORER 300 in the rest of this document).
2.1 Physical characteristics
Item Specification
Manufacturer Thrane & Thrane
Physical dimensions Approx. 217 mm x 168 mm x 52 mm
(8.5 in. x 6.6in. x 2in.)
Weight (including battery) 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs)
External power 15 Volts DC, 100-240 Volts AC (47-63Hz)
Battery life Transmit: 1 hr 20 mins at 96kbps Receive: 3 hr 30 mins at 64kbps
Stand-by time: 36 hrs
Ingress protection IP 54
2.2 Interfaces
Interface Equipment needed
LAN 10/100Mbps, RJ-45 IP data device, LAN-enabled
Phone RJ-11 RJ-11 handset
Bluetooth v1.2 Bluetooth handset, or Bluetooth data device
2.3 Services
Services Specification
Standard IP data Up to 384kbps (send)
Up to 240kbps (receive)
Streaming IP data 32kbps, 64kbps (send and receive)
Phone/fax Standard (4kbps)
Text
To other BGAN terminals or cellular mobile
phones.
From other BGAN terminals, and some mobile
phones, depending on service provider.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 3
3 Setting up the terminal
This section explains how to set up the EXPLORER 300 terminal and connect to the BGAN
network. The steps described are:
a. Installing BGAN LaunchPad on your computer.
b. Installing the SIM card and battery.
c. Obtaining power and charge the battery.
d. Obtaining a GPS fix.
e. Connecting the terminal to your computer. Inmarsat recommends that when first setting up you
use the LAN interface.
f. Pointing the terminal and registering with the BGAN network.
Pre-requisites
Before you start, make sure that you have:
•The BGAN terminal.
•The rechargeable battery, supplied with the terminal.
•A USIM card, supplied by your Service Provider.
•The Ethernet cable supplied with the terminal.
•The BGAN LaunchPad installation CD, supplied with the terminal. Make sure that the PC or Mac
has the minimum system requirements for BGAN LaunchPad (refer to page 4 for details).
•A Bluetooth-enabled computer, with a supported profile, if you intend to connect using Bluetooth.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 4
Minimum system requirements for BGAN LaunchPad
The following are the minimum hardware and software requirements for using BGAN LaunchPad
to manage the EXPLORER 300 on your computer.
Hardware requirements
You must have the following on your computer:
•Support for at least one of these interfaces – LAN or Bluetooth.
•Intel Pentium III CPU, or equivalent.
•100Mb of free hard disk space.
•128Mb of RAM.
•CD-ROM drive.
Operating systems
You must have one of the following operating systems on your computer:
•Microsoft Windows 2000 with SP4.
•Microsoft Windows XP with SP2.
•Linux Red Hat 9 - KDE 3.1.10 (Kernel Version 20.4.20-8).
•Mac 10.x
3.1 Installing BGAN LaunchPad
To install BGAN LaunchPad on your computer:
a. Insert the BGAN LaunchPad Installation CD into your computer's CD-ROM drive.
b. Follow the on-screen instructions.
3.2 Installing the SIM card and battery
To get the terminal ready for connection:
a. Remove the battery and insert the SIM card provided by your Service Provider into the SIM slot,
with the gold contacts facing towards the back of the terminal, as shown below.
b. Press the SIM card gently until it clicks into place.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 5
c. Slide the lock to close the SIM slot.
d. Take the battery and position it as shown below.
e. Press gently until it snaps into place.
3.3 Powering on and charging the battery
To power on the terminal using the power adapter, with the terminal switched off:
a. Insert the power adapter output connector to the DC power input jack on the back of the
terminal, as shown below.
b. Insert the plug end into any AC outlet between 100 and 240 VAC.
Note The battery charges automatically whenever the terminal is connected to the power source.
To ensure accurate information on battery capacity, Thrane & Thrane recommends that you
fully charge, then fully discharge the battery (until the terminal closes down automatically),
and finally charge the battery again before using the terminal for the first time.
The terminal can be used during the discharging pro¬cess, but the remaining battery
capacity may not be displayed accurately in the BGAN LaunchPad status bar.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 6
3.4 Obtaining a GPS fix
Note You must install a SIM card before you can obtain a GPS fix.
The BGAN network requires a valid GPS fix to successfully register your BGAN terminal.
a. Take the EXPLORER 300 outside, open the stand so that the terminal antenna is facing
upwards, and place the unit on a flat surface with an open view of the sky.
b. Switch the unit on using the power button on the left of the display. The EXPLORER 300
automatically searches for a GPS fix when first powered on.
c. You may be prompted to enter a PIN code. Press Cto cancel the PIN code prompt, (you do not
need to enter a PIN code to obtain a GPS fix).
d. Leave the terminal to acquire a GPS fix. This may take a few minutes. To check the terminal’s
GPS status, enter the PROPERTIES > GPS STATUS menu on the terminal’s display panel.
•If the terminal has a GPS fix, and the position can be displayed, the position is shown in the
display, in the format shown below:
•If the terminal has a GPS fix, but the position cannot be displayed the word ACQUIRED is
displayed. The position may not be displayed because it is not permitted in this location, or
because the terminal is not yet registered on the BGAN network. However, you can still use
your terminal even if you cannot view the GPS fix location.
•If the terminal does not have a GPS fix, the display shows almanac data, which is a series of
vertical bars giving the status of 16 GPS satellites.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 7
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 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 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 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 the LAN
interface.
Tip Ethernet can operate over a distance of up to 100m with standard Ethernet cables.
Note For the LAN interface to work without any further setup, your computer must be configured
to obtain an IP address and DNS server address automatically. To check that these settings
are configured on your computer, refer to the documentation for your operating system.
To connect the BGAN terminal to your computer using Ethernet:
a. Connect the LAN cable to the LAN port of your computer. A suitable cable is provided with the
EXPLORER 300.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 8
b. Connect the other end of the cable to the LAN port on the EXPLORER 300, as shown below. A
message confirming the connection is displayed.
Tip Some corporate computers are configured with a static IP address. If your computer has a
static IP address, you must go into the IP Properties option, and change your computers
settings to obtain an IP address automatically.
This is only necessary the first time you connect. You can then change the IP settings to
use a static IP address, if required.
IP addressing on the EXPLORER 300
•In normal operation, the terminal uses its built-in DHCP server to allocate IP addresses
automatically. If you want to manually set up IP addressing, you can use the terminal’s
default range of IP addresses, as shown below:
Terminal IP address 192.168.0.1
Default range of IP addresses 192.168.0.x
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0
DNS
If you use BGAN.INMARSAT.COM as your
APN, the default DNS addresses are
172.30.66.7 and 172.30.34.7
If you use another APN, your Distribution
Partner supplies you with a DNS address
for your APN.
•To test connectivity between your computer and the terminal, ping 192.168.0.1, from your
computer. If a reply is received, your computer is connected to the terminal.
Refer to the Solutions Guide document “BGAN and IP data connections” for further details.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 9
Interfacing with the BGAN terminal
You have three ways of interfacing with the BGAN terminal when using the EXPLORER 300.
•BGAN LaunchPad – Inmarsat’s easy to use software interface, that provides step by step
instructions on connecting to the BGAN network and setting up satellite connections. You
can use BGAN LaunchPad to manage data connections, send and receive text messages,
monitor telephone usage and upgrade software. The interface can be installed on any
computer connected to the terminal and accessed by double-clicking on a desktop icon. With
BGAN LaunchPad, you have access to all the latest customization options and features of
the BGAN service. You can also update firmware automatically using BGAN LaunchPad.
•The terminal’s LCD display and keypad – the EXPLORER 300 has an LCD display and
keypad for displaying status and for changing simple parameters. For details, refer to the
EXPLORER 300 User Manual.
•The terminal’s web interface – the EXPLORER 300 has a built-in web interface for easy
configuration of the terminal and software upgrades. The interface can be accessed directly
from a computer connected to the terminal by entering the default IP address of 192.168.0.1
into a standard Internet browser. For details, refer to the EXPLORER 300 User Manual.
Inmarsat recommends that only one interface be used to ensure that settings and configurations
are not overwritten. This guide assumes use of BGAN LaunchPad.
3.6 Registering with the network
Establishing a connection with the BGAN network requires the careful orientation of the BGAN
terminal towards the satellite - a process called pointing. Accurate and precise pointing is important,
because a badly-pointed antenna can reduce the data rate achievable over the network. When
pointing is complete, you can register the terminal with the BGAN network.
Use the BGAN LaunchPad pointing wizard to step through the process of pointing the terminal and
registering with the network. In addition, you can use the BGAN terminal’s display and keypad to
point the terminal. To use BGAN LaunchPad to point the terminal:
a. Open BGAN LaunchPad by clicking on the BGAN LaunchPad icon on your desktop.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 10
The following screen is displayed.
The status bar displays the message In Pointing Mode.
Note The coverage map and “Welcome to BGAN” area are provided to assist you in pointing,
but the location shown may not correspond to your GPS fix, and does not affect network
registration.
b. Click on Help me setup BGAN and step through the on-screen instructions. BGAN LaunchPad
suggests the recommended pointing angle and direction to correctly position the terminal.
Note Do not touch the antenna.
•Using the terminals’ built-in compass, rotate the terminal left or right until it points in the
correct horizontal direction, known as the azimuth.
•Tilt the terminal slowly up or down until it points in the correct vertical direction, known as the
elevation.
c. Monitor the signal strength on the status bar:
Use this information, and the signal strength reading on the terminal’s display, to further adjust
the antenna position to obtain maximum signal strength. Remember not to touch the antenna.
Note If the signal strength is not sufficient, registration may not be possible and the terminal
may not be able to establish a data connection.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 11
d. When you have positioned the terminal to obtain the maximum signal strength, you are ready to
register with the network. Click on Register with Network now.
Tip You can also register with the network by pressing the OK button on the terminal’s keypad
at any stage in the pointing process.
By default, BGAN LaunchPad opens a standard IP data connection after successful registration.
The status zone reads “Standard Data Connection Open. Ready for Phone, Text and Data”.
Using BGAN LaunchPad during pointing and registration
Note the following about BGAN LaunchPad during pointing and registration:
•During pointing, the location shown on the coverage map is based on your previous location.
The coverage map displays your current position only after you exit pointing and register with
the network.
•During pointing, signal strength information is provided by the satellite’s global beam. Once you
have registered, the signal strength is provided by the satellite’s regional beam. Therefore the
signal strength bar shown in BGAN LaunchPad may change after registration. Once you have
opened a data connection, signal strength is provided by the spot beam.
•To check the actual signal strength, go to Help > Diagnostic Report in BGAN LaunchPad. The
actual signal strength is given in the dialog box that is displayed.
Tip You can make or receive phone calls, or send and receive a text message even if you do
not have an IP data connection.
Automatic mode
The EXPLORER 300 offers the following automatic features:
By default, the terminal automatically opens a data connection after you register with the network.
However, there may be a minimum charge for opening an IP data connection (depending on your
Service Provider), and data may be transferred across the connection even if you are not actively
using an application (for example, your computer may be receiving automatic updates).
If you do not want to incur these charges, you can switch off the automatic connection feature. To
do this:
a. Select BGAN Services > LaunchPad Automatic Connection from the BGAN LaunchPad main
menu.
b. Uncheck the check box to turn off automatic data connection.
You can configure the terminal to automatically exit pointing and set up a data connection after
power on. This feature is disabled by default, but you can enable it using the EXPLORER 300 Web
interface. Refer to the “EXPLORER 300 User Manual” for details.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 12
4 Making voice, data and text connections
•You can connect to the terminal using any of the following interfaces:
•Phone, for Standard (4kbps) voice connection.
•LAN, for IP data connections. If required, you can connect the LAN port to a hub, switch or router
for multi-user connections.
•Bluetooth, for Bluetooth voice or data connections.
If required, you can connect to more than one interface simultaneously.
4.1 Making an analog handset or fax connection
Note: Voice calls are charged by call duration. Refer to your Service Provider for details on call
charges.
You need an analog telephone cable with an RJ-11 connector. To connect a phone or fax to the
terminals’ phone/fax interface:
a. Connect the cable to your phone or fax.
b. Connect the other end of the cable to the phone/fax connector on the BGAN terminal as shown
below.
c. Check the connection by making a phone call or sending a fax.
If the connection fails, check the display on the terminal. If the analog phone icon is not present in
the display, the interface is off. To turn the interface on:
a. Using the terminal’s display and keypad, select SETTINGS > INTERFACES.
b. Select the PHONE/FAX interface.
c. Select ON.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 13
4.2 Making an IP Data Connection
Pre-requisites
Before you can open an IP data connection, ensure that you have done the following:
•Installed a provisioned SIM card, supplied by your Service Provider. The SIM card contains
Access Control Point (APN) information, therefore Inmarsat recommends that you do not
change the APN after installing the SIM card.
•Connected your computer to the BGAN terminal, using one of the terminal’s interfaces.
•Pointed the terminal to obtain the maximum possible signal strength.
•Registered with the BGAN network
You can make an IP data connection using any of these interfaces:
•LAN
•Bluetooth.
Opening a standard data connection
By default, when you first register with the BGAN network, the terminal opens a standard IP data
connection. The standard connection is an always-on, best effort connection and is suitable for
most basic data applications. It is charged by the amount of data sent and received.
To check that the standard connection is open, select the Data tab in BGAN LaunchPad.
The following screen is displayed:
If the standard connection is open, the words Disconnect Standard are displayed below the
connection icon.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 14
Note If the standard connection is closed, the words Connect Standard are displayed below the
connection icon. Click on the icon to open the standard connection.
You can now browse the Internet, send and receive email and use other IP applications. All traffic is
transferred across the standard connection.
Opening a streaming data connection
If you require a guaranteed data rate for your connection (if, for example, the application is time
critical), you can connect using one of the three dedicated streaming connections, at the following
data rates:
•32kbps streaming
•64kbps streaming
Each dedicated streaming class connection is charged by the length of time that the connection is
live. When you open a streaming connection, the standard connection is closed.
Tip By default, error correction (also called network packet retransmission) is switched on.
Inmarsat recommends that you turn error correction off for UDP/IP connections, as this
feature is not required for this connection type. Refer to “BGAN and IP data connections” for
details.
To open a streaming connection:
a. Select the Data tab in BGAN LaunchPad:
The following screen is displayed:

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 15
b. Select the required streaming connection, for example Streaming 64. The following message is
displayed, asking you to confirm that you want to close your current connection and open a new
connection, charged by time:
c. Click on OK. The new data connection opens, and the following screen is displayed:
The Standard connection is closed, and the Streaming 64 connection is open. All traffic is
transferred across the selected streaming connection.
Note If you subsequently want to close the streaming connection and open another streaming
connection, or reopen the standard connection, repeat steps a to c.
Note If you want to close all connections, click on the currently open connection.
Opening a dedicated streaming connection
In addition to the default connections, BGAN LaunchPad enables you to configure and open one or
more dedicated streaming connections (you can associate one of the icons shown above with a
dedicated streaming connection). These are assigned to specific applications, for example Win
Media, to ensure that the connection for this application’s data is not shared with any other
application.
You must have a pre-configured standard or streaming connection open before you can open a
dedicated streaming connection. This is because each dedicated streaming connection creates a
virtual IP data connection which shares the IP address of the pre-configured standard or streaming
connection.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 16
For details on configuring dedicated streaming connections, refer to the document “Using BGAN
LaunchPad”, available for download from www.inmarsat.com/support.
Traffic Flow Templates
Each dedicated streaming connection is associated with a Traffic Flow Template (TFT). A TFT,
also called an Application Template, assigns a priority to a selected type of traffic in order to
maximize performance.
BGAN LaunchPad supports the following pre-configured TFTs, any one of which can be selected
when you configure a dedicated streaming connection to ensure that the defined traffic has its
own dedicated connection:
•FTP
•QuickLink
•QuickTime
•Real Media
•Streambox
•WinMedia
If you want to define your own TFT for another application, contact your Service Provider for
assistance.
To open a dedicated streaming connection:
a. Select the Data tab in BGAN LaunchPad.
The following screen is displayed:
In this scenario, you have set up a dedicated streaming connection for Win Media. The
Standard connection is currently open.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 17
b. Select the required dedicated streaming connection, for example Win Media. The following
message is displayed, asking you to confirm that you want to open a dedicated connection in
addition to your current connection:
c. Click on OK. The new data connection opens and the following screen is displayed:
The Standard and the Win Media connections are both open. All traffic other than Win Media
data continues to use the standard connection.
You can open up to 10 dedicated streaming connections in addition to your default connection.
If you can’t make a data connection…
If you can’t open a data connection, check that the default Access Point Name (APN) is set
correctly. The APN is stored on your SIM and must be configured as the access point for each of
your data connections for the data connection to open successfully.
Tip If you want to open a dedicated streaming connection, the APN of the dedicated streaming
connection must be the same as that of the standard or streaming connection already open.

Getting Started with the EXPLORER 300 Page 18
To check the default APN is set correctly:
a. Select LaunchPad Services > APN Options in BGAN LaunchPad. The APN Configuration
screen is displayed, as shown below:
b. Check the Current Default APN text box to ensure that you are connected to the correct APN. If
not, either:
•Click on Fetch from SIM.
•Select the required APN from the Select APN drop-down list and click on Make default.
To check that the APN for a specific data connection is set to the default:
a. Select the Data tab in BGAN LaunchPad.
The following screen is displayed: