The North American mobile satellite system (MSAT) began providing the United States and Canada with an unprecedented range of innovative mobile satellite services in 1995. MSAT is the first dedicated system in North America for mobile telephone, radio, facsimile, paging, position location, and data communications for users on land, at sea, and in the air.
Canada-based TMI Communications & Company Ltd. of Ottawa, Ont., and American Mobile Satellite Corporation (AMSC) in Reston, Va., signed contracts with Hughes and Spar Aerospace Ltd. of Canada in 1990 to build their respective satellites for the initial systems. TMI and AMSC each own and operate identical spacecraft. Both will provide complementary mobile services, and each will provide backup and restoration capacity for the other. MSAT-1 operates at 106.5 degrees West longitude. AMSC-1 is at 101 degrees West.
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Hughes was the prime contractor for AMSC's satellite, called AMSC-1, and Spar was the prime for TMI's spacecraft, called MSAT-1. Hughes Space and Communications Company in El Segundo, Calif., managed the program and provided the Hughes 601 satellite buses. Spar's Space Systems Group is providing the high-power payloads and conducting spacecraft integration and testing at the Canadian Space Agency's David Florida Laboratory in Ottawa. The payload is the result of a 10-year mobile payload technical development program supported by the Canadian federal government and Spar investment.
In October 2000, The Boeing Company acquired three units within Hughes Electronics Corporation: Hughes Space and Communications Company, Hughes Electron Dynamics, and Spectrolab, Inc., in addition to Hughes Electronics' interest in HRL, the company's primary research laboratory. The four are now part of Boeing's newest subsidiary, Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc.
Each satellite has the capacity to support up to 2000 simultaneous radio channels, depending on the type of antenna used and bandwidth allocated. Communications between the mobile users and the satellites are accomplished in L-band; terrestrial feeder stations use Ku-band to communicate with the satellite and with one another.
Frequency Updates
The launch window for SkyTerra 1 is scheduled for the fall 2010. To facilitate a smooth transition to our next-generation network, we have developed technology to allow current subscribers to continue to operate their existing devices on our next-generation satellites until the end of the "Emulation Period".
To enable you to experience a smooth transition with un-interrupted service onto our next-generation network we need your help!
We've developed special technology for your current MSAT-G2 and Mitsubishi terminals to operate in Emulation Mode on our next-generation network until the end of the Emulation Period when you will exchange devices.
Critical frequency modifications must be made to each of your current MSAT equipment devices to ensure you are ready for transition.
Just click on the photo of your current radio model and download/print the instructions in the pdf document(s) for each type of equipment you currently own.
The instructions are very specific for each of three different pieces of equipment. It will take up to five (5) minutes to complete the frequency update for each unit.