The Beam Iridium magnetic antenna (RST715) is designed for Land based applications. Designed to work with Beam Iridium products and will work with other Iridium based devices. Antenna cable is included and attached to the antenna. The RST715 Beam Iridium antenna also allows for easy removal and re-fit.

Powering Up / Restarting

My terminal / docking station continues to display "Searching Satellite / Network..."

Ensure your terminal’s antenna is installed where there are no obstructions and has a clear line of sight to the satellite with no obstacles which could block the signal.

Check the antenna cable and all connections are secure and no bends or breaks/cuts in the cable.

Check for any RF interference near the antenna that may be causing problems. If there are any, shut them down and re-test, if your set-up works okay now, then you will have to relocate the antenna elsewhere.

Check with your service provider that the service has been activated and that you have received the correct SIM card (in case of Inmarsat services)

Does RF Interference affect the satellite signal?

All wireless devices, including satellite telephones, are susceptible to RF (Radio Frequency) interference from other electronic devices. This problem is especially evident when numerous antennas and broadcasting devices are located within close proximity to each other.

A good example would be onboard a ship. It is important that certain considerations be taken into account for best performance when an Iridium system is installed.

Causes of RF Interference

Some subscribers have contacted Iridium regarding the loss of signal quality when they operate their equipment near active INMARSAT terminals. The power with which INMARSAT units transmit can overpower the Iridium unit’s ability to properly maintain a quality connection with the Iridium satellite constellation. INMARSAT terminals are often found in the same locations as Iridium subscribers, such as harbors, airports and especially onboard ships.

The location of the INMARSAT unit’s antenna in relation to the Iridium unit’s antenna plays a significant role in determining the degree of signal degradation that an Iridium subscriber can expect to experience. All Iridium units are susceptible to this interference, regardless of the type of antenna being used.

Generally speaking, an Iridium unit, be it a handset using its integral antenna or a fixed terminal when attached to an externally mounted antenna and located within 15 and 45 meters (50 to 150 feet, respectively) of an operating INMARSAT mini-M / GSPS / Fleetphone / IsatPhone link or Standard-C terminal, will likely experience degraded performance.

Inmarsat antennas can experience interference from other Inmarsat devices as well as radar or broadcast services and other RF transmitting devices.