AST Christmas Story

'Twas the night before Christmas...

...and Captain Dave navigated his ship, the "Sat 1” through the vast expanse of the open sea. The moon shone brightly, casting a silvery glow on the wintery waves. However, onboard the ship, the festive spirit was dampened as the VSAT system, crucial for connecting the crew with their families, had mysteriously lost connection.

With a heavy heart, Captain Dave gathered his crew on the deck, sensing their longing to be with their loved ones during the holiday season. Determined to make things right, he decided to reach out to the experts at Applied Satellite Technology a renowned company known for its expertise in communication systems for assistance.

A friendly voice answered

With a heavy heart, Captain Dave gathered his crew on the deck, sensing their longing to be with their loved ones during the holiday season. Determined to make things right, he decided to reach out to the experts at Applied Satellite Technology a renowned company known for its expertise in communication systems for assistance.

On the other end of the line, a friendly voice answered, "AST Customer Service, this is Jodie speaking. How may I assist you today?"

Captain Dave explained the situation, emphasising the importance of reconnecting his crew with their families for the holidays. Jodie, understanding the urgency, assured the captain that AST would do everything possible to get the VSAT system back online.

Captain Dave checks that the ship is in working order. Will everything be ok?

Meanwhile, Captain Dave decided to take the opportunity to ensure that every aspect of his ship was in top condition. Using the Integrated Remote Asset Monitoring System (IRAMS) installed on the Sat 1, a powerful tool for monitoring the vessel's performance he was able to check the engine's efficiency and overall system health.

While AST continued to work diligently to restore the VSAT system, Captain Dave, with the help of IRAMS, identified a minor issue in the engine's performance. With the newfound knowledge, the crew quickly addressed the concern, ensuring that the Sat 1 sailed smoothly through the icy waters.

Jodie and the team get to work on restoring connectivity. Can they identify the issue?

Back at the AST help desk, Jodie and the team, confirmed the location of the vessel and the current heading, and after studying an installation picture of the vessel, Jodie set to work and identified the vessels' mast structure as a likely cause of blockage. Gaining remote access to the VSAT modem via the Iridium Certus, Jodie, commanded the modem via telnet to search for an alternative beam that offered coverage over the same location, and was not screened by any blockage.

The crew rejoice!

After the modem rebooted and joined the network on the new satellite, all services were restored.

The crew erupted in cheers as they reconnected with their families through video calls, creating an atmosphere of warmth and joy aboard Sat 1.

Captain Dave expressed his gratitude to AST Networks for their prompt assistance, and he also appreciated the role that IRAMS played in maintaining the ship's efficiency. With both systems back in order, Sat 1 continued its journey through the Arctic, spreading Christmas cheer under the northern lights.

The crew, once disheartened, now celebrated a Christmas they would never forget – a tale of resilience, technology, and the magic of the season.