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July 1st, 2015

Cobham SATCOM Delivers The First Stabilized Drive-Away VSAT Antenna


[SatNews] Cobham SATCOM is launching the latest innovative antenna system in its highly regarded EXPLORER portfolio for land ‘Comms-On-The-Pause’ users. Developed completely in-house by Cobham SATCOM, the new one meter EXPLORER 8100 Auto-Acquire Drive-Away antenna is designed to offer unparalleled performance, ensuring high quality connectivity on any Ku- and Ka-band networks. The terminal features genuine EXPLORER design, which is already established and proven with Cobham SATCOM’s highly regarded EXPLORER BGAN and GX terminals.


The new one meter EXPLORER 8100 Auto-Acquire Drive-Away antenna.

With EXPLORER 8100, Cobham SATCOM has focused on ultra-reliable connectivity even in situations where the vehicle is experiencing sudden movements or rocking on its suspension while the antenna is transmitting. This could be caused by high winds or more commonly, people stepping in or out of the vehicle. Particularly important for Ka-band usage, mechanical impacts as small as 0.3 degrees may lead to an immediate loss of signal. Cobham SATCOM introduces ‘Dynamic Pointing Correction’ from its stabilized Maritime Antennas on this new series of Land Comms-On-The-Pause VSAT antennas. Dynamic Pointing Correction ensures uninterrupted transmission when similar antennas would experience a complete loss of signal.

A state-of-the-art RTM carbon fiber reflector combined with pointing correction technologies delivers an accurate Drive-Away VSAT antenna on the market.

EXPLORER 8100 features industry-fast satellite acquisition with pointing achieved automatically in less than two minutes. The system is available in both Ka- and Ku-band configurations and works with all major satellite networks. A swappable feed system allows users to change frequency bands, ensuring they have full choice of what services to use throughout the lifetime of the antenna.

EXPLORER 8100 comes with built-in Wi-Fi for easy access to the terminal and the same Web-based user-interface developed for Cobham SATCOM’s cutting edge Inmarsat GX series of antennas. Once connected, EXPLORER 8100 provides high performance, continuous connectivity in the field, optimally supporting high definition video streaming, high throughput data transfer and tactical and emergency communication.

“EXPLORER 8100 really does raise-the-bar for Drive-Away antennas,” said Henrik Nørrelykke, VP Land Business, Cobham SATCOM. “Its revolutionary design makes it lightweight, strong and easier to install whilst the time it takes to get connected from a cold start sets a new industry standard. However, the fact that EXPLORER 8100 is the only Drive-Away antenna that can deliver highly accurate Dynamic Pointing Correction, and therefore significantly enhance availability of connectivity, positions it as the most advanced Drive-Away Land VSAT antenna available.” 

First customer shipment of EXPLORER 8100 is planned for October 2015. For further information please visit