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COBHAM
EXPLORER 8100

1.0m Stabilized Antenna System

the most advanced Auto-Acquire Drive-Away Land VSAT antenna available

designed to offer unparalleled Comms-On-The-Pause performance, ensuring high-quality connectivity

The Cobham Explorer 8100 1.0m Stabilized, Auto-Acquire, Drive-Away Antenna System has a unique Dynamic Pointing Correction technology and an advanced carbon fiber reflector make the 1 meter Cobham EXPLORER 8100 the most advanced Auto-Acquire Drive-Away Land VSAT antenna available today.

Explorer 8100 VSAT System Features

This is not your traditional VSAT antenna.

Rugged & Reliable

A state-of-the-art High-Pressure Carbon Fiber Resin Transfer Moulded Reflector which provides impeccable precision.

Dynamic Pointing Correction

Focused on ultra-reliable connectivity even in situations where experiencing sudden movements or rocking caused by high winds.

Single Piece System

The system features revolutionary design that makes it strong, reliable and easy to install while the time it takes to get connected from a cold start sets a new industry standard.

Ku & Ka band networks

Designed to offer unparalleled performance, ensuring high quality connectivity. The Swappable Feed System Enables Switching between Ka-SAT, Ku-Band & GX with Optional Conversion Kits.

Built-in Wifi

and a Web-based User Interface for easy PC & Smartphone Configuration

Precision Polarization

Drive in Ku-band configuration

Dynamic Pointing Correction

and inclined orbit satellite tracking

Harmonic Drive Gear Systems

For Near Silent Operations

Ultimate vibration performance Withstands Winds In Excess of 1.5G's

ensuring maximum reliability even when used in the roughest conditions.

Developed completely in-house by Cobham SATCOM

the 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 unique Dynamic Pointing Correction technology and an advanced carbon fiber reflector make the 1 meter EXPLORER 8100 the most advanced Auto-Acquire Drive-Away Land VSAT antenna available in its class.

The system enables a stable link to the Global Xpress network in winds up to 112 km/h or when people enter and exit the vehicle. The stabilization technology is even more important on the High Throughput Satellite (HTS) Ka-band frequencies used by Global Xpress, which require better pointing accuracy than Ku-band services to maintain a stable, high-bandwidth link to the satellite

Traditional vehicle mounted 'Comms-On-The-Pause' VSAT antennas can lose connection to the satellite with even the slightest movement of the vehicle on its suspension caused by high winds or people getting in and out. EXPLORER 8100 isn't a traditional VSAT antenna.

With EXPLORER 8100 you can enjoy continuous connectivity services even if the vehicle rocks thanks to a new and unique 'Dynamic Pointing Correction' system. Using lessons learned from Cobham SATCOM's maritime stabilized VSAT antennas, EXPLORER 8100 offers the most reliable connectivity available in its class.

Explorer 8100GX features dynamic pointing correction technology, which enables a high degree of pointing accuracy. According to Cobham, it can adjust in milliseconds to compensate for the vehicle it is installed on rocking on its suspension, giving broadcasters the ability to transmit live, High Definition (HD) multimedia without interruption from anywhere in the world and in almost any weather conditions.

EXPLORER 8100 is developed completely in-house by Cobham SATCOM. It features genuine EXPLORER design, which is already established and proven with Cobham SATCOM's highly regarded EXPLORER BGAN and GX terminals.

It is designed to offer unparalleled Comms-On-The-Pause performance, ensuring high quality connectivity that is available even when other antennas would have lost their connection to the satellite. In the field, this means you can count on EXPLORER 8100 to provide you with vital communications whatever the conditions.

EXPLORER 8100 features industry-leading fast satellite acquisition with pointing achieved automatically in less than two minutes, making getting connected to a satellite a quick and easy process.

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.

Apollo Inmarsat Alphasat and I-4- coverage
  • 1m carbon fibre reflector for multi-band operation
  • Offset feed Ku-band
  • 18 Watt extended range BUC
  • Multi-band LNB for international use
  • 1RU EXPLORER antenna control unit
  • Built-in Wi-Fi and a web-based user interface for easy configuration
ANTENNA CHARACTERISTICS

Ku-band

Ka-band (ViaSat eTRIA)
 

Receive

Transmit

Receive

Transmit

Frequency (GHz)

10.7 -12.75

13.75 -14.5

19.2 - 21.2

29.0 - 30.0

Antenna Gain

39.3 - 40.8

42.0 - 42.2

43.9 - 44.5

47.6 - 47.8

Cross Pol Isolation  (dB)  within 1dB beamwidth

>21.4

>24

>20.4

>20.5

Cross Pol Isolation (dB) On-Axis

>24.7

>32.2

-

-

Feed Port Isolation - Tx to Rx (dB)

40

110 w/filter

-

-

Beamwidth (degrees) at -3dB

1.6° - 1.9°

1.4° - 1.5°

1.1

0.7

Beamwidth (degrees) at -10dB

2.8° - 3.4°

2.5° - 2.6°

1.9

1.3

Antenna Noise Temp. (°K) at 30° Elevation

55°

 

107°

 
G/T - Comm (dB/°K) 18.4 dB/°K @ 30° EL Midband 22.0 dB/°K (eTRIA 1.5 dB Noise Figure)
Radiation Pattern Compliance FCC §25.209, ITU-R S.580

ITU-R S.580

Polarization Linear Orthogonal Std. Optional Co-pol RHCP or LHCP (eTRIA auto selectable)
Standard BUC Options 8 Watt Extended Band 3W ViaSat eTRIA
EIRP with Standard BUC Options (dBW)

50 dBW

54 dBW

Product number 408157A-50211 408157B-50551
         
MECHANICAL      
Positioner Harmonic Drive      
Azimuth ± 195°      
Elevation 0-100° antenna boresight (mechanical)      
Polarization ± 95° (Ku-band)      
Satellite Inclination ± 15°      
Slewing & Deploying Up to 9° per second      
Acquisition time (typical) < 4 minutes from cold start      
         
REFLECTOR      
Size 1.0m single piece carbon fiber RTM reflector      
Optics Offset, Prime Focus      
Mount Geometry 2-Axis, Elevation over Azimuth      
Polarization Ku-band: Linear with Motorized Rotation Ka-band: RHCP or LHCP      
         
WEIGHT & MEASURES      
Weight 63 kg / 139 lbs with BUC / LNB
56.5 kg / 124.5 lbs with eTRIA
     
Length 156 cm / 61”      
Stowed:  Height / Width 35 cm / 14”  /  100 cm / 39”      
Antenna Control Unit (1RU)
- Weight
- Dimensions
4.5 kg / 9.9 lbs.
4.4 x 48 x 33 cm / 1.75” x 19” x 13”
     
Shipping Crate Dimensions
- Weight
- Dimensions (L/W/D)
136.5 Kg / 300 lbs (Ku Antenna, ACU and Accessories) 130 kg / 286.6 lbs (Ka Antenna, ACU and Accessories) 162 x 107 x 59 cm / 63.2” x 42.1” x 23.2”      
         
ELECTRICAL      
RF Rx  and  Tx:  Type  F  (75-ohm)  connectors  on ACU for modem interface      
LNB (Ku) Multi-band for international use included. (10.7 - 12.75 GHz)      
Motors Low noise, brushless, DC      
Antenne Controller (1RU) Power Supply 90  -  264  VAC,  50/60Hz  Single  Phase  540W (peak)      
Power Consumption Motors Active – 290 Watts Motors Idle – 55 Watts      
BUC Mounting (Ku) 8 watt extended range BUC included      
       
ACCESSORIES      
408157A-100 EXPLORER 8100 Ku to KA-SAT Conversion Kit      
         
ENVIRONMENTAL      
Wind Speed:   Operational (anchored)
Survival, deployed Survival, stowed
72 km/h / 45 mph
118 km/h / 73 mph
161 km/h / 100 mph
     

Temperature:  Operational Survival

-33° to +55°C / -27° to 131°F
-40° to +80°C / -40° to 176°F
     
Rain <100 mm/hr      
Humidity 0 to 100% (condensing)      
IP Rating:  Antenna
Antenna Control Unit
IP-55 IP-30      
Cobham Satcom, in response to heavy rains in South Carolina in the U.S., has redirected the demonstration SUV for the company’s first Explorer 8100 VSAT system in the country from its course toward an exhibition in Baltimore, Md. to support the American Red Cross’ ongoing disaster response.
South Carolina endured record-breaking rainfall — as much as 14 inches in 24 hours — earlier this month, closing more than 300 roads and causing the evacuation of residents in the worst hit areas. Cobham Satcom sent its Chevrolet suburban demo unit to provide communications in lieu of terrestrial and cellular services, which were down in many parts of the state.
“Our first two days in South Carolina were spent helping the Red Cross at their temporary headquarters. We then moved to Georgetown in rural South Carolina to provide communication facilities at the staging point for fire-rescue, swift water rescue teams and Army National Guardsoldiers picking evacuees up in boats,” said Nick Upchurch, sales engineer at Cobham Satcom.
Designed with technology from Cobham Satcom’s maritime antennas, the land-based Explorer 8100 VSAT overcomes the challenge of transmission interruptions when the vehicle experiences sudden movements or rocking on its suspension when people enter and exit. A dynamic pointing correction feature ensures uninterrupted transmission to the satellite when similar antennas would experience a loss of signal.
Cobham Satcom’s demo SUV was also equipped with an Explorer 727 system for use on Inmarsat satellites and a satellite push-to-talk system. Responders used both systems to support recovery operations in South Carolina.

Cobham Explorer 8100 8 Watt KU Drive-Away Antenna System

Take a broadband Internet connection with you via the EXPLORER 8100 VSAT system. Ideal for buildings in hurricane zones, data & news vans, oilfield services, emergency services or mobile office applications.

It is designed to offer unparalleled Comms-On-The-Pause performance, ensuring high-quality connectivity that is available even when other antennas would have lost their connection to the satellite. In the field, this means you can count on EXPLORER 8100 to provide you with vital communications whatever the conditions.

Explorer 8100

Product Brochure

Explorer 8100

Installation Manual

Explorer 8100

Quick-start Guide

Cobham Explorer 8100 Fly Away VSAT Apollo Satellite