MDS – Communication

“What does it cost to send the Updates”. Every potential customer asks the same question. The answer is simple “It depends on what updates you want and how urgently you want them”. If the user collects all the data he needs via the internet in port, the cost will be negligible. If the user downloads only the Catalogues and Working Folio updates every week, via satellite at sea, this will take under a minute @ 9600 Baud. Twice daily forecasts will take a similar amount of satellite time. If the user chooses to download all MDS update data available at sea (World chart corrections plus weather forecasts etc) a dedicated 24/7 internet link is recommended. (Data download will be in excess of 10 minutes each week at 9600 Baud). Because MDS data is sent as an encrypted and highly compressed email attachment over the internet the user is free to use several means of communication. BGAN is a lower cost satellite service available within 500 miles of most European and US coasts whilst GPRS and WIFI are available in most ports. WIMAX services are also becoming more available in coastal and port areas and it should not be long before all ships have a continuous link with the internet. The data transmission philosophy of MDS is to allow the user to choose the most suitable communication method and the volume of data to be to download. Most users with Inmarsat will request automatic download of the daily weather forecasts and weekly updates for their Working Folio charts. Five or nine day planning forecasts and Standing folio chart updates will normally be collected when internet access is available on the coast or in port. If MDS Manager is installed on a PC networked with the communications PC, it can be given an address and automatically updated. If there is no network availability a memory stick is normally used. The user must advise the preferred method of communication when registering the software with the MDS server.

MDS – Server configuration
The MDS Server is dedicated to MDS users, duplicated at a second location to provide 100% redundancy and updated daily. The server responds immediately to update requests and chart orders. Electronic chart orders are dealt with in-house whilst paper chart orders are passed on to the user nominated supplier. MARIS is an approved supplier of IC-ENC, UKHO ENC, Primar ENC, US ENC, Japan ENC and Malaysian ENC. MARIS is also an approved supplier of UKHO ARCS and US Raster charts.