Dear all,

In all sorts of way we had a challenging start in 2009. The long anticipated satellite beam switch finally took place. We wish to thank our partners and customers for their efforts, support and patience to get this job done successfully.

Unfortunately we are starting to see the impact of the economic crisis on some of our markets. Nevertheless we remain confident that our main markets and new opportunities will develop further.

This newsletter will highlight new technical developments (IP and Glonass) that will improve our services, will introduce our new OmniSTAR 9200 receiver and Mr. Gert van der Velde, one of our Sales Managers. We will also update you on other Technical and Marketing developments

We hope that this newsletter will be informational to you.

Cor de Kuijper
Commercial Manager Europe & CIS

OmniSTAR is proud to announce the introduction of a new service, which provides precise orbit and clock corrections for the Glonass satellites. OmniSTAR is the first commercial company in the world to offer worldwide precise orbit and clock corrections for all current Glonass satellites (18). The Glonass measurements are added to the GPS measurements, which improves the availability of our correction service, also in difficult places (like around trees).

To use the new service, OmniSTAR provides an upgrade path to Glonass capable receiver. One such receiver is the 9200-G2 model, which also includes internal batteries, Bluetooth and Ethernet connection. The Glonass service will be available for land applications later this year.

In addition to our already tried and tested broadcast (of data services by a range of L-Band satellites), OmniSTAR now offers a transmission of our DGNSS services also via IP (Internet Protocol) channels, i.e. any communication channel capable of carrying IP data can now also be utilized to receive OmniSTAR DGNSS services. Examples of such networks are GPRS, UMTS, Iridium and Thuraya.

Receiving OmniSTAR DGNSS via IP, instead of via regular satellite transmission channels, can be beneficial in situations where reception of a satellite transmission may be blocked by high buildings, mountains or tree canopy.

Setup

The infrastructure for the OmniSTAR IP service is placed at our Network Control Centers, where redundant servers warrant an uninterrupted supply of DGNSS data. The data transmitted via IP is an exact duplicate of the data that is also broadcasted via satellite and can therefore be used as a stand-alone or backup positioning solution. It is up to the user to select what type of broadcast is preferred: Satellite or IP based. Each active OmniSTAR subscription authorizes the user to use either one (or both) at no additional cost. Access to our IP service is by username and password. Once the username and password have been accepted by our server, the DGNSS stream, appropriate for your territory, can be selected.

Cellular modem

However, OmniSTAR IP can only be used in combination with OmniSTAR compatible hardware that allows the input of DGNSS data (for suitable hardware, see the specifications below). Also to convert IP based data to data that can be fed to an RS232 interface, the use of a special OmniSTAR IP demodulator box (the Siemens TC65) is required. The TC65 supports Quad-band operation and can be used world-wide, using local GPRS communications. For the use of Iridium or Thuraya, please contact our office.

OmniSTAR is pleased to announce the launch of our new OmniSTAR 9200G2 DGNSS receiver.

The 9200G2 is a state-of-the-art GNSS receiver, capable of providing a range of positioning techniques, that can utilize all OmniSTAR DGNSS services: i.e. OmniSTAR VBS for sub-meter level and OmniSTAR HP and XP for decimeter level positioning. The 9200G2 receiver will also be able to utilize our new G2 service (GLONASS corrections).

The 9200G2 receiver is rugged, requires low maintenance and is good value for money. In standard mode the device can be configured to output positions with an update rate of up to 10 Hz (20 Hz is optional), allowing it to be used in a highly dynamic environment. Its rugged waterproof enclosure, integrated display and internal battery (good for 13 working hours) makes the device an ideal tool for field work.

The receiver is capable of communicating over RS232 (3 ports), USB as well as through a 10BaseT/100BaseT LAN port. A separate Bluetooth® port is available for wireless connections with, for example, a mobile phone. The Ethernet LAN interface allows the unit to function as an FTP server for those with a need to retrieve files manually, but is also capable of “FTP Push”, a mechanism by which it is possible to upload measurement data automatically to a designated FTP server. The receiver also contains a web server that will allow a user to configure the device through TCP/IP, using a web browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.

Every year, OmniSTAR BV seizes the opportunity to query its customers about their level of satisfaction during the past year. For that purpose a questionnaire was distributed to some of our active customers electronically, and the response could be filled in on-line.

The results as highlighted through the analysis of the Customer Satisfaction Survey 2008-2009, clearly show that customers are truly satisfied with the service provided. Overall satisfaction was rated high: 96% of our customers were satisfied/very satisfied with the OmniSTAR performance and services.

Reliability, flexibility, activation procedure, accuracy, HP service and global coverage as well as friendliness of the staff, responsiveness and personal contact are part of what customers mention that they value most in OmniSTAR.

Although satisfied with this year’s survey results, OmniSTAR will continue to look in the coming year at additional ways to maintain (or where possible increase) customer satisfaction and improve our services.

Customers’ suggestions will be studied and evaluated for their feasibility. All received inputs will help OmniSTAR to improve both its services and products. Therefore OmniSTAR would like to thank again all participants for their time.

Last February OmniSTAR BV exhibited for the first time at the SIMA Agricultural Exhibition, Parc des Expositions in Paris. From year to year this show continues to grow and this year it was quite a sizeable event. All major machine manufacturers were present and in particular the AGCO Group, New Holland and Case IH had very large stands to show off their  many machine brands. Auto-guidance was evident in many cases and GPS/auto-guidance systems and related software companies were also well represented with their own stands, e.g. Trimble, Topcon, Raven, Hemisphere, Autofarm especially.

Most days the exhibition was very crowded not only with farm visitors from France, but also from many other Western Europe countries. OmniSTAR BV was able to meet with many good contacts: both existing customers and new contacts. New business opportunities for OmniSTAR GNSS services (in particular HP/XP) were generated at SIMA.

The satellite switch mentioned in our previous newsletter has now been completed. For Europe we switched from EASAT to AFSAT. Also the change from AFSAT to IORH for the Middle-East was finalized.

Furthermore, now also the AOREH satellite (1535.1250 600 baud) can be received at 15 degrees west.

With this switch the new VBS2 format was implemented.

Advantages of the new VBS2 format are:

• The possibility for automatic satellite switching, using satellite messages as broadcast by the OmniSTAR satellite,
• Faster first time acquisition from 30 Minutes typical to 20 minutes maximum,
• Better interpolation of the Sahara area for VBS applications,
• Addition of the G2 GPS/Glonass precise orbits and clock data,
• Implementation of the metronome function to generate DGPS corrections.

For an overview of which satellite is available for your area please visit our website.

Pacific Ocean Region

For the Pacific Ocean Region the PORH, covering New Zealand was replaced by the OCSAT. Also the OCSAT was corrected to the new VBS2 format on 29 March 2009.

Delhi reference station

In India the Delhi reference station had become on-line on 30 March 2009. Having Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkotta now available the Indian Territory is well covered with reference stations for both VBS and HP solutions.

Trimble has released a new field terminal with integrated GPS receiver that offers the OmniSTAR option. This receiver was introduced for the Agricultural market. Using the RDI (Remote Diagnostics) feature, one has access to the traditional AgRemote display with OmniSTAR support. The OmniSTAR serial number range is 120-1234567 and can be found at the user code.

The Canadian company Geneq has launched an OmniSTAR VBS capable receiver with internal battery, Bluetooth for Forestry, Agriculture and GIS applications and a very small handsized form factor. For more info see www.sxbluegps.com.

Are you in need of OmniSTAR brochures? Now is your chance to order some and distribute these amongst your customers. You can find all the available brochures HERE on our website.

Just send us an e-mail containing the number and type of brochures you wish to receive. We will then ship the requested leaflets to you as soon as possible. You can send your e-mail to Henrieke Christians, our Marketing and Sales Assistant, or your Sales Manager at OmniSTAR:

E-mail: info@omnistar.nl
Tel. +31 70 317 0900
Fax +31 70 317 0919

Your opinion matters to us! In order to evaluate and improve our services and your satisfaction with OmniSTAR BV, we need your input. So please let us know what you would like to read in our next Newsletter. Perhaps you would like more technical information or you wish to learn more about OmniSTAR personnel. Or maybe you just want to learn more about the history of OmniSTAR?

So please send us your suggestions via e-mail to info@omnistar.nl and who knows, you may find your suggestion in our next Newsletter!

How long have you been working with OmniSTAR BV?

I have been working with the OmniSTAR Sales department since June 2004. As a Sales Manager I am responsible for the BeNeLux, Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. My task is that more customers use OmniSTAR for GNSS related applications. And fortunately, there are many applications where OmniSTAR proves successful. Fortunately, not everybody yet knows about OmniSTAR so there is still a lot of work left for me to be done.

What do you like the most about your current position?

In my current position I have the opportunity to work with a huge variety of customers and with many different applications in an international environment. Each customer and application has its own both technical and commercial specifics. So, it’s never boring and always a challenge to achieve the best for both OmniSTAR and customer. Virtually all applications involve techniques either mechanically and/or electronically. My background as an electronic engineer helps a lot. I like to get to know as much as possible about technical details of any application but I also realize that attention should also be paid to the commercial aspects!

What I like the most is the combination of having a commercial job with still many technical aspects that are part of the products we sell and of the customer’s application.

At OmniSTAR we do have an informal and open way of communication amongst colleagues. There is a very pleasant working atmosphere and a good team spirit in the office.

Anything else you would like to share with our readers? About other activities you enjoy?

I like to ride motorcycle, play volleyball, in-line skating and cycling. Apart from being active, now and then I also like to watch movies at home and waste time “computering”. Other hobbies are photography and video. Actually I am quite a video- and audiophile-person in the technical sense. I am married to my lovely wife Janet and we have two adorable daughters Rinke (6) and Manon (4).

Disclaimer:
We hereby expressly declare that we have no influence whatsoever on the design and content of any web pages reached via links from this Newsletter. OmniSTAR BV hereby expressly disassociates itself from the content of any such linked websites and does not adopt their content.

OmniSTAR BV
The Netherlands * Phone: +31 70 317 0900 * Fax: +31 70 317 0919