Space Data Introduces Balloon-Based Telemetry to Energy Industry
Everywhere Wireless Coverage Announced at ENTELEC 2003
Austin, TX; March 31, 2003 — Space Data Corporation today introduced a new wireless telemetry service that literally knows no geographic limitations. “Our telecommunications network provides wireless data services to any location and does so at competitive prices,” said David Wu, Space Data’s president. “The solution is to attach wireless repeaters to modified industrial weather balloons, a process that has been proven simple, reliable and robust for more than 60 years.”
Are weather balloons really a viable technology? Millions of successful flights prove they are one of the most dependable and sustainable of all modern systems. For more than 60 years, weather balloons have been the foundation of global meteorology as they beam down critical atmospheric data to weather stations around the globe. All of the United States and most of the world’s landmass is in constant line-of-sight with weather balloons at 100,000 feet above the earth. Space Data is the first to adapt this field-proven concept to wireless telemetry. It attaches communications electronics to industrial grade balloons to create SkySite™ Platforms. The patent pending SkySite™ Network delivers dependable, strong, clear signals over hundreds of miles — perfect for communications in the most remote areas. At 100,000 feet, a single SkySite™ Platform can provide telemetry services to an area the size of Oklahoma.
Space Data has the ability to monitor every phase of the energy exploration, production and distribution process — no matter how remote the location. Because no piece of equipment is too remote for the Space Data system, utilization is only limited by imagination. Space Data is committed to deliver the best, most timely data possible. The firm is working closely with manufacturers of Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU) hardware and developers of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software to assure that communications are efficient and reliable. Through Space Data’s Vendor Certification Program, the company delivers the highest quality at every point in the data communications stream. The Space Data telemetry solution and the Vendor Certification Program are being unveiled this week at the industry’s annual ENTELEC Conference in Austin, Texas.
Space Data’s communications network utilizes the proven ReFLEX™ technology developed by Motorola. ReFLEX systems are now used in millions of wireless data devices. Of particular value for the energy industry is the fact that ReFLEX modems are designed to interoperate with existing RTUs. Simply plug and play. As a result, ReFLEX modems can be used with new RTUs or retrofitted on existing RTUs.
“This is a critical time for the energy industry to reexamine its options for remote monitoring and control,” explained Wu. “Our technology allows companies to expand coverage to any location: an option that was not financially practical for the industry until now. In addition, wireless carriers are currently phasing out the CDPD technology that petroleum companies have used for telemetry. Space Data is stepping into that void with a system that is similarly priced to what the industry paid for CDPD, but is dramatically less expensive than satellite monitoring. Our solution provides the rapid ROI that the industry demands.”
Editor’s Note: To arrange an interview, contact Tim Ayers, 202-857-9734, tim@ayersassoicates.net. Space Data will be exhibiting its technology in Booth 836 at the ENTELEC Conference on April 1 and 2. For additional information, please visit the Space Data Corporation website: www.spacedata.net.