SeaKey, LLC makes the emerging telematics technology available to boaters through our SeaKey® products, including SeaKey® v2.0.

By the most basic definition, telematics is the combination of a wireless communication system (i.e. cellular, satellite, etc) and an onboard computer processor. Telematics has been used primarily for commercial applications for monitoring, tracking and reporting. One of the most widely known consumer telematics systems is OnStar® , which is installed on many new automobiles.

SeaKey® monitors the boat position and status, and reports alarms to the Response Center, to the boat owner’s email address, and to the boat owner’s personal SeaKey® website.

Satellites ?

Satellites are used for both positioning information and communications. The SeaKey® system comes with a GPS receiver, similar to the one you may use for your navigation system. Because the SeaKey® system is always on, we only use the position data from our GPS, as most navigation systems are turned off when you leave the boat.

For communications, SeaKey® v2.0 uses the ORBCOMM® network of low-earth orbiting satellites. ORBCOMM operates thirty satellites in six orbital planes that provide worldwide coverage. This allows you to track your boat any where in the world it may be.

GSM ?

GSM is a cellular network, which means that mobile phones connect to it by searching for cells in the immediate vicinity. GSM networks operate in four different frequency ranges. Most GSM networks operate in the 900 MHz or 1800 MHz bands. Some countries in the Americas (including Canada and the United States) use the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands because the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency bands were already allocated.

GPRS ?

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a packet oriented Mobile Data Service available to users of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and IS-136 mobile phones. It provides data rates from 56 up to 114 kbit/s.

Roaming ?

Roaming is a general term in wireless telecommunications that refers to the extending of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered. The term "roaming" originates from the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) sphere. Traditional GSM Roaming is defined (cf. GSM Association Permanent Reference Document AA.39) as the ability for a cellular customer to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including home data services, when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network, by means of using a visited network. This can be done by using a communication terminal or else just by using the subscriber identity in the visited network. Roaming is technically supported by mobility management, authentication, authorization and billing procedures.

OnStar® and ORBCOMM® are registered trademarks of OnStar® Corporation and ORBCOMM, Inc respectively.