Cobham Explorer 540
The world’s first Go-anywhere Pro (BGAN M2M) terminal designed to operate on both Viasat IoT Pro and cellular 2G/3G/LTE, EXPLORER 540 delivers always available connectivity for critical monitoring and control applications.
Key Capabilities
The EXPLORER 540 combines satellite and cellular IP connectivity in a rugged terminal designed for remote infrastructure.
Dual-mode Viasat IoT Pro and optional cellular connectivity
Automatic failover between satellite and cellular networks
Standard Ethernet connectivity for IP-based equipment
IP66 and C1D2-certified outdoor construction
Remote configuration and diagnostics via SMS
Machine-to-Machine IoT Pro Terminal
As the world’s first BGAN M2M terminal designed to operate on both Inmarsat BGAN M2M (now known as Viasat IoT Pro) and cellular 2G/3G/LTE networks, Cobham Explorer 540 delivers always available connectivity for critical monitoring and control applications.
The Viasat IoT Pro service uses the Viasat network to provide a reliable, global, two way IP data service. It’s designed to connect monitoring and control applications in remote, unmanned locations, providing visibility and management of those assets. By combining IoT Pro with cellular connectivity in the same terminal, Explorer 540 gives users the opportunity to choose the best carrier for any location.
Hardware Comparison
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Cobham 540
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 Hughes 9502
|
 RockREMOTE Mini
|
 RockREMOTE Rugged
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Suited To | Hazardous or industrial sites requiring Viasat IoT Pro with integrated cellular failover | Satellite-only Viasat IoT Pro deployments, including hazardous area and two-piece installations | Very power-constrained applications requiring truly global Iridium connectivity | Advanced satellite and cellular gateways requiring hosted applications and edge processing |
| Primary Differentiator | Viasat satellite and cellular connectivity in one rugged terminal | Satellite-only Viasat terminal with low idle consumption and flexible installation options | By far the lowest power terminal in the comparison, with sleep consumption measured in milliwatts | Most capable gateway, with LTE, Wi-Fi and Linux-based application hosting |
| Satellite Service | Viasat IoT Pro | Viasat IoT Pro | Iridium Certus 100 and Iridium Messaging Transport | Iridium Certus 100 and Iridium Messaging Transport |
| Coverage | Near-global, excluding polar regions; requires visibility toward a geostationary satellite | Near-global, excluding polar regions; requires visibility toward a geostationary satellite | Truly global Iridium coverage | Truly global Iridium coverage |
| Antenna Setup | Integrated directional satellite antenna; pointing required | One-piece integrated antenna or two-piece system with separate antenna; pointing required | External omnidirectional satellite antenna; no pointing required | External omnidirectional satellite antenna; no pointing required |
| Dimensions | 202 x 202 x 51.8 mm / 8.0 x 8.0 x 2.0 in | One-piece: 275 x 275 × 84 mm / 10.8 x 10.8 x 3.3 in | 182.3 x 81.5 x 57 mm / 7.17 x 3.20 x 2.24 in | 250 x 97 x 61 mm / 9.84 x 3.82 x 2.40 in |
| Environmental Protection | IP66; C1D2-certified version | One-piece: IP66; two-piece: IP40 indoor unit and IP65 antenna; C1D2/ATEX variants available | IP66 | IP67 |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +55°C / -40°F to +131°F | -40°C to +75°C / -40°F to +167°F | -40°C to +70°C / -40°F to +158°F | -40°C to +70°C / -40°F to +158°F |
| Power Input | 10.5-32 V DC or PoE+ | 12 or 24 V DC nominal | 10-30 V DC or PoE | 10-30 V DC |
| Power Consumption | 1.9 W standby at 12 V DC; 19 W typical transmission | Approximately 1 W idle | Less than 36 mW sleep at 12 V; 300 mW typical idle; 7.25 W average transmission | 5 W idle; 9 W average transmission |
| Interfaces | Ethernet, three I/O pins and optional cellular modem interface | Ethernet | Ethernet, RS-232 or RS-4xx serial and four configurable I/O channels | Ethernet, serial, GPIO and Wi-Fi |
| Cellular / Hybrid Connectivity | Optional integrated 2G, 3G and LTE modem with automatic satellite failover | Satellite only | Satellite only | Integrated LTE Cat 1 and Cat 4 with automatic WAN failover |
| Application Hosting | ||||
| View Product | View Product | View Product | View Product |
Oil and Gas Monitoring
Connect wellheads, pipelines, compressor stations and other remote oil and gas infrastructure to central monitoring and control systems.
Electrical Utilities
Provide reliable connectivity for substations, grid automation equipment and remote SCADA assets beyond dependable terrestrial coverage.
Mining Operations
Support monitoring, control and operational communications across isolated mines, processing sites and associated infrastructure.
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Connect remote pumps, valves, reservoirs and treatment assets, with cellular connectivity available as the primary or backup network.
Environmental and Early Warning Systems
Transfer data from weather stations, seismic sensors, flood monitors and other unattended environmental monitoring equipment.
Technical Essentials
These specifications help assess the EXPLORER 540’s connectivity, installation, environmental and power requirements.
Up to 464 kbps Standard IP
Connect remote IP-based equipment using Viasat IoT Pro over the BGAN network.
Integrated Satellite and Cellular Connectivity
Add an optional EXPLORER cellular modem for dual-mode satellite and terrestrial communications.
Automatic Satellite and Cellular Failover
Configure either network as the preferred connection, with automatic switching when the primary path is unavailable.
IP66 and C1D2 Certified
Designed for outdoor installation and certified for use in specified hazardous environments.
-40°C to +55°C Ambient Operation
The normal operating range is -40°F to +131°F, with extended operation subject to internal temperature protection.
Remote Management via SMS and Web Interface
Configure, diagnose and manage the terminal remotely, helping reduce unnecessary site visits.
Ethernet and I/O Connectivity
Connect IP equipment over Ethernet, with three I/O pins for basic control and monitoring functions.
10.5-32 V DC or PoE+
Power the terminal using a DC supply or Power over Ethernet, depending on the installation.
Product Specifications
Communications
- Satellite Service
- Visat IoT Pro (BGAN M2M)
- Communication Type
- Two way standard IP data
- Standard IP Data Rate
- Up to 464 Kbps
- Cellular Connectivity
- Optional EXPLORER cellular modem
- Approvals
- CE, FCC, IC, C-TICK, C1D2, Inmarsat Type Approved and BGAN M2M Certified
Physical and Environmental
- Form Factor
- Integrated outdoor satellite and cellular terminal
- Dimensions
- 202 × 202 × 51.8 mm (8.0 × 8.0 × 2.0 in)
- Weight
- 1.6 kg / 3.5 lb
- Operating Temperature
- -40°C to +55°C / -40°F to +131°F
- Storage Temperature
- -55°C to +80°C / -67°F to +176°F
- Relative Humidity
- 95% non-condensing at +40°C / +104°F
- Ingress Protection
- IP66
- Drop Robustness
- 0.5 m / 1.64 ft onto concrete, operational with 95% survival
- Hazardous Location Certification
- Class 1 Division 2 certified
Electrical
- Main DC Input
- 10.5-32 V DC
- DC Connector
- Two-pin connector
- Power Over Ethernet
- PoE+ IEEE 802.3at Type 2 Class 4
- PoE Connection
- RJ45 Ethernet connector
- Standby Consumption at 12 V DC
- 1.9 W
- Standby Consumption Over PoE
- 3.5 W
- Typical Transmit Consumption
- 19 W
Interfaces and Integration
- Primary Data Interface
- RJ45 Ethernet with PoE support
- Alternative Ethernet Connection
- Eight-pin terminal block for Ethernet and PoE
- Cellular Modem Interface
- Micro USB for optional EXPLORER cellular modems
- I/O
- Three I/O pins
- Local Controls
- One status LED and one reset button
- Configuration
- Built-in web interface
- SIM Interface
- IoT Pro / BGAN M2M SIM card slot
- DC Connection
- Two-pin DC power input
Cloudloop Management
- Cloudloop Integration
- Supported
- Subscription Management
- Activate and manage Viasat IoT Pro airtime subscriptions through Cloudloop Subscription Manager
- Usage Monitoring
- View subscription usage and maintain oversight of airtime costs
- Device Management
- View and remotely administer deployed terminals through Cloudloop Device Manager
Resources
Documentation, guides and supporting materials to help evaluate, integrate and deploy the Explorer 540.
Would you like a quote or more information?
If you know the Explorer 540 is the device for you, and would like a quote for the device and / or IoT Pro airtime, please complete the form, and we’ll be happy to help. If you prefer to speak to someone directly, call us on +44 (0) 1452 751940 (Europe, Asia, Africa) or +1.805.783.4600 (North and South America).
If you’re not sure yet what you need, and would like friendly and impartial advice, please get in touch; we have 20 years’ experience in satellite connectivity, much of that in IoT / M2M applications, so you’re in safe hands.