Q: Why do I need a Mosaic?
A: If a yacht is crewed and always has someone on watch, then only the onboard alarm panel is needed, and an ordinary alarm system will give adequate service. However, if a yacht is kept at a marina, on the hook, or at a dock behind a home, then a Mosaic is needed to send an alarm for such events as break-in, equipment theft, boat theft, fire, gas leak, or high water directly to the owner's/captain's cell phone, and up to seven others, so that they can take immediate action.
Additionally, the Mosaic can be queried via phone to find the temperature within the cabin, reefer, and freezer, to find the accumulated minutes of bilge pump operation, battery voltage, and even to find the yacht's position: all the things that a concientious captain would check when visiting the yacht. Equipment onboard, such as deck lighting or air conditioning, can be turned on or off from any phone. This allows visiting the yacht less often without loss of security.
Of course, the Mosaic also has a conventional alarm panel to alert the crew onboard. Additionally, a Mosaic has a phone handset for making calls and a built-in GPS which displays position at all times, and can provide position information to a plotter or to PC software.
Q: Why does the Mosaic system use telephone messaging?
A: These days most folks carry a phone, so the system can send its alarms directly to the owner of or caretaker for the yacht, rather than to a computer's email inbox.
Q: What if someone steals the whole boat?
A: If the Mosaic alarm is set, then your boat's engines will not function. If your boat is towed away, Mosaic generates an alarm when it is 50 yards or so from its berth. Mosaic continues to tell you where it is, so that you can inform the authorities.
Q: What if the marina calls and wants to move my boat?
A: You can turn off the alarm using your phone, which turns off the entry alarms and allows the engines to run. When the marina is through, you can set the alarm again using your phone.
Q: What if someone has my boat with permission but hasn't brought it back?
A: You can call them on the Mosaic's phone to find out what is wrong. If necessary, you can set the alarm from your phone, which will disable the engines. At any time, Mosaic will tell you where the boat is, how fast it is moving, and on what course.
Q: Where does Mosaic work?
A: Alarm messages can only be sent when Mosaic is in contact with a GSM tower. Coverage along the Florida coast is solid except for parts of the Everglades and around Port St. Joe on the west coast. Coverage elsewhere can be viewed on the excellent map provided on the T-mobile website. A Mosaic works anywhere in Europe and near Carribean islands that are equipped with GSM. Most places where one might leave a boat have coverage.
Q: What if I am in an area where GSM reception is poor?
A: MOSAIC comes with an easy-to-install antenna that mounts to a glass window or even to the inside of a fiberglass cabin, as high as possible of course.
In weak signal areas, an outside whip antenna mounted above the superstructure will provide service well outside areas marked as marginal on coverage maps for handhelds. Note that it is the height of the antenna element that counts, and its gain. Some long cellphone whips actually have the antenna elements near the base, and have the same gain as smaller ones. For example, Digital Antennas provides an 8' cellular whip that is a twin of their 8' VHF antenna. However, the internal elements are little higher than in their 4' whip or their 18" stubby. A short antenna mounted on an extension will likely offer better performance.
Usually an adapter is needed between the antenna cable (often mini-uhf) and the MOSAIC electronics unit (which is SMA). This adapter can be obtained from your dealer.
Q: What if my Mosaic is out of range?
A: When not within range of a tower, only the Mosaic messaging and of course the handset are interrupted. Alarms will appear on the display unit, the outside fire siren works, and the GPS continues to display position, speed, and course. The Mosaic can of course be operated from the display unit.
Messages are 'saved' and sent when a tower is available.
Q: What phone service do I need?
A: Mosaic uses GSM, the Global Service for Mobile, which is the most common throughout the world. In the southeastern US, GSM is provided by Cingular and T-mobile. A phone capable of receiving SMS, Short Messaging Service, is required to receive alarm and other messages.
Q: How much does the necessary service cost?
A: If you already have a family GSM plan, then the Mosaic becomes just another phone, costing usually $10/month.
A T-mobile pay-as-you-go phone costs $40, with service for two months. Remove the SIM from the phone and place it in the Mosaic. After two months, purchase a $100 card to extend service for another year. You have messaging service with no contracts for $10/month, with of course up to 80 minutes per month of voice service for ship's business.
Q: How do I put the 'phone' into the Mosaic?
A: In the GSM system, the service information is contained in a SIM, Subscriber Information Module, a small card which is in every GSM phone. You can buy a SIM from the service provider, or buy a cheap phone and take the SIM out to put into the Mosaic. Once equipped with a SIM, the Mosaic contacts the service provider's towers and configures itself automatically.
Q: Does any messaging phone work with a Mosaic?
A: T-mobile uses the same GSM technology everywhere and supports Mosaic nationwide. Cingular has a larger network but it is a hodge-podge of equipment acquired through acquisitions. We have discovered that Cingular messaging in northern New Jersey, for example, does not work with a Mosaic, although the handset works. In the southeast there seem to be no problems with Cingular messaging.
Q: Can I get the messages through a computer?
A: There is no direct integration of SMS with email. However, most service providers allow sending and sometimes receiving SMS mesages through a website. You can send commands such as "Alarm Off" to your Mosaic using <Mosaic's phone number>@t-mobile.com as the email address, or using the Cingular website, but you might not be able to receive status from your Mosaic. Check with your provider for details, or ask LiessemUSA.
Q: I am asked for an IMEI number, what is it?
A: Each phone in the GSM system has a 15-digit IMEI number, the International Mobile Equipment Identifier. This is a serial number exclusive to that phone's hardware; it is not on the SIM. When a phone contacts a tower, the IMEI is transmitted along with the other data.
The mobile phone industry keeps a list of phones reported stolen, and if a stolen phone contacts a tower, it is refused. This removes the incentive to steal phones.
You will not need to report your Mosaic as stolen. It will report to you, and will tell you where it is, how fast it's going, and where it's headed.
The IMEI is requested when registering for service. T-mobile will accept fifteen "9"s for registration. LiessemUSA will provide your Mosaic's IMEI on request.