Reliable data transfer between survey vessels, sensors, and shore teams is a basic requirement of offshore operations — whether that’s streaming GNSS/RTK positioning corrections, relaying UHF telemetry from an offshore platform, or maintaining a mesh network between an autonomous survey vessel and its support ship. The right choice depends on range, data rate, and how many nodes need to talk to each other.
Unique Group’s Data Telemetry Systems range covers five products across wireless data links, UHF radio modems, video transmission, and mesh radio. Here’s how to tell them apart.
Key Takeaways
- Unique Group’s Data Telemetry Systems range covers five products: a wireless data link, a UHF radio modem, a video transmission package, and two in-house mesh radios (Uni-Mesh and Uni-Mesh XR).
- The right choice depends on range, data rate, and node count — not on defaulting to the longest-range option.
- ADL Vantage and SATELLINE-3ASd are built for point-to-point positioning and telemetry data, not mesh networking or video.
- Uni-Mesh (8–12 km, up to 16 nodes) suits standard-range USV and vessel mesh networking; Uni-Mesh XR (up to 30 km, up to 144 nodes, up to 87 Mb/s) adds long-range coverage and live video streaming.
- Teledyne CDL MicroVision is the dedicated video transmission option, with a 10 km line-of-sight range and a built-in monitor for field setup.
What Is a Data Telemetry System?
A data telemetry system transmits data wirelessly between a survey vessel, its sensors, and a base station or support vessel — without requiring a physical cable connection. In offshore survey work, this covers everything from GNSS/RTK correction data to full video feeds and multi-vessel mesh networking.
Data Telemetry Systems at a Glance
| Product | Type | Range | Data Rate | Max Nodes | Video Streaming | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADL Vantage | Wireless data link | — | Up to 19,200 bps | N/A | No | GNSS/RTK positioning correction |
| SATELLINE-3ASd | UHF radio modem | — | Up to 19.2 kbps | N/A | No | General offshore/platform telemetry |
| Teledyne CDL MicroVision | Video transmission | Up to 10 km LOS | Video (PAL/NTSC) | N/A | Yes (dedicated video package) | Live video feed to vessel or shore |
| Uni-Mesh | Mesh radio (UG) | 8–12 km | Up to 8 Mb/s | Up to 16 | Not a listed feature | Standard-range USV/vessel mesh networking |
| Uni-Mesh XR | Mesh radio (UG) | Up to 30 km LOS | Up to 87 Mb/s | Up to 144 | Yes — SDI & composite, H.264/MJPEG, RTSP/TCP/UDP | Long-range mesh, high throughput, live video/data streaming |
This is a starting comparison — the sections below cover each product in more detail, including what makes Uni-Mesh and Uni-Mesh XR different beyond range and throughput.
Wireless Data Link: Pacific Crest ADL Vantage
The ADL Vantage is a wireless data link built specifically for GNSS/RTK surveying and precise positioning work, with an over-the-air link rate of up to 19,200 bps and configurable transmit power (0.1–2 W for longer battery life, up to 4.0 W for longer range where permitted). It runs across a 40 MHz bandwidth spanning the 390–430 and 430–470 MHz bands, in all-metal, IP67-rated construction with a full-function field interface for configuration and troubleshooting.
Best suited for: point-to-point positioning correction data where precision, 1 Hz RTK support, and field-configurability matter more than raw range.
UHF Radio Modem: Satel SATELLINE-3ASd
The SATELLINE-3ASd is a half-duplex UHF radio modem built for high-speed, high-precision data transfer, operating across 380–470 MHz with a maximum data speed of 19.2 kbps and 25 kHz or 12.5 kHz channel spacing. It’s widely used in surveying operations and on offshore oil platforms.
Best suited for: general-purpose offshore data transfer where a licensed UHF link is the standard choice — platform monitoring, tide gauge corrections, and similar SCADA-style telemetry.
Video Transmission Package: Teledyne CDL MicroVision
The Teledyne CDL MicroVision is a 2.4 GHz long-range video transmission package supporting full-colour, multi-channel (4 selectable frequencies) or single-channel video with 2 audio channels, over a range of up to 10 km line of sight. The receiver control unit has a built-in 5.6″ LCD monitor for setup without an external display, and housings are machined from solid aluminium, hard-anodised and IP67-rated for offshore use.
Best suited for: live video feeds back to a support vessel or shore station — ROV monitoring, deck operations, or remote inspection footage.
Mesh Radio: Uni-Mesh vs. Uni-Mesh XR
Unique Group develops two mesh radio systems in-house, both built to complement autonomous survey vessels and general offshore/marine communication. The table above covers range, throughput, nodes, and video streaming — beyond that, a few more differences worth knowing:
- Frequency bands: Uni-Mesh operates on UHF (320–470 MHz, 450–600 MHz) with optional L/S/C bands; Uni-Mesh XR operates on S-Band (1.98–2.70 GHz).
- Environmental rating: Uni-Mesh is IP67; Uni-Mesh XR is IP68.
- Shared features: both use a self-forming, self-healing mesh network with COFDM modulation for strong NLOS/multipath performance, require no software installation, and support DES encryption as standard (AES128/AES256 optional).
Choosing between them: if the job is standard USV support within a 10–12 km working radius and up to 16 nodes, Uni-Mesh covers it. If the operation needs longer range, more nodes, higher throughput, or live video streaming across vessels or platforms, Uni-Mesh XR’s higher-capacity architecture and 30 km range is the better fit.
Applications
- GNSS/RTK positioning correction across survey vessels and shore stations
- UHF telemetry for offshore platform monitoring and SCADA-style data
- Live video transmission for ROV and deck operations
- Mesh networking between autonomous survey vessels (USVs) and support ships
How to Choose
Match the tool to the job rather than defaulting to range alone:
- Positioning-critical, point-to-point → ADL Vantage
- General offshore telemetry over a licensed UHF link → SATELLINE-3ASd
- Live video feed → Teledyne CDL MicroVision
- Multi-vessel mesh, standard range → Uni-Mesh
- Multi-vessel mesh, long range or high throughput → Uni-Mesh XR
Speak with our survey specialists to discuss your project requirements.
