Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 20-04-2019, 17:17   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 18
HF Radio V Sat Phone

Hi

We are planning a trip from Queensland to Solomon Islands later this year. My yacht has a old HF unit a Codan , not suitable for upgrading and thinking about replacing the Radio and tuner.

The marine Tech has asked us to consider another path Iridium Go.
It will turn your I Phone into a sat phone.

Cost is a factor as a new Hf , tuner, pactor modem, subscriptions for service and mail, is adding up

The Iridium Go unit is less than the HF Radio but data and calls extra costs.

It would be nice to have both but practicalities are one or the other.

If any one has any of Xperience or preferences your views would be appreciated
Thanks
Antipodean2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-04-2019, 18:34   #2
Registered User
 
fxykty's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Indonesia
Boat: Outremer 55L
Posts: 3,794
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

We use an older Iridium 5500 phone connected to a laptop for email and messaging on our passages between NZ and the islands.

Our boat came with an ICOM IC-M802 SSB but the installation was poor so calling out was not very good and reception OK but not great. We used the sat phone instead. It recently developed a fault and now needs to be replaced at a cost of NZD3500 and then another NZD1000 for a Pactor modem so we can get gribs and do emails. We’re not going to replace it so if anyone wants an 18 foot whip and an ICOM IC-140 antenna tuner let me know.

There’s lots of threads out there regarding the relative merits of either solution. In a nutshell:
- SSB allows you to chat on cruiser nets and in an emergency make an all stations distress call with DSC which anyone within 1000 miles should hear. One to many calling. Time of day constrains when you can reliably call and listen. Expensive to buy and install and requires training and dedication, but relatively cheap to run and no ongoing costs other than email client. You can’t do any business messaging on SSB.
- Sat phone allows you to call or message anyone, one to one. Any time of day or night. No group calls with cruisers or cruiser nets. In an emergency you can call your home search and rescue centre (in addition to your EPIRB if appropriate) and they will make the all stations call to anyone in your area. Relatively cheap equipment but requires prepay (that’s what we use for the 3-4 months we’re offshore) or subscription to use. Depending on who you get your airtime with you may also need to pay for an email client. With the Go you can use the included mail app.
fxykty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-04-2019, 18:40   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Atlantic Ocean
Boat: Under Const.
Posts: 11
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

Both.

I have HF forever, not only for a trip.
You can buy second hand ones. You need read some manuals.
Is better if you get a amatheur ham license.

I have iridium in my long trips only for emergency use.

HF is not only a equipment, is a lot of knows you need to learn for use it. (frequencyes, propagation, band to use in day or night, places and distances from the repeater centers in your trips).

I have make a map for Spanish zone some time ago.
We need this for the rest of the world, maybe is clear info what we need for use more HF intensive.

You can download the map here:

https://mega.nz/#!nVt1mKDA!bw9VJ3F2F...B2ybwvV-h3JU8Y
isladelobos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-04-2019, 18:54   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 5,983
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

I think you’ll find it’s just fine to do business on SSB but not ok on a HAM radio
robert sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 06:18   #5
Registered User
 
SoonerSailor's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Camden, ME
Boat: A Thistle and a Hallberg-Rassy 36
Posts: 848
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

You might find an opinion or two on this subject in one or a hundred previous threads [emoji19]
SoonerSailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 08:18   #6
Registered User
 
Vertor's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2017
Boat: Nicholson 40DS
Posts: 9
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

Take a look at this www.satcase.com. Built around Irridium.
Vertor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 08:26   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 192
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

Quote:
Originally Posted by robert sailor View Post
I think you’ll find it’s just fine to do business on SSB but not ok on a HAM radio
as long as you understand your not having a private conversation on HF. Anyone can listen in.
__________________
Gary
ohgary is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 09:23   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Back in Montt.
Boat: Westerly Sealord
Posts: 8,178
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

Quote:
Originally Posted by ohgary View Post
as long as you understand your not having a private conversation on HF. Anyone can listen in.
Private enough on Sailmail ......
__________________
A little bit about Chile can be found here https://www.docdroid.net/bO63FbL/202...anchorages-pdf
El Pinguino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 09:39   #9
Registered User
 
maxingout's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Cruising
Boat: Privilege 39 Catamaran, Exit Only
Posts: 2,723
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

My Iridium phone is for emergency use only. The rest of the time I use sailmail or airmail on ham radio. The HF radio has worked well for us - it has never failed us so far. I hope our good fortune continues.

Having both sailmail and airmail (ham) gives me a good chance of making a solid connection for downloading grib files and other weather information.

It would be nice to have Iridium Go, but I find that communicating with other cruisers when we are on passage is a great help. I use the HF radio to keep in contact with boats around us on morning and afternoon radio nets , and they can be a good source of weather information if for some reason the grib files cannot be pulled down on our pactor system.
__________________
Dave -Sailing Vessel Exit Only
https://RealOceanCruiser.com
https://PositiveThinkingSailor.com
maxingout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 10:26   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Portland, Oregon USA
Boat: Island Packet, Packet Cat 35
Posts: 943
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

I have used sat phones a couple of times offshore and near coastal. Reception can be very hit and miss and a lot of airtime gets used asking what they just said.

I have a HAM radio on board now. License is easy to get now, no code needed. Learning to use it like anything else will take time.

If sat phones were more reliable I'd probably look hard at them but for the money IMHO it isn't worth it right now as I have a limited budget to work with.

I do have an In-Reach device that tracks my position and allows texting as well as a 406 Epirb. With what I have I should have enough communications offshore to suit mt needs, maybe not desires but def needs.
Cpt Mark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 11:02   #11
MJH
Registered User
 
MJH's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Boat: Tayana Vancouver 42ac
Posts: 1,196
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antipodean2 View Post
Hi

We are planning a trip from Queensland to Solomon Islands later this year. My yacht has a old HF unit a Codan , not suitable for upgrading and thinking about replacing the Radio and tuner.

The marine Tech has asked us to consider another path Iridium Go.
It will turn your I Phone into a sat phone.

Cost is a factor as a new Hf , tuner, pactor modem, subscriptions for service and mail, is adding up

The Iridium Go unit is less tha the HF Radio but data and calls extra costs.

It would be nice to have both but practicalities are one or the other.

If any one has any of Xperience or preferences your views would be appreciated
Thanks
You don't say if the old HF (Codan) is operational, just old. I am not familiar with the make but if the manufacturer or good repair facility is near-by and reasonable I would recommend a reconditioning...I did that with my old SEA 2250 SSB and had excellent results during my roundtrip to Hawaii. It could still be useful to get weather reports, time-hacks, position reports, etc. Old, in and of itself, is not a reason to replace/throw something away. There are many old systems out there that are still getting the job done...they just don't have all the glitz, bells, and whistles of the new expensive stuff.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH
MJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 15:12   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 8
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

Ive just joined a HF radio group called Austravel. They have set up a network in Australia that can link HF to the 4G mobile network. You can send and receive text messages, make 1/1 mobile phone calls in addition to the normal HF functionality.
In addition, your family can download an app called Out n About which they can use to track your position and communicate text. You do need a GPS puck to encode long and lat into the DSC calls. The network, with 4 or 5 base stations around Australia also redirects emergency calls.
It works so long as you’re in SSB range of the base stations. That covers a lot of water.
Codan and Barrett radios seem to be the preferred units but perhaps others can work too.
There is a AUD100 annual subscription but no charge for SMS or mobile calls.
The Austravel peole have historically been a terrestrial HF 4x4 club until they recently decided to reach out to marine cruisers too. They are very friendly enthusiasts who have bent over backwards to help me get connected.
Rgb
Badger007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 16:30   #13
Registered User
 
Freedom45's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Somewhere in the Pacific
Boat: Kristen 52
Posts: 304
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

We have both, SSB is for nets.
Iridium Go for Email gribs, voice calls, etc
We used to just use SSB/pactor until obtained Go, the Go works almost flawlessly.
I recommend both. We are into our fifth year cruising Pacific.

Cheers
__________________
I Sail, Therefor I ARRrrr...
Freedom45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 16:44   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 192
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

Quote:
Originally Posted by El Pinguino View Post
Private enough on Sailmail ......
Sailmail isnt encrypted on HF, Anyone with a pactor modem can listen in.
Now that limits who can do it, but doesnt make it private.
__________________
Gary
ohgary is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-04-2019, 17:03   #15
Registered User
 
Reefmagnet's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: puɐןsuǝǝnb 'ʎɐʞɔɐɯ
Boat: Nantucket Island 33
Posts: 4,864
Re: HF Radio V Sat Phone

Apparantly no one listens on HF anymore. If you're a have-a-chat or are buddy boating, a HF transceiver is probably still useful. We had an old Codan unit that was invaluable for listening to the automated weather broadcast service, but I never once transmitted on it. Purchased a refurbished Icom M710 to replace it a few years back, but when I finally decided to install it, decided it really wasn't worth the effort so sold it off to a mate who's going to install it in his boat.


Decided a sat phone and HF receiver is the best option. Ended up going with Thuraya because of the cheaper pricing for casual use. The coverage is a little more limited in some areas (possibly the Solomons?) because the satellite sits atop singapore, iirc. In a SHTF situation, there's always the EPIRB and the HF money can best be invested in a liferaft, probably with some cash left over, too.



As for a HF receiver, I've got an SDR setup that can pick up HF frequencies essentially for weather reports. Yet to get serious with it, but if it works, all good, and if not I'll get a dedicated HF receiver.
Reefmagnet is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
hf radio, phone, radio

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Smart Phone to Sat Phone Converter LakeSuperior Marine Electronics 4 06-07-2018 06:11
A Sat-phone Sleeve For I-Phone...... Lagoon4us Marine Electronics 1 18-10-2013 10:55
Emergency Phone Numbers for Sat Phone SV Demeter Health, Safety & Related Gear 0 13-09-2012 07:46
12v main to cell phone/sat phone/VHF recharge sneuman Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 2 04-01-2006 08:41
Sat. phone web site info./sales/rates. maui Marine Electronics 0 08-04-2003 17:48

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 22:23.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.