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15-12-2011, 10:45
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: On the boat in the Caribbean
Boat: Lagoon PowerCat 43'
Posts: 7
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Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
We are planning on cruising down the chain from St.Maarten thru Grenada in the next year.
We are wondering if a Sat phone is really necessary and if not, how does everyone get weather info on a regular basis?
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15-12-2011, 11:04
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 741
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
We've done it a couple of times with no sat phone. Island hopping, just look at the sky. Or use the SSB for Chris Parker and weather charts and emails. From December to March it is easy: winds 15 to 20 out of the east, waves 2 to 4, clear skies.
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15-12-2011, 11:11
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#3
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
wouldnt go anywhere with out my sat phone as it works out cheaper than a gsm mobile,as for weather,generally i look out the window,listen to herb or local broadcasts,jvc weatherfax,ask a fisherman........
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15-12-2011, 11:28
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: On the boat in the Caribbean
Boat: Lagoon PowerCat 43'
Posts: 7
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hannah on 'Rita T'
We've done it a couple of times with no sat phone. Island hopping, just look at the sky. Or use the SSB for Chris Parker and weather charts and emails. From December to March it is easy: winds 15 to 20 out of the east, waves 2 to 4, clear skies.
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We don't have a SSB. will be traveling thru August, ending in Grenada by then.
Now what?
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15-12-2011, 11:38
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#5
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Las Brisas Panama AGAIN!
Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE
Posts: 4,507
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
Itīs another tool, but not NEEDED.......i2f
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15-12-2011, 11:50
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: On the boat in the Caribbean
Boat: Lagoon PowerCat 43'
Posts: 7
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
Quote:
Originally Posted by imagine2frolic
Itīs another tool, but not NEEDED.......i2f
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So then, what does everyone use besides Sat phone and SSB. No VHF weather down island.
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15-12-2011, 12:49
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#8
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cattitude
So then, what does everyone use besides Sat phone and SSB. No VHF weather down island.
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try a barometer,failing that buy an inexpensive shortwave reciever with ssb clarifier approx $100,linked up to a laptop and jvc will give weather fax.
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15-12-2011, 12:53
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Heathsville, VA
Boat: Gemini 105Mc 34'
Posts: 1,457
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
If you're dead set against the costlier options, an SSB receiver is only $75-$150, and you can listen to Herb's and Chris's broadcasts and record the grib files to your pc, you just can't transmit.
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15-12-2011, 12:58
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#10
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
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15-12-2011, 13:04
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Panama - Bocas del Toro
Boat: 1977 42' Mapleleaf
Posts: 81
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
With a SSB radio you can send/receive email and get weather faxes (with an additional modem) loaded to your laptop. Plus, you can talk on the SSB nets . It's great to have aboard, we also use it for our Ham frequencies as well. Yes, it's a bit of money to bit off, but look on used radios on like Craigslist, etc...
__________________
I don't have a solution, but I admire your problem
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15-12-2011, 13:41
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: On the boat in the Caribbean
Boat: Lagoon PowerCat 43'
Posts: 7
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Waterway Guide
If you're dead set against the costlier options, an SSB receiver is only $75-$150, and you can listen to Herb's and Chris's broadcasts and record the grib files to your pc, you just can't transmit.
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So where do we get a list of broadcasts and how do you record the grib files to a pc from a portable radio?
Sorry, SSB is out of my league. so I need all the help you can give me.
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16-12-2011, 09:12
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Panama - Bocas del Toro
Boat: 1977 42' Mapleleaf
Posts: 81
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
Here is the list of Worldwide Weather Fax Broadcast Schedules
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/rfax.pdf You will be in the New Orleans Region.
Sorry, but you'll need a SSB or Ham radio with a modem to download to your computer at the scheduled times, but you can listen to scheduled voice (English) forecasts on an inexpensive shortwave (receive only) radio. Talk with a local Radio Tech to answer your questions in depth.
__________________
I don't have a solution, but I admire your problem
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16-12-2011, 11:11
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#15
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Between Caribbean and Canada
Boat: Murray 33-Chouette & Pape Steelmaid-44-Safara-both steel cutters
Posts: 8,492
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Re: Is a Sat phone really necessary for weather?
Quote:
Originally Posted by svWindfall
Here is the list of Worldwide Weather Fax Broadcast Schedules
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/rfax.pdf You will be in the New Orleans Region.
Sorry, but you'll need a SSB or Ham radio with a modem to download to your computer at the scheduled times, but you can listen to scheduled voice (English) forecasts on an inexpensive shortwave (receive only) radio. Talk with a local Radio Tech to answer your questions in depth.
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Thanks for the link.
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