NWS email weather over SSB-Pactor

[RDW]

I will be bring my boat back to the Cheseapeake Bay at the end of May. I have a SSB (ICOM 802 and a Pactor IIusb). I am still learning but have managed to get weather faxes directly and by email. Email is clearer and more easily read. I will request email weather from NWS to be sent daily. What (specifically ) items would you request (the actual file names like PAA789 designation)? I want to request the right things but not too much because of the size of the files. Thanks for any advice.
RDW

[Hud3]

It would help to know where you're coming from, i.e., what route you plan to take back to the Chesapeake.

Here's a NOAA website with a list of what they offer for the western Atlantic and Caribbean: NWS National Weather Service Marine Forecasts

[RDW]

Sorry to be so dumb. I will be coming back from the BVI!
RDW

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by RDW

Sorry to be so dumb. I will be coming back from the BVI!
RDW

Are you using "airmail" to control the Pactor modem? You probably find everything you need in the airmail catalog: Select the item from the catalog, send the request email, wait a few minutes, connect again, and you should get something back.

If you do want to get single files from NWS, the screenshot shows the areas/zones for offshore forecasts between the VIs and Cape Hatteras.

Dirk

Edit: I attached the kmz file for the zones, rename from .doc to .kmz

[RDW]

Thank you very much for the time and information. I will be using airmail to control the pactor. Can I down load airmail to a desktop at home and request weather information like I was using the sailmail, ssb and pactor on the boat? I would just like to use the sailmail choices as I study the weather in the area for several weeks ahead of my trip to see the patterns and get familiar with the appearence and graphics. I think I remember seeing a choice to use the internet when I have been on my boat.

[LeaseOnLife]

Yes, you can use the internet with airmail. It makes good practice too! Make sure you update the catalog and the sailmail stations. Do you have time to get a HAM radio license? Then you get a second catalog, more options, using the winlink system.

Dirk

[Hud3]

You can try it out from home by simply sending an email to saildocs.com. For example, sending a blank email toinfo@saildocs.com will get you a reply with all the information about Saildocs. Here's the website to get you started:

Home Page

You do it the same way on your boat, except that you use the Airmail client, your Pactor and your SSB to send and receive the email. Easy-peazy!

[ewitts]

I reserve my radio time on board for grib data most of the time and try to get weather faxes over the air when possible, having a pactor if you use that for collecting the weather fax the filtering they use gives a pretty nice image. Have a nice trip. Update your catalogs and frequency lists while you have the internet.