Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Single Post - Sat Phone w/ Data Transfer

s/v Jedi · 05-06-2009, 11:58

Paul, Conachair,

Your findings are very different from mine. I can buy a new Pactor 3 plus marine SSB (like Icom 700pro) for under $2000.- in the USA. A fixed install Iridium is more and next you have to put a couple of grand down for the card with the minutes.

I can believe that avg Sailmail throughput is less but I never used it. Winlink has much more stations. While underway we get at least the same amount of data that you do and sometimes much more. The wx fax is our favorite and uses most of that. This is not a problem on Winlink but I think there are daily limits on Sailmail.

I think the difference is that we are full time liveaboards for 6 or 7 years now. When we started off we used satellite too; it takes some time cruising before you realize it's silly.

Shelley: Raymarine weather info??!! Surely you don't want to put your safety in the hands of that company!!?? I think you are too ficated on what they tell you to do but believe me that your safety is of no concern to them, just your wallet. I suggest you read up on weatherfax, GRIB files, SSB & HAM weather-net's, government-organizations that broadcast weather reports on SSB (I can hear Australia weather here in the Caribbean!!) etc. These are the main sources of weather for cruisers and independant of manufacturers of equipment.
You have a long way to go but believe me it's a wonderful ride. Go and talk to the cruisers on not-so-shiny boats around you, you recognize them with their wind generators, solar panels, elaborate antenna installations, rum&cokes in plastic buckets etc.

ciao!
Nick.

05-06-2009, 11:58	#23
s/v Jedi Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Boat: Sundeer 64 - Jedi Posts: 1,519	Paul, Conachair, Your findings are very different from mine. I can buy a new Pactor 3 plus marine SSB (like Icom 700pro) for under $2000.- in the USA. A fixed install Iridium is more and next you have to put a couple of grand down for the card with the minutes. I can believe that avg Sailmail throughput is less but I never used it. Winlink has much more stations. While underway we get at least the same amount of data that you do and sometimes much more. The wx fax is our favorite and uses most of that. This is not a problem on Winlink but I think there are daily limits on Sailmail. I think the difference is that we are full time liveaboards for 6 or 7 years now. When we started off we used satellite too; it takes some time cruising before you realize it's silly. Shelley: Raymarine weather info??!! Surely you don't want to put your safety in the hands of that company!!?? I think you are too ficated on what they tell you to do but believe me that your safety is of no concern to them, just your wallet. I suggest you read up on weatherfax, GRIB files, SSB & HAM weather-net's, government-organizations that broadcast weather reports on SSB (I can hear Australia weather here in the Caribbean!!) etc. These are the main sources of weather for cruisers and independant of manufacturers of equipment. You have a long way to go but believe me it's a wonderful ride. Go and talk to the cruisers on not-so-shiny boats around you, you recognize them with their wind generators, solar panels, elaborate antenna installations, rum&cokes in plastic buckets etc. ciao! Nick.