Satellite communications

[SV DeNada]

Good day

Please advise regarding the best communication (weather and text/email) for permanent cruising.

Thank you

[Jammer]

The Iridium service is really all there is today. It is resold by Garmin (as "InReach") and there are various services with varying pricing and capabilities sold under the Iridium brand. Take your pick.


Sometime soon we'll have Starlink, but not yet.

[sv_pelagia]

Take a look at Zoleo (Iridium, cell & wifi) :

https://www.zoleo.com/

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

Take a look at Zoleo (Iridium, cell & wifi) :

https://www.zoleo.com/

I just looked at their website. I don't see where this device supports Grib downloads - the typical use on a cruising boat. Do you know if it can?

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by Paul L

I just looked at their website. I don't see where this device supports Grib downloads - the typical use on a cruising boat. Do you know if it can?

It doesn't seem so, though still investigating.

You definitely can get OCENS marine forecasts via ZOLEO:
https://www.ocens.com/zoleo#MarineWX


ZOLEO also indicates they provide forecasts (not marine?) using Dark Sky: https://darksky.net/forecast/53.258,-132.0909/ca12/en


Here a link to ZOLEO manual:
https://m.box.com/shared_item/https%...my8urcbmv6v5wu

[sailjumanji]

We use an InReach and subscribe via a fixed monthly fee to OCENS for their 72 hour forecasts including waves. Not the pay-per-forecast service thru Garmin. You still have to pay the monthly subscription fee for base service. We've found the InReach to be very dependable, and OCEN forecasts good.