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Old 11-04-2020, 17:41   #16
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Re: best email and web access in the pacific?

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Originally Posted by gordonhinds View Post
What is the best way to send and get emails and use the internet on a 40 foot cruising yacht in the West Pacific?
I'm equipped with both SSB/Ham (Icom M-802) and the Iridium Go using PredictWind.

I did not go the SSB / Pactor route for a few reasons....
1.) The cost of the Pactor 4 modem is almost $2K. But, it's a one time cost. (Almost 2x more than the Iridium Go w/ Marine pkg., but monthly airtime for Iridium is about $139.)
2.) We are at the bottom of a 24 year solar cycle. Radio communications these days are inconsistent at best. Crossing an ocean I want reliable weather downloads at least daily, and always download 2x per day).
3.) You don't need a modem to download a weatherfax or NAVTEX. Simply tune in the frequency and have software on a laptop that 'listens' to the signal and decodes it.
4.) The energy usage of an SSB / Pactor modem is (slightly) higher compared to the Iridium. (But this is a little disingenuous of me to say since I leave the Iridium on 24/7 while sailing.)
Some reasons why I went with ssb/ham & Iridium Go w/ PredictWind...
1.) I'm a ham operator, and I want a SSB/ham radio for net check-ins and emergency backup (and have always had an SSB aboard).
2.) IMHO, the Iridium satellite system is more reliable compared to radio. (Although I will admit there were a few temporary weak/dead spots in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. But, not like 3 days of radio silence/noise due to horrible band conditions.)
3.) The Iridium subscription of $139 per month provides unlimited data downloads and 150 talk minutes.
4.) Sailmail limits users to 90 minutes per week. With the Iridium app (on my phone or tablets) I can send unlimited email and text messages (and posts to Twitter if that's your thing).
5.) The PredictWind package is slightly cheaper than the Sailmail subscription, but provides more features...
6.) PredictWind provides weather routing info, departure planning, etc.
7.) PredictWind (Standard subscription) provides an Internet tracking page and vessel position can be updated hourly.)
8.) I can post a narrative (similar to a blog post) to the tracking page so friends and family can read about my mis-adventures as they unfurl. (This is the closest one can get to posting to the internet when you are 1000 nm from everywhere.
9.) If I leave the boat to travel inland, I can take the Iridium Go unit with me and have communication capabilities. (You can't easily do that with a Pactor!)
10.) This is a hunch...but I suspect sat comm speeds will increase in the future & potentially allow for internet connectivity to some extent.
The long term costs might pencil out on the positive side for the SSB / Pactor route in your favor. But, I was going to have the expense of Iridium anyway, so, the peace of mind in reliability and versatility of the Iridium Go & PredictWind setup gave me more than the single SSB / pactor option (and I always have the SSB/ham onboard. )
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Old 11-04-2020, 17:59   #17
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Re: best email and web access in the pacific?

Could you give more info about frequencies and software for ..3.) You don't need a modem to download a weatherfax or NAVTEX. Simply tune in the frequency and have software on a laptop that 'listens' to the signal and decodes it."
Thanks
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Old 11-04-2020, 18:51   #18
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Re: best email and web access in the pacific?

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First, the presenter is not a fan of the IridiumGo. His recommendation if you would like to use old fashioned Iridium technology is buy an Iridium phone rather than an IridiumGo. They are usually cheaper and more versatile, particularly in an emergency because it can make an emergency call without depending on a second device (IGo requires a mobile phone to make a voice call).

I found the video very much worth watching and if I didn't already have an Igo I would consider his suggested alternatives. You can see it here:

https://vimeo.com/400218112/68b622b05d
Thanks for sharing this video. It provides a good broad overview. I agree that the Go is not capable of making emergency calls without a separate phone (which is why I keep a separate phone in my ditch bag, and if I need to abandon ship I simply grab the Iridium Go off the wall on my way out the companionway).

The Iridium Go has the Iridium wi-fi hotspot functionality built in. this is what enables it to connect with phones AND multiple other devices.)

The presenter is incorrect in saying the Go cannot connect to a laptop. I connect to my iPads all the time, and have also connected to a MacBook Pro. (The Go works similar the same way someone can use their phone as an internet hotspot via the cellular data.)

(It is my understanding that you need a separate Iridium wi-fi access device to make the iridium 9575 phone capable of connecting to iPads, and possibly other devices.)

Yes, the basic Iridium is 'old fashioned' tech. But, if I wanted to be chained to the internet I would not be sailing off on ocean passages to less travelled islands and atolls. Honestly...it's mostly for my family's peace of mind, (and safety).
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Old 11-04-2020, 19:00   #19
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Re: best email and web access in the pacific?

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Could you give more info about frequencies and software for ..3.) You don't need a modem to download a weatherfax or NAVTEX. Simply tune in the frequency and have software on a laptop that 'listens' to the signal and decodes it."
Thanks
Take a look at BlackCat software for decoding both weatherfax and navtex.

NAVTEX transmissions here.

Weatherfax transmission info here and here.
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Old 11-04-2020, 19:10   #20
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Re: best email and web access in the pacific?

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Originally Posted by Discovery 15797 View Post

The Iridium Go has the Iridium wi-fi hotspot functionality built in. this is what enables it to connect with phones AND multiple other devices.)

The presenter is incorrect in saying the Go cannot connect to a laptop. I connect to my iPads all the time, and have also connected to a MacBook Pro. (The Go works similar the same way someone can use their phone as an internet hotspot via the cellular data.)
I agree that in the video, the presenter is not 100% accurate regarding the connection of laptops to an IridiumGO. We use our with iPads and iPhones on a daily basis when away from land, for weather and messaging. I won't speculate on his observations, but I did note that he is a bit down on the IridiumGo.

We have the same setup that you mention for emergency communication - an iPhone in the ditch bag and grabbing the IGo and the EPIRB from the nav station before abandoning the boat.

I still use our M802 nearly daily while at sea and we have a Sailmail subscription, but typically use the IGo for Sailmail because it is so much easier, reliable and power friendly. The M802 is for talking to people on nets while the IGo for voice is person to person.
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Old 16-04-2020, 15:53   #21
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Re: best email and web access in the pacific?

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Originally Posted by gordonhinds View Post
Thanks - all roads lead to sailmail... and sat phones. Just don’t expect Spotify or netflicks
There are web browsing options, and video streaming, spotify, etc available if you want. It comes down to five things..

1.) Where you will be
2.) What you want to be able to do on the Internet
3.) Up front hardware Budget
4.) Ongoing subscription budget
5.) Vessel Size

A 40ft vessel will be somewhat limited in options simply because some of the options are too large to be mounted on a 40ft sailboat. You *could* put a 65cm VSAT dome on a 40ft boat but it would be pretty interesting.. the dome being about 33inches in diameter and 35" tall. But if you DID put a VSAT dome on the boat you could have unlimited internet for a flat monthly fee, web browsing, skype, etc.

If you want VSAT speeds but can't put a 65cm dome on the boat, then you can look at two options...

KVH mini-VSAT - $15K hardware and starts at $99/month.

Iridium Certus - $8k hardware and starts at $127/month.

Fleet One - $2.5k hardware and starts at $100/month.

BUT, the actual monthly cost will depend entirely on your data usage.

So, what do you need to be able to do on the Internet while at sea..

1. If all you want is weather GRIBs and email, then stick with Iridium Go or Redport Glow like most cruising sailors.

2. If you want to be able to use Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, iMessage and other things over satellite, you can do that with any of the above mentioned options (fleet one, certus, KVH, VSAT).

3. If you want to be able to browse simple web sites, lightweight text pages, etc you can do that on the same units

4. If you want full web browsing, youtube, social media, back websites, etc, then the Fleet One gets ruled out and you go to Certus, KVH, or VSAT

5. Need multi-user Skype video calls? VSAT

In your initial ask you didn't say what you needed/wanted Internet access for, so there's no way to give any specific recommendation, nor did you specify a budget. But anything is possible to do. It just may (or might not) be outside your budget.

If you have specific needs, feel free to post them, or message me directly, and I can tell you what you'd need to have to do it and about what the cost would be.
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Old 16-04-2020, 16:07   #22
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Re: best email and web access in the pacific?

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Originally Posted by Discovery 15797 View Post
Thanks for sharing this video. It provides a good broad overview. I agree that the Go is not capable of making emergency calls without a separate phone (which is why I keep a separate phone in my ditch bag, and if I need to abandon ship I simply grab the Iridium Go off the wall on my way out the companionway).

The Iridium Go has the Iridium wi-fi hotspot functionality built in. this is what enables it to connect with phones AND multiple other devices.)

The presenter is incorrect in saying the Go cannot connect to a laptop. I connect to my iPads all the time, and have also connected to a MacBook Pro. (The Go works similar the same way someone can use their phone as an internet hotspot via the cellular data.)

(It is my understanding that you need a separate Iridium wi-fi access device to make the iridium 9575 phone capable of connecting to iPads, and possibly other devices.)

Yes, the basic Iridium is 'old fashioned' tech. But, if I wanted to be chained to the internet I would not be sailing off on ocean passages to less travelled islands and atolls. Honestly...it's mostly for my family's peace of mind, (and safety).
To be clear about the Go's connectivity options...

Technically any device can connect to the Go's WiFi network, but the software itself needs to be written to communicate with the Go and start/stop connections.

The "free/included" software that comes with the Go for making calls, texts, emails is only provided for iOS and Android. So while a Mac or PC can connect to the Go's wifi, there is no Iridium Mail and Web, or Iridium Go app for Mac or PC.

That said, you can get third party email software (such as our CruisersEmail) which runs on PC and Mac, as well as iOS and Android, and supports the Go, plus WiFi and Cellular connections, and any other satellite connection.. Far more flexible than the free Iridium Mail app. With the free email, you MUST use an iOS or Android device, and you MUST use the Iridium Go to download/upload. So if you don't have the Go active and with you, you can't access the email. With CruisersEmail and other 3rd party satellite email services you can use any connection and any devcie. But there is additional cost for the CruisersEmail service.

PredictWind Offshore apps are available for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, and they all support the Iridium Go. Similarly, certain PC based navigation software will support Iridium Go soon.

What *can't* you do with a Go? No real web browsing, No Windy, can't integrate it with an existing on-board WiFi network (the Go WiFi network is the only way to connect and use the Go where as the Redport Glow, which operates like a Go, can be integrated with an onboard WiFi network), you can't make calls or send/recieve texts from a PC or Mac because there are no apps for that. No Whatsapp, iMessage, FB Messenger, etc through the Go either (You can do all that with Fleet One though).

Oh, and the download speed is ~ 1MB per hour.. so a coastal "High-Resolution GRIB" in PredictWind will take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to download, making that no-go in practice. Using the Go you are limited to text forecasts, routing, and Offshore GRIBs. And you need to limit the size of the GRIB request to get the data downloaded in any reasonable amount of time.
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Old 16-04-2020, 18:37   #23
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best email and web access in the pacific?

Sea-Tech: very well said!
One more method to consider:
BGAN works fairly well for web access at sea, has a much higher bandwidth that Iridium Go, and is relatively portable and affordable. However you can rack up a large bill if you don’t use it together with a firewall to block random background IP traffic which most computers and operating systems have.
For trans-ocean voyages I use the following 3:
1. Garmin InReach: great for unlimited text messaging (plus tracking)
2. Iridium Go: great for unlimited emails (without large attachments)
3. Inmarsat BGAN: great for higher bandwidth work, eg remote control a remote computer via VNC to do some very heavy bandwidth work
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Old 16-04-2020, 19:06   #24
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Re: best email and web access in the pacific?

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Sea-Tech: very well said!
One more method to consider:
BGAN works fairly well for web access at sea, has a much higher bandwidth that Iridium Go, and is relatively portable and affordable. However you can rack up a large bill if you don’t use it together with a firewall to block random background IP traffic which most computers and operating systems have.
For trans-ocean voyages I use the following 3:
1. Garmin InReach: great for unlimited text messaging (plus tracking)
2. Iridium Go: great for unlimited emails (without large attachments)
3. Inmarsat BGAN: great for higher bandwidth work, eg remote control a remote computer via VNC to do some very heavy bandwidth work
Yes, I really like the BGAN device and I usually forget to mention it.. There are some cool airtime plans for BGAN but the devices themselves aren't designed for use on moving vessels/vehicles. So it's not a set it and forget it installation like Go, Fleet, Certus, VSAT. That said I have several customers using BGAN devices on Atlantic crossings, etc to remote access computers back home, including a doctor that reviewed medical diagnostic images remotely for 30 minutes each day during an Atlantic crossing. Cool think about BGAN is if you opt for the flex plan it's very low cost on a monthly basis with some data included, and then if you use a ton it bills as tiers that make the per-MB cost reasonable at high usage. And the tier is adjusted automatically each month based on your usage. Makes it "relatively" affordable.
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