Salty,
1) First off, let me confess that I'm a "radio nut"....been one my whole life.....longtime ham radio op, shortwave listener, marine HF-SSB
user/installer, etc.....for more than 35 years!!!
And, I've made my living in
commercial satellite communications for the past 25+ years......
So, I can (and do) see things from both perspectives....
Just want you to know all of this upfront....
{I'd recommend that you DO install a efficient
HF radio system....whether M-802 or other unit......some might disagree, but most will agree that this is almost a "must-have"....}
2) Secondly, it is still surprising to me that many sailors who wish to access offshore / Hi-Seas weather, assume you must use either a PACTOR modem w/SSB (or Ham) radio, or a satphone.....
This is NOT the case at all....
And, unless you spend $$$$$ for an INMARSAT Fleet system, HF-WeFax is still considered to be the "Gold Standard" for offshore / hi-sea marine weather.....
a) As Evens (and many others) do, you can use any decent HF receiver (or an Icom M-802, M-700, etc.) to RECEIVE offshore and hi-seas weather data and forecasts......
Most who use this approach, use a computer (laptop, etc.) connected to the receiver, to view weather
charts and
satellite photos transmitted by many nations (the US, UK,
Canada,
Australia, NZ,
Germany,
China,
Japan,
Korea,
Brazil,
Chile,
Thailand, etc.) worldwide (WeFax).......
b) There are also offshore / hi-seas "text" weather braodcasts transmitted over HF-SSB from many of those nations above...
And, although, there are still decent Voice weather data forecasts covering most of the N. Atl,
Caribbean, and most of the central / eastern Pacific, from the US.....most find a weather chart (WeFax) to be
the most useful piece of electronically derived weather data / forecast, and, in addition to their sat
gear, is still used by merchant and
fishing vessels venturing offshore.....
c) There are also separate, dedicated We-Fax units (radio receiver built-in to We-Fax unit) which print out weather charts and sat photos.....
They're pricey, but VERY hi-quality......
(And, yes I use this method for most of my hi-seas weather data / forecasts.....)
3)
HF Radio vs. Satellite comms????
Not a difficult question, but one whose answers are fraught with lots of opinions....
The question revolves around what are your
needs for long-range communications, while offshore / on the hi-seas?????
Typically those "needs" are:
1- "Safety / Emergency Communications"
2- "Weather data / forecasts"
3- "Cruiser's Nets / Weather routiing comms"
4- "keeping in touch with
family and friends"
5- "entertainment / news / sports / etc."
a) Some feel a decent HF receiver, an
EPIRB, and a VHF-marine radio, are all they need for communications / weather when offshore / hi-seas......
(and they use a locally purchased cellphone or SIM card, when in port to keep in touch with friends and
family....)
Although most most find this approach lacking....
b) If you don't feel a
need for e-mail access while at sea (I myself, have decided that I do NOT need e-mail at sea), then the answer can become less expensive, since there's no need for a PACTOR modem (if using HF radio), nor a need for a "value-added service" / "compression service" such as X-gate, etc. (if you've got an Iridium phone)......
c) If you do without e-mail while at sea, and can live with phone calls via Hi-Seas Marine Radiotelphone (via Shipcom WLO / KLB for N. Atlantic,
Caribbean, and eastern Pacific.....Brunei Bay Radio in SE
Asia.....and AUS / NZ stations around their coverage areas), and/or using local cellphone or skype, when in port......then there's no
need for an Iridium phone at all....
{This last option "c" is what I do......I use my Icom M-802 for occasional radiotelephone calls when at sea, and use local cellphone / SIM card when in port.....I also use the M-802 for Voice weather faorecasts, ham radio nets, cruisers nets, ship-to-ship comms, HF-DSC comms, etc...and use my
Furuno FAX-408 WeFax unit for weather charts, etc....and my future plans also call for use of a laptop as back-up for WeFax charts....
Please have a look at how I've set-up my Nav Station, and you'll see how I've still got my whole chart table for CHARTS....
}
Here's the link to the photos:
Nav Station
I don't see (or hear of) very many cruisers making lots of phone calls.....although it all depends on YOUR exact plans / applications, the actual "telephone call" use of an Iridium phone by most cruisers that have them is quite low (especially since skype and local cellphones are much cheaper...)
So, assuming you're not going to need to make many phone calls when at sea, this "feature" is way down on the list of "needs"....
AND, if you make the assumption (as I do), that you WILL be installing a decent HF-radio set-up, then the question isn't HF-SSB Radio vs. Iridium, but rather PACTOR vs. Iridium....(for e-mail and/or GRIB charts)
4) PACTOR vs. Iridium.....
Since I don't currently use either (prefering other means detailed above), I'm not sure how
proper it is for me to comment on this specifically.....
But, what the heck, I'll just give you a few of my thoughts....
a) A PACTOR modem is only needed if you wish to access Sailmail and/or Winlink stations......(for e-mail, etc. as well as downloading GRIB charts...)
b) Iridium is a very fine system!!!! And, although I don't use it on my boat, I have used it, and I DO like it......
And, some find Iridium to be a decent, workable option vs. a PACTOR modem and Sailmail / Winlink.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey
One area I am having a problem is getting a feel for the cost of high seas communication gear and services that I might need.
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I actually appreciate how you wrote / worded this......I wish others were as concise!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey
- What hardware do you currently have on your boat for offshore communications, email, and weather?
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See Nav Station,
Cockpit Instrumnet, etc. photos
Nav Station
E120/Cockpit
Wi-Fi
Solar Panels
a) I have two Icom M-802's (one installed and one spare) w/ tuner (and spare), connected to insulated backstay....yes I AM a radio nut.....and I use this for ship-ship comms, ship-shore comms, radiotelphone comms,
DSC comms, ham radio, cruiser nets, detailed weather info (Herb), as well as voice weather forecasts, and BBC,
US-AFRN, Radio
Canada, etc....
b) I use a
Furuno FAX-408 WeFax unit, for weather charts, etc....(which shares a 23' vertical / insulated
shroud antenna with the
DSC receiver in the M-802)
c) I also have a portable HF receiver (as Evans has) with multiple antennas, as back-up for weather, etc....
d) I will add JVComm and Airmail software to my laptop, and using either the M-802, or back-up portable receiver. for back-up WeFax reception on my next
Atlantic crossing....
e) When in port, I use local cellphone / SIM card for telephone comms....
f) I also have a decent wi-fi set-up, which allows me for decent
internet connections when within a few miles of wi-fi.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey
- How did you attain your hardware (particular vendors, websites, for sale ads, etc)?
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Bought some from Don at HF Radio, bought some on-line, bought some wholesale, built some.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey
- What "paid" services do you subscribe to for email, weather, other?
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NONE AT ALL.....
Everything is FREE, except for phone calls.....
Radiotelephone calls are $0.99 per minute....and local cell rates vary....
ShipCom LLC :: Marine HF Radiotelephone and HF Single SideBand Email
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey
- What "free" services do you subscribe to for email, weather, other?
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NONE at all....
Everything is freely broadcast, so no subscription is needed....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey
- What is your workflow and how are they integrated in your day to day work?
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a) Print out a couple of wefax charts, and look them over, and listen to a voice braodcast if available...while drinking an Iced Tea or Lemonade, etc....(morning or mid-day, depending on where I am)
b) Make my daily course decisions using the above data / forecasts.....
c) Later in the day, if making an
Atlantic crossing, check-in (or just listen to) Herb on 12.359 mhz...
And, that's it.....no hassles, no "trying to connect", etc.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey
- Any advice you might have for getting discounts or whole sale prices when outfitting and refitting a used boat - e.g. methods or vendors?
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Assuming you're going to be doing all the work yourself (and learn whatever you need to, in order to make everything work properly), here's just a few thoughts....
a) Don, at HF Radio on Board.....
b)
Google is your friend here.....look around and you can find some deals...
c) SSCA discussion boards (marine flea market, etc.)
d) Ebay and Craigslist...
I do hope this helps....
John
s/v Annie Laurie