|
21-04-2013, 02:42
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Torrevieja, Spain
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 46
Posts: 52
|
I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
I am fitting out the boat for some long distance cruising and was wondering, is a communications dome any good ? and how much to run a month ?
Just asking the question, does anyone have, or had any dealings with them ?
|
|
|
21-04-2013, 03:57
|
#2
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 201
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
Are you talking Iridium, Inmarsat etc.?
If so, they are expensive to buy, expensive to use, but if you can afford it I say go for it.
|
|
|
21-04-2013, 04:42
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 223
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Joe Bob
|
Depends what you're using it for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Joe Bob
..how much to run a month ?
|
Depends what services you have.
|
|
|
21-04-2013, 04:51
|
#4
|
cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
if you have money, do what you want.
|
|
|
22-04-2013, 12:12
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Torrevieja, Spain
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 46
Posts: 52
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey
|
Thanks for the link.
Will be wanting to use it for data mostly.
|
|
|
22-04-2013, 17:54
|
#7
|
Elvish meaning 'Far-Wanderer'
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boat - Greece - Me - Michigan
Boat: 56' Fountaine Pajot Marquises
Posts: 3,489
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
Big Joe,
If you really want data and speed, be prepared to bleed. Figure the KVH system will cost $20k to install and about another $10k per year to use - limited.
I left a KVH FB500 on the dock at Captain Olivers Marina the day we left for our Transatlantic. It was worthless as no one wanted a perfectly good used one. If you really can't survive for the 17 days between landfalls to get your internet fix then get one. Otherwise, invest in a good wifi extender or appreciate a coffee while using a hotspot on shore.
__________________
Our course is set for an uncharted sea
Dante
|
|
|
22-04-2013, 18:22
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Narragansett Bay
Boat: Able 50
Posts: 3,139
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
Pretty much right Palarran. On the other hand, if you can settle for email text only then the price isn't too bad.
|
|
|
22-04-2013, 18:34
|
#9
|
Elvish meaning 'Far-Wanderer'
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boat - Greece - Me - Michigan
Boat: 56' Fountaine Pajot Marquises
Posts: 3,489
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
An Iridium 9555 for $1000 can handle small text only e-mails. Maybe 4 paragraph's for 3 minutes airtime ($3 total). And what do you have but time on your hands during a crossing right? That's with no compression or secondary service providers. I just use Outlook. Now, if you want to send a photo - that takes a while even on the lowest resolution. Personally, for offshore communication, I really can't see something with a better cost / performance combination than the 9555.
__________________
Our course is set for an uncharted sea
Dante
|
|
|
22-04-2013, 18:37
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Montegut LA.
Boat: Now we need to get her to Louisiana !! she's ours
Posts: 3,421
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
At 20 grand for just the dome, you can do a hell of a lot of radio, and modem time for a lot of years !! It used to be folks were glad to get a post card from all over the world! now a days, everybody wants instant connections to everything !! I think sometimes that the times before the world wide web were much more relaxed ! Connie and I could cruise for 3 or 4 years on this amount of money !! LOL And even eat out once in a while !! just sayin moneys nice but if you can afford to have a dome you sure can afford the service !! We will stick with our ICOM and our modem Just sayin we are cheap cruisers LOL
__________________
Bob and Connie
|
|
|
22-04-2013, 18:41
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Narragansett Bay
Boat: Able 50
Posts: 3,139
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
My Iridium is a little older but I will have to fire it up in June with some kind of similar plan. Looks like I'll be paying around $1.25/minute on prepaid rates.
|
|
|
22-04-2013, 20:49
|
#12
|
CF Adviser
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sausalito
Boat: 14 meter sloop
Posts: 7,260
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Palarran
An Iridium 9555 for $1000 can handle small text only e-mails. Maybe 4 paragraph's for 3 minutes airtime ($3 total). And what do you have but time on your hands during a crossing right? That's with no compression or secondary service providers. I just use Outlook. Now, if you want to send a photo - that takes a while even on the lowest resolution. Personally, for offshore communication, I really can't see something with a better cost / performance combination than the 9555.
|
+1. I've been using the Iridium 9555 for a couple years now. The sweet thing about the system is that you can purchase a pre-paid sim card for $150 that gives you 75 minutes to use over a 30-day period. In other words, you're only paying for the time while you are on passage, and not paying for the bulk of the time when you are anchored within cell and/or wifi range.
Iridium has an SMS service that limits at 160 characters. It's pretty slick, and can be used with pagers as well as the phones. I'm surprised more cruisers don't use it.
__________________
cruising is entirely about showing up--in boat shoes.
|
|
|
22-04-2013, 21:19
|
#13
|
Resin Head
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Seattle WA
Boat: Nauticat
Posts: 7,205
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
I've got an iridium and KVH Trackvision. Use KVH for satellite TV on the hook. Keeps the kids happy while we do boat stuff. Iridium better for cheap SMS. I got my KVH unit cheap right here on CF Classifieds. Get to know the models so you know what you're getting, they're out there.
__________________
O you who turn the wheel and look to windward,
Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.
|
|
|
06-05-2013, 14:19
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Torrevieja, Spain
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 46
Posts: 52
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
Hi,
Thanks again for the replies; Mrs BigJoe has announced that she wants an internet connection, wherever we are in the world, so it looks like I will be looking at the data package from FleetBroadband.
Am I right in saying its $149 a month and you get 5 meg of data ?
|
|
|
06-05-2013, 14:24
|
#15
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,033
|
Re: I see more and more yachts with communications domes, are they any good ?
You should also look at the iridium pilot. It's the primary competitor to Fleet in the cruiser market. There are various pros and cons to each.
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|
|
|