Atlantic Crossing Communications

Richard,

I did see that………………..

but a full SSB system is +/- 5 grand.

I think the 150USD get's you a substitute for the earthing plates, just wondering what a full system would cost and how effective it would be.
 
The few times I've been on long passages (more than 3 days) I've used simple NASA ssb receiver for weather fax and weather txt and occasionaly listening to nets and other yachts updates. Other than that we would ask passing ships to send e-mails or faxes we dictated whilst in VHF range. If we needed help in an emergency then we had an EPIRB. I just hope they keep transmitting ssb weather as its easy and free to acces with a £150-£200 radio.

I'm not sure of the benefits of being able to keep in touch for what is likely to only be three or four weeks, for me much of the pleasure was being uncontactable for a few weeks.
 
People keep saying that an ssb system costs 5 grand. It doesn't have to cost anywhere near that much. You can pick up a used icon m701 with tuner for under £1k. Then depending how you set it all up there's some cabling, a sintered plate and backstay insulators. The wiring is not complex at all and most of it can be done yourself (I got help with the backstay insulator and drilling holes for the ground plate). Even the m802/m801 can be had cheaper than the "retail" price. Just don't buy the euro version! My whole set up with pactor 3modem was just over £2k.
 
Mmm, you're right, £5k is more than necessary, but since you can pick up a cheap sat phone sometimes for under £100, (mine's a "land" mini-m) then SSB is probably only for the very sociable/techy folk these days. EPIRB or even PLB should be adequate for outright emergencies.
All this has resurected my own interest, for which I'm thankful. I realise that my Icom 703 (£300) with it's built-in ATU is closer to being workable than I had thought. Therefore I'm adding a simple multi-band antenna (£40) to my next shipment to the boat, and hopefully can have it all installed before the girls arrive and start complaining about excess wires/toys. The 703 only puts out 10W, but that's good in a way, since ALL my experiences with marine SSB have caused poltergeist-like wierdness on the boat during transmission. On the last boat, it was only (!) the autopilot which went haywire, but this was bad enough.
10 Watts doesn't sound like very much, but using the optimum frequencies at the optimum time of day with a good antenna can still achieve distances of 100s of miles.
In short, it's all about the antenna and the atmospheric conditions. Yes and compromise.
While I think about it, does anyone else remember "Satcom E"? I had one of these once. It was like an EPIRB, but I think it used the Intelsat constellation, and you could select distress type. So it was very similar to Satcom-C, but was portable.
Finally, a big vote from me for Satcom-C. I used to use it in the 90s, but would have another set without hesitation if it came my way.
 
Sorry……………………………..

It was me mentioning the 5 grand, but I seem to remember Y.M. doing an article a few years ago, and that’s what price they were quoting.

But…………………………….

I now realise you can install different systems.
Anyway……………………………….........
Not sure I like the sound of “ poltergeist-like wierdness “

I am still confused………………….

Which is nothing new………………………………..................
 
Guitarrich said:
Oh, BTW a telecoms reseller at London Boat Show told me that it was "not allowed" to use a "Land" Mini-M at sea. Inmarsat might disconnect it. I'd love for more, informed input on this if anyone from Inmarsat is reading....
Click to expand...

Did your unit look like this one? If so then ok on a tank or a ship.


http://www.setel.co.uk/satellite/pdfs/inmarsat.pdf

Or was it totally self contained in something resembling a Lap top.

If the latter then Inmarsat might get Peed off with you if unable to find calm weather and steer a steady course as this could result in the link dropping out. They work best when set at the right angle and static!
 
BigJoe said:
I am very interested in the KISS, SSB System.

Has anyone got any info, pricing, reliability, etc, on this please.
Click to expand...
The KISS system is not new - its a collection of quarter wave counterpoises. A good ground connection to the seawater should always outperform it. When people say that their new KISS system works brilliantly, I suspect it says more about how poor their previous earth connection was. A search will show several previous discussions on the forums on this very point.

Personally don't know how they get away with charging what they do for a few lengths of copper wire in a flexible pipe - because that is what you are buying...
 
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Bilgediver said:
Did your unit look like this one? If so then ok on a tank or a ship.


http://www.setel.co.uk/satellite/pdfs/inmarsat.pdf

Or was it totally self contained in something resembling a Lap top.

If the latter then Inmarsat might get Peed off with you if unable to find calm weather and steer a steady course as this could result in the link dropping out. They work best when set at the right angle and static!
Click to expand...

Ah no, not the big ship unit - it's a "laptop" syle thingy. Back in the 90s I crossed the pond a couple of times in a 60 footer with a similar mini-m tucked in behind the windscreen. Even in all the rolling and pitching I never lost a phone call - including the 20 mins or so it took to explain to the boss exactly what had happened to his chute and carbon pole! (Every day's a school day!)

However, I'm still all ears for any more info about Inmarsat. I certainly don't want to cause any trouble. (Oh the road to hell......etc!)
 
RichardS said:
Hi Guitarrich - I'm guessing that you are Rich of Rich, Penny and Libby?

If so, when are you hoping to resume your travels in Wild Bird? :)

If not, forget I said that! :confused:

Richard (with the cat in Croatia!)
Click to expand...

Oh Hi Richard - I THOUGHT I recognised that hansom visage! Yes I'm heading back in just under 3 weeks, and the girls join me 10 days later - once I have her anti-fouled, floated, rigged and readied. Don't get me wrong - much as I adore my wife and daughter, 10 days to myself on the boat is a luxury I relish. We'll leave Marmaris fairly early and be heading your way June-ish.

Sorry sorry everyone - we'll continue this in the proper area.
 
I read down through this with interest, thanks for all the information.
For the last 12 years I have been working installing satellite communications systems for commercial vessels, including software solutions.
I sorted out the comms for the yachts on the last global challenge race, for Dee Caffari on her solo trip and for a guy who wanted to send emails south of the antarctic circle from his yacht.

Inmarsat.
Sat-C is still working, you can send and receive, but it works out at about 15 US cents per 50-70 characters typed. Its expensive, but is still part of the GMDSS system, so you can get help if needed.
Mini-M. (Land and marine versions!). This is still a good system, although very dated now, by marine standards. What no one mentioned is its ability to send/receive faxes very easily. OK, you have to power the fax, but can always run a software Fax modem on your laptop to take the feed.
NOTE. Not in manufacture any more, very difficult to get hold of.
ISatPhone. This is Inmarsats new hand held unit. You can get a dock so it will work like a 'fixed' unit. Gives you much the same as a Mini-M, but with portability.
FBB. Fleet broad Band. The smallest unit, the 150, gives you internet/IP and voice. quite a chunky antenna, but not too bad.

Inmarsat has areas of voice only coverage for Mini-M type units, although the new I-4 satellites are addressing this. they claim 70N-70S coverage, although I spent a year on a vessel south of the falklands and we had a bad time keeping a good connection for voice or data!

Iridium.
Iridium manufactures the LBT transceiver, which then goes in various casings made by Sailor (AKA Thrane & Thrane) or Beam.
The fixed unit, is not bad, you can slave in GPS and have it send position reports etc. You can also send/receive SMS (I think its still FREE to send if you use iridium website).
Portable unit. This can be used with a dock system, so it can have the antenna extended, and you get the abilities of the standard fixed unit. It also means you can grab it should you be leaving in a hurry.
OpenPort. This is the new IP based system. you can have 2 voice lines and data running at same time. Good system, although have known the quality control on the units to be a bit 'spotty'.

this does actually work globally, but does have a problem sometimes with dropped calls as the connection is passed off between satellites, and delay/voice quality.

Ebay is a god place for second hand kit, but make sure it is not blocked or barred by the provider of the airtime, separate from the system, eg Inmarsat/Iridium. If you buy an early iridium from ebay, with the fixed antenna, make sure the sticker on the base does NOT cover the seephole..... this was a mistake and cost a lot of antennas!
The big thing with whichever satcom you decide to use, is to make sure you get a good airtime deal. Its much like Mobile phone airtime providers, you pays your money and takes your choice.

Standard contracts should get you voice rates around US$1.00.
Pre-Paid can range from US$0.90 to $1.00 per minute.
Big difference is no contract and use it as you like. Data is run on a per-minute basis @ 2.4Kbps.
FBB. (NEW RATES RELEASED 4th April 2011) around US$0.55 per minute voice and US$10 per MByte, Minimum US$50 per month.

Iridium.
Standard rates should be around US$0.95 per minute, PLUS monthly fee
pre-paid is around US$0.80 per minute, NO monthly fee
OpenPort. Around US$0.85 per minute voice and US$7 per MByte of data.

sorry its so long...
If anyone needs any information on the above, then always happy to help out.
Cheers
E1
 
If you can read a synoptic chart the cheapest option is to hook an SSB receiver to your laptop via a demodulator and get weather faxes from Northwood, New Orleans etc. Once you have the kit it's free.

Phone and SSB serve quite different purposes which don't overlap much. In an either-or situation I would (and did) choose SSB.
 
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