Communication on "short" Atlantic cruise

TiggerToo

Well-known member
Joined
23 Aug 2005
Messages
8,318
Location
UK
Visit site
I am hoping to set sail to the Azores, next summer.
We have been discussing communication solutions.

We would like to have the ability to receive and send brief messages (routing/weather/how are things going...) while on passage UK-Azores and back.

One suggestion that is floating at the top is
ZOLEO Satellite Communicator
as described here:

Switchback Travel | Best Satellite Messengers of 2022

Does anyone have experience (or a view) of using these?
 

mattnj

Well-known member
Joined
26 Jul 2007
Messages
1,362
www.red-data.co.uk
yes, ive used an inreach which is the same (ish) thing....
I have just ordered one of these instead, (bigger message size and unlimited track messages) brilliant....but you do need a working phone/tablet to message... take a spare :)
 

TiggerToo

Well-known member
Joined
23 Aug 2005
Messages
8,318
Location
UK
Visit site
yes, ive used an inreach which is the same (ish) thing....
I have just ordered one of these instead, (bigger message size and unlimited track messages) brilliant....but you do need a working phone/tablet to message... take a spare :)
we'll take a few (spares)
 

WoodyP

Well-known member
Joined
18 Aug 2004
Messages
4,968
Location
West Wales
Visit site
If this is a one off you can rent . We did this on AZAB, but it may make sense to buy if you are going to be away a long time
 

semisimple

Member
Joined
5 Feb 2011
Messages
237
Location
London
Visit site
How has the inreach been working when under sail or under heavy cloud cover?

Does it basically have to be left on deck for long periods of time or will it work from a suitable place down below too?
 

geem

Well-known member
Joined
27 Apr 2006
Messages
8,043
Location
Caribbean
Visit site
How has the inreach been working when under sail or under heavy cloud cover?

Does it basically have to be left on deck for long periods of time or will it work from a suitable place down below too?
Our Inreach sits down below on its charger and works perfectly. It doesn't need to be outside to get a signal
 

eebygum

Active member
Joined
6 Nov 2002
Messages
519
Location
Manchester
Visit site
How has the inreach been working when under sail or under heavy cloud cover?

Does it basically have to be left on deck for long periods of time or will it work from a suitable place down below too?
I've also had an inreach for 5+ years; never had any issues getting a signal or messages and I keep it just inside the saloon. I like the fact that I can suspend the service for 6 months of the year and only pay for when I'm cruising.
 

semisimple

Member
Joined
5 Feb 2011
Messages
237
Location
London
Visit site
Thanks! I was worried with the low transmit power they might struggle down below or under sail, so good to hear they work…

Seems like a full satphone is only really necessary if voice calls or general browsing are important. For staying in touch these devices are far less hassle!
 

Roberto

Well-known member
Joined
20 Jul 2001
Messages
5,375
Location
Lorient/Paris
sybrancaleone.blogspot.com
Seems like a full satphone is only really necessary if voice calls or general browsing are important
The big leap with satphones is email capacity, you can then get (almost) any type of internet product provided its size is acceptable to this sort of slow speed connections. For general browsing one needs sat terminals and data plans which cost like a small boat.
 

Buck Turgidson

Well-known member
Joined
10 Apr 2012
Messages
3,417
Location
Zürich
Visit site
Another vote for inreach+ mine worked flawlessly from UK to med outside the shipping lane most of the way. I hang mine under the spray hood . Haven't tried it in the cabin but I'm sure it would work.
 

Koeketiene

Well-known member
Joined
24 Sep 2003
Messages
18,015
Location
Le Roussillon (South of France)
www.sailblogs.com
We used the Iridium Go with an unlimited data plan from PredictWind. It’s a doddle to set up for downloading gribs and making phone calls. Absolutely useless for text messaging.

The Iridium email app isn't much use either.
OTOH, I've found Ocens OneMail to be well worth the (little) extra money: OneMail - Satellite Email App
 
Top