Communication on "short" Atlantic cruise

[TiggerToo]

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]

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]

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)

 

[PlankWalker]

Inreach is good bean going for a long time now.

 

[geem]

We have been using an Garmin Inreach since 2004. Good bit of kit. Simple and easy use

 

[WoodyP]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[KeelsonGraham]

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.

 

[Koeketiene]

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