BrendanChandler
Well-Known Member
Anybody got any details of nets for non ARC boat on the Atlantic crossing?
Brendan
Brendan
Details of SSB nets for non ARC boat on the Atlantic cross
- Thread starter BrendanChandler
- Start date
SimonJ
Well-Known Member
Where are you? Nets are usually promulgated by word of mouth in such (excellent places) as La Gomera, Graciosa, Teneriffe etc - if you are there you will quickly find out!
Talbot
Well-Known Member
Details of a lot of nets are at http://www.cruiser.co.za/radionet.asp
Sea Devil
Well-Known Member
At the end of Herb on 12,359 it is sometimes possible to jump in with a call to other Atlantic boats and start an impromptu net... No regular net exists but normally one is created by boats, waiting to go, deciding to keep in touch.
The same thing happens with the Pacific crossing group from Panama - a net is created each season and also in the Red Sea/Indian Ocean.
fair winds
Michael
The same thing happens with the Pacific crossing group from Panama - a net is created each season and also in the Red Sea/Indian Ocean.
fair winds
Michael
jerryat
Well-Known Member
"".........No regular net exists but normally one is created by boats, waiting to go, deciding to keep in touch.""
Yep, that's what we've done on our trips. Despite hating organised circus's like the ARC, we often meet up with fellow cruisers we LIKE somewhere along the line, and agree to keep in contact on passage.
On the transats, it's good fun to compare the day, and morale-boosting when there's no wind or too much!! In our cases, the 'private' nets are usually an hour before, or well after Herb. SWMBO loves the informal contact too and is invariably our radio operator!!
BTW Ex-Bam, do you (or anyone else) happen to know how old Herb is? He's been about for years and provides a fantastic service to all yachtsmen IOHO. SWMBO asked the question last week when we were kicking around whether to shove off cruising again after the refit, as she loved 'doing the net' with him.
She wondered whether there was any likelihood of him retiring in the near future, as we fancy doing a (perhaps final) Pond circuit in 2-3 years time and it just wouldn't be the same without Southbound II aboard on the return leg.
We all (on his net) celebrated his birthday on evening about 3 years ago, but no one was indelicate enough to ask his age!! He was delighted with all the heartfelt thanks expressed by the net, but didn't offer the info either!!
Cheers Jerry
Yep, that's what we've done on our trips. Despite hating organised circus's like the ARC, we often meet up with fellow cruisers we LIKE somewhere along the line, and agree to keep in contact on passage.
On the transats, it's good fun to compare the day, and morale-boosting when there's no wind or too much!! In our cases, the 'private' nets are usually an hour before, or well after Herb. SWMBO loves the informal contact too and is invariably our radio operator!!
BTW Ex-Bam, do you (or anyone else) happen to know how old Herb is? He's been about for years and provides a fantastic service to all yachtsmen IOHO. SWMBO asked the question last week when we were kicking around whether to shove off cruising again after the refit, as she loved 'doing the net' with him.
She wondered whether there was any likelihood of him retiring in the near future, as we fancy doing a (perhaps final) Pond circuit in 2-3 years time and it just wouldn't be the same without Southbound II aboard on the return leg.
We all (on his net) celebrated his birthday on evening about 3 years ago, but no one was indelicate enough to ask his age!! He was delighted with all the heartfelt thanks expressed by the net, but didn't offer the info either!!
Cheers Jerry
Abaker
Well-Known Member
Re: Herb Hilgenberg\'s Southbound II Net
I totally agree with the positive comments about Herb. Before crossing from Toronto via New York and Azores to Falmouth in 2002 I emailed him (hehilgen@sympatico.ca) to ask for details of sched & frequency, and whether it was feasible to use his info via a small SSB receiver, since we have no HF transmitter, yet. He gave a very useful reply and we connected the little Grundig YB4300PE to our insulated backstay. Reception was OK and Herb's forecasts were excellent. He spends about five hours a day assembling all available met info at his well-equipped home station in Canada, also uses data from participants in his net, and produces forecasts and routing advice that are second to none. It's all free since he is a volunteer, though I believe some grateful users contribute to his equipment budget. His retirement from formal employment happened some years ago. His Southbound II labour of love has continued since then, and I suspect he wouldn't be willing to guess when it might end. Let's all hope it's no time soon.
I totally agree with the positive comments about Herb. Before crossing from Toronto via New York and Azores to Falmouth in 2002 I emailed him (hehilgen@sympatico.ca) to ask for details of sched & frequency, and whether it was feasible to use his info via a small SSB receiver, since we have no HF transmitter, yet. He gave a very useful reply and we connected the little Grundig YB4300PE to our insulated backstay. Reception was OK and Herb's forecasts were excellent. He spends about five hours a day assembling all available met info at his well-equipped home station in Canada, also uses data from participants in his net, and produces forecasts and routing advice that are second to none. It's all free since he is a volunteer, though I believe some grateful users contribute to his equipment budget. His retirement from formal employment happened some years ago. His Southbound II labour of love has continued since then, and I suspect he wouldn't be willing to guess when it might end. Let's all hope it's no time soon.
Bilgediver
Well-Known Member
There used to be many nets and the UK one covered the Atlantic. See
http://www.cruiser.co.za/radionet.asp
John
http://www.cruiser.co.za/radionet.asp
John
SimonJ
Well-Known Member
At a guess he is 68 calculating from when he went to college.
Those who have met him recently (in Burlington outside of Toronto) say he looks good for a few more years!
Those who have met him recently (in Burlington outside of Toronto) say he looks good for a few more years!
jerryat
Well-Known Member
Hey Simon,
Thanks for that! SWMBO will be delighted, she really seemed to hit it off with him.
I must admit I'd assumed he was much older - darned glad he's not though!
Cheers Jerry
Thanks for that! SWMBO will be delighted, she really seemed to hit it off with him.
I must admit I'd assumed he was much older - darned glad he's not though!
Cheers Jerry
jeremyshaw
Well-Known Member
Just to add:
* If you are crossing at the same time as the ARC you can listen in on their net. They don't give out the frequencies or times but you can get them off another boat.
* Many of the nets like Herb's are for Hams and they are not allowed to talk to you if you don't have a full ham licence. In an emergency though they will. For example I was able to get some advice in 2003 when tropical storm Peter was brewing.
Here is a good list of nets:
http://www.cruiser.co.za/radionet.asp
Best wishes
* If you are crossing at the same time as the ARC you can listen in on their net. They don't give out the frequencies or times but you can get them off another boat.
* Many of the nets like Herb's are for Hams and they are not allowed to talk to you if you don't have a full ham licence. In an emergency though they will. For example I was able to get some advice in 2003 when tropical storm Peter was brewing.
Here is a good list of nets:
http://www.cruiser.co.za/radionet.asp
Best wishes
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
* If you are crossing at the same time as the ARC you can listen in on their net. They don't give out the frequencies or times but you can get them off another boat.
Here is a good list of nets:
[/ QUOTE ]
For info, the frequency is SSB channel 4-3
They use the same forecast areas as Meteo France but give them code names to thwart those who would listen in without paying (a little mean I think). Not hard to work out which is which if you listen in as the crossing progresses /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
* If you are crossing at the same time as the ARC you can listen in on their net. They don't give out the frequencies or times but you can get them off another boat.
Here is a good list of nets:
[/ QUOTE ]
For info, the frequency is SSB channel 4-3
They use the same forecast areas as Meteo France but give them code names to thwart those who would listen in without paying (a little mean I think). Not hard to work out which is which if you listen in as the crossing progresses /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
davidbains
Well-Known Member
You can of course listen to the French fcst yourself although I don't have the
exact frequency to hand. However it is usually repeated on Trudi's Barbados
net which is USB 21400 at 13.00GMT.
exact frequency to hand. However it is usually repeated on Trudi's Barbados
net which is USB 21400 at 13.00GMT.
Sea Devil
Well-Known Member
Herb is NOT a ham net - he is licenced to talk to non hams. You do need to contact him by email or telephone before departure so that you are on his list.
I have not spoken with Herb for a couple of years but understand he is well and still providing the best weather service for the Atlantic. Most people feel that a donation towards his costs is appropriate...
Trudy is a ham net and will not talk unless you have a ham licence - Some years she does not do weather.
By far the best weather forecasts come from Radio France International but it is all in French but fairly easy to follow once you have got the the hang of the areas and terms.
I have not spoken with Herb for a couple of years but understand he is well and still providing the best weather service for the Atlantic. Most people feel that a donation towards his costs is appropriate...
Trudy is a ham net and will not talk unless you have a ham licence - Some years she does not do weather.
By far the best weather forecasts come from Radio France International but it is all in French but fairly easy to follow once you have got the the hang of the areas and terms.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
8P6QM Trudi (my Mum) is issuing weather reports every day on her Transatlantic Maritime Mobile Net on 21.400 USB at 1330 UTC (the net starts at 1300). She obtains the weather from the Radio France International (RFI) website, translates it, and reads it out for the different regions in the Atlantic.
We have found that the RFI forecast is generally pretty accurate.
Although only licensed hams are allowed to talk on her net, everyone is allowed to listen! She does have an enormous listening audience who tune in daily for the weather forecast - and also to hear all the scuttlebutt from her assistant net controller Jack (AA3GZ) re his Jack Russell terrier......
And of course, if any non-hams have any type of emergency situation on board, they are always welcome to break in, and they will be given priority treatment, and the full resources of the net will be at their disposal, eg for medical advice.
We have found that the RFI forecast is generally pretty accurate.
Although only licensed hams are allowed to talk on her net, everyone is allowed to listen! She does have an enormous listening audience who tune in daily for the weather forecast - and also to hear all the scuttlebutt from her assistant net controller Jack (AA3GZ) re his Jack Russell terrier......
And of course, if any non-hams have any type of emergency situation on board, they are always welcome to break in, and they will be given priority treatment, and the full resources of the net will be at their disposal, eg for medical advice.
Bejasus
Well-Known Member
That's a cool reply and some good info too.
winship
Active Member
Re Bajansailor and Trudi . Hi please give my very best wishes to your Mum. I started out as one of her grateful flock in 1983 when G8OS handled the UK side and I was a VP9 Years later having reached this side of the world again by now AB6DW i could talk to her on the Atlantic net. again. She richly deserved her 'Gong'. Could not one of you grateful clients of HERB not put him up for something similar ?? James ex Tara
winship
Active Member
bad mistake!! cross out the not after HERB
jerryat
Well-Known Member
Yep, I'd love to see Herb get high official recognition.
He must have encouraged and aided thousands of yachtsmen over the years and is certainly the best known of all the Net controllers. Anyone know who you contact to help get the gong factory working?
I too have listened to Trudi and appreciated the weather info on the longer trips, but didn't know she'd got a gong, so please pass on our congratulations to her.
He must have encouraged and aided thousands of yachtsmen over the years and is certainly the best known of all the Net controllers. Anyone know who you contact to help get the gong factory working?
I too have listened to Trudi and appreciated the weather info on the longer trips, but didn't know she'd got a gong, so please pass on our congratulations to her.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
Hi James - apologies for this very late reply (almost a year later), but I have only now 'found' this thread again. Trudi was very pleased to get your message - and yes, she is still doing the weather again this year at 1330 UTC every day!
She gets very few check ins nowadays though, as most boats crossing the pond seem to have sat-phones and / or email via SSB, sat-phone or perhaps via ham radio (winlink).
If anybody else on YBW is planning on crossing from the Canaries to the Windies this winter, please do post a note on here, especially if you dont have a ham license, so that Trudi at least knows some of her huge listening audience.
And if you are a ham operator, crank up that radio and say Hi to the net!
She gets very few check ins nowadays though, as most boats crossing the pond seem to have sat-phones and / or email via SSB, sat-phone or perhaps via ham radio (winlink).
If anybody else on YBW is planning on crossing from the Canaries to the Windies this winter, please do post a note on here, especially if you dont have a ham license, so that Trudi at least knows some of her huge listening audience.
And if you are a ham operator, crank up that radio and say Hi to the net!
