long range communications

[Roberto]

JPSK mail or something like that, is what I'm told the Ham people use for e-mail/web browsing over MF/HF radio now. They don't seem to bother with clunky pactor modems anymore it's all PC based software now.

So if any Hams out there want to let us all know how to use this programe or whatever you guys use, and what we need to get the input and output mic levels sorted; we're all ears???

If you do want to down Iridium/Inmarsat route, do talk to Ed at mailasail.com he knows his stuff!

I tried pskmail when a few years ago when Winmor was in its infancy, there is more info on
pskmail.wikispace.com

A German group of radio amateurs developed a more user friendly interface

http://intermar-ev.de/

there is an English language version of the site for sure (I can't understand one word of German and I followed an English language description, so it must be there somewhere).

It's ok, but still rather slow compared to Pactor, say veeery slow.

With Winmor, one gets transmission speeds between Pactor2 and Pactor3, not bad for a free system.
Like I said, if one takes the time to get a licence, a £400 ham transceiver + a couple of dipoles (all long distance frequencies are centred around 14.1MHz, or 18MHz band, so no absolute need for atu and the like the dipoles fit very well in an average boat), just add electricity and you have an email capable station, free messages and all.

But then, each to his own digital preferences

 

[Bilgediver]

Just to add to bilgediver..

I've just this moment got it working. Just how self sufficient do I feel right now

http://www.winlink.org/userPositions I'm m6bkq.

You need a full ham license to get the maritime mobile call sign so you can operate offshore. 3 exams in total. I've not got that far yet but can still operate as I'm not in tidal waters.

They recommend this as a soundcard -
Which works great for weatherfax and rtty weather as well.

You can't get an account over the internet, only via ham radio frequencies, though you get sent a password via radio so you can access your account using a basic webmail. If the gps is plugged into your computer you can update your position via radio with the click of a button. You can do it over webmail as well.

And it's free!

I struggled to get a decent connection, think it was in switzerland in the end, I'm hoping a lot of this is because of being a few feet away from office blocks towering over the mast and surrounded by other boats in the middle of London. If anyone wants to relate how much better reception is offshore then please make my day.

So it's an option, it works. Might be hard to justify the 3 exams and install just for a couple of transats when a hired satphone is easy but for long term stuff it's worth thinking about.

Winlink works just as well with the £5.00 usb dongle soundcards found on market stalls as well a the 5.1 dolby external jobbies sold at MAplins for £25 . The main reason for using the external sound card is to isolate the transmitter from Windows ding dongs and AOL You ve Got Mail There is no need to couple up the PTT if the transmitter has VOX.

It does not need a GPS to send position reports as the position can be entered manually in the set up though a bit more fiddly.

There is a choice in set up to use Telnet so you can access the system via the internet to collect mail when Wi Fi is available. Many Winlink stations have Pactor as well so there is the option to use both modes.

The downside is that at present only a Ham network is using this mode and so a Ham license is needed to get a call sign registered.

I have been pleasantly surprised at the speeds that can be achieved and it certainly can send and receive e-mails quickly. Many of the Winlink nodes are in the USA however there are a few in Europe and Scandinavia which give a fair coverage.

Like Amtor and Sitor it is possible to hold the links at a good speed with relatively low powers. A few watts can often maintain a link to the USA from Scotland.

 

[RobbieW]

I'm in the fortunate position of having bought the boat with SSB and Pactor already installed. I still went and got the ham licence to complement the equipment - OK I was tight on time and fastracked the courses, did the three exams in a little over 3 months. I found the third one hard, saved by having been an avionics apprentice in the 70s so most of the material was familiar if distant.

There is a list of Winlink stations maintained by ZS5S in South Africa which is updated monthly. Worth keeping your own copy in synch, Airmail uses the list built in from which you can choose a station to contact. The list also has useful comments about the modes supported by each station and other pertinent information.

Yes, reception is much better at sea or in uncluttered anchorages. I found the two most reliable stations for hams whilst travelling from the UK to Cape St Vincent were ON0FS and PA3DUV.

 

[tri39]

I could add that I've just picked up a good clean late Icom 706 Mk11G from eBay for £510 and some are sold for less than £500. This was to replace the previous one that I foolishly mounted under a dripping window!! I already have an AH4 ATU but as Roberto says this is not absolutely essential if you can experiment with antennas, not so easy for a beginner.
The Icom 706 is still a popular set for onboard Hams.
Many skippers also used the obsolete Kenwood TS50, which has been replaced by the TS480SAT (not a Sat phone!!) which has an integral ATU, and a very clear screen and control buttons. I really like this model, partly because I have a Kenwood at home.
I also considered the newer Icom7200 which has a water resistant front end and was designed for mobile ops. However it has a small screen and would be very complicated if you wanted to transmit on Marine SSB frxs as well. The last two are a bit more expensive but are starting to appear secondhand.
There are of course many other models inc Yaesu.
In fact I would like to know what other people are using onboard!?
So far I have found it quite satisfactory to transmit on ham bands and just listen on Marine Bands. Remember that 95% of radio work is receiving, especially wx info, from RFI, Herb or ham nets, for which you do not need a transmitter, unless requesting daily Grib files!! An epirb is your fallback in emergency.
Cost is a big factor. I am sailing on a budget so will not spend thousands unnecessarily.
If you're rich, buy everything!!!!!!!!

 

[John_Parkes]

Long Range coms

Before leaving SA I obtained both marine and amateur licences and we had almost daily contact up the Atlantic, first with Alister (ZS 5 MU) in Durban, then Herb and then Bill (G 4 FRN). Even here in the Med we use the ssb mostly in summer for daily nets. Have talked a few times to a mate in the UK (when conditions permit). having twin backstays I have been able to put a third wire on electric fence insulators between them using 3mm 7/19 wire (cheap but ok). Grounding is important !st radio was a Yaesu, then IC 720 now a IC 710 that I'm having difficulty with installing the software to "open" it! Someone was selling a 802 on Cruising Acc. classified a while ago for not toooo much. Nice bit of kit.

John

 

[mixmaster]

Only thing that I want to add is these types of threads often attract HAM experts and it may turn some people off thinking that SSB is too complex and outdated. I'm no radio expert or electrician but I found the SSB very easy to install. Only help I needed was to isolate the backstay and I paid someone to install the ground plate (easy in retrospect but was afraid). Using Sailmail with a Pactor modem couldn't be easier and is surprisingly quick. You don't have to think about propagation or anything like that. Software takes care of most of it. We used it to keep in touch with family/friends, to run our blog, download weather data, position report etc. We found it more convenient than looking for wifi signals in the end and would more often than not use it to email from an anchorage.