Modem for old SSB

[Sea_Monster]

We have an old ICOM 800SSB inherited with the boat.
Thinking about buying a pactor modem but can't control the tuning of the 800 from the modem :
How much of a problem is this, if we buy a modem that doesn't control tuning?
In your opinion, is it still worthwhile equipping our yacht with a pactor modem if in europe for a couple of years more before heading out to the oceans of the world? or is GSm the best bet, and wait and see what happens to sat phones and sailmail in 2 years time?
Know of anyone with a cheap IIex modem for sale - that would make all the difference - someone must have upgraded their SSB recently to one with remote tuning and need to be shot of a IIex????

Sea_Monster - about to untie from the umbilical cord of the UK in 2 weeks.

 

[Deleted member 478]

It's been a while since I had sailmail, so I am a little rusty. If I recall correctly, it's a big problem because sailmail uses two frequenceis when sendingor receiving email, resulting in the SSB needing to be re-tuned every couple of seconds.

I assume that you have dug deep on the sailmail website and not found a wiring diagram for the ICOM 800? Somewhere on the site, there is an email address for techincal queries. They may have a wiring diagram.

 

[Deleted member 478]

The Sailmail support email address is sysop@sailmail.com

 

[Benbow]

In every system I have seen, it is not the modem that sets the frequency on the radio, it is the computer that controls both modem and radio.

If you have an older radio that does not have a serial interface with the PC, that would rank as an irritation but not a disaster. If you have to switch around between stations and freqs to find a usable one, then it is nice to have the software on the PC do it for you, but you can easily program these into the radio.

Winlink (and AFAIK Sailmail) DO transmit and receive on the same frequencies. So you need not worry about having to manually switch back and forth every few seconds - that really would be a killer!

 

[davidbains]

If you're going to be in Europe for a few more years, I would be inclined to make do with internet cafes and/or wifi hotspots. You can be learning what you can and can't do with HF in the meantime. We're also at the lowpoint of the sunspot cycle so HF propagation isn't brilliant.

 

[gfbalduc]

In fact, not all SSB radios on the market can be remotely tuned through the modem: my Sailor 4500 cannot, for example.

Having to manually set the frequency is actually only a minor annoyance: you can just store the frequencies of a given sailmail station in adjacent memory channels, and all you need to do is push a button.

While you will be in European waters, you will have access to alternative means of communication but, given that you already have the more expensive piece of kit and the very low cost of sailmail's yearly subscription, I would advise you to get it and become familiarised with it before being actually dependent on it.

Europe is pretty well covered by the sailmail station in Belgium which is a multi-channel one and is seldom busy on all frequencies.

Furthermore, a lot of people like the automatic mail-size limitation and attachment-stripping features of sailmail's mailboxes, and use their mailbox also when accessing it via other means (GSM, internet cafes, whatever).

 

[Benbow]

For sending brief text messages and receiving gribs while offshore, SSB - email is still pretty reliable despite poor propogation. From Kenya I don't think I have ever failed to get a link using stations in the Canaries, Belgium or South Africa.

This is a very different application from a 'proper' web connection in an internet cafe or even via mobile.

 

[trouville]

I could never aford pactor,i do understand the modems are made by hand in small numbers,but still. Today the relative price is less than 10 or 15 years ago but still a lot.

I use RTTY.I have someone collect my emails (from an account i use for email i want while sailing)i have a second account that private emails can be found which i check by GPRS cafe or wi-fi when and where possiable.

My sailing account is checked then my friend, son or whoevers agrees to help sends the texts by RTTY,we have 3 frequencys and fall back scheds that way if a sheds missed we fall back and if a bands down we go to another.It works well

In practice i get my mail daily with no problem then send by rtty my replys we also have a frequency for voice where we chat alter frequencys or grumbel about propergation!!

Normaly one frequency and time works well for some time so all is automatic better than sailmail!It works far better than it sounds!

Why dont we get a scuttelbut with a call to set up an rtty mail service???Pactor was only set up to make RTTY perfect! as each packet sent is confirmed when it arrives which gives a lot more data transmition than RTTY,if you were happy with telex then you will be with RTTY

Thats a long post but im going back on board and wont be drinking or chating much in the next week or so!

Try RTTY

 

[Anonymous]

I have been using Sailmail and winlink for two years, now, and am very pleased. I use wifi whenever possible - i.e. 80% of the time using my 26dB yagi but it is useful to have the ssb connection. Not often mentioned, I find the fax via email service to be excellent value and use. So many people ignore or respond slowly to emails yet jump when they get a fax. I use Interfax for send-only, I don't think that receive would be very useful and in any case people will usually phone or email you back.