Satphone grib file download

[Fr J Hackett]

Having looked at Bilbobaggins post and the link for ugrib I am thinking about using it to supplement Weefax broadcasts for weather and routing in N Atlantic. Being a complete novice to the technology the questions are ;
Whats the best (cheapest) satphone and airtime package, can the two be purchased independantly ie secondhand phone, whats the connection between satphone and laptop and whats the likely cost.
What internet connection should I use, my current ISP is on broadband so I assume that I need to set up another account (dial up) and access the net that way, will that mean the downloads are long, subject to interuption and costly.

Please tell me the best and most cost effective way of uttillising ugrib in the middle of the ogin.

 

[npf1]

I did a crossing last year and used a Globalstar phone, with a contract from Selex Communications and software from www.ocens.com. It was a great set-up and very easy to use.

The phone was around £250 and the contract about 30 Euros per month plus 0.7 EUR per min. A one minute phone call could get the 3 day gribs as well as send around 5 emails and receive about 5 emails. Ocens.com are your ISP and there's another fee to pay to them - have a read of their site for details of their services.

Oh ... and I expect this post will also attract responses saying Globalstar doesn't work everywhere and proclaiming other methods. True, coverage has some limitations, but if it works where you are going, it is IMHO by far the best option. I never had any problems connecting in an area of fringe coverage. Getting gribs by SSB is possible but only ecomonic if you've already got most of the equipment and, in my experience, a pain in the A**E to reliably operate.

 

[markdj]

Have a look at www.iberpass.com or alternatively just use a UK Dial-Up ISP and use an international prefix - will this work?? (I don't know but simple to try out).
Iberpass works for me though I have been using GPRS instead which is good for coastal coverage.

There was a recent article in Motor Boats Monthly giving Satellite phone prices and it would be worth visiting LIBS to see what's on offer.

Mark
http://www.stronge.org.uk
UK Weather Portal

 

[420Hull58]

Are the GRIB files compact enough to send as SSB emails using Sailmail, Seamail or suchlike using a pactor modem linked to a SSB radio. If so, wouldn't that be the most cost effective method.

The GRIB.US software (http://grib.us/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx) is free and it is easy to download GRIB data. I don't think it yet has a service that emails GRIB files on request, but anyone on terra-firma could do this for you.

Chris