Shopping list wanted for communications 200m out at sea.

A used Motorola 9500 with 12v charger and data kit would only cost about 200 quid plus postage. If you want to do a proper installation (external antenna on the mast) you need to add about 100 quid for a s/h antenna and external antenna adapter for the phone, plus some more money for the properly sized cable + plugs (these can be purchased in any serious electronics shop). Grand total 350-400 depending how much cable you need and where you buy it.

At a bit more you could have a sh Eurocom 1000 or Thrane&Thrane SC4000 complete kit including the external antenna. PM if interested as I frequently get these things coming and going from commercial fleet upgrades.
 
cliffdale said:
I have very little knowledge in this area. I could do with a list of things to buy to do this.

When 200+ miles away from land I would like to:-
Send text from laptop
Down load grib weather files.

Write to this site!!!

Desirable, video link to home in UK.

The trip will be crossing Biscay and into Med.

Out to the Azores then to Canaries.

A no nonsense, you need this ....this and this to do it the most economical way.

Usage perhaps 2 weather forecasts per day and up to 10 text messages.

Probably 12 weeks to canaries but if everything goes well, may be the Atlantic circuit.

Cliff

Really appreciate your help with this.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Sorry Cliff, picked this one up late.

200 miles from shore is a GMDSS A2 area - in other words, MF coverage. You're not quite into HF (A3 areas) yet. For emergency purposes, I'd stick with an EPIRB as not all countries' areas you go through may have declared A2, some may still be only A1 (VHF) coverage. An MF DSC set should get you heard though, 250 miles range is around minimum but much more achievable.
 
we crossed Biscay sailing south 10 deg W in 2010 with a satellite phone, a complete waste of time and money, it only came to life when we already had a MOB connection on our UK nokia phones.

Thus armed with this experience I think the best solution is a traditional one, drink a bottle of rum, put a message in the bottle and throw it over the side.
 
chanelyacht said:
200 miles from shore is a GMDSS A2 area - in other words, MF coverage. You're not quite into HF (A3 areas) yet.
Click to expand...

I'm curious as to how much MF and HF infrastructure there is these days, when ships' commercial traffic seems to mostly go by satellite. Who on shore would Cliff communicate with in an "A2" area?

Pete
 
prv said:
I'm curious as to how much MF and HF infrastructure there is these days, when ships' commercial traffic seems to mostly go by satellite. Who on shore would Cliff communicate with in an "A2" area?

Pete
Click to expand...

An A2 area means a distress watch is maintained - so it would be the appropriate MRCC for that area.

For example, the UK has declared A2, but due to the distances involved, not every MRCC has an MF fit out, it's simply not necessary.

In the UK, an MF DSC watch is kept, there is no listening watch on 2182.

It also a GMDSS requirement that ships operating in an A1 area carry A1 kit, ships operating in an A2 carry A1 and A2, etc.
 
Marsupial said:
we crossed Biscay sailing south 10 deg W in 2010 with a satellite phone, a complete waste of time and money, it only came to life when we already had a MOB connection on our UK nokia phones.

Thus armed with this experience I think the best solution is a traditional one, drink a bottle of rum, put a message in the bottle and throw it over the side.
Click to expand...


Care to explain what phone you used (or better said tried to use)? I don't see this happening with Iridium, unless you did something awfully wrong. If it was a Thuraya with the land-only prepaid card... :p
 
You won't want any of that **** when you get out there.

Get a boat rod instead and do some fishing. Download your weather from a £100 quid sony s/w receiver connected to a laptop.
Ring someone when you get there.

Weather forecasts are academic to an extent as you are in it regardless.

cliffdale said:
I have very little knowledge in this area. I could do with a list of things to buy to do this.

When 200+ miles away from land I would like to:-
Send text from laptop
Down load grib weather files.

Write to this site!!!

Desirable, video link to home in UK.

The trip will be crossing Biscay and into Med.

Out to the Azores then to Canaries.

A no nonsense, you need this ....this and this to do it the most economical way.

Usage perhaps 2 weather forecasts per day and up to 10 text messages.

Probably 12 weeks to canaries but if everything goes well, may be the Atlantic circuit.

Cliff

Really appreciate your help with this.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
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cliffdale said:
I have very little knowledge in this area. I could do with a list of things to buy to do this.

When 200+ miles away from land I would like to:-
Send text from laptop
Down load grib weather files.

Write to this site!!!

Desirable, video link to home in UK.

The trip will be crossing Biscay and into Med.

Out to the Azores then to Canaries.

A no nonsense, you need this ....this and this to do it the most economical way.



Usage perhaps 2 weather forecasts per day and up to 10 text messages.

Probably 12 weeks to canaries but if everything goes well, may be the Atlantic circuit.

Cliff

Really appreciate your help with this.

Thanks
Click to expand...


You can do this using Iridium to access the Sailmail Servers using the File compacting facilities of Sailmail.
Check out Iridium.......Sailmail.........and also TheCruisers Sailing Forum where there are folk that use this.



http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/internet-email-access-via-iridium-47617.html



http://www.sailmail.com/
 
Ed B

Thanks for the reply. If I get a short wave radio what software do I need to get to hook it up to lappy?

Whilst out at sea, its not to avoid weather, but steer towards the most favourable wind direction.

Thanks

Cliff
 
cliffdale said:
I have very little knowledge in this area. I could do with a list of things to buy to do this.

When 200+ miles away from land I would like to:-
Send text from laptop
Down load grib weather files.
Click to expand...

So this can be done easily for less than 500 quid. Shopping list is the following:
1) DeLorme InReach http://www.inreachdelorme.com/ (this is a two-way satellite messenger, lets you send and receive texts via Iridium satellite), costs USD 249 plus .50$ per text
inreach_smartphone_main_01.jpg

2) Degen DE1103 SSB receiver, this is available new from ebay for 50 quid.
4288.jpeg


3) now, then install your favorite weather fax software (WeFax, JVComm etc.) to your laptop to get daily weather information whilst underway. Use DeLorme InReach to send & receive texts.

This document may help in reading weather faxes http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/UsersGuide/UG.pdf

Now, you won't get grib files but weather fax is probably just as good. Video calls and posting to this site offshore are not feasible with this budget.
 
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