kevin2
New member
hi guys, any buffs out there like to explain to me exactly what a SSB protractor modem is? Please! Not too technical if possible (I'm over 55)! Kevin /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
SSB Protractor Modem
- Thread starter kevin2
- Start date
FullCircle
Well-known member
Hi Kevin, I know nothing except its Pactor.....
CPD
Well-known member
Isnt it something to do with sending/receiving email via SSB ??
Dave99
Member
It is indeed a Pactor Modem- we have sold a couple before. They link up to you SSB transceiver so you can receive and send emails. SCS make one. Let me know if you need any more explanation!
Talbot
Active member
Pactor modem , a means of gettng webmail from the SSB to yout laptop. Slow and prone to looosing lock. Free web mail if you are a radio ham, if not you will have to join one of the specialist like sailmail. (all the detail you need on that site).
Personally the cost of the pactor is about the same as the cost of an iridium phone, I know email is more expensive via iridium, but at least ts faster and gives you a phone for calls to the family (or to falmouth coastguard if something goes wrong far from anywhere.)
Personally the cost of the pactor is about the same as the cost of an iridium phone, I know email is more expensive via iridium, but at least ts faster and gives you a phone for calls to the family (or to falmouth coastguard if something goes wrong far from anywhere.)
wotayottie
New member
[ QUOTE ]
hi guys, any buffs out there like to explain to me exactly what a SSB protractor modem is? Please! Not too technical if possible (I'm over 55)! Kevin /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
As I understand it, it does much the same thing as your PC modem - it changes the incoming signals into a form that your lappy can deal with. Your PC modem handles signals down a phone line, the pactor modem deals with sound coming out of an HF transceiver.
I'm a radio ham and happily play with SSB. nevertheless, if I wanted e mails on board I would always but a sat phone. SSB is not a 24/7 reliable means of communication. And I certainly wouldnt rely on it for safety traffic.
hi guys, any buffs out there like to explain to me exactly what a SSB protractor modem is? Please! Not too technical if possible (I'm over 55)! Kevin /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
As I understand it, it does much the same thing as your PC modem - it changes the incoming signals into a form that your lappy can deal with. Your PC modem handles signals down a phone line, the pactor modem deals with sound coming out of an HF transceiver.
I'm a radio ham and happily play with SSB. nevertheless, if I wanted e mails on board I would always but a sat phone. SSB is not a 24/7 reliable means of communication. And I certainly wouldnt rely on it for safety traffic.
hightech
New member
They are Pactor modems and I have sold/installed a few of these very succesfully. basically, they act just like a PC modem to connect your puter to the internet, just these connect to the internet (email) via your SSB. The advantage of them is that they have very impressive compression algorithms, so the "up" time of the link is usually only a few seconds for an average email. They get used a lot by long distance cruisers and deep sea sailors. Have a look at Sailmail website.
Geoff
Geoff
geoffschultz
New member
The Pactor is a wireless modem which is typically used to provide e-mail service to a boat via a SSB. You can also use it to receive weather faxes sent over the SSB. E-mail services are provided by companies such as SailMail.com or if you have a ham license, you can use the free AirMail service (but you can't conduct business.)
I've been using one for almost 8 years and wouldn't be without one. Anyone who suggests that you should use a service like Iridium hasn't looked at the current pricing of the Iridium service or they don't send/receive much e-mail.
You can find information on Pactor modems at http://www.scs-ptc.com/
-- Geoff
I've been using one for almost 8 years and wouldn't be without one. Anyone who suggests that you should use a service like Iridium hasn't looked at the current pricing of the Iridium service or they don't send/receive much e-mail.
You can find information on Pactor modems at http://www.scs-ptc.com/
-- Geoff
