SSB, Satphone, Very confused

[oliverkinchin]

Hello again. I hope someone can help me here as I am completely out of my depth. We are taking two years to do some cruising and will be taking part on the ARC this year. Now communication is my main topic of concern. We brought an IsatPhone Pro f(http://www.isatphonelive.com/home) from the boat show, one because the voice quality is great plus it is slightly cheaper than other systems. Now, I though I would be fine just using this but I am now concerned after reading the ARC literature that it may not be any good in receiving weather files and the like. My next issue is that I have a Mac, so nothing seems to work with this unless I purchase additional software. Has anyone used the IsatPhone? and does anyone know what software is good for converting files for the Mac.

My next test was SSB. I was going to purchase the SSB HF3 Target from NASA but after speaking to several people it may not be worth it; can anyone give me their recommendations? Do I really need SSB if I have a SAT Phone that can give me the weather details? There is also the option of having a portable SSB which has been recommended by a friend; this is something I still need to look into.

We do not really want to spend a lot more on communications so any advise will again be much appreciated.

Best wishes,

Oliver

 

[Neil_Y]

Weather data is very useful, more so on the return so having an alternative to a sat connection is not a bad idea. The Target HF3 is a great little radio, you can also listen in to ssb nets to get information and hear chat from other cruisers (it helps pass the time some days) I've known other cruisers use portable ssb receivers and they work OK, it's always difficult to establish how good they are until you are a day or two offshore away from electrical interference, so testing in the marina is often pointless unless it's a quiet marina, Falmouth in November on the end of the pontoon worked.

I don't know anything about sat comms as we only had an ssb receiver and vhf on our boats, but I'm sure someone will be along soon to help.

Electronics do fail so an alternative is a good idea, and somehow even though you're on your own just hearing other voices and knowing there are other nutters in the same storm improves moral!

 

[VADROUILLE]

I have an isatphone pro. Very good bit of kit. You should be able to download tha mac software from there website, failing that contact your service provider.

I use u grib weather to download weather files. It's like passage weather but with out all the ****. From start up to shut down I can have the western med weather wind forecast in 10 mins for the next 3 days.

It's also a free service when I say free, u grib software is free, the actual download will cost you but via your service provider. Mine for instance is £1 a min, so 10 mins connected is £10

Another bonus is the text email service, which now sends the position with it, excellent product. All very quick and efficiant

If you need some more info on how I set up feel free to pm me.

I also have Ssb on board but just use the sat phone for conveniance

 

[Bilgediver]

I have an isatphone pro. Very good bit of kit. You should be able to download tha mac software from there website, failing that contact your service provider.

I use u grib weather to download weather files. It's like passage weather but with out all the ****. From start up to shut down I can have the western med weather wind forecast in 10 mins for the next 3 days.

It's also a free service when I say free, u grib software is free, the actual download will cost you but via your service provider. Mine for instance is £1 a min, so 10 mins connected is £10

Another bonus is the text email service, which now sends the position with it, excellent product. All very quick and efficiant

If you need some more info on how I set up feel free to pm me.

I also have Ssb on board but just use the sat phone for conveniance

In addition to this I would suggest the OP checks out the sailmail website as their systems can also be routed via Iridium and Inmarsat using compression.

http://www.sailmail.com/

 

[ffiill]

HF3-sorry just too old fashioned-you have to knob twiddle too much.
I was going to buy one but instead bought a hardly used Eton SSB receiver-£40 used off e bay alpha numeric key pad so just key in frequencies or use tuning knob.
Either will let you download weather fax and RTTY raw data.I just use an old Windows laptop dedicated to navigation etc.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I thought the ARC required each boat to have an SSB on board and not just receive either. The idea was communication between the boats each day to ensure safety. Maybe I am out of date but you should check

 

[Reverend Ludd]

With regard to the Mac, you could just boot it up in Windows could you not ?

Save a lot of grief