weather forecasting on the move ?

[ribrage]

Im sure everyone has a prefered method of getting a good weather forecast whilst travelling what Id like to know from you old salts is this:

What equipment would you purchase either in hind sight or as a wish list to enable reliable forecasting whilst you are on the move. I already have navtext which is pretty much left on permanantly, but i prefer synoptic charts when available.

But not convinced this would be enough information or reliable enough whilst cruising, Ill be predominantly in the med but will at some point head for the canaries and the carib so over to you ............ what kit would you buy ?

 

[vyv_cox]

We find the Nasa Weatherman quite useful in the Med, although the waypoints for which it issues forecasts are somewhat far between. Consequently some interpretation and interpolation is needed.

Otherwise Grib.us is reasonable and very cheap to use. If you can get wifi or some other means of internet access then Windfinder is quite good, and Poseidon in Greece.

We found Navtex to be accurate and reliable in France and Italy but the broadcasts were sometimes difficult to receive in Spain. Greek forecasting is pretty good, bearing in mind the geographic difficulties they face.

 

[ribrage]

re the grib files with out internet access Im assuming you get them via ssb or sat phone,what equipment or software is required to download that onto a laptop ?

im presuming the software used will have a geographical out line of the area and then over lay the information so that its usable for the area Im in ?

 

[vyv_cox]

No, any old mobile phone will do as a modem, better of course if you use more modern and expensive G3 ones but for small files like Outlook e-mails and grib files the old technology is fine.

Look at the Grib.us website, where you can download all the software you will need. This gives you a world map, with which you can define the areas you are interested in. You also need to create a folder on your laptop where the files will be stored. Then set up your mobile phone with its own software to act as a modem.

All you need then is a signal, in UK outside towns and cities this seems to be an almost insurmountable obstacle, e.g. at home only 12 miles from Chester I can't receive any, whereas it is very rare in Spain, Italy and Greece to be out of mobile range. We were communicating all the way from Barcelona to Mallorca, never lost signal.

 

[elton]

zyGrib is excellent, and free!

 

[jimbaerselman]

What equipment would you purchase either in hind sight or as a wish list to enable reliable forecasting whilst you are on the move. I already have navtext which is pretty much left on permanantly, but i prefer synoptic charts when available.

But not convinced this would be enough information or reliable enough whilst cruising, Ill be predominantly in the med but will at some point head for the canaries and the carib so over to you ............ what kit would you buy ?

If you want a really comprehensive story of the kit useful in various sea areas, go to the (CA) site, www.cruising.org.uk.

Click the "Cruise Info" tab at the top, then drill down the left menu "Preparing to cruise>>weather". All the CA weather pages are open to non-members.

 

[KellysEye]

SSB, Satphone is expensive and you will need SSB on long passages and anywhere outside Europe.

 

[TQA]

Anyone making offshore passages in the North Atlantic or Caribbean should be aware of Herb AKA Southbound II

Quote

Herb provides a daily ship-routing/weather forecasting service as a hobby, on marine HF/SSB frequency12359.0 starting at 2000 UTC until completion of traffic. Alternate frequencies may be announced from time to time during the "NET" depending on and subject to propagation. Vessels are welcome to check in between 1930 and 2000 UTC and should then stand by until contacted once their area gets covered. New check-ins should provide a short description of their location on checking in for the first time.
At 2000 UTC Herb will acknowledge all readable check-ins. Once on the South Bound II log stations are encouraged to check in and stay in contact daily until completion of passage. .As part of the service each vessel should provide current latitude and longitude to the nearest minute when called back; also provide true wind speed and wind direction and other pertinent data such as changing barometric pressure, rough sea state and squalls. Each vessel will receive daily an extended four to five day route forecast including way points, as necessary, to assist in avoiding potentially unfavorable conditions.

Individual vessel forecasts are prepared in advance of airtime, utilizing and analyzing up to five numerical forecast models, incorporating other available data and products and then producing revised surface chart for detailed analysis and forecast preparation. Forecasts are provided as value added information, not as a re-broadcast of otherwise available official marine high seas forecasts.

NOTE: It is recommended that mariners on the High Seas regularly monitor marine text and voice forecasts as issued by the U.S. National Weather Service, the NHC and CFH Halifax for the Atlantic areas via Coast Guard or public broadcast stations. Computer generated facsimile charts and grib files downloaded via HF e-mail or satellite should be used with caution as they are unedited and based usually on only one model.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AREA OF COVERAGE


Primary area of coverage is the North Atlantic between the Eastern Seaboard and Europe, including the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas Islands and the Gulf of Mexico. Limited coverage is available for the South Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific subject to HF propagation. Due to time constraints and the nature of the hobby forecasts are not available via E-mail, fax or telephone except in case of an emergency. This service is intended for extended offshore passages.

Unquote.

 

[ribrage]

No, any old mobile phone will do as a modem, better of course if you use more modern and expensive G3 ones but for small files like Outlook e-mails and grib files the old technology is fine.

Look at the Grib.us website, where you can download all the software you will need. This gives you a world map, with which you can define the areas you are interested in. You also need to create a folder on your laptop where the files will be stored. Then set up your mobile phone with its own software to act as a modem.

All you need then is a signal, in UK outside towns and cities this seems to be an almost insurmountable obstacle, e.g. at home only 12 miles from Chester I can't receive any, whereas it is very rare in Spain, Italy and Greece to be out of mobile range. We were communicating all the way from Barcelona to Mallorca, never lost signal.

Im not to sure how to get my crappy old mobile talking to my laptop, but i guess a new phone wont be to expensive is it possible to use my dongle out of the uk ? Im guessing that will do the same thing.

 

[vyv_cox]

Im not to sure how to get my crappy old mobile talking to my laptop, but i guess a new phone wont be to expensive is it possible to use my dongle out of the uk ? Im guessing that will do the same thing.

My only experience of this is that I have a Vodafone 3G dongle for UK and bought another for Greece. It utterly refused to cooperate until I uninstalled the UK software. So the answer is probably, if you can buy a Greek (or French, Italian, WHY) SIM card but the complete package is not expensive, Vodafone dongle, SIM card and 10 days of use for €50. I didn't try to buy a data SIM but I guess it would not have been straightforward.

 

[Ional]

When we got to Ayemonte, in Spain we bought a Vodaphone Espania dongle. The girl in the shop spoke perfect English which helped! .It cost 49E. Then you can either have a contract, which we didnt want, or buy data downloads, only Vodaphone do them. 19E for 250mb 29E for 400mb. Top up at any Vodaphone shop.

We are now in the Ebro delta, have used dongle in all ports and at sea, incl Ibiza. Always got 3G immediately, and enough bzzzz to Skype and chat on video to grandkids!! So far we have used about 850mb in 2 months, connecting briefly, plus skype most days.

I know its not as cheap as home, but actually it costs less than a couple of beers at an internet cafe.

It lasts 90 days so only good if you use it. I will be moving into French waters in Sept, having gone around Spain anti clockwise. So will sell my dongle and buy a French one. they are locked like early mobile phomes. Its been really great to get e mails each day and check the weather sites.

 

[xtiffer]

My only experience of this is that I have a Vodafone 3G dongle for UK and bought another for Greece. It utterly refused to cooperate until I uninstalled the UK software. So the answer is probably, if you can buy a Greek (or French, Italian, WHY) SIM card but the complete package is not expensive, Vodafone dongle, SIM card and 10 days of use for €50. I didn't try to buy a data SIM but I guess it would not have been straightforward.

Here in Turkey I got a data sim for €5. Dongle was about€60 and
4GB per month is €15.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[grumpygit]

My only experience of this is that I have a Vodafone 3G dongle for UK and bought another for Greece. It utterly refused to cooperate until I uninstalled the UK software. So the answer is probably, if you can buy a Greek (or French, Italian, WHY) SIM card but the complete package is not expensive, Vodafone dongle, SIM card and 10 days of use for €50. I didn't try to buy a data SIM but I guess it would not have been straightforward.

We too use a dongle, bought in the uk (ebay) unlocked and works fine on Voda gr. sim.

As for forecasts we use, Meteo gr. Poseidon System, Meteox, PassageWeather, Meteo Mari e Venti, Euro Weather, UGRIB and on and on........and the ever faithful Navtex.

We have prefered ones that we use mostly, but really the Navtex is fine for trends.
At times Poseidon will show gales when there's breezes. UGRIB will show breezes when there's gales.

Out of all these if you can get any two to agree with each other I'll stand the next round..... Here in Greece there is so many local weather systems local knowledge is probably the answer and this is why it is so difficult to forecast.

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[ribrage]

If you want a really comprehensive story of the kit useful in various sea areas, go to the (CA) site, www.cruising.org.uk.

Click the "Cruise Info" tab at the top, then drill down the left menu "Preparing to cruise>>weather". All the CA weather pages are open to non-members.

Thanks for that tip Jim I hadnt really looked at the CA site in detail before there is a lot of available info on there and a good resource, thanks

 

[ribrage]

We too use a dongle, bought in the uk (ebay) unlocked and works fine on Voda gr. sim.

As for forecasts we use, Meteo gr. Poseidon System, Meteox, PassageWeather, Meteo Mari e Venti, Euro Weather, UGRIB and on and on........and the ever faithful Navtex.

We have prefered ones that we use mostly, but really the Navtex is fine for trends.
At times Poseidon will show gales when there's breezes. UGRIB will show breezes when there's gales.

Out of all these if you can get any two to agree with each other I'll stand the next round..... Here in Greece there is so many local weather systems local knowledge is probably the answer and this is why it is so difficult to forecast.

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Do the weather forecasts have to agree on the same day for you to get that round ?

 

[grumpygit]

Do the weather forecasts have to agree on the same day for you to get that round ?

Shown for us at 1500UTC today Poseidon f4/5 SSE, PassageWeather f1 SSE, Meteo gr. f3 NW. But what the hell, call round the beer is chilled.

What I was trying to show is that it's forecast in the true word of, forecasts are only as good as the forecaster or computer system that compiles the information and any one should not be taken for granted.




________________________________________________________________________

 

[KellysEye]

Thinking more about this in the Med we used WiFi. Since most passages are fairly short on passage weather isn't really needed. Preferably get a high gain antenna and motor round anchorages until you find a free service. Or if stopping in a marina find the ones that have free wifi (ask around).

 

[mandlmaunder]

receiving signals

Hi Ribrage

When we crossed the Atlantic we used a NASA HF receiver and listened in to Herb daily, his forecasts for a boat about 40 miles north of us was good enough to get us safely away from developing systems.
The disadvantage of only having a receiver is no two way coms, but we could receive radio france and weatherfax and RTTY for the computer all the way to Barbados.
Herd is a true legend and we would listen to him just the entertainment value.
The NASA receiver is much cheaper than HAM or SSB and capable of receiving both.

Once you get across the pond weather can be gotten from local radio and most Islands have coast guard forecasts on VHF daily. If you use marinas there will daily postings as well.
Many established anchorages have a daily cruisers net where weather is always top the daily agenda.

Mark

 

[ribrage]

Shown for us at 1500UTC today Poseidon f4/5 SSE, PassageWeather f1 SSE, Meteo gr. f3 NW. But what the hell, call round the beer is chilled.

What I was trying to show is that it's forecast in the true word of, forecasts are only as good as the forecaster or computer system that compiles the information and any one should not be taken for granted.




________________________________________________________________________

totally agree with that I like to watch the synoptics but wasnt sure how viable that was whilst on the move,winters coming and Im getting itchy feet again , im leeching money like an open wound to numerous " authorities" and might take A "GAP YEAR" .... need to do something soon or it will never happen .

 

[ribrage]

Hi Ribrage

When we crossed the Atlantic we used a NASA HF receiver and listened in to Herb daily, his forecasts for a boat about 40 miles north of us was good enough to get us safely away from developing systems.
The disadvantage of only having a receiver is no two way coms, but we could receive radio france and weatherfax and RTTY for the computer all the way to Barbados.
Herd is a true legend and we would listen to him just the entertainment value.
The NASA receiver is much cheaper than HAM or SSB and capable of receiving both.

Once you get across the pond weather can be gotten from local radio and most Islands have coast guard forecasts on VHF daily. If you use marinas there will daily postings as well.
Many established anchorages have a daily cruisers net where weather is always top the daily agenda.

Mark

Thanks for your help, my main concern at the moment was access to forecast information whilst making my way south to the med, im spending money onthe boat getting essentials sorted and was considering kit for weather forecasts but didnt want to waste money on non essential or plain old fashioned **** kit !

I generally look at synoptic pressure charts here but wasnt sure how to access them or something similar while I was on the move ?