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Sat phone & SSB

D

dhusselman

New member
I understand that SSB has been an integral part of the SHTP in the past. If the majority of the boats (60%+) will have SSB, I probably will install one as well. On the other hand if more boats are moving to Sat phones, it would be interesting to discuss a daily call in to a conference number where there can be a roll call and share information.

To me adding SSB is bringing in another hobby into the race. It's not straight forward, it's expensive and complex to have it installed correctly.

It would be interesting to learn what folks want to do for this race.

Dirk "TIJD" - First 30JK
 
I will have both on board. The phone gets expensive for fetching weather, so it is a backup or for serious emergencies. The phone minutes expire, so you can end up burning them in the end.

The checkin becomes a big highlight of the day especially on the way back where things are slower and weather more variable.

A Ham license can be useful to get more/free airtime and for talking to the Pacific Seafarers Net. There are some pretty good cram and test sessions put on in San Francisco. You can get an Expert rating in a weekend.

Installation is not really that complicated, though there are a fair number of wires running hither and fro.
 
jakmang said:
I will have both on board. The phone gets expensive for fetching weather, so it is a backup or for serious emergencies. The phone minutes expire, so you can end up burning them in the end.

The checkin becomes a big highlight of the day especially on the way back where things are slower and weather more variable.

A Ham license can be useful to get more/free airtime and for talking to the Pacific Seafarers Net. There are some pretty good cram and test sessions put on in San Francisco. You can get an Expert rating in a weekend.

Installation is not really that complicated, though there are a fair number of wires running hither and fro.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input. If one does not invest in SSB, a monthly Sat phone cost for one month is not expensive. $199 for 250 minutes talk and "unlimited" data.
I understand that if you already have SSB installed, satellite communication becomes an extra cost.
 
That sounds like a better deal than I was able to find a couple years ago. Perhaps you could PM me the company.

Thanks,
-jak
 
I've rented a satphone twice (PacCup, LongPac) and found my usage of minutes was a lot less than I thought it would be. Daily usage was getting some GRIBS and text weather every day, maybe a few text emails every day, and sending text and a few photos (already converted to smaller size) to my blog, such as it was. Almost no voice calls though.

Overall, MUCH cheaper than a new SSB setup, especially if you go the full-boat with pactor modem, etc. to get weather fax and GRIBs.

Also, if you have to ditch, you can take the satphone with you onto the life raft and call the USCG to tell them what happened. This is what XL did when they were sunk by a whale on the return delivery for PacCup 2006.

As an exercise, take the installation cost of a new SSB (console, antenna tuner, antenna, modem) and divide by the number of minutes you will be actually talking on a 15 day race.
 
You will enjoy the race much more if you can participate in the SSB chat sessions after the twice daily check-ins. I'\'m sure a lot of others will agree.
 
Harrier said:
You will enjoy the race much more if you can participate in the SSB chat sessions after the twice daily check-ins. I'\'m sure a lot of others will agree.
Click to expand...

I agree, the SSB check ins during the SHTP are fun. And its nice to be able to be on the pacific seafarers net (14.300 HAM) on the way home.
 
I believe, per RRC & Comm Plan, neither SSB or sat phone is required. Current plan for me is Delorme Inreach with a texting plan. Still thinking about sat phone.

One thing I am curious about is the inreach's capacity to do group text when paired w iPhone, iPad, or android device. It seems that if group texting is effective, this could replace some of the functionality of the SSB.

There is considerable evidence of enthusiasm online among hunters, back country adventurers, and remote expedition kayakers for the inreach.
 
Subject: Gribs My local computer geek converted my laptop to Windows 7 from Vista. In so doing, my Xaxero program for receiving weatherfax was erased. Not sure what the future holds for what has been my standby for offshore weather. Is there a step-by-step instruction available for obtaining grib files on my laptop via my sat fone? This was once demonstrated to be...but once was not enough! Any advice would be appreciated,
 
Harrier said:
Subject: Gribs My local computer geek converted my laptop to Windows 7 from Vista. In so doing, my Xaxero program for receiving weatherfax was erased. Not sure what the future holds for what has been my standby for offshore weather. Is there a step-by-step instruction available for obtaining grib files on my laptop via my sat fone? This was once demonstrated to be...but once was not enough! Any advice would be appreciated,
Click to expand...

Does it make sense to setup a few (informal) skippers meetings, where we discuss communications, grib file downloads, and other stuff. I'm happy to host at my house and setup video conference call for remote folks.

Any interest?

Dirk "TIJD" First 30JK
 
Harrier, here's Xaxero's GRIB viewer:

http://www.sea-tech.com/windplot.htm

There are others, including free products. I'm confused by WindPlot's mention of the internet since mere mortals like us don't have the ability to access the internet offshore. Hopefully Xaxero's viewer works without an internet connection.

I request the weather file(s) by sending an e-mail via satphone to SailDocs, a free service. Instead of using a separate GRIB viewer like WindPlot, my charting software* formats the e-mail, using the lat/lon range I format on the chart. It puts that e-mail into the satphone's "queue" and it is sent when I turn on the phone. SailDocs' computer creates the weather file, attaches it to an e-mail and sends it back to me, often before I can even hang up. Sometimes I have to wait a few minutes and reconnect. Then I download it to the charting software and it appears as an overlay on the chart. This is a simplified explanation - the actual steps depend on the software you're using.

You can set this up and test it at home, then substitute the satphone when you're on the boat. I assume you could also substitute an e-mail capable DeLorme unit.

I'm traditional in the sense that I use a Garmin chartplotter as my primary means of navigation (paper charts are also desirable). The Garmin is designed for use on a boat, it also shows the data from my instruments (like AIS targets, depth, etc.) and it will be there if my iThing (or your laptop) gets wet or goes flying across the cabin and busts into pieces.

But for this GRIB-via-satphone process, I use *iNavX as my charting software on my iPad and iPhone. Either iThing connects via wireless hub to the satphone to send and receive the e-mails. The new Iridium GoPhone combines the phone and wireless hub - I have an older Iridium AxcessPoint as the hub and I borrowed a satphone for the last Hawaii trip (thanks again, John M!)

"Parts is parts" - I edited this post several times trying to make it more clear. Dirk, a jam session with this stuff is a good idea.
 
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I bought a NIB Icom 700 pro for a $1000 on eBay. As well as a AT140 tuner $400, GAM antenna $450. I used copper foil attached to 3 thru hulls ( Gordon Wests recommendation) for the grounding and that was by far the most work, but not very expensive. Works perfect.
Cheers, Mike
Watermark PS31
 
I installed copper strapping to keel bolts and the engine (don't have bronze through-hulls) ten years ago and it worked well. After awhile it corroded and started making a mess in the bilge so I stripped it out and replaced it with this:

http://www.kiss-ssb.com/

This works at least as well as the copper strapping and is way easier and neater to have in the boat. Before Pacific Cup I anchored off of Pt. Richmond and talked to VALIS up in the San Juans on several channels. It also worked fine for all the Pac Cup check-in's.

Besides, it seems like an appropriate post for Valentine's Day!
 
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BobJ said:
I installed copper strapping ... and it worked well. After awhile it corroded and started making a mess in the bilge so I stripped it out and replaced it with this:

http://www.kiss-ssb.com/

This works at least as well as the copper strapping and is way easier and neater to have in the boat.
Click to expand...

Same experience on Frolic. The KISS that works.
 
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