Re: Internet Access

[Tom and Maje]

Is there an affordable way to access the internet while crossing the Atlantic?

Maje

[artisthos]

I am looking for the best system to send and receive e-mails and download GRIB files using a Iridium phone and a laptop computer. We are crossing the North Atlantic in June. I am looking into using SailMail and US GRIB. I hope to find the answer soon and will let you know. THe most important thing is to get on-line and off-line as fast as possible.

[Osiris]

The old and reliable sailmail/airmail/winlink system operates using the single side band HF radio and a pactor modem. You need to be licensed as a general class HAM which is not difficult at all. then you can send and receive emails and get weather maps and grib files

[Auspicious]

There are several choices and some issues associated with each.

You can use a satellite phone, either Iridium or Glaboalstar. Globalstar has many coverage issues but is cheaper. You can get e-mail, including those with grib files as attachments, over the sat phone. Grib files have significant shortfalls, most particularly failing to properly reflect fronts.

With a single-sideband radio and an inexpensive soundcard adapter you can receive weather fax (wefax). Wefax does require some training to interpret.

An SSB and Pactor modem will allow you to send and receive e-mail and to receive wefax. You can use either or both of marine SSB e-mail systems (need marine SSB license (no test, but a fee) and an account (fee) with Sailmail or Cruise-E-Mail or a ham e-mail system (free or low-cost test and no service fees) and an account with WinLink (free). Wefax is free regardless.

My opinions and value judgments;
Globalstar is inexpensive but not very useful - too many times you just can't get a signal.
Iridium is dependable but expensive.
SSB/Pactor is reliable and inexpensive to operate, although the initial capital investment is likely to be a bit more. With a good marine SSB and the time and energy to get a ham license you have a very robust system that provides for the use of both marine SSB and ham frequencies.

[billreilly]

I am looking for the best system to send and receive e-mails and download GRIB files using a Iridium phone and a laptop computer. We are crossing the North Atlantic in June. I am looking into using SailMail and US GRIB. I hope to find the answer soon and will let you know. THe most important thing is to get on-line and off-line as fast as possible.

When using a low-bandwidth internet connection (such as Iridium, Globalstar, Thuraya, Inmarsat, etc.), we recommend downloading the image files from PassageWeather.com with the following direct link:

http://www.passageweather.com/download.htm

I hope this helps...