Email At Sea

[Captain Ludd]

Hamsailor.

Can I ask what an "International HF Ham Radio Licence is"
I have a Britsh one but have never heard of an International one.

[delatbabel]

I still need some help building up the content on these pages:

Modem - a Cruising Guide on the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki (mostly setup/install instructions about the PACTOR).

WINMOR - a Cruising Guide on the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki

HF Radio - a Cruising Guide on the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki

[redbopeep]

Del--if we ever get ours in the mail (Pactor) I'll help out on the -how-to-install bit

[svhoneybee]

Been running a Pactor in conjunction with Sailmail since 2010. Love it for email, GRIBs, weather forecasts and weatherfaxes. Use a WinXP PC to control it and run it through an Icom801E. Was set up in Sydney for us by the local expert.

[redbopeep]

So--the SSB is installed and working. We downloaded a grib file, downloaded a text weather file, sent and rec'd email sigh of relief to check that one off the list of things to do.

[delatbabel]

Cool, instructions on how to connect it all up for the wiki would be great. So far the best I've seen on line is "contact a professional and ask them to do it", it must be simpler than that.

[redbopeep]

David and I were like the blind leading the blind doing this thing. The "instructions" that came with our SSB were wrong--as in they showed drop down menus and choices in the setup that don't exist in any released version of Airmail software....

I'll have to think through what we actually, really did do--instead of what were we SUPPOSED to have done.

[seaescape]

Hi, I'm just going through the stressful (is that the price!!!) motions of which HF radio to buy. I believe the Icom 802 is the go but should I go with or without DSC. I would like to hear from people that have opinions on going with DSC given the extra $800 AU cost.

Thanks

[haiqu]

I went with a used IC-702 for $500 off ebay. If you don't need DSC then it's as good as the IC-802, although tuning is slightly easier on the newer model. Make sure the ham conversion has been done.

[BJSmith]

Anyone have information on a satellite system that will provide internet connection?
A power yacht owner will be cruising from Anacortes Washington to Southern Alaska and back and wants to keep in contact with his home office. I'm a simple basic sailor type and don't know about that realm.

[Auzzee]

There are many options from cell phone (dependent upon distance from the coastline and presence of repeater towers) right through to Inmarsat costing thousands of dollars. Satellite phones offer a solution, but by far the most cost effective is the use of a Pactor modem with the ship's HF/SSB radio.

At the top of the page you will see, if you scroll up, a heading and logo for our World Cruising and Sailing Wiki. Click on that and enter in the search field 'Email at sea'. You will find a lot of good information there.

I assume you have had a look through the previous pages on this thread which goes back a few years and contains some worthwhile information. Also take a peek here SailMail , here http://web.globalmarinenet.com/blog/...r-Email-at-Sea , here Email at Sea :Skipr.net , and for less than $20, you can buy the following manual from Amazon Communications at Sea: Marine Radio, Email, Satellite, and Internet Services: Mike Harris: 9781574091618: Amazon.com: Books .

Hope this helps your mate. Best wishes.

[Hamsailor]

Hi All,

Here is an excellent tutorial on how to set up the FREE WINMOR (RMS Express) computer sound card software to send and receive email and all kinds of attachments via the Ham Winlink 2000 radio email system.

Yes, FREE....

You also need the free dot net 3.5 platform, as well as the free VOACAP ITSHF propagation prediction software.
All explained in the setup notes and from the software intstallation process.

All you need is a Windows laptop with sound card and your boat Ham or Marine HF SSB radio.
Also a very inexpensive computer to radio interface box.
This could be a Signalink USB ($100), or a home brew device.

Or...
Point an external laptop microphone at the radio's speaker.
Point the radio's microphone at the laptop's speaker.
Turn the radio's VOX on and set the delay to minimum.
Keep the environmental audio noise low.

Remember all transmissions must be on Upper Side Band (USB.)
All emails via Winlink 2000 must have the //WL2K key in the Subject line.
This is a spambot counter measure.

http://www.dtreg.com/Getting_Started...and_WINMOR.pdf

Enjoy,
Hamsailor
kc9sgv AT gmail dott com

[SAT]

I would like to bring the SATcase into the discussion. It sends emails via satellite, through a handheld device. I thought it relevant to the marine community as it floats and is waterproof to IP68.

[haiqu]

Since you appear to be advertising please use the Marine Industry Vendors subgroup in future. My own thoughts are that these things are ridiculously expensive and at £1,299.00 yours is no exception.

[SAT]

Originally Posted by haiqu

Since you appear to be advertising please use the Marine Industry Vendors subgroup in future. My own thoughts are that these things are ridiculously expensive and at £1,299.00 yours is no exception.

Hello, Haiqu.
Can one put a price on a device that saves your life? Seeing as the SATcase is ruggedised more than any other satellite phone on the market, the price reflects its reliability in all terrains.