I assume you mean "at sea" not coastal where cell phones and/or wi-ft work. I couple years ago when we were cruising in the Faeroes & Iceland, my Iridium phone worked 100% of the time with little effort. It was the most cost effective solution I could find. My set-up included the optional outside antenna and cabling which, IMO, is important for a satisfactory user experience. I Typically connected each day for 2-3 minutes to collect & send email. I do carry a Ham SSB (ICOM 725) but was told by ICOM that it would not work with the modem necessary with Winlink (or Sailmail). The costs of the SSB set-up was greater then Iridium. I did use it on voice periodically. You may remember my posts last year about my friends attempting the NW passage. They routinely used WINLINK, but found up in Greenland and West, they couldn't connect with the radio due to propagation. Eventually they were able to rent an Iridium phone which then provided reliable email connection. Robby

>I assume you mean "at sea" not coastal where cell phones and/or wi-ft work. That's correct, at sea. >I couple years ago when we were cruising in the Faeroes & Iceland, >my Iridium phone worked 100% of the time with little effort. It was >the most cost effective solution I could find. My set-up included >the optional outside antenna and cabling which, IMO, is important >for a satisfactory user experience. I Typically connected each day >for 2-3 minutes to collect & send email. > >I do carry a Ham SSB (ICOM 725) but was told by ICOM that it would >not work with the modem necessary with Winlink (or Sailmail). The >costs of the SSB set-up was greater then Iridium. I did use it on >voice periodically. > >You may remember my posts last year about my friends attempting the >NW passage. They routinely used WINLINK, but found up in Greenland >and West, they couldn't connect with the radio due to propagation. >Eventually they were able to rent an Iridium phone which then >provided reliable email connection. From all I have seen and heard, it certainly seems that Iridium is the first choice for modern-day passagemakers--if they want it, if they can afford it. --Georgs -- Georgs Kolesnikovs Your host at Trawlers & Trawlering, formerly Trawler World, since 1997 Our new site is being readied for launch at <http://www.trawlersandtrawlering.com>

Actually, Globalstar is better for data where you can get coverage. If you're going to cruise where you're covered by Globalstar, its 4 times faster and cheaper per minute than Iridium or Mini-M. The gear is also cheaper in terms of initial cost. Steve Dashew examines this choice on his web page http://www.setsail.com/dashew/electronics.html. If you're cruising the Caribbean basin, North America, or the North Atlantic, I think Globalstar is a better choice. Outside that range, it's Iridium. Personally, I'd buy a backup sat phone before I'd buy another SSB or weather fax. Sat phones for email, weather data, and voice are far superior to SSB in all conditions. Even emergency rescue and such. IMHO of course. tr At 11:54 AM 9/19/2006, Georgs Kolesnikovs wrote: > >I assume you mean "at sea" not coastal where cell phones and/or wi-ft work. > >That's correct, at sea. > > >I couple years ago when we were cruising in the Faeroes & Iceland, > >my Iridium phone worked 100% of the time with little effort. It was > >the most cost effective solution I could find. My set-up included > >the optional outside antenna and cabling which, IMO, is important > >for a satisfactory user experience. I Typically connected each day > >for 2-3 minutes to collect & send email. > > > >I do carry a Ham SSB (ICOM 725) but was told by ICOM that it would > >not work with the modem necessary with Winlink (or Sailmail). The > >costs of the SSB set-up was greater then Iridium. I did use it on > >voice periodically. > > > >You may remember my posts last year about my friends attempting the > >NW passage. They routinely used WINLINK, but found up in Greenland > >and West, they couldn't connect with the radio due to propagation. > >Eventually they were able to rent an Iridium phone which then > >provided reliable email connection. > > From all I have seen and heard, it certainly seems that Iridium is >the first choice for modern-day passagemakers--if they want it, if >they can afford it. > >--Georgs >-- >Georgs Kolesnikovs >Your host at Trawlers & Trawlering, formerly Trawler World, since 1997 > >Our new site is being readied for launch at ><http://www.trawlersandtrawlering.com> >_______________________________________________ >Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List

> Steve Dashew examines this choice on his web page > > http://www.setsail.com/dashew/electronics.html. This is an excellent link! The Dashews have really put forth a tremendous amount of information on gear selection and justification (for example, they have an excellent discussion on why their powerboat is air conditioned whereas their sailboats were not). As an aside, its interesting that it has taken so long for someone to assemble and offer this type of info for long-range power boats (key being making it available to anyone). It takes an incredible amount of time to compile, edit, and present this data. It's really "must-read" material for anyone building or equipping a trawler-style boat. Peter www.SeaSkills.com ======================= Peter Pisciotta 415-902-8439