Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?

Depends on when you are heading for the high seas. If it is now or in the
next year or two, you are stuck with the cludgy system call HF (SSB). If you
are going in 5 years or more, satellite will be so widespread as to be a
reasonable alternative.

--
Dennis Gibbons
S/V Dark Lady
CN35-207
email: dennis dash gibbons at worldnet dot att dot net
"Andre Venter" wrote in message
...
Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?

Depends on when you are heading for the high seas. If it is now or in the
next year or two, you are stuck with the cludgy system call HF (SSB). If you
are going in 5 years or more, satellite will be so widespread as to be a
reasonable alternative.

--
Dennis Gibbons
S/V Dark Lady
CN35-207
email: dennis dash gibbons at worldnet dot att dot net
"Andre Venter" wrote in message
...
Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?

I thought Iridium satelite phones covered the whole world now. Am I wrong?

"Dennis Gibbons" wrote in message
...
Depends on when you are heading for the high seas. If it is now or in the
next year or two, you are stuck with the cludgy system call HF (SSB). If
you
are going in 5 years or more, satellite will be so widespread as to be a
reasonable alternative.

--
Dennis Gibbons
S/V Dark Lady
CN35-207
email: dennis dash gibbons at worldnet dot att dot net
"Andre Venter" wrote in message
...
Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?

I thought Iridium satelite phones covered the whole world now. Am I wrong?

"Dennis Gibbons" wrote in message
...
Depends on when you are heading for the high seas. If it is now or in the
next year or two, you are stuck with the cludgy system call HF (SSB). If
you
are going in 5 years or more, satellite will be so widespread as to be a
reasonable alternative.

--
Dennis Gibbons
S/V Dark Lady
CN35-207
email: dennis dash gibbons at worldnet dot att dot net
"Andre Venter" wrote in message
...
Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?

An SSB gets you daily nets where you can check in, get weather and
communicate with other cruisers. You can also get HF faxes, GRIB files, e-
mail, etc, etc. Emergency frequencies are monitored by various agencies.

A Sat phone allows you to make phone calls. Most other cruisers won't have
one or only use it for outgoing calls. Covergage can be spotty even in
areas where you're supposed to have coverage.

I have both and view them as complementary services. If I need to make a
call from in the middle of nowhere, I can. However, don't rely on a sat
phone in emergency situations. Just look at it as another card in your
hand.

If you're looking at one or the other, I'd get a SSB.

-- Geoff

"Andre Venter" wrote in news:U5ydnWr3K9KzYUSiU-
:

Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?

An SSB gets you daily nets where you can check in, get weather and
communicate with other cruisers. You can also get HF faxes, GRIB files, e-
mail, etc, etc. Emergency frequencies are monitored by various agencies.

A Sat phone allows you to make phone calls. Most other cruisers won't have
one or only use it for outgoing calls. Covergage can be spotty even in
areas where you're supposed to have coverage.

I have both and view them as complementary services. If I need to make a
call from in the middle of nowhere, I can. However, don't rely on a sat
phone in emergency situations. Just look at it as another card in your
hand.

If you're looking at one or the other, I'd get a SSB.

-- Geoff

"Andre Venter" wrote in news:U5ydnWr3K9KzYUSiU-
:

Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 19:34:31 +0200, "Andre Venter"
wrote:

Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?


Satellite phone is a better idea. SSB is nearly DEAD. Most of the
best shore stations, like WOM in Miami, are shut down, permanently. A
Satphone is like having a payphone right on your bridge.

The US Military has saved Iridium from the auction block. The best
deals for Iridium service seem to be from the UK, not the US. It's
still $1.99 per minute to CALL OUT. INCOMING CALLS ARE NOT CHARGED!
Just set a schedule to call YOU from shore....

Companies like:
http://www.worldcell.com/services/rentsatellite.aspx
will rent you service by the day/week/month if you're not going to be
a permanent customer. Older Iridium phones are available for $695,
but they're kinda clunky. The new Motorola phones are about $1500 and
are still LARGE and HEAVY because they have to talk to a satellite 500
miles away! It's not a toyphone cellular service.

Worldcell can also provide you with a LOCAL phone number in about 140
countries (different number in each, of course) and have a lot of neat
other features on their website. An 800 toll free to the phone is
$4.95/mo....a steal!!

No, I don't have one or want one and don't sell them, either.


Larry W4CSC

NNNN

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 19:34:31 +0200, "Andre Venter"
wrote:

Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?


Satellite phone is a better idea. SSB is nearly DEAD. Most of the
best shore stations, like WOM in Miami, are shut down, permanently. A
Satphone is like having a payphone right on your bridge.

The US Military has saved Iridium from the auction block. The best
deals for Iridium service seem to be from the UK, not the US. It's
still $1.99 per minute to CALL OUT. INCOMING CALLS ARE NOT CHARGED!
Just set a schedule to call YOU from shore....

Companies like:
http://www.worldcell.com/services/rentsatellite.aspx
will rent you service by the day/week/month if you're not going to be
a permanent customer. Older Iridium phones are available for $695,
but they're kinda clunky. The new Motorola phones are about $1500 and
are still LARGE and HEAVY because they have to talk to a satellite 500
miles away! It's not a toyphone cellular service.

Worldcell can also provide you with a LOCAL phone number in about 140
countries (different number in each, of course) and have a lot of neat
other features on their website. An 800 toll free to the phone is
$4.95/mo....a steal!!

No, I don't have one or want one and don't sell them, either.


Larry W4CSC

NNNN

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 22:38:14 GMT, "Richard" wrote:

I thought Iridium satelite phones covered the whole world now. Am I wrong?

Pole to pole.....The birds fly polar routes so cover the planet, or
most of it.


Larry W4CSC

NNNN