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From: Michael Lahrkamp (no email)
Date: Fri May 18 2007 - 11:26:34 EDT
Hi Judy,
Globalstar is having issues recently. They also have the least worldwide
coverage of all the sat providers. When I last used sat communications
(last year) for a passage from the BVI to Florida, it was pretty
reliable and we used it as our primary means of communication even
though we had the HF. It was the on demand capability and the low power
that I liked best. The technology is still evolving and I'd expect that
it'll become the mainstream in the future. Just my experiences.
BTW: I assume the Caribbean cruising lifestyle is agreeing with you. How
is Bill? Now if only I could get my other half to cut the work ties...
Cheers,
Mike
Soul Healer, Beneteau 411, Toronto, Canada
________________________________
From:
[mailto:] On Behalf Of Judy
Sent: May 18, 2007 10:11 AM
To:
Subject: [world-cruising] Re: ssb antennas....
We have both sat phone and SSB. Sat phone signal is very, very
unreliable. Never seems to work when you really need it and signal
drops when you need it most. In fact, the signal service has become
so bad that during the past 6 months or so Globalstar has doled out
hundred to thousands of free minutes to each user who requested. They
gave us another 750 free minutes.
The SSB is more reliable. We can listen to weather broadcasts and
traffic most mornings but sometimes are unable to hear clearly.
However, we receive our weather via email on SSB. Have never had a
problem with SSB email. BTW, we do have separate SSB antenna and
built-in copper groundplate inside hull stern. System works very well.
Judy
S/V BeBe
Amel SM2 #387
currently lying Carriacou
--- In
<mailto:world-cruising%40yahoogroups.com> , "Michael Lahrkamp"
<mlahrkamp at dot dot dot > wrote:
>
> Latest check on ebay has used sat phones for a few hundred $US. Also
checking ebay for SSB/HF rigs shows a significant difference in
acquisition costs. And there's still the rig's installation/setup cost
which will add to the total. By my calculations, and with prudent use
of air minutes, I can get away for a number of years before the lines
on cost cross. Anyone else calculated this?
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mike
>
> Soul Healer, B411, Toronto, Canada
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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