Communications at Sea Q & A

Hello, Have you a review of computers/laptops/notebooks best compatible with seafaring vessels? Thank you, Bernard

Hi Bernard: Our own experience is that you do not need a marinized computer on the boat. Our first computer, many years ago, was a Radio Shack TRS 80. We then went to a DEC Rainbow, then a HP MSDOS machine, have had Apple G4s on board, and more recently a variety of portables (HP, Gateway, Sony). All of these have been normal land-based machines and we have not had any problems. Regards, Steve Dashew

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Dear Steve,

We build an aluminum 50ft and have one question.

1. How to make the lightning protection ground plate to the outside of the hull and what material/size to use. Hull material alloy 5083, painted.

2. How to make SSB ground plate to reflect waves into the air, also here please advice size and material.

Please be so kind to advice your comments based on experience on your aluminum boats.

I cannot find reply in your book.

Thank you and best regards, Alexander

Hi Alexander: Easy answer. With aluminum construction you have a good built-in lightning system and antenna ground. While on our fiberglass boats we go to a lot of work to provide special lightning grounds below the mast(s), with metal we allow the entire hull to do the job.

Same for antenna grounds for SSB (or any electronics). The hull is an excellent ground plane (for fiberglass we laminate in a copper screen). But, you need to use a large capacitor in all of the electronic ground wires, to maintain your isolation from the batteries. The capacitor allows RF energy, which you are grounding, to pass, but prevents DC current from getting to the hull. More details on this are in our Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia. Regards - Steve

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I am seeking advice re the best choice for setting up an email account for use during my family's upcoming sail around the world. My crew are my wife and two young daughters (5 and 8). We plan to depart in September 2003 from Groton CT aboard our Westsail 32. First of all, we plan to have a ham radio Winlink email address (if I can just carve out enough time to study for and take the tests!). But for sending and receiving photos and large attachments I gather that we should consider having an email address that we can access from Internet cafes and similar locations using our laptop. Do we need to have a subscription internet service provider that we would dial into from landlines at foreign ports? If so which is best? A free one like Hotmail (I think it's free)? Or do we need to pay $10 to $20+ per month for an ISP like Earthlink or AOL? Do we simply need the email address and then plan to use the Internet cafe's or other retail location's internet service provider to gain access to the web. As you can tell, I am having trouble figuring all this out and would really appreciate your guidance as to whom we should contact for the best, most current advice. Thank you for whatever you can tell me to get us headed in the right direction.-- Doug

Hi Doug: I would prioritize as follows:

1-Use Winlink (ham) for most e-mail, weather downloads, and related.

2- Have a good system for compacting your photos--like Adobe Photoshop tools for making images ready for the web which will allow you to send small images with Winlink.

3-For Internet Cafe usage and larger files to send home (or recieve from home) the trade off comes down to time vs. monthly costs. If you can afford the monthly fees of the Inernet only providers--usually $10 or so a month, you will get faster access than with the free services like Hotmail. Even quicker are the large services like AOL, Earthlink, etc. provided they have free access from the areas you will be cruising. If they charge--some used to do this--when you are away from home and using foreign phone lines for direct access, then the free Internet systems are better. Steve

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Dear Steve: I have just read your article in Practical Sailor's latest issue regarding gear info after 38000 miles. In it you said you had a problem with your SGC 2000 HF radio and the Pactor II modem in trying to send e-mail. I own a 2 year old SGC 2000 with the new "Powertalk" remote head which I bought because it was supposed to be better for clear data transmission in poor conditions. You stated that the radio drifted off frequency (which obviously would mess up data transmission). Is this a problem with all models of SGC 2000 radios or a problem specific to your radio and/or model? I am just getting ready to purchase a Pactor II modem and get my radio set up for e-mail as my wife and I are preparing for a 2 year cruise on our Saga 43 from Maine to the Caribbean and then to the Azores and the Med. This problem with the SGC 2000 concerns me!! Should I sell it and get an ICOM 710 like everyone else?! Thanks for your comments, Frank

Hi Frank: I have no experience with SGC's current equipment, so I cannot render an opinion. What I can tell you is based on the way they mishandled the service on our SGC, and then refused any responsibility for what they had done wrong, I would never use any of their equipment again. You might check www.sailmail.com for up to date suggestions on radios which seem to work well for e-mail. Steve

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Under your "Communications at Sea" section under SSB Ground Plane you recommend the referenced antenna due to it not requiring a ground plane. Unfortunately, the marine electronic installers in my area tell me they are not familiar with this type of antenna. For example, is it a simple whip antenna? If so, how long? Can you recommend a vendor that sells this product. Thank you. Downing

Hi Downing: Any amateur radio supply store, or magazine, will have dipole antenna or the bits to make up one. Length varies with the frequency. For example, for 20 meter band you need a 32' antenna. Details are in our Offshore Cruising Ency. Steve

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I'm looking for basic info on what can be done with the SSB and the working frequencies. I've been told that only ham frequencies may reach all locations for example in the South Pacific Any place I can learn about pros and cons? Thanks George

Hi George: Your ham only information is not correct. The higher marine frequencies, like 12, and 16 megs will give you good range. However, these are limited in how many channels you have to use and there are a lot of vessels using them--so ham is better in that you have an entire range of frequencies within which you can look for a clear spot. Although it is not legal, a lot of cruisers use ham radios for both ham and marine SSB frequencies. Steve

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Hi Steve, Concerning this SSB / Ham licensing requirement, the Ham route seems like an awful lot of archaic work. I plan on cruising and using HF weather fax, perhaps HF e-mail, and talking with people like Herb (Hilgenberg) and perhaps family. Would I still need a Ham license for these types of operations? Still in a state of confusion. Bill

Hi Bill: I agree--a lot of work the sole purpose of these days is to keep down the ranks of ham operators, so the air waves don't get too cluttered (a noble cause no doubt). For talking to Herb Hilgenberg on SSB, fax, etc., personal radio operator permits are not required in the US--although some other countries do require licenses. Good Luck--Steve Dashew

From our past e-mail conversations you seem to have some aviation background, perhaps you can steer me in the right direction with this one. I am a commercial pilot with a restricted radio-telephone operators license that all pilots receive. It allows us to use our HF equipment for flights beyond the VHF limits (land). This equipment is essentially the same as the SSB / Ham radios on our boats. How can I find out if I need a Ham license for operations on a boat, and if so, how does one go about getting licensed?

My aviation experience is limited to gliders (I fly an SZD59 in aerobatic competition and do some cross country). Any marine electronics store can give you a heads up on the license situation. My understanding is that for a US vessel, currently no VHF license is required for the boat or operator. An SSB license is required for the boat, but not the radio operator. For Ham, it is the operator and not the boat that requires a license. There are now no code licenses for technician class which gives you some voice privileges. However, for all around communications you would want a General ham license--which I think still requires 13 words per minute of morse code. There are a number of people who give courses commercially, amongst which is Gordon West on the W. Coast. Also, a lot of ham clubs give courses. Regards--Steve

Another Reader had this to say:

Steve I was just reading your FAQ on Radio Licenses on SetSail.com and I am afraid you don't have things QUITE correct:

A vessel that has only VHF, Radar and EPIRB and does NOT communicate in or travel to foreign ports does not need a Ship Station License.

A vessel that has the above and communicates/travels to foreign ports, OR has SSB on board, must have a Ship Station License. Either of these two conditions also makes it a requirement for the operator of the radio to have a Restricted Radiotelephone Operators Permit. Also, re: your Global Star review--Inmarsat Mini-M systems are below $5000 street price--currently $4400, not $6000/$7000. Since calls are a flat $2.50/minute with no monthly charges, for voice calls, it may not be much, if any, more expensive to operate than Global Star outside the US Global Star coverage where the rate structure is different--and confusing!

Considering what we know about the financial health of Inmarsat, and the financial problems of Globalstar--Minim might be a safer bet. I sell both--because unlike Mr Bowden--I don't believe there is only one solution for everyone's needs. Don M

Another Reader had this to say:

Steve, I noticed that the Radio Licenses section of Q&A talks about the 13 words per minute Morse code requirement of a General License. The requirement was relaxed relatively recently, in 2001 perhaps. The current requirement for Morse code for a general license is 5 words per minute. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/classes.html is the link to the Amateur Relay Radio League for confirmation.

My recent experience with intensive license courses on the East Coast was excellent. My wife, 12-year-old daughter, and I all completed our technician licenses and the written requirements for the general license in two intensive days (with some book reading beforehand). With a little more study we'll get the Morse code behind us. Best wishes on your trip into the Pacific. John John Bell B-K Medical Systems, Inc. 800-876-7226

Another Reader had this to say:

Noticed in your Cruising Central section you mention that the U.S. Amateur General Class had a 13WPM morse code requirement. This has been dropped to 5WPM for ALL license classes requiring code. The recommendation of General Class is still a good one, although if you don't mind the study Extra is great. The question pools are freely available for study from the ARRL (www.arrl.org) and other.

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Question regarding SSB vs. Iridium/Globalstar.....I read the nice item on Setsail.com on Iridium/Globalstar and agree that it is coming into vogue economically for data communications/e-mail, etc....It is definitely easier for everyone on board to use in a crunch. But don't you lose the flexibility to participate in net calls, etc.? It seems that there are always tradeoffs...You can access SailMail via the Sat. phones, correct? Also, I'm upgrading my sailing info instruments (wind direction,speed,etc.). What are your thoughts on a good manufacturer of these items in reference to MaxSea interface? Thanks, Ed

Hi Ed--I'm replying from BEOWULF, enroute between the BVI and Panama (using Globalstar). I think for long term/distance cruising I'd choose SSB as it can function as a fax, for e-mail with SailMail or Winlink, and connects you to other boats on a passage and/or the various maritime ham nets. Closer to home, Globalstar, at the current price of as low as $450 and a buck/minute makes a lot of sense and is easier to use. Re: sailing instruments, not sure which are best these days. We've always fitted B and G to the boats we've built because we needed the performance processor which came with their system for design evaluation. Absent that issue, I'd go with the least expensive system which had a reputation for reliability, and which had a NEMA 183 output. Steve

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Do you have any recommendation for a notebook that will stand up to marine use? Thanks, Lawrence

Hi Lawrence: The "marine environment" is no problem for most of today's computers, as long as you keep them dry. We've used all types of portables and deck models on board--since the early 80s, without any difficulties. We even have a 12-year-old TI (DOS) machine on BEOWULF as a backup.

So, if you have a dry environment, it comes down to size and budget. Even the chunkiest machines available now work really well--but faster and bigger is always an advantage.

You may want to consider one of the "marinized" systems which take shock and moisture better. However, these are two to three times as costly as the normal cheap versions, and my inclination would be to have two inexpensive machines rather than one marinized model--unless you are really concerned about leaks. Regards--Steve

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Linda & Steve, In your recent article on the new passage planning software (I hope to see more on this later) you made a comment regarding downloading weather forecast data during your passage. What method do you use to access internet at sea?? Regards, Mark

Hi Mark: We used a Globalstar phone last spring and it was great. Fast connection times and we were able to download .grb files, with the 4.5 day weather forecasts in a two minute session. Globalstar coverage is somewhat limited, but they do cover most of Mexico and the Caribbean. We've got both a Globalstar and Iridium phone to test in November, and results will be up on SetSail. For more data on Iridium check out the reports by Brian Savage and Colleen Ryan. Regards--Steve Dashew

For articles from other SetSail contributors on Communications at Sea, click here.

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I'm fascinated by your comments about Globalstar--do you think it's a viable option for our cruise despite the company's problems? I'm reluctant to buy a $1000 SSB modem if we can get satellite service instead...Best regards, Candace

Hi Candace: The Globalstar survivability issue is a problem--they have better service than Iridium but I doubt they will find enough clients to remain solvent with the original capital base--however, the phones can be had for around $600--and for time-to-time usage, it is probably worthwhile. However, I doubt they have coverage from the E. Atlantic Islands to the Caribb and I would prefer to have two systems of communication.--Steve

Another Reader had this to say:

Steve, Linda Your case for Globalstar is a good one but you might have pointed out that the company's financial position is very shaky and it may well go belly up. Also Globalstar's coverage is far from global--vast areas of ocean are not covered. Iridium, on the other hand, has been rescued (by the Pentagon) and will be viable for at least three years. It has complete global coverage. The data rate is a quarter than of Globalstar at the moment but Iridium hope to have it up to Globalstar's rate by the end of the year. Costs are comparable. $20 a month and $1.50 a min for Iridium $24.95 and $1.49 a minute for Globalstar. You can get an old model refurbished Iridium phone for less than $600--the new models are about $1400 I think. Drop-out problems are less with the new phones. Not only do these phones compare more than favorably with Inmarsat but they also compare favorable with Pinoak et al. There is a chance I will have to take my Sadler 34 from Boston to Falmouth in September. I will be taking my Iridium with me. Great site. Andrew M

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I presently own a Furuno 1502 and would like to hook up with a modem (pactor) and a laptop, in order to be able to e-mail from the boat, providing I have a provider like Sea Mail. In your opinion, which is the most effectively equipped laptop to do the job, or how should this laptop be equipped for optimum performance? Please share this info with me before I purchase the wrong laptop. Thank you very much. I plan to sail the Caribbean this spring, so I am getting prepared. Regards, Peter

Hi Peter: From our experience with SailMail, any computer which has Windows 95 or 98 on it will work OK with most e-mail programs. However, if you visit the www.sailmail.com website you will find some FAQs on the equipment issue.

If you are going to have a computer aboard for this usage, the odds are you may want to use it for a charting system, and perhaps as a weather fax. The odds are that these usage's will probably be more demanding in terms of the computer's capabilities.

Having gone through this ourselves a year ago, what we found out from the experienced users of these programs that the best thing was to buy the biggest screen and biggest hard drive that would fit or that we could afford.

The other issue is to make sure that the computer is electronically quiet. In the US, there are FCC standards about RF noise from computers, so most units will do the job. But a check with a local supplier of e-mail or charting software would probably yield up to date information. Regards, Steve Dashew

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Greetings! I have been doing alot of reading lately, specifically your Surviving the Storm and the latest Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia books. Excellent pieces of work by the way! I came across a piece of information that puzzled me but I figured it was just a typo. But more recently I came across it again in your FAQ on setsail.com. Specifically, the reference is to the fact that a dipole antenna is superior to a long wire (i.e. insulated backstay). I'm confused about the reference to a dipole giving 8 times the output compared to a longwire. A normal simple dipole antenna has a gain of 3db which results in twice the output not 8 times. Also, the dipole is directional with fairly deep null areas off the ends of the antenna so the 3db gain figure is only really true relative to a point broadside to the antenna. If you really know of a dipole configuration with an 8x advantage (that would be a gain of 9db) please let me know. I currently use a whip for marine SSB and an insulated backstay for the ham rig. Some more gain over the unity gain solutions will be greatly appreciated. Also, thanks for the info on the WH Autopilot. You sold me, I will be ordering one very soon! Smooth Sailing!--Doug Dotson

Hi Doug: My data on dipoles is anecdotal, based on the less-than-ideal radiation patterns of long wires and whips when they do not have good ground planes associated with them (which means almost always on a sailboat, unless you have a metal boat). First, you are absolutely correct that dipoles are directional. They are most effective at right angles to the antenna and weakest off the ends of the dipole, as you indicate. Back in the late 70s, when we were cruising on a fiberglass boat, we made a number of comparison transmissions from Melanesia back to the West Coast of the US. We'd transmit on the dipole, then using a coax switch change over to the backstay. The hams with whom we were speaking would report a huge gain in signal strength. I've forgotten the "S" meter reading now, but they translated as factor of roughly eight. What was most surprising was the increased reception we had as well. I recall sitting in the harbor in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, listening to the Rose Bowl football game on the AFRTS. We could hear it clearly with the dipole, but not even a scratch with the long wire. And we were the only boat in the harbor that could pick up the AFRTS signal. There was nothing special about these dipoles. The formula for length and frequency is of course well known (and in our Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia). We eventually went to a "trap" dipole, so we could work 15 and 40 meters as well as 20.

Give it a try on your own boat, and let us know what you find out.--Steve Dashew

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Steve: A new Iridium Satellite LLC has just announced on CNBC that these satellites are back in business with coverage over 100% of the globe. Great for offshore roaming types. Phone cost looks like $1500US for the handset, which accepts on-line data. I don't have info about operating costs. Regards, DM

Been following the same developments here. I know there are a bunch of handsets laying around and I'll bet they offer them a lot cheaper at some point. Also, rates are now supposed to be $1.50/minute from anywhere. However, we did not find the service very satisfactory a year and a half ago when we tried it, so we are planning to wait and see how things shake out.--Steve

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Steve, What system do you use for e-mail and Internet access at sea? What connection speeds do you get? Is it good enough to get the NOGAPS Java movies within a reasonable time frame? What are the options?--Alan

Hi Alan: We primarily use SailMail for e-mail. They have stations now in Australia and Hawaii, so it should work well in New Zealand. I am not sure of the baud rate--and of course that varies with propagation. However, you are not allowed to receive attachments, and file size is limited. So it would not work for downloading from the net.

I don't think there are any world wide systems which are usable on a moving platform for connecting to the web. But maybe in a few years...Regards--Steve Dashew

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What is a web site that I can find out info on the offshore communications system that you use. The Trimble web site is not very enlightening about the Sat C system and has nothing about prices. Any info appreciated.

For the SailMail system (SSB-based e-mail) go to www.sailmail.com. Their website gives you all the data on how the system works, hardware required, and suggested vendors. For Sat C you can go to one of the service providers' web sites. We use Stratos. Their URL is www.stratos.ca. Regards--Steve

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We are shortly to buy an SSB radio. We propose to spend up to USD2,500 and will run a weather fax program on a Toshiba laptop thru it. The model we like so far is an Icom IC-M710. Have any of your readers had any experience with one of these, and if so how do they like it? Mike

Hi Mike: No direct experience with Icom M710, but have heard good things about it on the grapevine. You can probably do a lot better on price than $2500 in the States. Good Luck--Steve

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Hello Dashews: We have a Cal 2-46 and I am struggling with how to build a substantial grounding plane for the SSB--the previous owner did not have an adequate installation. Could you give us some suggestions? So far, we understand that the sintered bronze plates are not adequate. One person suggested that we cover the entire rudder in copper plate, two have suggested that we epoxy copper screen into wherever we can in the bilge (which would be a lot of relatively small pieces), someone suggested multiple copper strips running lengthwise in the bilge and Ed at American Marine Coatings in Seattle says he can mix up a batch of his product with sufficient copper in it to make it conductive so it will work if painted into bilge spaces and connected up. What to you think? Thank you very much. Jim and Leslee

Hi Guys: This is a tough problem after the fact. First issue: You want to have your ground plane located as close to the antenna coupler as possible--hopefully the coupler will be right in the middle. Once you get a quarter wavelength or so away from the coupler the ground plane becomes useless. Assuming the coupler is aft, this leaves the lazarette and stern area. I would tie the stern hardware (cleats, pushpit, tracks) to the ground plane with foil, and then if you are serious, glass in some copper screening into the hull bottom (on the inside of the lazz) and tie that to everything else. Alternately, use a balanced antenna (like a half-wave dipole) which does not require a ground plane. This will be far more effective than any long wire (backstay) or whip--up to eight times more powerful in listening and sending. Good Luck!

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A technical question: With AT&T going out of the high seas phone business, what would you recommend for someone heading offshore for e-mail and voice transmission? My friend...is taking his Swan 47 into the Pacific and is interested in your answer, as am I (more generally). Regards, John

Hi John: We have a Trimble Sat C and found it much better than SSB or ham which I don't have the patience for in my old age. Offshore Communications offers automatic (free) high seas weather four times a day for your region (which it knows from the built-in GPS). You can set it to send an automatic position report at whatever intervals desired (sends Lat./LON./Speed/Heading at a cost of about 25 cents/message--we typically set ours for 4x/day). We did a lot of communication with daughters/dad, etc. and our costs ran $200/mo. Lots of shorthand as you pay by the character, about 75 cents per 100 characters. Totally automatic, no band conditions to worry about.

Otherwise, ham patches for non-business is still a good system. But you do have to deal with propagation and it takes a lot of time and energy.

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