- A Marine Radio Nets & Broadcasts In addition to government marine weather broadcasts, cruisers can listen to any of the numerous volunteers who spend a significant portion of their time managing a number of radio "nets" which provide useful--even essential--information to cruisers. Radio nets also help cruisers keep in touch with friends and family. Many of these nets are activated during emergencies and will broadcast boat-watches for overdue vessels. Nets also help find cruisers whose families urgently need to make contact with them.
- AirMail is a radio mail program for sending and receiving messages via Pactor over HF radio, either via the ham radio system or participating marine and commercial services. It's is a combination email program (similar to Outlook) and a special terminal program for connection to a radio mailbox station. Once connected to a compable station, message transfer is completely automatic. On the ham bands, Airmail can transfer messages automatically with any station supporting the BBS or F6FBB protocols, such as Winlink, F6FBB and MSYS and other Airmail stations.
- Cruiser Log. Yacht position reports, Cruising narratives, Marine radio nets, Crewfinder, Cruising FAQ's, Boating books, Message board, Cruiser Forum, Classifieds, Sailing news, Chat room, Weather & sailing links.
- MailASail is primarily an email service developed especially for satellite and wireless users. By default we convert incoming email to plain text which offers huge speed benefits. Typically users only download between 1/2 and 1/10 the amount of data that they would otherwise. Iridium users can also have a synopsis of the message sent to them via SMS which gives users most of the benefit of "always on" email. Our website also provides a number of tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your limited connectivity, including tips on sending faxes via email and browsing the web via email. Contact info@mailasail.com for a free trial or for more details.
- MarineNet Radio has developed a unique Internet e-mail "Client" program and service named Calypso Wireless, that was specifically developed for Wireless customers everywhere. Speed and versatility of this package is incredible with up to 70% speed improvement over Outlook Express and Eudora Mail! Uses for Calypso Wireless are any e-mail service using standard POP-3 mail such as: Satellite, SSB E-mail, Cellular or landline! Currently in use at Public Coast Station WKS SSB E-Mail and GlobalStar Satellite services. Some customers of MarineNet Radio are using Calypso Wireless with land line connections in countries that typically have poor phone line quality for Internet. Use of this E-mail program improves data through bad lines up to 3 times that of what they used before! For more information on how you can sign up for SSB E-mail or Satellite mail service.
- Marine Satellite Messaging System Global (Inmarsat) Marine Trimble Sentinal C/GMDSS Marine text messaging (e-mail, fax and telex) and safety at sea communications system. Meets GMDSS safety at sea requirements for vessels over 300 tons. No voice but truly the best system for commercial vessels. Unlike the Galaxy, it is packaged as a complete integrated system with built in computer, keyboard and monitor.
-
Pacific Seafarers Net. West Coast Net is dedicated to communicating with cruising vessels. The Net operates daily at 0200 to 0430 Zulu, on a frequency of 14313 KHz. Net controllers will only talk with a properly licensed operator.
- Saildocs, For the internet-retrieval service for the bandwidth-impaired! Saildocs is an email-based document-retrieval system for the delivery of text-based Internet documents either on request or by subscription. that can deliver web pages (including text weather forecasts), and provides subscriptions for automatic delivery.
- Winlink "To Provide a full-featured digital E-mail transfer, position reporting and weather service to the Global Amateur Radio community where internet access is not available. WinLink 2000 is the latest development for the digital transfer of email, weather, files and other helpful information over Amateur Radio, World-wide. It uses the latest enabling technology and is available to any properly licensed Amateur Radio operator. Simply log into one of the participating network stations using the client software, AirMail, and you will have established yourself as a registered WinLink 2000 user. As a mobile user, whether on the High Seas, jungles of a remote region or just traveling in your RV, you will have the ability to provide your family and friends with the state of your safety and well-being, the joys of your travels and your location. You will also have access to a host of Global text based or graphic weather information whenever or wherever you need it."
- WKS MarineNet High Performance Marine SSB Radio E-Mail. A marine SSB radio, properly installed, is one of the most important safety tools onboard. Our gateway technology provides a fast, economical method for sending and receiving internet e-mail's while at sea using digital modem technology from Public Coast Station WKS, USA and Kiel Radio, Germany. Cost effective service packages that are efficient and inexpensive compared to alternatives like Iridium or Mini-M satellite or pocketmail! Looking for Radio/modem equipment packages? Through a committed effort of certain maritime dealers, service shops and manufactures, we offer complete "tuned and tested" packages for best value and performance in voice and data communications. Don't waste time and money piecing together "a cheap deal" gathering equipment from discounter's everywhere just to find out it isn't the right gear or they don't know how it works! Go to the "Complete Packages" page for the real deal! Pre-pay 6 or 12 months and receive discounts plus be able to temporally suspend service while you are off the boat! Certain conditions apply.
| Voice & Data Systems: Performance Comparions | |||||
|
Voice & Data
|
|||||
| System | Coverage | Service | Voice Trans. | Data Trans | Attachments |
| Globalstar | N. Hamisphere | 24/7 | 9,600 baud | 9,600 baud | Yes |
| Iridium | Worldwide | 24/7 | 2,400 baud | 10,000 baud | Yes |
| Mini-M | Not Polar regions | 24/7 | 2,400 baud | 2,400 baud | Yes |
| Data | |||||
| Ham | Worldwide | * | Ham Phone Patch | 100-1200 baud | Yes |
| MarineNet | Worldwide | Variable | None | 100-1200 baud | No |
| SailMail | Worldwide | Variable | None | 100-1200 baud | No |
| SeaWave | Worldwide | Variable | None | 100-1200 baud | Yes (in 2002) |
| Sat-C | Worldwide | 24/7 | None | 600 baud | No |
| * Note: All HF - e - mail services provide reliable conections most of the time, but connections can be difficult when propagation is poor or when traffic is heavy. | |||||
|
SSB Radios Compatible with HF
-e- mail software and PC connections
|
|
| Brand | Model |
| Furuno | FS1503 |
| ICOM | IC-M710 |
| ICOM | IC-M710RT |
| ICOM | IC-M700 PRO |
| Raymarine | RAY 152 |
| SEA | SEA 235 |
| SEA | SEA 235R |
| SEA | SEA 330 |