Sat Comm &Data Link


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Peter.Basilides
Peter.Basilides
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Hey all, I consider getting a sat phone and preferably a sat data connection. Either Iridium or Inmarsat. And experiences and recommendations?  A 40-60 cm dome would not be the problem. I want reliable access to mail and data like weather etc and news, so basic web access no streaming
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Dick
Dick
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Simon Phillips - 11/7/2020
Peter.Basilides - 10/12/2020
Hey all, I consider getting a sat phone and preferably a sat data connection. Either Iridium or Inmarsat. And experiences and recommendations?  A 40-60 cm dome would not be the problem. I want reliable access to mail and data like weather etc and news, so basic web access no streaming

Hi

Prior to doing the World Arc I did a lot of research with a friend who works with the BBC and knows a lot about Sat Com.  We opted for iridium Certus on a Thales dish.
We installed this in 2019 and I am led to believe we were of the first yachts to use this new system.  Compared to the old FB system it is super fast and the quality of the sat phone is excellent - no delay.
It is much more cost effective than my old FB and I am really pleased with the system which I also have linked to an on board PC.

I also opted to lease the system rather than buy outright.

Happy to discuss further

Simon Phillips
Sapphire II of London
www.sapphire67sail.com

Hi Simon,
Thanks for your report. It sounds like a new big step in on-board comm.
What is the FB system you refer to?
What are the system’s capabilities compared to an Iridium sat-phone with a data link such as UUPlus.
Can you give an idea of the scope of installation: size of antenna, below decks equipment and such?
And, you said you leased: perhaps because you were on a time limited rally. Can you give an idea of the costs of leasing as well as the costs if you decide to own (equipment and monthly fees)?
What were the down sides/problems that you bumped into?
Thanks, Dick Stevenson, l/v Alchemy



Simon Phillips
Simon Phillips
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Posts: 4, Visits: 8
Dick - 11/7/2020
Simon Phillips - 11/7/2020
Peter.Basilides - 10/12/2020
Hey all, I consider getting a sat phone and preferably a sat data connection. Either Iridium or Inmarsat. And experiences and recommendations?  A 40-60 cm dome would not be the problem. I want reliable access to mail and data like weather etc and news, so basic web access no streaming

Hi

Prior to doing the World Arc I did a lot of research with a friend who works with the BBC and knows a lot about Sat Com.  We opted for iridium Certus on a Thales dish.
We installed this in 2019 and I am led to believe we were of the first yachts to use this new system.  Compared to the old FB system it is super fast and the quality of the sat phone is excellent - no delay.
It is much more cost effective than my old FB and I am really pleased with the system which I also have linked to an on board PC.

I also opted to lease the system rather than buy outright.

Happy to discuss further

Simon Phillips
Sapphire II of London
www.sapphire67sail.com

Hi Simon,
Thanks for your report. It sounds like a new big step in on-board comm.
What is the FB system you refer to?
What are the system’s capabilities compared to an Iridium sat-phone with a data link such as UUPlus.
Can you give an idea of the scope of installation: size of antenna, below decks equipment and such?
And, you said you leased: perhaps because you were on a time limited rally. Can you give an idea of the costs of leasing as well as the costs if you decide to own (equipment and monthly fees)?
What were the down sides/problems that you bumped into?
Thanks, Dick Stevenson, l/v Alchemy



Hi

We used to have FB250 before with Inmarsat and it was getting very clunky and also the bearings had gone on the dish so it needed money spending on it.  It was also not being supported anymore with firmware updates!

It is very very fast to send and receive email and we use red port optimiser and gmn for email/data downloads - http://www.redportglobal.com/marine-satellite-internet-services/xgate/.  This is because we also use Predict wind a lot. NB other clever boxes do not allow you access to Predict wind!!!! 

It was very easy to set up.  We had to run a new cable for the dish and also slightly amend the scan strut pole that we had at the stern.  The actual box was an easy straight replacement. 

I leased through a company well known in the UK and I am happy to share their details privately.  It works out at circa £250 pcm for the kit and them pay additional for data and voice.  At the moment I am 0mb for data as Sapphire is in a marina in Tahiti.  Crossing the Pacific we had 50mb pcm which worked out at £500 pcm for the data and the lease charge.

Honestly no down sides - but you do need to set it up carefully to ensure that the crew are not downloading at will.

Hope this is helpful.


Dick
Dick
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Posts: 970, Visits: 1.3K
Simon Phillips - 11/7/2020
Dick - 11/7/2020
Simon Phillips - 11/7/2020
Peter.Basilides - 10/12/2020
Hey all, I consider getting a sat phone and preferably a sat data connection. Either Iridium or Inmarsat. And experiences and recommendations?  A 40-60 cm dome would not be the problem. I want reliable access to mail and data like weather etc and news, so basic web access no streaming

Hi

Prior to doing the World Arc I did a lot of research with a friend who works with the BBC and knows a lot about Sat Com.  We opted for iridium Certus on a Thales dish.
We installed this in 2019 and I am led to believe we were of the first yachts to use this new system.  Compared to the old FB system it is super fast and the quality of the sat phone is excellent - no delay.
It is much more cost effective than my old FB and I am really pleased with the system which I also have linked to an on board PC.

I also opted to lease the system rather than buy outright.

Happy to discuss further

Simon Phillips
Sapphire II of London
www.sapphire67sail.com

Hi Simon,
Thanks for your report. It sounds like a new big step in on-board comm.
What is the FB system you refer to?
What are the system’s capabilities compared to an Iridium sat-phone with a data link such as UUPlus.
Can you give an idea of the scope of installation: size of antenna, below decks equipment and such?
And, you said you leased: perhaps because you were on a time limited rally. Can you give an idea of the costs of leasing as well as the costs if you decide to own (equipment and monthly fees)?
What were the down sides/problems that you bumped into?
Thanks, Dick Stevenson, l/v Alchemy



Hi

We used to have FB250 before with Inmarsat and it was getting very clunky and also the bearings had gone on the dish so it needed money spending on it.  It was also not being supported anymore with firmware updates!

It is very very fast to send and receive email and we use red port optimiser and gmn for email/data downloads - http://www.redportglobal.com/marine-satellite-internet-services/xgate/.  This is because we also use Predict wind a lot. NB other clever boxes do not allow you access to Predict wind!!!! 

It was very easy to set up.  We had to run a new cable for the dish and also slightly amend the scan strut pole that we had at the stern.  The actual box was an easy straight replacement. 

I leased through a company well known in the UK and I am happy to share their details privately.  It works out at circa £250 pcm for the kit and them pay additional for data and voice.  At the moment I am 0mb for data as Sapphire is in a marina in Tahiti.  Crossing the Pacific we had 50mb pcm which worked out at £500 pcm for the data and the lease charge.

Honestly no down sides - but you do need to set it up carefully to ensure that the crew are not downloading at will.

Hope this is helpful.


Hi Simon,
It is very helpful. Field reports are, to my mind, always the best source for data  and puts the advertising one comes across in perspective.
Thanks, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy
GO

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