Here is what my friend is doing for comminications on
his dream boat.

Marine SSB: He has older but fine performing Kenwood
Ham Rig. I'm not sure if it has a matching network or
antenna tuner. I can't remember. But I do recall I had
no trouble getting out on the radio on 40 meters. If he
had bought a Pactor modem he could have used sailmail
and saved a bit on the email cost. On the other hand for
voice calls I like the idea of a Satphone.

Email: He is using uuplus for $29/month for an email
server text only. It is hooked up between a laptop and
the Iridium system.

Satellite: He checked around and went with the more
expensive option. Iridium. He doesn't use the phone for
voice, just email. Airtime for the Iridium cost $500 for
500 minutes--figure a buck a minute. Iridium charges are
billed in seconds, typically 30 seconds to check to see if
you have mail. It connects and downloads in less than a
minute. Upfront costs $1295 phone. $300 antenna, $50
cable. Datapack $295.

Total for hardware and prepaid minutes. $2400
plus email.service $30/mon.

Everyone down there seems to have Global Star because
it is $200 cheaper, and hating it. They drop more calls than
they get. Its $200 for nothing. It doesn't have the coverage
they claim to have--worldwide coverage. The USVI coverage
is horrible.

Cell Phones: Best island cell phone converage is Sprint.
He has T-Mobile for the customer service, there is no roaming
and no international rates in PR, SVI, and USVI. Costs go
up in the BVI to $2.99/min. I don't know about SPRINT
over there. He has to call in to change locations when he
moves to a new island.

What else?

His Wind Bugger blew apart offshore on the trip down. He
tells me everyone loves their wind generators. Everyone has
these, or they are heavy in to photovoltaic. The Wind Genrators
kick out plenty of power in 15 knot winds--lovely Trades.
He just ordered an AIRX. I would have gotten two.

"Maxprop" wrote

Bart Senior wrote:

For any Ham's out there. Look for me on 3905 on he
40 meter band--late afternoons.

I'll give it a try, but I don't really have an antenna for 40m, rather
just a dipole with an antenna tuner. I've seldom worked 40, so I never
put anything together for that band. Not likely I'll be able to
hear/raise you. Now 10m--that's a different story.

Max