On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 23:31:59 GMT, "Geoffrey W. Schultz"
wrote:

An SSB gets you daily nets where you can check in, get weather and
communicate with other cruisers. You can also get HF faxes, GRIB files, e-
mail, etc, etc. Emergency frequencies are monitored by various agencies.

A Sat phone allows you to make phone calls. Most other cruisers won't have
one or only use it for outgoing calls. Covergage can be spotty even in
areas where you're supposed to have coverage.

Most people don't realize INCOMING call on Iridium, just like Nextel
are FREE! You only pay $1.99 to call OUT. If the family calls you,
it's no charge. And, you can get a LOCAL phone number in a lot of
countries from places like Worldcell
http://www.worldcell.com/services/rentsatellite.aspx
They'll rent or sell you a phone and got some neat packages of
service. The boat can even have its own 800 number...(c;


Larry W4CSC

NNNN

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 19:34:31 +0200, "Andre Venter"
wrote:

Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?


Satellite phone is a better idea. SSB is nearly DEAD. Most of the
best shore stations, like WOM in Miami, are shut down, permanently. A
Satphone is like having a payphone right on your bridge.

The US Military has saved Iridium from the auction block. The best
deals for Iridium service seem to be from the UK, not the US. It's
still $1.99 per minute to CALL OUT. INCOMING CALLS ARE NOT CHARGED!
Just set a schedule to call YOU from shore....

Companies like:
http://www.worldcell.com/services/rentsatellite.aspx
will rent you service by the day/week/month if you're not going to be
a permanent customer. Older Iridium phones are available for $695,
but they're kinda clunky. The new Motorola phones are about $1500 and
are still LARGE and HEAVY because they have to talk to a satellite 500
miles away! It's not a toyphone cellular service.

Worldcell can also provide you with a LOCAL phone number in about 140
countries (different number in each, of course) and have a lot of neat
other features on their website. An 800 toll free to the phone is
$4.95/mo....a steal!!

No, I don't have one or want one and don't sell them, either.


Larry W4CSC

NNNN

(Larry W4CSC) wrote in news:3fda5bba.84612137
@news.knology.net:

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 19:34:31 +0200, "Andre Venter"
wrote:

Which is a better idea - ssb or satelite phone?


It's
still $1.99 per minute to CALL OUT. INCOMING CALLS ARE NOT CHARGED!
Just set a schedule to call YOU from shore....

Where the heck did you get this idea from? I have Iridium and incoming
calls are something like $10.99 per minute and are billed to the callers
phone. I had to set up a special number which forwards to my sat phone and
I get billed at my normal rate of $1.50 per minute.

-- Geoff

Satellite phone is a better idea. SSB is nearly DEAD.

Sorry but that is nonsense. SSB is thriving in the cruising community. As
said elsewhere, safety nets, weather nets, weatherfax etc etc.

We have both. The satphone is only for the odd call home and to take in
the liferaft. If we could only have one it wouldn't even be a close
contest, SSB wins by miles.

Mike

You can make phone calls via SSB as well although not as convienient
as on a satphone. If you are a ham then it is free. Free email as well for
hams. For serious cruisers, obtaining a ham license is well worth the
effort.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"Mike Cobbe" wrote in message
.. .

Satellite phone is a better idea. SSB is nearly DEAD.

Sorry but that is nonsense. SSB is thriving in the cruising community. As
said elsewhere, safety nets, weather nets, weatherfax etc etc.

We have both. The satphone is only for the odd call home and to take in
the liferaft. If we could only have one it wouldn't even be a close
contest, SSB wins by miles.

Mike

For serious cruisers, obtaining a ham license is well worth the
effort.

Ah, I see where you're coming from. Indeed marine SSB and ham are a good
combination.

Mike

We enjoyed free email all last winter in the islands. Another very nice
feature is that you can download pretty much any of the WXFAX products
on demand rather than waiting for FAX schedules and noisey images.
Lots of other WX products as well.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"Mike Cobbe" wrote in message
.. .

For serious cruisers, obtaining a ham license is well worth the
effort.

Ah, I see where you're coming from. Indeed marine SSB and ham are a good
combination.

Mike

We enjoyed free email all last winter in the islands. Another very nice
feature is that you can download pretty much any of the WXFAX products
on demand rather than waiting for FAX schedules and noisey images.
Lots of other WX products as well.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"Mike Cobbe" wrote in message
.. .

For serious cruisers, obtaining a ham license is well worth the
effort.

Ah, I see where you're coming from. Indeed marine SSB and ham are a good
combination.

Mike

For serious cruisers, obtaining a ham license is well worth the
effort.

Ah, I see where you're coming from. Indeed marine SSB and ham are a good
combination.

Mike

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 00:38:52 GMT, (Larry W4CSC) wrote:

It's
still $1.99 per minute to CALL OUT. INCOMING CALLS ARE NOT CHARGED!

It's Calling Party Pays, just like all calls in most of the world
outside North America.

You are right though, that it won't cost You anything extra on Your
own bill, so You don't have to worry about leaving it on or answering,
that's for sure.
/Marcus

--
Marcus AAkesson
Gothenburg Callsigns: SM6XFN & SB4779
Sweden
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