Hi All,

Some time this year we are off cruising. We have the vexed question of
communicating with family and friends. We also have a web site.

We want internet access - in an ideal world we would like to be able to
hook up to out own mail and web server pick up mail and update web site
with info and pics.

With ssb we have to find another service provider - and have no access
to our web site. What about sat comms? Any info on kit and pricing would
be much appreciated.

Regards,

David

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Hello,

First of all, anything I might say is probably said better by these
guys: http://www.marinecomputer.com/index.html

Second, it's not really an either or question. SSB is a great resource
to have aboard whether or not you go to the expense and trouble of
using it for email. It's great for keeping in touch with folks you
connect with while cruising, as well as picking up crucial weather
information from those who are knowledgeable about the area you are
sailing. But it's definitely slow and cumbersome for email

If you are considering satellite phones for internet access, keep in
mind that 2400 baud on Iridium, or 9600 baud on Globalstar are the
kinds of speeds you'd have got your email at twenty years ago.
Accessing a web page would be downright painful, not to mention costly
because of the connect time involved. Not terrible for downloading
emails, though, as long as no one's sending you pictures or other
attachments.

Have you looked at Skymate for email? Their system seems pretty
affordable, both to buy and to use, and it seems to be a nice,
straighforward product for email, position reporting, and weather.

Finally, unless you move a big bucks satellite system where it's
feasible to get on the web, you might want to look at switching your
web site over to one of the weblog authoring systems like Blogger or
Typepad, which allow you to post to you site just by sending an email
to a secret address.

Good luck with your decision,

Aaron Tinling
s/v Sweet Destiny
www.navagear.com