If you can't afford Altobridge's solution for being able to send an SMS from anywhere at sea, than may be Xantic's prepaid messaging service is right for you.
"No special software or hardware is needed to implement Xantic Prepaid Messaging and users receive a delivery notification (positive or negative) indicating the status and cost of each email or SMS sent."
If you happen to be sailing the North Carolina waters over the next 10 days, make sure you take notice... Update: Apparently Boat U.S. is concerned about the impact of this GPS service disruption.
"GPS interference testing, conducted during a military exercise by the Department of Defense, will make the signal unreliable and may affect cell phone signals from about 50 to 60 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras as well as some waters off Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday."
Besides some new satellite communications systems, Simrad also introduced three new satellite TV receivers and antennas. The TV45, TV46 and the TV60. With improved tracking capability, they will hopefully provide you with a clear and steady picture, even on rough seas...
"The TV45 is for slow-moving boats cruising in strong signal waters. The TV46 features faster follow-up tracking with either single or twin Low Noise Block (LNB) converters. Both the 45 and 46 work with minimum signal strengths (50 dbW EIRP), while the TV60 is designed for reception in weak signal areas (48 dbW) using a quad LNB option."
Last week I wrote about Simrad's new offering, and now Nera's F33 is also available on smaller craft.
"The Nera F33 gives leisure craft, fishing boats and other smaller vessels access to high-class communication facilities comparable to those of large commercial ships. The new MPDS facilities vastly enhance the Nera F33 terminal's capacities, thus contributing to better communication and safer travel at sea". With the MPDS service, Nera F33 users can access the Internet, e-mail, real-time weather updates, instant messaging, as well as any online data updates."
The early adopters of marine electronics can be found in the competitive fishing scene. Here's a story on a guy who outfitted his boat to the fullest extend. Like the article says: "he'll be at the helm of a boat with a control panel that resembles the Starship Enterprise"
"An impressive array of electronics -- everything from a laptop computer and wireless monitors to color sonar, a Lowrance LCX-104C, and global positioning system technology -- covers the dashboard of Samson's 20-foot Crestliner walleye fishing machine. As technological trappings go, not even Mr. Spock or Capt. Kirk could claim bragging rights over Samson."
MegaYacht has an article (free subscription required) on Altobridge's system that allows you to use your regular cellphone onboard, anywhere at sea... I've written about their solution two months ago as well.
"The Altobridge AM (Aeronautical & Maritime) Gateway Platform will enable mobile phone users to effectively roam from their usual home mobile network onto a ship-based network in the same way that they would if using their mobile phone overseas on a foreign network. Users will be able to use their own phone, their existing service provider and personal settings, as if they were on land. Calls made at sea will be charged to their normal phone bill."
Simrad has launched two new, Inmarsat Fleet based, satellite communication systems. The MS55 would be a perfect solution for larger ships, whereas the other, Simrad's MS33, is especially useful for smaller private yachts. It provides an (MPDS) always on internet connection, so you'll never have to be offline again with your AIM, Yahoo or MSN messenger...
"The MS33 is designed especially for small and medium sized fishing vessels and motor and sailing yachts. This cost effective communications package requires a small, light antenna and features 'plug and play' below deck interfaces (PC, fax, telephone). This makes installation of the MS33 so simple that boat owners can do it themselves, saving the costs of a specialist installation engineer."
SAIL Magazine highlights some new gear, amongst which a couple of new devices from Standard Horizon.
"Standard Horizon's RAM+ Mic becomes a full-function remote station unto itself when connected to the company's new Matrix or Quantum VHF radios. The Ram+ boasts all normal functions and one-button DSC distress calling, and it has advanced DSC functions like buddy calling, position polling, and nav-data display."
New marine communications methods allow for new life styles. Here is a perfect example of that. Jonathan Selby is sailing the world over, sometimes single-handedly, but still is an active co-owner of Xaxero Marine Software.
"Today we sailed through the mind-bending Lemaire Channel that separates Booth Island from the Antarctic Peninsula. The staggering, crazy shapes of beached icebergs dominate the landscape, and the particularly nasty email I got from a disgruntled customer fades to insignificance. Working out of a briefcase is the norm for many of us, but the freedom of modern communications allows us to take this to extremes � in my case, to the limits of where cruising is possible and the Antarctic Peninsula."
An article on TeleSea, the company that provides Wi-Fi within 30 miles of the (US) coast. Still pretty expensive I must say, and it's primarily being used by commercial ships at this moment. But expect prices to drop so we can all use our Vonage subscription 30 miles offshore...
"For a one-time installation cost of $7500 and $500 per month, TeleSea installs an omnidirectional antenna and transmitter relay node onto a boat and provides Internet access via the company's wireless network along the coast. The relay node turns the boat into a floating Wi-Fi hot spot, so no additional wiring is necessary. With an additional piece of hardware, Wheat's system also has the capability to forward voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone calls onto the telephone network."
