This technology has been around for several years. A series of towers around the globe allow for data transfer between your vessel and the central base station. At this time we can attest to inexpensive, reliable communications throughout most of the world when using this system.

System benefits: reliable, inexpensive email communication throughout the world.

Hardware requirements: you will need a relatively new single side band (SSB) radio. Older SSB radios do not have the required data port to interface with the (required) pactor modem. We strongly recommend a professional installation, and a ground shoe (or “dynoplate”). The bonding process is different for each vessel and can get expensive.

A.   Iridium handheld satellite phone. This system is in its second “life”. Iridium was purchased out of bankruptcy and has the U.S. military as its largest customer; this system will connect directly to your laptop via an accessory data cable.

Iridium handheld satelight phone benefits: low cost hardware and airtime, full worldwide coverage (including the Polar Regions).

Iridium handheld satelight phone drawbacks: slow data rate (2.4k). System does not lend itself to a professional marine installation as most accessories (external antennas) are designed for a car. (A marine unit by sailor has recently become available) Handheld phone will only work with a clear view of the sky, (on deck, or on the dock) therefore the system cannot be used in the comfort of the vessels cabin. Unit cannot send or receive a paper fax. Calls from anywhere in the world, back to the us cost about $1.50 per minute, when someone in the us needs to call you, they will pay any where between 3 and 10 per minute, depending on who they have for a long distance service provider. (Because it is an international call.)

Iridium Handheld Satellite Phone Pricing:	Motorola 9500 Portable	$  781
	Data Cable	$    65

Globalstar handheld satellite phone benefits: low cost hardware and airtime, almost global coverage. Full coverage in North Atlantic and throughout the entire Caribbean. Secure, clear digital voice communication. Data transfer at 9.6k. Handheld phone can also be activated as a CDMA digital cellular.

Globalstar handheld satelight phone drawbacks: System does not lend itself to a professional marine installation as most accessories (external antennas) are designed for a car. Handheld phone will only work with a clear view of the sky, (on deck, or on the dock) therefore the system cannot be used in the comfort of the vessels cabin. (No coverage in the central ocean regions, i.e. Southern Atlantic.) Unit cannot send or receive a paper fax. Globalstar Corp is having financial troubles at this time.

Globalstar Handheld Satellite Phone Pricing:	Globalstar Trimode Phone	$  978
	Data Cable	$    68

Seatel Wavecall satellite phone benefits: 3 external antenna configurations allow for easy integration onto any vessel. Low cost hardware and airtime, almost global coverage. Full coverage in north Atlantic and throughout the entire Caribbean. Secure, clear digital voice communication. Data transfer at 9.6k. Can move data up to 56k with software compression enhancement by seatel. System is highly reliable for voice and data communication.

Seatel Wavecall satellite phone drawbacks: unit cannot send or receive a paper fax. Globalstar Corp is having financial troubles at this time.

Seatel Wavecall Satellite
Phone Pricing: Seatel GSMP 2100 Sat Phone   $  2150

Inmarsat C benefits: With your PC it will send text messages (fax or E-mail) from almost Anywhere worldwide via satellite. You can also receive weather updates for your ocean region. This is a very reliable system.

Inmarsat C drawbacks. No voice phone calls, expensive for large files.

Inmarsat C Equipment Cost: $4000.00-$6000.00

Equipment Price: $3500.00-$7,000.00.

If you must send a paper fax document to someone and you only have E-mail facilities you can visit the following fax-to-email services. They will forward your E-mail in hard copy paper fax form for a small charge, and receive your faxes and forward them to you via email. Check them out on the web at www.faxaway.com and www.j2.com.

Equipment Price: $5,000.00-$10,000.00

Air time from $2.15 - outgoing only
Almost worldwide coverage (See table 9.2) - very high reliability
Will fax direct from fax machine
You only pay for outgoing calls, faxes, data
Inbound caller pays for incoming calls
Great voice Quality - Short delay
Very reliable system

Table 9.2

This system uses a slow speed “uplink” (landline, cellular, or satphone) to request information from the internet, then the requested files from the internet are sent to the boat using a high speed connection to the DSS TV satellite. Special installation connections are made to the KVH sat TV antenna so that it will interface with the new data system. In order to use this system, the vessel will need to have both KVH satellite TV antenna, and the new Tracnet “uplink” antenna. There will be a monthly charge for the high-speed downlink service, and a per minute charge on the “uplink”, which will depend upon which uplink service is needed. The “downlink” speed will be very fast: 400kbps.

KVH Tracnet system benefits: ultrafast data transfer.

KVH Tracnet system drawbacks: high-speed data coverage area is limited. When the Tracnet system is in use, you will not be able to receive TV programs on the KVH sat TV antenna.