Concord Marine Electronics
F.A.Q. 2

2. How can I send and receive E-mail onboard?
Answer:

Lots of new goodies in this area. The first thing you need is a PC (desktop or lap top. We can provide both). After you have the PC any of the following options will work for you. They are listed in order of expense. (Least expensive first)

A.Globe Wireless - Text message only
Requires PC and new SSB radio. Most SSB radios more than one year old will not work with this system. They do not have the required data port on the radio transceiver. Your message is sent from almost anywhere worldwide via a network of SSB stations. If the receiving party does not have E-mail capability, your message can be sent as a fax (text only).
Equipment cost:
Globe E-mail modem$1400.00
ICOM 710 SSB Version 5$2200.00
with AT 120 couplerIncluded

Monthly service - Approx. $40.00 per month for approx. 20 full pages of text. Charges are per kilo bit of Information. Transmit and receive time does not count, only the quantity of information. (Provided you use the Globe Wireless modem)
B.Inmarsat C - Text message only - Requires PC
Equipment Cost: $4000.00-$6000.00 Depending on manufacturer and features. Airtime: 0.01 per character (it gets expensive) 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.
C.AMSC Satellite phones (requires PC) voice and computer data (fax is lots of extra) Equipment Price: $4,000.00- $7,000.00 Airtime from $1.19 per minute @ 2400 Baud Only works in North America, Central America, Caribbean, and North end of South America.

Requires activation of secondary data number at additional expense. Reliability is sometimes a problem. Faxing from a fax machine is available at an additional cost of $1,200.00 for equipment
AMSC System Draw Backs: Marginal voice quality - Limited usage area

$  1.60 per minute
$15.00 monthly
$  0.25 per page
D.Inmarsat Mini M (requres PC) - Voice - Computer Data, Fax at 2400 Baud
Equipment $5,000.00-10,000.00
Air time from $2.15 - outgoing only (caller pays for incoming calls)
Almost worldwide coverage - very high reliability
Will fax direct from fax machine
You only pay for outgoing calls, faxes, data
Sender pays for incoming calls
Great voice Quality - Short delay
Very reliable system
E.Analog Cellular (requires PC) - Voice - Computer data - Fax
 Equipment $800.00-$1,500.00
Airtime ? Roaming Charges? (varies according to your location)
Lots of roaming problems and expensive charges if your out of your local area.
Digital cellular Does Not work with fax and computer data
F.If you must send a paper fax document to someone and you only have E-mail facilities you can visit faxaway.com. They will forward your E-mail in hard copy paper fax form for a small charge. Check them out on the web at www.faxaway.com.
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