- #SAIL GRIB SOFTWARE REVIEW FOR FREE#
- #SAIL GRIB SOFTWARE REVIEW HOW TO#
- #SAIL GRIB SOFTWARE REVIEW PC#
- #SAIL GRIB SOFTWARE REVIEW FREE#
You can test and study each one of these using a direct Internet connection without the added expense of satphone airtime, which is clearly a good idea. You can access and receive products from any of the sources below. Needless to say, there are many benefits to being a Ham operator underway, as there are many networks available for cruising information and it is a way to keep in touch with other mariners (especially by HF radio) without extra service fees. There is also anecdotal evidence that connections and services are not as dependable and convenient as they are with the paid services from Sailmail or the Ocens/X-gate programs, but I do not have direct experience with that. This is a strong limitation when considering a general email service underway. This means you cannot discuss your personal business or occupation or financial matters, nor can you even ask for tech support for any equipment on the boat or search for places to buy parts for the boat.
#SAIL GRIB SOFTWARE REVIEW FREE#
On this option, however, it is very important to point out that free Ham email via WinLink cannot be used for any business related emails. It would be best to check with your Ham operator friends who use this service for their review and suggestions. WinLink users can access the Saildocs for weather products. This is similar to using Airmail connected to the Sailmail Network server.
#SAIL GRIB SOFTWARE REVIEW FOR FREE#
Ham operators can use a special version of Airmail ( /ham) to access the WinLink server for free email over the satphone (and HF radio, which it was originally designed for). They also offer weather data from Météo France as well as GRIB formatted forecasts at no charge to their airtime customers. Skyfile Mail from, which is another global provider of airtime (Astrium) that offers an email service option to their customers of airtime. OnSatMail from, based in the UK offer email services to their air time customers at an additional fee. Listed as “Around 10 GBP per month,” which would be about $17/mo. Starpath School of Navigation works with both of them on a regular basis. The companies share several products, but otherwise have different arrays of products related to satellite voice and data communications. The programs work with all forms of wireless communications, not just satphone. Note: OcensMail and Xgate are the same program offered by two independent companies at the same price. Xgate from (PC and Mac) $59 set up + $20 to $26/month depending on contract period. OcensMail (PC and Mac) $59 set up + $20 to $26/month depending on contract period.
#SAIL GRIB SOFTWARE REVIEW PC#
Access to the Sailmail service is through the PC program called Airmail. If you already use that service from them you can apply it to the satphone and Internet at no extra charge. Sailmail is a cooperative association that provides email service via HF radio. Satphone email services that provide compression and allow for attachments include: To be practical, the email service must provide file compression, because of the high cost of Iridium airtime. To get weather by satphone via email you need a satellite email service and you need data sources. Similar presentations are available at the websites of their European counterparts, such as NaviMail ( ), Theyr ( ) and WetterWelt ( ).
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And we are not covering the several excellent dedicated commercial weather providers such as WeatherNet ( ) or ClearPoint( )––both have extensive discussions online showing the value added to their commercial weather product delivery programs. I am not covering the several excellent sources that are available by Internet alone, such as, ,, , and for viewing grib forecasts online. In the methods we cover now, these products are requested and delivered by email messages and attachments. This very popular form of weather data requires a special GRIB viewer and some caution in its interpretation. These are available from several models, but the most common are GFS wind and isobars and the WW3 sea state and wind data, which in principle accounts for sea state and currents, but does not include isobars. (3) numerical weather model forecast maps in GRIB format. (2) graphic analysis and prognosis maps from the National Weather Service (NWS), Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) and other agencies. These same data are available by HF (SSB) radio, or by Internet links on land, which is the best way to practice, because it saves the satphone airtime, which is typically the largest cost in the process. Weather data are available underway by satphone from commercial weather services or by conventional email request and delivery.
#SAIL GRIB SOFTWARE REVIEW HOW TO#
How to obtain weather information by satellite phone (published July 2013)Īs satellite phones become commonplace for today’s blue water sailors, the question is, what services are available and how do you choose between them to get the best information for you and your crew?