Heres the regs page 84 covers radio communication
http://www.uscg.mil/d1/prevention/CommFishSafetyDigest-20081.pdf

Wondering about ssb radios but confused by the frequencys and power/ antenna/ backup power requirements.
Is a satellite phone a direct and complete replacement for the SSB radio? If thats the case it seems best to just buy a phone and prepaid plan?
Or even better, this
http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/en_US/pdf/SAM-feature-brochure.pdf

I understand that other boats won't hear your calls for help as its a direct call to the coast guard.

Any advise? Either affordable SSB radios of the correct power/frequency or recommendations for sat phones / plans.

Call he who shall not be named for an explanation of SSB and signals.

He is a radio guy afterall. :D

What ever happened to #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& anyway ?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Geez
I typed his old screen name and it posted all scrambled like a curse word.
What's up with that ?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Get the sat phone, SSB is a PITA to install. I have one and will be replacing it with a Sat phone. Hint, stay away from globalstar, they have had lots of problems.

SSB is a PITA to install.

Bonding plate, big antenna, tuner, radio, what exactly is a PITA to install?

But basically due to propagation and not going 300+ miles offshore, SSB really isn't worth it if all you do is go to George's/Canyons etc.

And Globalstar coverage is fine up here.

So on to my next question what's a good sat phone and are they acceptable substitutes for ssb as far as coast guard commercial regs go?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

For an official verdict I'd just call Boston and see what they say. But I'm *pretty* sure they qualify since basically every offshore reg says they're cool.

I know they can be "letter of the law" with comm regs.

I asked H what insurance would say (she does comm ins) but she would have to look it up.

I know the CG will call you up on Sat phones. I know of a fellow used one on several occasionals with the USCG. I think they (the CG) prefer it actually. I would bet that the sat phone exceeds the published regs.

Globalstar had massive problems with satellites and offered fantastic deals for a while because everyone was buying iridium. Iridium phones are the standard. They are very solid. I think but I am not sure that globalstar has fixed a lot of their problems but there reputation was hurt. I am sure they are still offing deals to get you to switch. I was on a boat with a globalstar phone several times and it had no signal for hours at a time. Then when you did get a signal it dropped calls. Most canyon fishermen I know of who had them made the switch to iririum. Again I think they replaced a lot of their equipment but it was a loong time coming and they lost a lot of customers for good.

There are a few other choices. There is a new one called Inmarsat, I don't know anyone who has one but they have a lot of neat features.

If you want to rely on it in an emergency you really need reliability. So make sure that there will be no dropped calls.

The iridium phones that I have used work great, almost like talking on a land line. but the $/min is not exactly free. To bad vonage does not work offshore....Woooh hooo.... woo, woooh whooo...whooo woo


THT site has a few threads on this topic that are worth reading

So on to my next question what's a good sat phone and are they acceptable substitutes for ssb as far as coast guard commercial regs go?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device


They are acceptable to the Coast Guard if you're going way east and they're checking.

The regs only require the ability to talk to shore, so yes the Sat phones are an acceptable substitute for SSB. See what Sandy said about Globalstar, everyone I know who had globalstar had big problems, most switched over to Iriidium.

What's a PITA about SSB is the copper ground tape that has to run between the tuner and the grounding plate, it corrodes out fairly rapidly (two seasons) and its a PITA to replace.

I know the CG will call you up on Sat phones. I know of a fellow used one on several occasionals with the USCG. I think they (the CG) prefer it actually. I would bet that the sat phone exceeds the published regs.

Globalstar had massive problems with satellites and offered fantastic deals for a while because everyone was buying iridium. Iridium phones are the standard. They are very solid. I think but I am not sure that globalstar has fixed a lot of their problems but there reputation was hurt. I am sure they are still offing deals to get you to switch. I was on a boat with a globalstar phone several times and it had no signal for hours at a time. Then when you did get a signal it dropped calls. Most canyon fishermen I know of who had them made the switch to iririum. Again I think they replaced a lot of their equipment but it was a loong time coming and they lost a lot of customers for good.

There are a few other choices. There is a new one called Inmarsat, I don't know anyone who has one but they have a lot of neat features.

If you want to rely on it in an emergency you really need reliability. So make sure that there will be no dropped calls.

The iridium phones that I have used work great, almost like talking on a land line. but the $/min is not exactly free. To bad vonage does not work offshore....Woooh hooo.... woo, woooh whooo...whooo woo


THT site has a few threads on this topic that are worth reading

Inmarsat has been around for quite a while, just not in the lower end market.

You've probably seen these on yachts for the better part of 15 years now

http://www.globalmarinenet.com/catalog/images/sailor_250.png

your right but their new low end portable phone is recent and has a very attractive price point, some fantastic features and decent plans.

I was seriously looking at it. I think one issue for me was that you had to have a clear line of sight with the horizon and I think you have to be outside when using it. Several people on THT have them and there was a comparison to some of the others. I can't recall but there were some issues. Frankly, as long as it works all the time, and has a reasonable plan or prepaid, then it is fine buy me.

Accessories for all these things (all brands) are expensive. For example if you want a charging cradle with a roof top antenna (so you don't have to stand outside in bad weather to us it) can be very costly. in some cases more than the phone itself

Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro - Deluxe Package (http://www.satphonestore.com/satellite-phones/satellite-phone-hh/isatphone-pro-deluxe.html)

I found this interesting review of the inmarsat
http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/04/letter_re_a_review_of_inmarsat.html

From what I gathered (hastily) It can take a few minutes to acquire signal from power up. Unacceptable in emergency. So the choice is to get the $1,100.00 cradle/charging station/external antenna and leave it powered up the entire time.
The phones are about $5-600.00 to own, plus either a monthly plan or pay as you go minutes.
You can rent them monthly for about $60.00 start up cost, shipping/insurance and $115.00 a month. That would be fine for the 3-4 months you would actually need it on board.
AT&T has Terastar satellite phone service, but that's only available to corporate accounts and government business.

From what I gathered (hastily) It can take a few minutes to acquire signal from power up. Unacceptable in emergency. So the choice is to get the $1,100.00 cradle/charging station/external antenna and leave it powered up the entire time.
The phones are about $5-600.00 to own, plus either a monthly plan or pay as you go minutes.
You can rent them monthly for about $60.00 start up cost, shipping/insurance and $115.00 a month. That would be fine for the 3-4 months you would actually need it on board.
AT&T has Terastar satellite phone service, but that's only available to corporate accounts and government business.

The power draw on any of them while idle is negligible.
Never been on a boat offshore that turned off the satphone and signal aquisition is maybe 30-45sec normally.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Concerning the Globalstar Satellite Constellation
Two-Way Voice and Duplex Data Services - Temporary Limitations
Globalstar site:

As previously announced, Globalstar first-generation satellites primarily launched between 1999 and 2001 are experiencing an anomaly resulting in degraded performance of the amplifiers for the S-band satellite communications antenna. The anomaly is adversely affecting two-way voice and data services. Customer service continues to be available, but at certain times at any given location it may take longer to establish calls and the duration of calls may be limited. Until the new second-generation Globalstar satellite constellation(see Second Generation Satellite Update below) is operational, Globalstar is offering its customers a web-based Call Times Tool, on its customer Internet sites, which subscribers may use to predict when one or more unaffected satellites will be overhead at any specific geographic location.

This has been going on for YEARS! at least since 2007.

Also, you should know that the SPOT units use globalstar network.


I think they have most of their new sat's up but they still have more scheduled for 2012. (This was suppose to be done several years ago)

Yeah the place that rents them wont even rent globalstar phones.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Concerning the Globalstar Satellite Constellation
Two-Way Voice and Duplex Data Services - Temporary Limitations
Globalstar site:


I think they have most of their new sat's up but they still have more scheduled for 2012. (This was suppose to be done several years ago)


New Globalstar Second Generation Satellite Update
In October of 2010 Globalstar began deployment of its new second-generation satellite constellation designed to restore its industry leading commercial voice and duplex data services.

Three of four scheduled launches of six new second-generation satellites per launch, were successfully conducted in late 2010 and in 2011 with the most recent launch taking place on December 28, 2011. The fourth launch is expected in 2012. All four launches are being conducted by launch services provider Arianespace, using the reliable Soyuz launch vehicle at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Globalstar plans to integrate the new second-generation satellites with the first-generation satellites that were launched in 2007, to form its new second-generation constellation.

Once the new Globalstar satellites are in operational orbit and the gateway ground stations are activated, the most immediate service improvement will benefit those customers who use the Company's voice and Duplex data services. With each subsequent launch, customers can expect a progressive return to high reliability and service quality.

The new second-generation satellites are designed to support Globalstar's current lineup of mobile satellite telephones, Duplex and Simplex data products and services including the Company's lineup of SPOT retail consumer products.

Globalstar is cheap - there's a guy from block island selling packages on a few of the forums. But as tempting as that may be, you still have to use their call schedule, and can only make calls when a satellite is in range.

Murphy's law being what it is, I wouldn't want that to be my emergency option.

Recently heard that there is an app that turns iPhone into a satellite phone.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I don't think an ap can transform a cell phone into a satellite phone, completely different technologies. There are wireless connections (bluetooth ?) that will allow using your cell phone as a handset of sorts thru the sat phone. I read something about that too.
Sat phones are not the toy iphones are, you really don't want to be #^&#^&#^&#^&ing with an iphone on a boat in an emergency unless you really have no other means and even then it probably will not work offshore.

I just called Commercial Fishing vessel safety officer Mr. Plowman from the USCG Northern New England CFVS, commercial fishing vessel safety office.

A Couple things that apply to my individual situation, As a state registered (not documented) Commercial fishing vessel.
As of this moment, As a state registered commercial fishing vessel, I'm not even required to have a radio, at all.
Now as a charter boat I am, but VHF will do for that.

( For Documented Commercial Fishing Vessels) Sat Phones are acceptable 100+ miles. as are 2-27.5 MHZ SSB radios


My other question was about having a 4 man Inflatable buoyant apparatus for 100+ miles (which is legal for me) and then getting caught on the bank with 8 people on board. Not an Issue as far as the regs go because charter boats are not required to have a raft. At all, anywhere.

There is a change to the regs coming soon that will remove the differentiation between state registered and documented Commercial fishing vessels, but He's not sure when it will go into action.

We were way east last year and globalstar sucked.

8 people out 100 miles on a boat < 60' (bad idea),... with a raft for 4 = real bad judgement, I don't care what the "regs" say. The regs are a minimal list.

The idea was I would never bring 8 people out 100 miles. So why have an 8 man raft when a 4 man would do. Just because you only have a 4 man raft to Be commercially legal, doesn't mean you cant bring 8 out on a cod charter, that was my point.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I agree. Sorry if I got the wrong body language on that post.

You don't need a raft to charter (which I think is a mistake) and alot of cod boats just carry the 4 man to be legal for giant fishing, but have 8 on board for charters.

My question is always "which 4 get in the raft when it matters?".
Won't catch me offshore on a boat with a sh**t raft.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

You don't need a raft to charter (which I think is a mistake) and alot of cod boats just carry the 4 man to be legal for giant fishing, but have 8 on board for charters.

][/size]

This is what I have. I'm never more than 20 miles offshore and never take more than 4 people on a charter.

Is that 4 customers + captain/crew= 6 Andrew?

Who gets the short straws in an emergency?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Been playing with my new Sat Phone. I went for the Isatphone Pro. I have had experience with several models of global star and iridiums but never saw an isatphone. The reviews were good and the price and service plans very digestible, so I pulled the trigger

After using all three systems

1) don't waste a nickle on anything global star until they really get their act together and then try before buying. Most of the time you will not have a signal I found it will drop the call often. You really need to log into the internet to see when a sat is coming overhead and time your call accordingly. Not good if you are sinking and need to talk to the USCG

2) Irridium is the best system IMO. It is also the most costly and the service plans are not exactly consumer friendly. But this thing works all the time anyplace. Accessories are very expensive and is is just a basic phone. If you use it a lot and have a fat wallet just get this phone it is the best.

3) IsatphonePro IMO This is a consumer price-point product that will allow the average joe to get a sat phone with a lot of features in a reliable system. The accessories are still expensive but you can get into a basic system for about $600 +/- with an emergency annual service contract for about 375/year (120 min included) and about a buck a min afterward.

I got this for emergency calling (USCG) and for checking in at home when offshore and for calling a fish buyer on my way in. (And occasionally calling another buddy on his sat phone when offshore) That is pretty much it. I don't plan to do much else with it. I got a pelican case for it which is very rugged and waterproof so I can drag it around with me when I go with someone else's boat or just to loan it to a buddy.


My experience is that it does take a few minutes to find itself after you turn it on. You really need to be outside away from trees and buildings. The more clear your position the faster it is ready to call. The isatphone likes to see the horizon so if you have a house right next to you it might not work. The irridum seems less sensitive in this regard and will work more often when next to something but in reality they all need to be in open space with a clear shot of the sky. So boating performance is pretty good but it does not work in my backyard. I had to walk down to the water away from trees for it to find all the sat's.

The voice quality of the isatphone is pretty good but not great. A little tinny and there is a little delay. It is perfectly understandable however. From what I can remember I think the irridum is a little better voice quality but only marginally so.

My hope is that I can get this to work through my pilothouse window, if so, I will mount it inside on a adjustable cradle suctioned to the window and leave it on all the time and plugged in. ( The batteries last a looong time on this phone, far more than any other one I have seen) It also supports Bluetooth and they give you a tiny mni phone you can put in your pocket and connect to the sat phone via bluetooth. So in theory you can leave your phone at the helm in the cradle and make an answer calls on this mini thing. I have not tried it and I have my doubts that it will work but it is suppose to. Time will tell. If it will work...it will save you about 3K in cradles, handsets, and external antennas.
Worst comes to worse you just use the phone itself and stand outside. If is not the ideal situation but at least you have communication to the outside world.

Bottom line is if you plan to really use it alot or cross oceans I would go for the irridum model with all the external accessories and just eat the cost (about 5K+), for the serious rec fisherman, the isatphonepro looks like it will work out OK . I will know for sure in a few weeks/months.

One thing is incoming calls and texts are free. (The poor sap calling you pays out-of-country rates though)

Iridium is one of the phone our "Black Ops" guys use. Of course they're hitting a different set of secured sats.

Sandy, thanks for the update. Please post back in a couple of months and give us your impressions then.

Nice little gift.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Bottom line is if you plan to really use it alot or cross oceans I would go for the irridum model with all the external accessories and just eat the cost (about 5K+), for the serious rec fisherman, the isatphonepro looks like it will work out OK . I will know for sure in a few weeks/months.


Those that cross oceans have both SSB and Iridium or Globalstar or all three.

I rented one out of Boston that came next day and was reasonable and easy at 75 bucks a week
International SIM Cards from $5, International Cell Phones from $19, World and Satellite Phones (http://www.telestial.com/)
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Sandy, thanks for the update. Please post back in a couple of months and give us your impressions then.

OK...Here goes...

Well I had made a few calls when I first got it and sent a few texts back and forth to friends and it seems to work but not as good as I thought it would and not nearly as slick as the reviews made it sound.

One of the key features is that it has a built in GPS and you can easily send your position in a text, email etc. The primary feature though is that the phone knows where it is relative to the communication sats and is able to exploit this info to get a clear(er) signal and really lock on the sat .

Well, my phone never could obtain a GPS fix. I have tried everything. All my other devices seemed to work OK but this didn't know where it was. It could not find any gps sat. Even 30 miles offshore with nothing around. It eventually timed out and was able to get some basic voice service but the voice quality was not great, very digitized. Texting was OK. IMO it was not working correctly.

I called up my sales guy and got the kind of help I really didn't want to deal with...questions like, did you extend the antenna? Is it on?
WTF?
Eventually I got to a tech guy and after some Q&A he said...send it back to us, it is not acting right, something is wrong. I sent it back and got this email:

"Your equipment has been sent to the factory for repair. The expected turnaround time is between 8 and 10 weeks. We will let you know when the equipment is ready to be returned." :eek:

I think the factory is in New Zealand.


In 10 weeks my season where I really need this thing is nearly over.:wall: I need it this week!!



This rec will save you big money...you can thank me later:
If you buy a sat phone...BUY IRIDIUM, eat the costly plan, but avoid the consumer brands of isatphonepro (from inmarsat) and anything globalstar. Ignore all price reductions (sales) and promos from them no matter how attractive. I know that inmarsat is a big name in sat communications of all kind on high end yachts but this product and the service of it is not acceptable.

Isatphonepro worked great in the caribbean this winter. Guess our satellite cover sucks up here? :smash:

No...I have a problematic phone.

You get them to replace it? Warranty?

OK...Here goes...

Well I had made a few calls when I first got it and sent a few texts back and forth to friends and it seems to work but not as good as I thought it would and not nearly as slick as the reviews made it sound.

One of the key features is that it has a built in GPS and you can easily send your position in a text, email etc. The primary feature though is that the phone knows where it is relative to the communication sats and is able to exploit this info to get a clear(er) signal and really lock on the sat .

Well, my phone never could obtain a GPS fix. I have tried everything. All my other devices seemed to work OK but this didn't know where it was. It could not find any gps sat. Even 30 miles offshore with nothing around. It eventually timed out and was able to get some basic voice service but the voice quality was not great, very digitized. Texting was OK. IMO it was not working correctly.

I called up my sales guy and got the kind of help I really didn't want to deal with...questions like, did you extend the antenna? Is it on?
WTF?
Eventually I got to a tech guy and after some Q&A he said...send it back to us, it is not acting right, something is wrong. I sent it back and got this email:

"Your equipment has been sent to the factory for repair. The expected turnaround time is between 8 and 10 weeks. We will let you know when the equipment is ready to be returned." :eek:

I think the factory is in New Zealand.


In 10 weeks my season where I really need this thing is nearly over.:wall: I need it this week!!



This rec will save you big money...you can thank me later:
If you buy a sat phone...BUY IRIDIUM, eat the costly plan, but avoid the consumer brands of isatphonepro (from inmarsat) and anything globalstar. Ignore all price reductions (sales) and promos from them no matter how attractive. I know that inmarsat is a big name in sat communications of all kind on high end yachts but this product and the service of it is not acceptable.

Thanks, that's what I was afraid of.

They called me over the weekend...they are going to send me a loaner until my unit gets repaired. (It's under warranty, I am surprised they are just not replacing it but this will work for me.)

They called me over the weekend...they are going to send me a loaner until my unit gets repaired. (It's under warranty, I am surprised they are just not replacing it but this will work for me.)

When you get the replacement, calmly call and explain about lost time/potential danger you could have faced by not having it. See if you can wiggle yourself some free service. If the person you're talking to can't, ask for a supervisor or their corporate escalations number and talk to them about it.

Don't blow up on the call, it doesn't work. Be chill, keep digging higher and higher up, explain your situation again each time. Get free airtime. :hihi:

You are right...talking to them and not demanding anything is always the way to go.
I did not blow up on them (as was probably indicated by my post here) I did speak them that I need a phone for the entire summer and the reason I bought this earlier in the year was to have it fully programmed tested and ready to go by spring. The 10 week repair wait on a new phone was excessive IMO and I explained that to them. Also this is part of my boat safety equipment and I want this onboard.
I never really got to use it until my boat was in the water. I asked them what can be done to get me a phone (I suggested trading this in towards an irridum, a replacement, a loaner , upgrading...etc) . She told me she would talk it over with her team and get back to me. A few hours later someone called me and another phone was being shipped, I should get it today...going offshore tomorrow :)

I am generally calm about when things don't go well. Engine blowing up when at the mechanics shop, sail maker loosing my cushions, Break down of vehicles of all kinds, teenage kids and their issues, oh and lets not forget wives. Stuff happens. I have found that if you deal with professional people in a professional manner they will most of the time want to see that you are satisfied and will do what they can to help esp if some of the blame is on them.

If this phone works (and they said they tested it before shipping) I am satisfied. The air time plan is reasonable and texting is free so I really don't want to ask for more.


But, that said, if I was to do it all again, I would spend the extra $ on iridium and forgo the cell-phone-like features of the isatphonepro. I would bet iridium comes out with a phone with similar features in the near future anyway.

But, that said, if I was to do it all again, I would spend the extra $ on iridium and forgo the cell-phone-like features of the isatphonepro. I would bet iridium comes out with a phone with similar features in the near future anyway.

Possibly by the Newport boat show.