For extended offshore passages, having reliable, two-way, long range, voice & data communications is absolutely essential for getting the most out of your working relationship with a weather router. For inshore communications (less than about 5 nms from shore), Wifi, cell phones & portable computers, are very common. Today almost every cruiser carries multiple cell phones and one or more computers, and almost every marina worldwide now offers WiFi service for a very limited range around the marina property. Having a WiFi boosting antenna can extend WiFi range up to a mile. Once away from a marina, close in coastal cruising or island hopping (when within 5 nms of shore and cell towers), a cell phone, tablet or laptop can provide quite good marine weather information. Also from 0-about 50 nms from shore a standard marine VHF two-way tranceiver can provide reliable radio communications and at least reception of VHF weather forecasts. In the US NOAA Marine VHF weather broadcasts can provide mariners with regional marine weather forecasts & warning information. But, beyond about 50 nms from shore and especially in the open ocean, hundreds or even thousands of miles from shore, having some form of reliable, two-way, long range comunications is essential. Thre are three communications systems available, satellite phone (voice/data), HF SSB (marine or ham, voice/data) or satellite broadband equipment, (voice/data).

Global, open ocean communications via satellite telephone or HF SSB:

The world map at the right shows the popular ocean cruising routes of the world. (You can click on the image to enlarge it). In the Pacific the major ocean cruising routes between ports on the west coast of North America, Central America and South America south and west to Hawaii, the Marquesas, French Polynesia, New Zealand & Australia. In the Atlantic the major ocean cruising routes between ports on the US east coast and Bermuda and the Caribbean, between the Caribbean, US east coast and Bermuda transAtlantic to the Azores, the UK, Portugal and Gibraltar, and from Gibraltar to the Canaries, Cape Verdes and west to the Easten Caribbean, Panama and US east coast. Some vessels continue west from Australia to Indonesia, the Red Sea, islands in the Indian Ocean, to South Africa and NW to Brazil and Caribbean. These and other ocean cruising passages are 1000 to 4000 nms in the open ocean and require vessels have one or more means of reliable, two-way, long range, communications, preferrably by voice and by email. (The cruising routes chart is courtesy of Pangolin/YOTREPS).

For long range, open ocean two-way communications there are basically three options available, 1. small, inexpensive handheld satellite phones, such as Iridium, Inmarsat & Globalstar, 2. permentally installed high frequency Single Sideband radio, (HF SSB) systems. and 3. the most expensive option, permanently installed satellite broadband systems such as BGAN, FleetBroadband or KVH TracPhone. Whatever system you may choose you should know its capabilities and limitations. Iridium is the dominant service and offers true global coverage. Globalstar though inexpensive its coverage is unreliable and not global by any means. Globalstar coverage does not include the South Pacific Ocean, the South Atlantic Ocean or the Indian Ocean and in the areas it is reported to cover, communications is unreliable. Some sat phone handsets can enable email but some do not. HF SSB communications is dependant on the solar cycle, the time of day, the distance between vessels, and other factors. Satellite based systems can enable point to point communications but not group or "net" communications. You must know the sat phone number to make the point to point call. HF SSB systems, (Marine or Ham) enable point to point and group or "net" communications. Depending on the type of equipment and service the various systems can enable the two-way exchange of voice, E-mail, short SMS/text messages, GRIB files & digital images. The question is really more a matter of cost, coverage, level of service and redundancy that you want to have. Cell phones are inexpensive but very limited in range. Sat phones can provide regional or global coverage but cost more. Of the three satellite phone service providers Iridium is the best from a coverage and reliability standpoint. HF SSB can permit free airtime and a wonderful mix of personal, weather information and cruiser resources like regional SSB nets. Whatever system you choose its best to have a backup system should the primary system become inoperable for any reason. Many cruisers have both a satellite based system like Iridium for point to point voice and email, and an HF SSB system, (Marine or ham), for point to point or "net" operation, voice and email. Almost all cruisers these days have cell phones and one or more computers aboard, (tablet, notebook, or laptop).

Satellite telephones and service providers:

There are several sat phone service options, (Iridium, Globalstar tand Inmarsat). These services all have advantages and disadvantages. 95% of my weather routing clients use Iridium sat phones & service for their offshore communications. For detailed and reliable communications, vessel position reports, weather forecasts and routing advice, email (not text messaging!) for many reasons, is much better than voice. The newest and best sat phone I have seen to date, (for email & voice) is the Iridium #9555. Iridium phones The sat phone to the left is the newer Iridium 9555 sat phone with built in GPS and one touch SOS. To the right is an older but very good Iridium 9505A sat phone. Clicking on the phones image will take you to the Iridium Phones information page. A new device worth considering is the Iridium "Go" unit. Iridium "Go", which creates a wifi "hot spot"aboard your boat accessable by wifi enabled devices such as cell phones, tablets and laptops.

There are many satellite phone & service providers. Equipment can be purchased or rented by the day.

Satellite phone & service providers:

GlobalCom - http://www.globalcomsatphone.com/

Blue Cos Mo - http://www.bluecosmo.com/

Global Marine Networks - http://www.globalmarinenet.com/

The Satellite Store - https://satellitephonestore.com/

Sail smart. Sail safe.

Cheers...Capt Bob