Option 1. SSB/Pactor - forget it; SSB essential for downloading weather data and as a long range radio, but it cannot comfortably handle the quantity of picture data you plan to send.
Option 2. Check out the SailorFleet broadband 250 from Thrane & Thrane that I now use on board. More expensive hardware but you only pay for the data you send/receive. You also have worldwide VOIP voice communications. The 500 version gives you greater bandwidth but would probably be 'overkill' for your needs, as well as being more expensive.
Option 3. I use a Marine Wireless Bridge (MWB) wifi catcher when in range of the shore, or at anchor, check out www.portnetworks.com It works of a 12v supply and I have found it superb. In the Caribbean you'll be pleased to know that you can pick up many unlocked networks; I didn't find it so easy in European waters.
Great blog, keep it up, hope to see you somewhere. Mark & Julie, Yacht Wild Venture

Hi Alex,

Look at http://www.sailmail.com/
Highly recommended reading for SSB e-mail:
SAIL MAIL PRIMER; http://www.airmail2000.com/pprimer.htm INSTALL GUIDE; http://www.airmail2000.com/rfi.htm
SSB e-mail software for PC: Airmail, SSB free email + GRIB file software for PC or laptop, for example for Sail Mail
network when you purchase the modem or transmitter included on CD-ROM Software for Kiel Radio is included on CD-ROM subscription.
GRIB files:
These are highly accurate information e-mail files with wind, pressure and temperature information in your trade. This information will automatically show a map. This can be obtained free of charge via Sail Mail network.

Also check on
http://www.dolstra.nl/mardefault.htm

Greeting

Peter

http://www.globalmarinenet.net/xgate.php

Dear,

nothing personal, I just ask : you leave the world to escape the superficiality of it and its frantic rythm and its material side. So why don you need internet ? Just to stay in touch with friends ? Can't you just wait to be in some harbour ? Or write postcards ?
I'm a big fan of yours, I think your project is terrific and superb. But I see this little contradiction.
Best.

I commented before reading your post : forget my stupid question. Love.

Thanks all. Still wondering about how reliable the sailor broadbands (150 or 250) are in the middle of the oceans far from land. As it is on longer passages we will be using it most, we need to know if it is worth the money=should work perfectly without distortions.

Greta: I don't think you have understood correctly. Yes, we want to get away from the normality. We want to set our own rules and musts in life and we want to get away from all the BS, social obligations and fake things that we human beings constantly have to deal with and absorb, each and every day, without choosing it ourselves. We believe that on the sea, on our own boat, with our home with us - it will be easier to find harmony and to get to the absolute core of ourselves, as human beings. We want to challenge ourselves with natural, soulful and spiritual things rather than the worldly crap we're so used to and somewhat fed up with.

The main reason why the Internet is so important for us is this blog, not because we want to stay in touch with friends or surfing the net.

The Internet will be used to maintain this diary of ours, receive important emails regarding this trip, this blog and the places we will visit and everything else that is important for us such as weather reports etc.

With the technology there is today, it would be stupid of us to cut off from the whole world and to miss important information of harbors, specific information for different countries we'll be sailing into, forecasts etc - all of this info are something that we'll easily get a hold on through the internet or email.

We want to get away from the artificial world yes, but we'll still use and buy only the best of material, equipment etc there is available, to have with us throughout this journey. We love a comfortable and qualitative life, but with as little bullshit and fake things involved in it as possible.

I think this all is very obvious in earlier posts we've published in this blog.

SAILOR series useds the Iridium Sat network. The hardware you are refering to is nothing more than a a sat handphone, and marine anntena and switch. You can use just the handphone to call. Or buy just the phone and other components and set it up yourself.

http://www.iridium.com/

Coverage is everywhere. Provided your antenna is pointing up, you should not have a problem connecting at any given time. Voice can be a bit garbled or "echoy" but for data transmission you will be fine. Check the specs and/or package for data transmission it should send in bursts, meaning if you get cutoff while while sending something it won't have to restart all over again, rather it will continue to send what wasn't sent and reassemble everything on the other side.

You can buy all sorts of prepaid cards or services from any iridium provider (check their website), from .50USD/minute to 1.50USD/minute. Pretty much inline with int'l calling rates to some remote region in say Africa.

Fleet Broadband is also the world-wide emergency system. If the Volvo Ocean race boats could send info from anywhere they went, I don't think you'll ever be out of cover. You might also want to check the ISat Phone by Inmarsat.
Have a great journey!!!

Hi again, I can tell you that my Fleetbroadband 250 works well mid ocean and it has been working reliably for about a year so far, in all weathers and temperatures. Actually VERY heavy rain obscures the signal. I have it connected to a router so we can use wifi wherever we want to onboard. To minimise data (remember you pay for what you download/upload) I use the data compression software that comes with the hardware. You may want to also adjust your email settings (depending on your service provider) to minimise the graphics - most (hotmail/live/etc) are optimised for use on broadband at home. It will work over the FB 250, nicely, but you pay for the all the pretty adverts etc that it downloads automatically.

I also have an iridium voice/data package mentioned in another comment, it's truely excellent for email but unless recently modified, it's no use for .jpg files, good for the GRIB files (weather data) that he mentions but you can get these free over the SSB when linked into your laptop.

A final thought with 7 days to go; don't worry, you will never be fully ready, it doesn't matter how long you have to get ready, the job list grows to overfill the time! My advice, having done what you are about to do, is just make sure you have all the essential safety systems in place, say your goodbyes and go. Someone once said the hardest thing about sailing is casting off.... it might have been the legendary Bernard Moitessier, Alex will know!
Best, Mark

Regarding WiFi while inshore, check your favorite forum :-) there's a long running discussion on what works and what doesn't.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/long-distance-wifi-device-19383.html

Alex and Taru:

This family cruised from Alaska to New Zealand over past couple of years, and they published a daily report. Chris is an old radio guy and I am sure he researched this extensively. My experience with him is that he is quick to respond to questions, etc. He might have some ideas. They published on Sailblogs.com under the boat name Wind Dancer from Juneau, Alaska. They are now in NZ and can be reached at this address.

info@familyvoyaging.com

Kent

I would depart and make your decisions slowly it's a great expense and once your out there your thoughts and needs may change a little. As someone else said the wifi in the Caribbean is great so you'll have no issues there.

We're just using an Iridium sat phone for Grib weather updates and when we get to shore wi-fi is found with an EnGenius from these guys

www.keenansystems.com

Much cheaper and more thoroughly build than other systems out there.

Also our experience with a Fleet 55 system over about 6 years is that they are very reliable and work well all across the Atlantic. We had one repair in 6 years.

Great blog and all the best. TS

For sat phone use go to www.ocens.net
No I didn't forget the"A"! Via sat phone you can update blogs, any weather info you want and send and receive e-mails. Not too expensive if you don't abuse it. Excellent folks to deal with, based in Seattle,Washington. I have been using them no stop since last April delivery boats from Hawaii to California. Tell Robin I said HI!
Lynn A. Stokes
Avalon,Ca.
Morro Bay, Ca.
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/easternpacificdeliverycaptain/

Hi Taru and Alex!
I don't have much to add to the conversation technically but I have this suggestion: Your blog is great and it is followed by thousands of potential customers to internet service at sea. Why not approach the main service providers with a sponsorship deal? You still have time until leaving Europe so go for it!
Bon voyage! I'll be following you two!
Marco

Should your first concern not be getting weather information and not sending us sexy pictures? I like them but if you guys die due to the fact you have no idea what is going to hit you out their we all loose.

We used SSB, Pactor 3 and were able to get good weather anywhare. We could only send email WITHOUT att. But that will just make us that much excited about your landfall to see all the new images.

By the way these things take lots of time to set us in any boat. What about your HAM radio licence?

Thanks to all. We've decided to drop the idea about the SSB and will instead go for the Sailor Fleet broadband.

Obviously the Internet is mainly important for weather information but if we can also update the blog every day with images, that would be fantastic. We think that the Sailor fleet broadband with Inmarsat connection will be good for it.