Basically, there’s one fairly affordable satellite email system that I know of, and that’s the ORBCOMM-based Skymate. A sub-$1,000 black-box attaches to your computer and a VHF antenna, to send and receive text-only email, and download weather reports. It also serves as a position reporting system, and can be configured with sensors to monitor the condition (i.e. water in the bilges, electrical system, etc.) as well as the location of your boat. Pricing is per character transmitted, ranging from a $16/month plan for 8,000 characters sent and received, to $70/month for 50,000 characters. By way of comparison, this article is about 1,500 characters (not including pictures). Coverage is fairly extensive, but there are some big holes in the Southern hemisphere, including the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, so circumnavigators will be disappointed. And there is an additional $15 charge for usage beyond the coastal waters of the U.S. and Canada. A couple of nice details: you can change the monthly plan as needed; and you can keep you Skymate email address active and retrieve messages via a web interface for $5/month when you are not using the satellite service.
The really nice feature, though, is weather downloads, but they can eat into your characters/month budget quickly, with reports ranging from about 300 to 3000 characters. In the Nobeltec booth at the big boat show in Miami, they were demonstrating overlays of Skymate weather downloads on navigation charts—basically creating a service similar to the XM WX product mentioned a few days ago. No info on the Skymate or Nobeltec website, yet, but something to look forward to.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
While the initial cost of this system is relatively low, the operating costs are just simply outrageous. Several wordy spams and you have simply busted the bank.
Iridium and now Globalstar have their fixed costs paid for by their ex-bondholders and Iridium has much of its variable costs paid for by the US military. With a good compressing mail server/client such as that offered by gmn-usa.com, either of these alternatives are more practical than this, which until it gets the costs per byte to a resonable level, is just too expensive.
I Have problems with links to satellite ORBCOMM, the latency in very high, my zona is SouthAmerica, ORBCOMM is bad signal fot this zone.
What is your experiencie with orbcomm?
I Have problems with links to satellite ORBCOMM, the latency in very high, my zona is SouthAmerica, ORBCOMM is bad signal fot this zone.
What is your experiencie with orbcomm?
I bought a skymate 100 it works about 50% of the time. (wish i had used that $1000 on my new satellite phone.
I wish I had spent more for a system which WORKS! Skymate is a big disappointment, when we need it most there is no satellite signal, customer service makes me laugh when they ask stupid questions, all kinds of software problems have angered me: green light indicating mail but no downloads, green light never going off until I reboot, replicated messages (which they don’t make me pay for but are a nuisance because I think I have new mail) messages I never get but do pay for, and now a new service from skymate informing me they are filtering spam. I asked them to filter it without the email notice, and they told me to supply them with names of spamsters I don’t wish to hear from! every time I ask their help they re-request my operating system and they call me Mister! Furthermore I have been trying to phone for two days. Their menus malfunction, they do not return calls and frankly, I HATE SKYMATE. Sincerely, Rhea Smith (MIZ) Sailboater from Florida to Poland and back to Caribbean with Skymate the worlds most expensive night light
I had a few minor bumps with installing my SkyMate, but with the fast replies to my e-mails all issues were solved in a timely manor. My system was last rebooted four days ago, and has a satellite availability of 87% since reboot and a transmit factor of 93%. Love the system and I am very happy to be rid of the old cantankerous SSB radio.
I have had my SkyMate system for a while now and it has never failed me. I use the email and weather 4-5 time a week. I think it is well worth the price for what I receive.
I have happily owned a SkyMate system since early 2007. Although minor adjustments had to be made to optimize my satellite signal by moving my antenna it was a relatively easy install. Customer support when needed has been great and with some initial filtering of my land based account I have been able to communicate about three times a week with weather reports for under 40 bucks per month! Not to bad for under 1000 bucks.
merci de me dire comment je peu me procurer Skymate et le prix
I have had the Skymate system for two years. I used it all the way down the North American coast , up to 300 NM off shore and throughout Mexican waters.
IMHO, for email it is better than Pactor 3 and a HAM radio – and I am a HAM and tried it. For basic weather, its fine – tex NOAA and the rest. It doesn’t pretend to be Don Anderson-in-your-pocket and it provides what it offers.
The Position reporting is problematic. The Skymate location is not as accurate as a GPS
Customer service? From the young woman i have spoken to a number of times about my account arrangements, to Chris and Terrrence I have had nothing but positive and helpful support. While in Mexico, my antenna was broken and when advised, Skymate immediately arranged to ship a new one to me direct .
I’m a happy customer and user. I recommend Skymate system 100 unreservedly, and I recommend the comapny.
i use skymate since 2006 and just finished a 4 year 50.000 miles circumnavigating. From Europe to South America to Australia to Micronesia to Japan to Aleutian Islands/Alaska. British Colombia/California. Panama back to Europe. Its the best afordable mailing/weathe system i ever had and I made 6 circimnavigations. Service is excelent. Coverage good except Indian Ocean and Bering Sea. I know where I talk about because I worked with Iridium and professional Inmarsat. I also have a SSB but hardly use it anymore, Regards Henk