Canadian Yachting — June 2017

22 Canadian Yachting JUNE 2017

from island to island. We will reactivate our SAT phone when
we are going to bring the boat back this winter, and then my hus-
band, Al, can use it to connect to his computer to access weath-
er files. But we will not be needing the internet for the max five
days that we will be sailing between Puerto Rico and the
Bahamas. We connect to my cell phone and iPad and Al’s cell
phone and laptop.”

Once in port, connecting to a Wi-Fi

network is the easiest and cheapest

option. Most marinas have Wi-Fi, but it

can be spotty and weak as many people

try to gain access at once.

Boost it. Even where Wi-Fi is avail-

able, the signal is often weak out on the

docks, so some sort of Wi-Fi booster

would be helpful. The simplest can be

attached to a portlight or temporarily

placed outside; however, it still needs line

of sight. The next step is a Wi-Fi booster antenna mounted out-

side. This will increase the range but still requires a line of sight

contact. There are numerous units on the market. Keep in mind

simplicity and ease of installation to keep costs under control.

Here on Canada’s East Coast, marinas are few and far

between, so it will be cell service you need to depend on, which

is spotty along the coast once you are away from Halifax. Once

you are away from any cell service or Wi-Fi, the answer is a

satellite-based system. With these systems, the equipment and

options you choose are only limited by your budget.

There are apparently over 1,000 communication satellites in

orbit (plus another 2,500 or so dead ones!). Three main satellite

systems, or constellations (as a group of satellites are called),

dominate use for private communication.

SATELLITE SYSTEMS IN USE

INMARSAT

Inmarsat satellites orbit the earth directly over the equator at

about 22,000 miles. The period of the orbit exactly matches the

rotation of the earth, so they appear to be stationary over one

spot. This system has been around for some time, and because

the satellites always point to the same spot on earth, they

require antennas that move in order to point to the appropriate

satellite.

IRIDIUM

Using 66 low earth orbit satellites, just 485 miles, the Iriduim

system provides excellent coverage. The company is in the

process of deploying a new series of 66 satellites (Iridium Next)

with an emphasis on improved data transmission. This system

provides worldwide coverage.

GLOBALSTAR

Like Iridium, the Globalstar constellation of 24 low earth

orbit satellites (about 850 miles) provides satellite phone and

low-speed data communications. This system does not have

the same global coverage as the Iridium, but does cover

North America, the Caribbean, and Europe. So for most

users it is fine.

As you can imagine, the best cruising

locations are not always “communiction

friendly”.

Below:Globalstar considers the GSP 1700 sat phone its
workhorse model, retailing for $499.