Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc?

On Mar 21, 7:36 am, Wayne.B <waynebatrecdotbo....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
> You can also receive customized Gridded Binary (GRIB) forecast files
> via Airmail or Sailmail. Airmail requires a ham license, Sailmail
> does not. Both require a Pactor harware Terminal Node Controller
> (TNC). ...

Airmail is US $250/yr these days. A ham license is a nice thing in
and of itself. The wx and safety features can be good but mostly I
enjoy the connections it makes between people.

-- Tom.
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

On Mar 21, 9:41 am, Wayne.B <waynebatrecdotbo....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Airmail (with a ham license) is still quite free, use it all the time.
> I believe you are thinking of Sailmail which operates as sort of a
> co-operative on commercial frequencies.


Sorry, you are, of course, correct. The software is free it's
Sailmail access that costs. I've used Sailmail and Winlink for years,
too.

-- Tom.
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:27:41 -0700 (PDT), "tsmwebb@gmail.com"
<tsmwebb RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:

>Airmail is US $250/yr these days. A ham license is a nice thing in
>and of itself. The wx and safety features can be good but mostly I
>enjoy the connections it makes between people.

Airmail (with a ham license) is still quite free, use it all the time.
I believe you are thinking of Sailmail which operates as sort of a
co-operative on commercial frequencies.

http://www.sailmail.com/
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

I am based in the UK and often travel in the French inland waterways, the
English Channel and the Northern med.

For the sea areas I would recommend NAVTEX you will get weather reports in
English wherever you are. You may also with a modern set get some local
inland forecasts but they may be in the local language. Sets are not that
expensive circa $300. Most if not all Marinas publish a forecast on their
notice boards each morning these usually last 2 or 3 days ahead.

For the inland waters the local TV or Radio will be best but these are in
the local language. Do not forget the local papers. If you want English the
internet is best, use a cafe or get Wi Fi and hope for access. In the inland
areas we rarely need a forecast. You do need a forecast for the Seine
between Rouen and the sea and for some exposed parts of the Rhone if a
Mistral is due. Do not worry to much as the rest of the boating community
will have plenty of info.

If you become a Ham the local French, German and Dutch Hams can mostly speak
English and can probably give a local forecast but remember they may not be
sailors.

If you need weather charts and cannot get the internet then Fax is the way
to go, any reasonable receiver and a computer should suffice. Get a free
programme from the internet, use Bracknel from the UK or Offenbach from
Germany

Alec.




"Marc Heusser" <marc.heusser.DeleteThis@byeheusser.commercialspammers.invalid> wrote in
message news:marc.heusser-5BDE8A.17100921032008@news.uzh.ch...
>I am an electrical engineer and could quite easily get a licence for
> amateur radio.
> Does it pay off if I'd do that to access weather charts etc on a boat -
> this year in Europe, both on inland waterways in France and in the
> eastern North sea (between Germany, Denmark and Sweden)?
>
> Apart from a transceiver I have a Mac that should decode the signals
> without any extra hardware with MultiMode
> (http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/multimode.html).
>
> Or are other options better?
>
> TIA
>
> Marc
>
> --
> remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
> <http://www.heusser.com>
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:10:11 +0100, Marc Heusser
<marc.heusser.RemoveThis@byeheusser.commercialspammers.invalid> wrote:

>I am an electrical engineer and could quite easily get a licence for
>amateur radio.
>Does it pay off if I'd do that to access weather charts etc on a boat -
>this year in Europe, both on inland waterways in France and in the
>eastern North sea (between Germany, Denmark and Sweden)?
>
>Apart from a transceiver I have a Mac that should decode the signals
>without any extra hardware with MultiMode
>(http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/multimode.html).
>
>Or are other options better?
>
>TIA
>
>Marc

Amateur licenses are worth another look at now. The morse code
requirement has been swept away, and there are just three available
classes - tech, general and extra.
Tests are held regularly in local areas, and an ARRL license Manual
will get you there - not to mention the several sites offering
practice tests at all three levels.

Brian Whatcott
Altus OK
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

On Mar 21, 4:47 pm, Bruce in Bangkok <b*paige*125@g*mail.com> wrote:
> A friend that does a lot of open ocean passages gets weather reports
> vis SailMail, if I'm not wrong. I can email him and get more details
> if you are interested.

It's trivial to get GFS or NOGAPS GRIB files and there is plenty of
other stuff. You might want to send an email to query DeleteThis @saildocs.com
with a line that says info or a line that says help. You can get lots
of info delivered to any e-mail address for free.

-- Tom.
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

In article <5ik8u31v4euvklb6g4hp3ueij7almsb8g6 RemoveThis @4ax.com>,
Brian Whatcott <betwys1 RemoveThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:10:11 +0100, Marc Heusser
> <marc.heusser RemoveThis @byeheusser.commercialspammers.invalid> wrote:
>
> >I am an electrical engineer and could quite easily get a licence for
> >amateur radio.
....
> Amateur licenses are worth another look at now. The morse code
> requirement has been swept away, and there are just three available
> classes - tech, general and extra.
> Tests are held regularly in local areas, and an ARRL license Manual
> will get you there - not to mention the several sites offering
> practice tests at all three levels.

Thanks for the info - actually in Switzerland it is even easier if you
have a degree in electrical engineering: The only part you have to pass
is knowing the Radio Rules (20 minutes of multiple choice questions).
So it boils down to whether I'll actually use the amateur bands to
access the internet via RF (to download GRIB weather files eg), or to
receive weather faxes etc.

Marc

--
remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
<http://www.heusser.com>
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

Brian Whatcott <betwys1 RemoveThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote in
news:5ik8u31v4euvklb6g4hp3ueij7almsb8g6@4ax.com:

> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:10:11 +0100, Marc Heusser
> <marc.heusser RemoveThis @byeheusser.commercialspammers.invalid> wrote:
>
>>I am an electrical engineer and could quite easily get a licence for
>>amateur radio.
>>Does it pay off if I'd do that to access weather charts etc on a boat -
>>this year in Europe, both on inland waterways in France and in the
>>eastern North sea (between Germany, Denmark and Sweden)?
>>
>>Apart from a transceiver I have a Mac that should decode the signals
>>without any extra hardware with MultiMode
>>(http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/multimode.html).
>>
>>Or are other options better?
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>Marc
>
> Amateur licenses are worth another look at now. The morse code
> requirement has been swept away, and there are just three available
> classes - tech, general and extra.
> Tests are held regularly in local areas, and an ARRL license Manual
> will get you there - not to mention the several sites offering
> practice tests at all three levels.
>
> Brian Whatcott
> Altus OK

Just remember that you need at least a general license (which requires
code)to utilize AirMail.

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

On Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:38:46 -0500, Geoff Schultz
<geoff"at"@geoffschultz.org> wrote:

>Just remember that you need at least a general license (which requires
>code)to utilize AirMail.

The original poster is in Switzerland however which may have different
license requirements.
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

The code tests went away last March so it is fairly easy to get a General
now.

With all the alternatives available these days the main reasons to get a
license is the camaraderie of the several nets working on the amateur bands
and the use of Airmail.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Geoff Schultz" <geoff"at"@geoffschultz.org> wrote >
> Just remember that you need at least a general license (which requires
> code)to utilize AirMail.
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

"Glenn Ashmore" <gashmore RemoveThis @cox.net> wrote in
news:Pi7Fj.41806$f8.16380@newsfe23.lga:

> The code tests went away last March so it is fairly easy to get a
> General now.
>
> With all the alternatives available these days the main reasons to get
> a license is the camaraderie of the several nets working on the
> amateur bands and the use of Airmail.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the General class still
requires the code test and a Tech class (which does't require code) isn't
sufficient for AirMail.

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:10:11 +0100, Marc Heusser
<marc.heusser DeleteThis @byeheusser.commercialspammers.invalid> wrote:

>I am an electrical engineer and could quite easily get a licence for
>amateur radio.
>Does it pay off if I'd do that to access weather charts etc on a boat -
>this year in Europe, both on inland waterways in France and in the
>eastern North sea (between Germany, Denmark and Sweden)?
>
>Apart from a transceiver I have a Mac that should decode the signals
>without any extra hardware with MultiMode
>(http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/multimode.html).
>
>Or are other options better?
>
>TIA
>
>Marc


A friend that does a lot of open ocean passages gets weather reports
vis SailMail, if I'm not wrong. I can email him and get more details
if you are interested.

Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct email address for reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc? 

On Mar 22, 12:38 am, Geoff Schultz <geoff"at"@geoffschultz.org> wrote:
>... Just remember that you need at least a general license (which requires
> code)to utilize AirMail.

Just to be pedantic (and because I've been corrected on this), you can
use Airmail (the software) w/o even having a radio (it can use an
internet connection). If you use it with an HF radio you will need
access to the bands. For Sailmail (a service provider) that means a
ships station license and individual license for those bands valid in
the waters you are traveling. For Winlink (a collective of volunteers
who provide service) that means a general or extra ham ticket.

-- Tom.
 >> Stay informed about: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc?