Inmarsat C: Don't Leave Port Without It (Updated)

Created by doina. Last modified on 2005-09-13 10:03:30
Contributors:
Topic: Communications

One essential piece of equipment which is still missing from many cruising yachts, although all fishing boats and commercial ships have it, is Inmarsat C. It is extremely useful for sending and receiving text messages and has global coverage via the Inmarsat satellite network. The unit receives regular weather forecasts for the ocean area one sails in. It also has a distress button that will send the ship's current position at a push of a button, thus being a valuable backup for the EPIRB. Vessels can be tracked from ashore via a simple system that will show the vessel's position, heading and speed. Its text message function can be used to send/receive emails, also to send text messages to a fax. The antenna is easily installed and the unit, which is used via a laptop, consumes little electricity. The UK company RMR Electronics can supply a refurbished complete system excluding laptop for 800 pounds sterling (approx. $1450) with 6 month warranty. Contact Roy Morley roy@rme.com

Jimmy Cornell

What you say about Inmarsat C is all true, Unfortunately, one aspect of the service providers policies have made the system less useful for small, power-limited cruisers. When we originally installed our system in 1998, providers offered a mailbox, from which it was possible to download whenever logged in. There was no need to stay permanently logged on. About three years ago, following changes in provider policies, mail boxes were dropped, necessitating continuous log-on, if you use the system for email. This is much less convenient and we know several cruisers who have given up using the system as a result.

The other aspects of the system, which provide information and the potential for a distress call are useful, so long as you can download information from the unit once every 24 hours, which is about as long as the internal buffer can cope with. Contrary to some reports, it is not necessary to have a printer permanently connected to the unit.

On balance, we would now say, contrary to the headline on your report, that Inmarsat C was one of the large expenditures we made when starting voyaging, which was not worthwhile, given other more cost-effective sources of information and means of communication.

Tom Jackson, "Sunstone", Mar del Plata

You can get and install it without problems and its not expensive, but beware the bill. You pay out and ingoing mails and you can´t filter. I use my one only as a back up.

Christian Baumgart