Communicating with the outside world
When sailing offshore, passages require more than just a sim card with WIFI access to gather weather information and communicate with the outside world. In our case, we use IridiumGo and it’s satellite network for all communications including weather routing and predictions, sending and recieving emails and messages, keeping friends and family updated on our location and importantly all aspects of vessel navigation. In this video, we will go through the hardware and software we use to communicate with the outside world when sailing offshore.
We have 3 main devices we use for sailing longer passages on Paikea. These are the mobile phone, the Android tablet and our Laptop. Each device is dedicated to a particular set of functions. We primarily use our telephones in much the same way that we use them whilst onshore – for communicating with other people. Our tablets are the workhorse of Paikea and are for navigation and GPS tracking. The laptop is used when we require more processing power for example when we need to collect data for Polars, or download Grib files from PredictWind. We also use Raspberry Pi with QTVLM as a backup navigation aid. The other important aspect of responsible navigation is good record keeping. We keep a detailed log book and record all information of the trip every 3 hours.
IridiumGo
You may have seen an earlier video in which Shayne build a new fibreglass bracket to fix our IridiumGo aerial to Paikea. This aerial talks to the satellite network and gives us the ability to access email, PredictWind Offshore App, and some VERY limited Wifi connectivity.
Devices Using WIFI
We have three major devices that access our IridiumGo WIFI whilst at sea. Each one of these has certain software downloaded for different tasks. The three devices are:
- Mobile Phone
- Android Tablet
- Laptop
Mobile Phone
The mobile phone is used in the same way as we use our telephones on land. For basic person to person communication. We have the following software installed on our telephones:
- IridiumGo App
- Sending and recieving messages
- Sending and recieving calls
- SOS function
- IridiumGo Mail and Web App
- Limited connectivity to the web
Android Tablet
- PredictWind Offshore App
- GPS Tracking
- Weather modelling
- Weather routing
- Navionics
- Navigation
Laptop
- PredictWind Offshore App
- Downloading weather gribs
- Weather modelling
- Weather routing
- QTVLM
- Navigation
- Open CPN
- Generating customised Polars
Advantages and Disadvantages of each Device
Laptop
- Advantages
- Large processing power
- Large screen
- Disadvantages
- Significant power consumption
Tablet
- Advantages
- Small and portable
- Low power consumption
- Disadvantages
- Loss of some functionality compared to PC/Laptop versions
Mobile Phone
- Advantages
- Low power consumption
- Small and portable
- Disadvantages
- Small screen
Log Book
The log book is an essential part of being a responsible skipper. The recording of information helps keep track of how well your boat is doing, monitoring your progress and recording your journey. We also find it extremely helpful when analysing data after our trips. Usually, we break our watches into 3 hour shifts. This aligns nicely with the regular 3 hour entries into our log book. The person who is on watch is also responsible for recording the next entry into the log book. We have an alarm set up on one of the mobile phones set at every 3 hours so that everyone knows it is time to record the data. You will notice that we use a book and write our entries onto a page. We do not enter the information in digital format on an electronic device. There are two main reasons for this – firstly, we like the accessibility of a book. It is easy to flip through the pages and see at a glance how we are doing. The second reason we use paper is that if have an electrical malfunction, for example, a lightning strike, we will still have a paper copy of our log book. Click here to download our free log book template or check out our free resources page.
Conclusions
While every person has a different style of sailing, there are a few fundamentals that are true for every successful voyage. Information is key. Know your boat and the systems on board. Keep a record of how you use your vessel and make sure you keep an up to date log book. Make sure that everyone knows where they can go to access information and if possible instruct them on how to use it. This will make your life easier too.
On Paikea, data is king. The more information we can collect and analyse the better we know our boat. As a result of this analysis we are continually upgrading the systems onboard to increase speed, performance and comfort onboard Paikea.