Staying Connected at Sea:

We set sail for blue horizons to get away from it all, shed the pressures of life ashore and stay off the grid. Yet, today, we still can have easy access to instant communications whenever we wish. In many ways, it's the best of both worlds. One of the easiest methods to connect to the Internet to send and receive email is by using new technology with a relatively old tool -- the high-frequency single-­sideband radio. Most bluewater yachts carry an HF/SSB radio. To use one, skippers must obtain a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit issued for the lifetime of the holder by the Federal Communications Commission. They also need a call sign, which is good for 10 years and is also obtained from the FCC. Application forms are available online. To reach the Internet via the popular SailMail server, the next step is downloading the free Airmail software onto your computer; the Airmail website includes instructions about the nuances of the system. A modem is required to link the SSB and the computer: Pactor 3 or Pactor 4 modems are built in Germany and distributed in the U.S. by Farallon Electronics in Sausalito, California. Its website not only handles sales, but it also has a wealth of information on installations to get the most efficient radio/modem/computer combination.

from Ham Radio Times http://ift.tt/2r7vjye
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