An Introduction to Electronic Communications Entertainment Afloat

An Introduction to… Electronic Communications & Entertainment Afloat Curtis Morris K 7 KNM c. morris@charter. net s/v Smooth Operator

WARNING Attendance at this seminar is at your own risk. The instructor is not responsible for what you think you learned, or think you want at the conclusion of the seminar. Any urges to dump your transistor radio and handcranked victrola overboard for more modern gear is up to you. Any lust for new systems should be discussed with your spouse or significant other since what you want may not be what you need. Violators of this policy could be severely punished.

OVERVIEW • Why electronic communications and entertainment afloat are important • Shortwave, satellites and cyberspace for non -rocket scientists • What systems are right for you? – Communication: Bay/Coastal vs. Offshore “Blue Water” – Electronic entertainment options This OPCYC “U” presentation is rated “G” suitable for audiences of sailors and power boaters

Why Are Electronic Communications & Entertainment Afloat Important ? COMMUNICATIONS • Safety • Weather, navigation, and information for mariners • Coordination of personal activities on the water • Stay connected to family, friends, and even one’s business …unless you want to run away ENTERTAINMENT • Music, TV, DVD, I-POD, MP 3, CD/Stereo, or other radio for enjoyment and relaxation; changes a simple boat into a yacht …a haven with amenities – Offers the variety of talk and music while underway – Helps enjoyably fill the hours at anchor, or in a marina – Pleasant accompaniment to drinks or a meal aboard

Shortwave, Satellites & Cyberspace for Non-Rocket Scientists • Shortwave… what it is and how it works – Ionospheric propagation vs. line of sight communications – Low & Medium Frequency, High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) – Key modes for communication & entertainment…voice (AM, FM Stereo, SSB), continuous wave (CW), data (Fax), digital (e-mail), video (TV/DVD) • Satellites for sailors & boaters…Man-made, earth orbit moons for communications, navigation, weather & entertainment broadcasts (e. g. , XM, Sirius, XM WX, Direct TV)

Shortwave, Satellites & Cyberspace…continued • Cyberspace…computers for everything – Word processing and data to e-mail plus graphics – Control systems for radio, TV, GPS, Chartplotters, DVD entertainment, etc. – Typical uses afloat… records keeping, wireless e-mail, navigation, and weather Bottom Line: Computers can be stand alone devices, but are increasingly tied to other devices to serve many uses

What System is right for you? Bay and Coastal Communications

Bay and Coastal Communications System Marine VHF Radio Digital Selective Calling (DSC) • FM Voice Marine VHF Radio • FM Voice Pocket Mail System • E-mail Advantages Disadvantages $ ACQ/Ops • Selective calling ship-to -ship, ship-to-shore • GPS positioning • Single button May Day distress to ships/USCG • Less interference in DSC • Requires GPS/chart plotter interface to use positioning feature • Line of sight $180 -500 Free • Local calling ship-toship, ship-to-shore • USCG emergency • Sea tow, medical • Often busy channels • Line of sight $150 -500 Free • Totally mobile, compact • Low cost • Unlimited worldwide coverage • Requires cell or land $100 -line telephone to transmit/receive messages • Small qwerty key board & screen $ 12 -17 month

Bay and Coastal Communications System Wireless Laptop • E-mail • Web access • XM satellite music talk radio & WX • Video (cam corder) Wi-FI for Laptop • E-mail • Web access Advantages Disadvantages $Acq / Ops • Inexpensive assuming you own a laptop • Real-time Doppler radar images & WX from the web…poor man’s radar? • Can use an air card or a cell phone connected to laptop for wireless operation • World-wide e-mail afloat • Must be in range of cell tower • Not all cell providers provide adequate wireless service for your wireless computer • Some zones on Bay lack coverage • Limited coastal application • Must have XM subscription for satellite music & talk Less than $100 • Free WI-FI net access at many marinas • WI-FI included in slip fees of some marinas; e. g. , Fishing Bay • Wi-FI access is limited to a Less specific location, but worldthan wide e-mail/web access $100 • Expensive if you don’t own a laptop $3570 mo Free

Bay and Coastal Communications System Advantages Disadvantages Costs ACQ Cell Phone • Voice • Text messaging • Photos GMRS or Family Radio Walki-Talkies • FM voice • Private communication • Local, national, & international coverage if in range of a cell tower • Verizon network covers Chesapeake & many costal areas • Emergency backup only; USCG has no direction finding capability for cell phones • Line of sight to cell tower is necessary • Multi-channel with distinctive telephone ring • No license required • Up to 3+ mile range • Great for anchoring, dingy activities, nautical coordination • For personal use; not connected to a wide audience like Marine VHF • No marine vhf capability • Cannot contact USCG Ops $40200 Calling plan dependent $ 40100 a pair Free

Bay and Coastal Communications System Advantages Disadvantages Costs Acq Ops Ham Radio HF • SSB Voice • E-mail • CW Ham Radio VHF/UHF • FM Voice • SSB Voice • World-wide (DX) & local communications • Phone patches • Ham radio fraternity • Ham nets • Back-up for other communications $1000 • Depends on -2, 000 propagation • No business communications • Requires backstay or whip antenna • Requires FCC operator test & small fee to get license “ticket” • Modem needed for e-mail Free • Clear local communications • Very small antenna • Line of sight • Must be in range of repeater • Need operator test & license Free $200400

What system is right for you? Offshore “Blue Water” Communications

Offshore “Blue Water” Communications System Ham Radio HF • SSB Voice • E-mail • CW Advantages Disadvantages $Acq / Ops • World-wide (DX) & local communications • Phone patches • Ham radio fraternity • Ham nets • Back-up for other communications • Depends on propagation $1000 • No business 3000 communications • Requires back-stay, or whip antenna • Requires FCC operator test & small fee to get license “ticket” • Modem needed for e-mail Free

Offshore “Blue Water” Communications System Advantages Disadvantages $ Acq/Ops • SSB Voice • E-mail • Fax • CW • DSC distress optional • World-wide communications • Ship-to-ship • USCG emergency • Business commo allowed • No FCC operator test • Depends on $1800 propagation 3000 • Requires backstay or whip antenna • Requires fee to get station license • Requires modems for E-mail and Fax Free Satellite Phone • World-wide coverage (Iridium) • Coverage (N. A, Carib, N. Atlantic) (Global Star) • 24 x 7 x 365 days a year availability • Telephone, WX, emergency USCG • Small antenna • No license needed • 2400 BPS data rate (Iridium) $1500 (Iridium) $20 per month/ $1. 50 min. • 9600 BPS data rate (Global Star) $500 (Global Star) $20 per month/ $. 99 min. Marine Radio HF • Voice • Data • E-Mail • Needs laptop/cable for data & e-mail use

Offshore “Blue Water” Communications System Sky Mate Satellite Communicator • E-mail • Nexrad Radar, WX images • NOAA Charts Inmarsat “C” and Mini “M” satellite systems • Voice • Fax • Data Advantages Disadvantages $Acq / Ops • Affordable; can change • Requires use of laptop use plans at anytime • No voice • Small antenna • Can also be used as a remote monitor for yacht when no one is aboard • Auto-position reports $1100+ $50 to start & $16 -70 mo • “Cadillac” systems • 7 x 24 x 365 days a year availability • Text messaging • Free WX four times daily • Emergency position reporting $3000 6000 $70 page in font size 6 • 600 BPS data rate $1. 59 min for voice

Offshore “Blue Water” Communications System Advantages Marine VHF Radio with or without DSC • Ship-to-ship • Line of sight range • USCG contact onscene in an emergency such as abandoning ship (vhf on yacht and one or more hand-held vhf units a must for offshore passage makers) • DSC auto-positioning a safety feature near sea lanes • FM voice Disadvantages $Acq / Ops $200600 Free

What system is right for you? Electronic Entertainment Afloat

Electronic Entertainment Afloat System Advantages Disadvantages $Acq / Ops • Covers commercial broadcast (BBC, VOA, world capitals, etc. ) • World-wide broadcasts of • Voice (AM, SSB) music and talk available • Music (AM) everywhere in English or other world languages • Data (FAX) • FAX transmission • CW valuable for WX offshore • Excellent coverage of world events & cultures • Reception to specific world areas depends on time of day, frequency selected, and propagation • Subject to fade, or interference especially, if signal is weak • Good music sound , but not FM or digital sound quality • Need modem for FAX $40800 • Excellent sound quality for music, talk, and news from national outlets (FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, etc. ) • Local area WX • Listen to favorite CDs • Lots of poor to no reception areas on Bay and coast; southern Bay ok • Station range normally limited; music genre may not be your preference Shortwave Radio Receiver AM/FM Stereo Receiver w/CD Player $125400 Free

Electronic Entertainment Afloat System Advantages Disadvantages • Subscription required XM, Sirius, & • Digital quality stereo • Must move receiver to World Space broadcasts of all music preferences; commercial different cradles on (WS)…direct free yacht, house, or car to broadcast • In excess of 120 channels avoid multiple subscriptions if reception (XM); Sirius and WS satellite at all locations is desired somewhat less radio • No fade, No interference… 24 x 7 x 365 days a year • Most cable news & talk plus BBC, WX channel, and some programming in Spanish and French • All US pro baseball, NFL football, NHL games & most NASCAR races, NBA, plus ESPN talk • Small, transportable receiver for yacht, house, & car, or reception at your computer/laptop • Reception area is US plus 200 miles offshore; World Space needed for Asia, Europe, African regions • Small antenna generally works below deck; otherwise must be installed above deck $Acq / Ops $40300 $7 to start $13 mo

Electronic Entertainment Afloat System Advantages Disadvantages $Acq / Ops Satellite TV direct broadcast • Hundreds of digital quality TV channels • Reception better than with average boat TV installation using an antenna on a mast or fly bridge • Video game and DVD can be connected to TV • Requires expensive, somewhat large gyro stabilized tracking antenna to use TV underway • Requires subscription, special receiver attached to TV • Fixed use pier side requires dish antenna on piling • You spend so much time surfing the channels that you never get underway Same as shore based set up for TV Etc. $35 ? mo LCD or Plasma TV/DVD • Can be used with simple passive or amplified antenna in rigging or fly bridge • DVD is alternative in poor reception areas • Video game hook-up • Reception quality depends on antenna and boat location…poor reception in various parts of the Bay $200 how much do you want to spend? Free

Electronic Entertainment Afloat • Other systems exist – I-Pod Digital Recorders …hundreds of songs and some video down-loaded from the net use earphones or small amplified speakers for listening…$200 -450 – MP 3 Players …more digital recordings from the net with earphones or amplified speakers…$80 -250 – Walkman Players for CDs …going the way of the dinosaur

Some Useful Web Sites for More Information • Ham Radio www. arrl. org • Federal Communications Commission (licensing) www. fcc. gov • Registering VHF and SSB DSC equipped Radios www. boatus. com • Antennas, marine radios, and electronic entertainment devices www. shakespeare-marine. com www. icomamerica. com www. westmarine. com www. defender. com www. boatersworld. com www. circuitcity. com www. bestbuy. com Note: no endorsement of any business is implied

What Have You Learned? • The mysteries of shortwave, satellites and cyberspace • Options available for: – Communications both Bay/Coastal and Offshore “Blue Water” – Electronic Entertainment afloat

Bottom Line You have earned 2 credits at Old Point Comfort “U”, gotten out of a morning’s worth of “honey do tasks”……and are now armed with enough knowledge to do serious damage to your bank account I