Has anyone out there used the PREDICTWIND IRIDIUM GO for offshore passages, and what are the alternatives other than STARLINK?
IRIDIUM GO
- Thread starter Cptd
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,742
I consider a working STARLINK system the gold standard resource for weather Grib file data. Its use is not cheap, but its availability and easy integration into a weather resource onboard data display are exceptional.
The question is not how you get the data but what you want to use to interpret it. Cruisers are still using SSB modems to download Grib weather data. Programs like OpenCPN and LuckGrib can use smaller files to display weather data when planning open ocean passages.
Yes. We have an Iridium Go that we’ve used for offshore weather with Predict wind. It does work for gribs to get forecast weather, but it is EXTREMELY slow and very frustrating to use… even email. Connections often drop so it could take 30 minutes to on hour (or more) to download the lastest gribs even when limiting the forecast area to the bare minimum. Forget about satellite views or rapidly changing weather. If we saw storms we would email our shore contact to get an idea of the level of threat they posed. It is definitely better than nothing though, but very expensive for what you get.
Thank you, unfortunately it seems like Starlink is the best out there but would never enrich Musk!
If you can wait, Project Kuiper is due to launch its first satellites next week. You'll be supporting Bezos instead of Musk if that is more acceptable.
www.aboutamazon.com
Here’s what to expect from Project Kuiper’s first full-scale satellite launch
United Launch Alliance will send 27 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit as we begin a full-scale deployment of our satellite internet network.
www.aboutamazon.com
Unfortunately the Oligarchs are the only ones with the money to build the satellite network.
Yes, this generally seems to be the case. Amazon's Kuiper project being another.
There is Eutalsat, but coverage is very limited.
I have used Iridium Go offshore, as others have said it is slow if you are thinking about typical Internet usage.
If you are thinking about PredictWind and downloading GRIBs then yes, it works very well. It is a super well known combination.
I also had a Garmin InReach for daily check-ins shoreside via text message and to take with me in the ditch bag & life raft if needed.
Sold both on e-bay when I got back and recovered a good portion of the initial cost.
If I did this again I would have all three I think. Yes, the subscription fees add up.
If I was on a budget, I would cut the starlink first. You can put their service on hold for months at a time as well, then re-enable it. And they have a new backup-only plan that is very affordable but I think that is for their continental service only.
If I could only take one, I would take the Irdium GO.
For me, the Starlink just consumes so much power and I would need to take it down and don't think it would work reliably is a bad storm (which can last for days) anyway. Which is when I want my weather and basic shoreside communications working for sure. Meanwhile we are all so spoiled now with fast internet access.
The Garmin InReach is physically robust, simple, has amazing battery life, and easy to recharge with even a small folding solar panel. You can get simplistic text weather reports off of it, but no GRIB downloads.
Iridium Go is easy to do a permanent install along with an external
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Thanks for the useful info. I will look into the Garmin InReach as we have Garmin electronics on board
Hello,
Note that the Garmin InReach is a standalone product. It will not receive a GRIB file, and will not send any information to a garmin plotter or Predict wind. The Inreach allows you send and receive short emails and text messages and you can receive a marine weather forecast.
I have an InReach product and I like it but you should understand what id does and does not do.
Good luck,
Barry
Note that the Garmin InReach is a standalone product. It will not receive a GRIB file, and will not send any information to a garmin plotter or Predict wind. The Inreach allows you send and receive short emails and text messages and you can receive a marine weather forecast.
I have an InReach product and I like it but you should understand what id does and does not do.
Good luck,
Barry
Thank you, I've been looking at PredictWind with the IridiumGo exec offshore plan, and it looks like the most comprehensive for weather, passage routing, internet, email,comms etc. The hardware is around $2k and the monthly Professional package $209, but no long contract....month to month. The website is very confusing as there are so many plans! Anyone out there familiar with this setup ?
I would say that is probably the best solution if you are set against starlink. Don‘t expect 88kpbs, but I imagine it will be fast enough you won’t feel like chucking it in the ocean
. Also, there are two subscriptions… one for the Iridium and one for Predictwind… if you want the hi-res gribs offshore I think you need the Predictwind pro subscription... $249 for 3 months. When you finish your passage don’t forget to cancel both… although Predictwind is pretty good and did refund me my subscription when I forgot to cancel it.
The least expensive option from a monthly subscription perspective is a good SSB with pactor IV modem. The equipment and up-front installation costs are not trivial. I also understand you have a hard time with good reception through the Indian ocean for some reason. No first hand knowledge on that. However, there are no monthly costs once it's installed and set-up. Takes more practice and knowledge than the Iridium GO.
dj
dj
I agree with the SSB recommendation. If the satellite communicator is $2k, then $450/month subscription, that will easily buy a SSB system with Pactor. With Starlink now, SSB systems are being removed and sold inexpensively since the market for them is so small now.
However, using it for data is only free if you have a HAM license. If you don't, then Sailmail costs $250/yr.
Mark
However, using it for data is only free if you have a HAM license. If you don't, then Sailmail costs $250/yr.
Mark
Good point. But seems to me that a HAM license is a darned good thing to get in order to really understand (at least at a rudimentary level) how to use this equipment...
dj
There are several companies currently developing satellite to regular cell phone services. Some are in testing stages.
spectrum.ieee.org
How Satellites Are Becoming the New Cellphone Towers
Larger antennas and better beamforming are routing calls through orbit
spectrum.ieee.org
I have an InReach device and used it for a crossing from San Francisco to Oahu in 2022. It's great for providing tracking info to friends and family via a website they can monitor. It's also great for text messaging and receiving local weather reports which were not super accurate, but somewhat useful. For much better wind prediction my brother and his wife (both experienced sailors out of San Diego) monitored PredictWind, Windy, and SailFlow with our position in mind. They texted updates daily with recommendations for coarse corrections to avoid no wind and very high wind zones. This approach worked very well.
This is our go to plan.
we also have a Go that has been used previously for whitewater kayak trips and camping away from cell service. It has transitioned well to the boat for us.
the key is having land based people that you trust to relay the information to you.
you will be relying on their review of the the information.
still it can be effective.
