Communication in the Caribbean

[Wanderer138]

More options

Rick:You might also want to consider pre-paid cellular service. Phones are readily available and inexpensive, you can get one activated in about 15 minutes and prepaid cell phone calling cards are available everywhere (even in bars). On a related note, many islands also offer prepaid phone cards that work at any public phone (remember what those are?). They are also quite affordable.Cable and Wireless serves most islands and may offer inter-island cellular service, though I'm not 100% sure. Here's just one link:Cable and Wireless St. Lucia: http://www.candw.lc/Digicel is rapidly gaining ground throughout the region except in The Bahamas, where Batelco has a monopoly. In all fairness, BTC (formerly Batelco) cell service is pretty decent throughout The Bahamas. More links:Digicel: http://www.digicelgroup.com/group/BTC: http://www.btcbahamas.com/main_flash.htmlHere's something else worth knowing...in some islands, incoming calls to cell phones are free (no airtime charge). I hope this helps.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Rick Webb]

Thanks Peter

I checked with Vonage and the said wherever we can get a high speed connection the phone would work. Pretty good deal for $15 a month. Guess that is the way to go for folks going overseas to call back home.Sounds like if we are in a place that a cell phone will work we would be able to find a wifi hot spot.I remember having to wait for your turn on the overseas line, forget about it on Mothers Day.

 

[Wanderer138]

Hidden charges

Rick:A word of caution. I learned last week that free wifi hotspots are drying up rapidly in the Caribbean and most places are starting to charge exhorbitant rates. This usually happens in places with a limited market and little or no competition. Also, cell phone service is no guarantee of wifi availability. Wifi is much more localized.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Rick Webb]

Weather fax Weather Charts

Anyone know off of the top of their head which type of weather charts are available over the air. I was asked in out trip planning meating this evening and won't have a chance to check that for a while.

 

[richk]

Rick Webb inre wx fax

drill down through the link and you may find the answers you seekwhat kind of charts to you want?

 

[Rick Webb]

Thanks Rich That was Helpful

I sent you an email explaining what I was looking for.

 

[Rick Webb]

Weather Fax and the Like

Any thoughts on how to receive the weather faxes? We are really looking hard at this type of deal.http://www.landfallnavigation.com/-ecrfx80.htmlAnyone out there using a laptop rather than printing the the charts we are looking for reviews on the different software available.http://www.ocens.com/index.htmhttp://www.xaxero.com/weathefax200opti.htm Perhaps I should start another thread just on the software issue.

 

[camaraderie]

before you buy a sat phone..

One note of caution. Globalstar -sat phones (which have been the standard in the Caribe as they are QUITE cost effective...for both voice and data) is in deep financial trouble and has announced that some of their satellites will go dark before they can be replaced. Cruisers have already been posting about connectivity and signal availability in the Bahamas. We had one and it was great a couple of years ago but there is now a significant risk that the service will not be around and you will lose your phone and plan investment. Iridium phones are significantly more expensive to buy and use. For e-mail needs I would use an SSB/Pactor system if land based access is not sufficient. For weather I would simply listen to Chris Parker each morning on the SSB but if you MUST have WeFax you can get free or close to free software that will work with your SSB easily. On board wifi is not widely available on most islands and it is quite expensive where it is available. Shore based cafe's are usually reasonable and many have weekly, bi-weekly and monthly rates if you will be in one place for a while.

 

[camaraderie]

The route is wrong...

I've one the route on his map (as far as Grenada) and he has it wrong. Need to go south through the Mona Passage to the S. shore of PR before heading to the VI's. Way to hard of a bash to go from DR to San Juan. More stuff will break than the trip is worth! The other choice is to hit "route 66" from the Bahamas after a norther and then head south as someone else mentioned. If the trip is time constrained and the boat is capable, this is the better route.

 

[Rick Webb]

I Heard Globalstar Was Launching New Satellites

We are not leaving until November so we'll have some time to check on that