After reading the posts here I'm a bit confused. I am considering a trip over Bass Strait and around Tassie next year. What Starlink option would suit that trip?
thanks

Depends what functionality and coverage you are after.

As I understand it there are large sections of Tassie coast where you will not get mobile coverage, so if you need an Internet connection daily or continuously then you will need a satellite capability - starlink for a fast connection, iridium go for a much slower one.
I think it depends on what you want it for. The starlink regional roam package is only good for around 24nm offshore I believe. So if you need a fast connection beyond that you need to opt into a package with broader coverage, if it is broadband connectivity you are after. If you don't need broadband, and only want a slow connection which is global and good enough for grib files and text messages then iridium go may be more suited.

others have suggested the starlink gear for $360-500 is less reliable when the mounting point for the antenna is moving - such as a boat at sea or possibly even moored in a decent swell. I don't have experience to say whether or how much movement is problematic. The much more expensive ($3000) antenna for marine use is recommended by Starlink presumably as it has a wider angle of view to 'see' satellites (160 degrees vs 110 degrees I believe), and so is less disrupted by movement.

Costs for starlink are relatively easy to establish. Costs for iridium less so as they are sold as third party Sat phone plans, eg by Telstra. The modem seems to go for about $1500. If it is mainly weather you are after then I understand predictwind may bundle iridium go with its subscription but I don't have a predictwind subscription of this kind to be certain.

I'm planning on getting Starlink before my next big trip. I was chatting with someone who just sailed across the Great Australian Bight with the Mobile Regional (RV) plan, and the trick is to opt into Mobile Priority (global) data before you go out of range, i.e., pay only for the extra coverage when you actually need it.

That said, I will almost certainly keep my Iridium Go as well. If you need to abandon ship, you can take your Iridium Go with you. Just keep a small mobile solar charger with USB output in your grab bag (like www.jaycar.com.au/10w-solar-mobile-charger-with-usb-output-with-1m-cable/p/MB3595).

The Mini hardware looks like the way to go on a boat, for those of us that don't have big inverters or gensets (or who just prefer keeping everything running on 12V).

It is significantly more energy-efficient than the standard dish:
Mini: 25-40 W
Standard: 75-100 W

With the Standard you get "Snow Melt Capability", but I don't think we'll miss that in Australian waters.

Starlink has just discounted the Starlink Mini from $599 to $299.

www.starlink.com/au/roam

scruzin said..

scruzin said..
Starlink has just discounted the Starlink Mini from $599 to $299.

www.starlink.com/au/roam

BTW, when using Starlink mostly in coastal waters and only occasionally offshore the normal "Roam - 50GB" subscription, currently $80/month, seems adequate. Before heading offshore (more than 12 nautical miles), change your subscription to "Mobile Priority - 50GB", which is currently $374/month. Then once back in coastal waters, simply revert your subscription to the "Roam - 50GB".

I'll be giving it a thorough testing cross the Great Australian Bight later this month.

Don't quote me on this but I'm pretty sure a few weeks ago I lost mobile reception and was 40nm offshore and starlink gave me limited internet to get into my account and toggle onto the Mobile priority -50gb. I think this change has come onboard since the price hike.

I splurged and had a stainless steel mount made for my Starlink Mini that let's me adjust it in three axes.

In practice, once the tilt (altitude angle) is set, it is really just a matter of adjusting the azimuth (which for me is generally pointing to the S/SW).

So far I've had excellent results, even while sailing in bumpy Gulf St Vincent waters. We'll see how it does in Southern Ocean swell in a couple of weeks.

lydia said..
At least few Hobart boats all lost there starlink unit about the first good wave
broke at mounting points so maybe not strong enough for marine use

The imoca's are using istarlink in the vendee globe.

The Starlink Mini is working very well so far for me. Approximately 12 nautical miles offshore, approaching Flinders Island (SA), we were presented with the "Restricted" warning. I was able to upgrade to the Mobile Priority plan from the app and service continued.

Onwards across the Bight - with internet!

HF SSB and HF weatherfax is consistently reliable and almost fail free. HF Weatherfax broadcasts is 100% reliable the weather charts just keep rolling off non stop depending on the station you select. In fact all the Meteye data can be obtained on HF weatherfax with a cheap receiver and a PC program.

www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/radio-fax-schedule.shtml

I still have a old Radio Direction finder and use it regularly and I can get consistent fixes from the aircraft NDB services. King Island and Hobart NDB''s are like beacons and even in a total GPS failure you can reliably get fixes from aircraft NDB in all Tasmanian coastal waters. I also fly and still use aircraft NDB's and its still a great service. Amazing how simple this technology is by taking 2 or 3 fixes in thick fog and in no time have confidence in your position assumed.

HF radio will be around for decades despite it not being mandatory on the last Sydney to Hobart race. A HF is no longer required in the race.

The basic unreliability of HF and interference was just poor planning and poor channel selection by race control who appeared not to fully understand the vagaries of HF propagation. The 6mhz frequency was good day time frequency with no interference however was a lousy night time frequency.

If they used better frequencies selection and understood how to use HF radio to minimise the skip distance then they would have gotten better results. Regardless its history now.

When I fly its just amazing how well Aircraft HF works on 5 mhz where I can hear anything and every station in the Pacific right all the way to Los Angeles with no issues. The Aircraft industry use HF professionally and understand how to use the best frequencies, the yachting practices of frequency selection is amateurish at best.

The HF 4WD networks do a better job with proper frequency selection and appropriate antennas for the job. The HF marine services use the correct and appropiate frequencies for the high seas SSB and HF fax its reliability around all coastal waters is 100% reliable if you care to change to the appropriate channels.

And that is another option for welfare checks that is available for sailors. Get a HF 4WD network subscription. They have a great range of frequencies, phone calls are available and numerous channels that clear and monitored all the time across Australia. The 8mhz and 5mhz channels are particularly good as an emergency backup.

The market is awash with cheap SSB radios from Codan and Barret and lot cheaper than buying the latest Icom. There is no performance difference and all can be made to work with HF Weatherfax, Pactor, 4WD channels etc etc. You will also find it a lot easier getting them checked out and having all the correct channels programmed in by local dealers. I have used Codans for decades and its very impressive and reliable equipment.

lydia said..

p3p4p5 said..
HF SSB and HF weatherfax is consistently reliable and almost fail free. HF Weatherfax broadcasts is 100% reliable the weather charts just keep rolling off non stop depending on the station you select. In fact all the Meteye data can be obtained on HF weatherfax with a cheap receiver and a PC program.

www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/radio-fax-schedule.shtml

I still have a old Radio Direction finder and use it regularly and I can get consistent fixes from the aircraft NDB services. King Island and Hobart NDB''s are like beacons and even in a total GPS failure you can reliably get fixes from aircraft NDB in all Tasmanian coastal waters. I also fly and still use aircraft NDB's and its still a great service. Amazing how simple this technology is by taking 2 or 3 fixes in thick fog and in no time have confidence in your position assumed.

HF radio will be around for decades despite it not being mandatory on the last Sydney to Hobart race. A HF is no longer required in the race.

The basic unreliability of HF and interference was just poor planning and poor channel selection by race control who appeared not to fully understand the vagaries of HF propagation. The 6mhz frequency was good day time frequency with no interference however was a lousy night time frequency.

If they used better frequencies selection and understood how to use HF radio to minimise the skip distance then they would have gotten better results. Regardless its history now.

When I fly its just amazing how well Aircraft HF works on 5 mhz where I can hear anything and every station in the Pacific right all the way to Los Angeles with no issues. The Aircraft industry use HF professionally and understand how to use the best frequencies, the yachting practices of frequency selection is amateurish at best.

The HF 4WD networks do a better job with proper frequency selection and appropriate antennas for the job. The HF marine services use the correct and appropiate frequencies for the high seas SSB and HF fax its reliability around all coastal waters is 100% reliable if you care to change to the appropriate channels.

And that is another option for welfare checks that is available for sailors. Get a HF 4WD network subscription. They have a great range of frequencies, phone calls are available and numerous channels that clear and monitored all the time across Australia. The 8mhz and 5mhz channels are particularly good as an emergency backup.

The market is awash with cheap SSB radios from Codan and Barret and lot cheaper than buying the latest Icom. There is no performance difference and all can be made to work with HF Weatherfax, Pactor, 4WD channels etc etc. You will also find it a lot easier getting them checked out and having all the correct channels programmed in by local dealers. I have used Codans for decades and it's very impressive and reliable equipment.

Like the man said.
i just re did the AMC radio exam as my ticket was issued in 1983 and does exist anymore.
Two of three guys teaching the HF part of the course had never used a HF.
No wonder people don't get it.

My girlfriend had a similar experience, she recently completed her long range radio ticket, the instructor started off the course by telling her HF is a waste of time and not worth doing.

I've a working HF. An ICOM M700 AUS. I've used it when out of range of VHF, to report in to Tas Maritime Radio when between mainland and Tas.- see tasmaritime.au/ Excellent service staffed by volunteers form 0700 to 1900 and also monitored overnight. Anyone cruising Tas or crossing to/from the mainland should become a member - $35 per year plus an onetime $10 joining fee the first year. HF frequencies used by TMR are 4146, 6227. 3 skeds a day including weather.

I haven't used weather fax, yet, although the VMC frequencies are programmed into my HF radio.

p3p4p5 - How does one interface between a PC program and the HF radio?

cammd said..

p3p4p5 said..
HF SSB and HF weatherfax is consistently reliable and almost fail free. HF Weatherfax broadcasts is 100% reliable the weather charts just keep rolling off non stop depending on the station you select. In fact all the Meteye data can be obtained on HF weatherfax with a cheap receiver and a PC program.

www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/radio-fax-schedule.shtml

I still have a old Radio Direction finder and use it regularly and I can get consistent fixes from the aircraft NDB services. King Island and Hobart NDB''s are like beacons and even in a total GPS failure you can reliably get fixes from aircraft NDB in all Tasmanian coastal waters. I also fly and still use aircraft NDB's and its still a great service. Amazing how simple this technology is by taking 2 or 3 fixes in thick fog and in no time have confidence in your position assumed.

HF radio will be around for decades despite it not being mandatory on the last Sydney to Hobart race. A HF is no longer required in the race.

The basic unreliability of HF and interference was just poor planning and poor channel selection by race control who appeared not to fully understand the vagaries of HF propagation. The 6mhz frequency was good day time frequency with no interference however was a lousy night time frequency.

If they used better frequencies selection and understood how to use HF radio to minimise the skip distance then they would have gotten better results. Regardless its history now.

When I fly its just amazing how well Aircraft HF works on 5 mhz where I can hear anything and every station in the Pacific right all the way to Los Angeles with no issues. The Aircraft industry use HF professionally and understand how to use the best frequencies, the yachting practices of frequency selection is amateurish at best.

The HF 4WD networks do a better job with proper frequency selection and appropriate antennas for the job. The HF marine services use the correct and appropiate frequencies for the high seas SSB and HF fax its reliability around all coastal waters is 100% reliable if you care to change to the appropriate channels.

And that is another option for welfare checks that is available for sailors. Get a HF 4WD network subscription. They have a great range of frequencies, phone calls are available and numerous channels that clear and monitored all the time across Australia. The 8mhz and 5mhz channels are particularly good as an emergency backup.

The market is awash with cheap SSB radios from Codan and Barret and lot cheaper than buying the latest Icom. There is no performance difference and all can be made to work with HF Weatherfax, Pactor, 4WD channels etc etc. You will also find it a lot easier getting them checked out and having all the correct channels programmed in by local dealers. I have used Codans for decades and its very impressive and reliable equipment.

Any recommendations for obtaining leads for a Pactor in Australia, I picked up an older pactor2 off gumtree a while ago but its missing some leads or it has the wrong leads for my Icom.

The parts are readily available from Jaycar, DIN connectors, RCA connectors and 3.5mm. If you can solder the leads up yourself that would it an easy task. There is not many people who do this stuff for a living. I would suggest you contact a ham radio dealer or ham radio club if you require assistance they will generally help you and someone will do it for free once they figure out the diagrams. There used to be a Pactor Dealer installer somewhere in Sydney I am not sure if they are around anymore. Maybe you can email SCS directly and ask them who their dealer is.

If you are going to make your own cable buy quality connectors rather than the crap from China along with the poor cable from china.

Clarke and Severn Electronic Solutions
www.csesolutions.com.au/

In Sydney they sell the best connectors from the US manufacturers as well as properly shielded quality cable. They are very price competitive at very reasonable prices compared to the Auction site shipping charges. The cheap connectors from china turn green after few plug ins and the copper cable is poorly shielded picking up noise.

cammd said..

lydia said..

p3p4p5 said..
HF SSB and HF weatherfax is consistently reliable and almost fail free. HF Weatherfax broadcasts is 100% reliable the weather charts just keep rolling off non stop depending on the station you select. In fact all the Meteye data can be obtained on HF weatherfax with a cheap receiver and a PC program.

www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/radio-fax-schedule.shtml

I still have a old Radio Direction finder and use it regularly and I can get consistent fixes from the aircraft NDB services. King Island and Hobart NDB''s are like beacons and even in a total GPS failure you can reliably get fixes from aircraft NDB in all Tasmanian coastal waters. I also fly and still use aircraft NDB's and its still a great service. Amazing how simple this technology is by taking 2 or 3 fixes in thick fog and in no time have confidence in your position assumed.

HF radio will be around for decades despite it not being mandatory on the last Sydney to Hobart race. A HF is no longer required in the race.

The basic unreliability of HF and interference was just poor planning and poor channel selection by race control who appeared not to fully understand the vagaries of HF propagation. The 6mhz frequency was good day time frequency with no interference however was a lousy night time frequency.

If they used better frequencies selection and understood how to use HF radio to minimise the skip distance then they would have gotten better results. Regardless its history now.

When I fly its just amazing how well Aircraft HF works on 5 mhz where I can hear anything and every station in the Pacific right all the way to Los Angeles with no issues. The Aircraft industry use HF professionally and understand how to use the best frequencies, the yachting practices of frequency selection is amateurish at best.

The HF 4WD networks do a better job with proper frequency selection and appropriate antennas for the job. The HF marine services use the correct and appropiate frequencies for the high seas SSB and HF fax its reliability around all coastal waters is 100% reliable if you care to change to the appropriate channels.

And that is another option for welfare checks that is available for sailors. Get a HF 4WD network subscription. They have a great range of frequencies, phone calls are available and numerous channels that clear and monitored all the time across Australia. The 8mhz and 5mhz channels are particularly good as an emergency backup.

The market is awash with cheap SSB radios from Codan and Barret and lot cheaper than buying the latest Icom. There is no performance difference and all can be made to work with HF Weatherfax, Pactor, 4WD channels etc etc. You will also find it a lot easier getting them checked out and having all the correct channels programmed in by local dealers. I have used Codans for decades and it's very impressive and reliable equipment.

Like the man said.
i just re did the AMC radio exam as my ticket was issued in 1983 and does exist anymore.
Two of three guys teaching the HF part of the course had never used a HF.
No wonder people don't get it.

My girlfriend had a similar experience, she recently completed her long range radio ticket, the instructor started off the course by telling her HF is a waste of time and not worth doing.

Yeah the ignorance of HF radio usage, grounding practices and antenna performance is rather widespread. I always like to point out to people that the backbone of the modern HF aircraft global aviation industry the no1 network is the HF radio network that ensures 100% reliability, they dont rely on Starlink or other satellites systems for communications for good reasons.

If the instructors have never used HF radio and cant understand how skip distance and MUF changes the reliability and range then you just will never understand HF radio. Then to understand how it really should work tune onto 5643mhz USB or 8867mhz in the aircraft bands and listen how trans oceanic HF communications is done with 100% reliability and clarity when people are trained properly. The air traffic controllers knowledge of HF and how they quickly change frequency when there is a issue shows their deep understanding of HF radio usage.

www.pbo.co.uk/gear/satellite-communication-at-sea-staying-connected-from-your-boat-92386?fbclid=IwY2xjawHtDeJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQW4h2Vv_zZqEgguO9SGgmGiAo3MACieweGgh8MSLPMFVAUc2kL9T9L9jQ_aem_RX1gNLPs_zFKKkG4rp9uww