Just a note on your e-mail at sea article. For the past six or seven years, I have used Satcom-C for e-mail at sea. First, Satcom-C was just telex, then as e-mail replaced telex, it became easier, now telex has almost disappeared.
Satcom-C, being store and forward, is text based only. I use Satcom-B for any e-mail that requires graphics or attachments. But it is a bit expensive, as it has been relatively slow baud rates. I have used Satcom-C around the world, and as far as 70 degrees north and had absolutely no problems with it. It is fairly quick, extremely reliable and not expensive. You do pay for incoming e-mail, so it is worth your while to be careful to whom you give your address.
The antenna is small, passive and light. The equipment itself is small, about the size of an automobile radio or CD player, and it will hook to any laptop with an rs232 port.
To me, Satcom-C is the best method of e-mail at sea in the present state of technology.
Mike
Linear Mode
