A CELL PHONE ALTERNATIVE TO SATELLITE PHONES

If you often sail out of Cell Phone range a new blue tooth device can turn your cell phone into a text satellite phone.

"The motorola defy satellite link, is a Bluetooth device that provides satellite connectivity to any iOS or Android smartphone*, designed for anyone that has ever been frustrated by a lack of cell coverage – whether travelling or participating in outdoor activities, or just in their daily lives."

WORK AND STUFF

It's was a long July for me. Mostly because I have only been able to spend a few weekends on the boat. The rest of the time has been spent working a freelance job 250 miles away from the boat. I keep forgetting how much time work takes out of your day and how little time it leaves for living. I use to live to work and now I work to live. Though when working it affects ones leisure time and the creativity that looking at a full day with a blank slate usually inspires. Blog posts seem to get pushed aside for other more mundane activities that seem more pressing like a nap or making dinner.
On the plus side work helps one to refill the coffers and allow certain things on the wish list to be purchased. So I will be adding a few more things on board that I have been considering for my upcoming  cruises. Things like a new  Engel MR040 Portable AC/DC 12 Volt fridge-freezer (40qt) having it on board will now allow me to have both a freezer and refrigerator on board.  Which opens up more provisioning choices for  cruising. I've also splurged on a  Zojirushi Mini Breadmaker which I expect to use to make a variety baked goodies. At least that's the plan.  Another item I've bought is a Cellular Signal Booster which I hope will solve a frustrating communications problem in BIANKA's home port. How well it works is to be determined. Anyway as I wrap up my last day at work I'll be posting about these new additions to the boat  and how well they are working out as I finally get to get back on board and back into the cruising lifestyle.

CHECK PLEASE! RADIO CHECK THAT IS.

Here on the waters of the Northeast U.S. radio checks are required to be done on VHF channel 9. This was done to keep channel 16 clear for hailing and distress calls only. The trouble is a lot of people do not usually listen to channel 9 and even fewer respond to calls for radio checks. This is especially true if one is trying to get a radio check in times of low boater activity like early mornings. Attempting to do a radio check on channel 16 will usually get a reprimand from the U.S. Coast Guard that radio checks are to be done on channel 9. What's a sailor to do? You want to do a radio check but, if no one answers it kind of defeats the purpose. That situation has now changed for the better thanks to technology. Boaters can now get a radio check 24 hours a day thanks to companies like Sea Tow that have set automatic radio check sites in various harbors. To see how it works watch the video below.  You can find what channel to do an automatic radio check in your area by clicking here. 

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

I was hoping to do a post tonight about a recent repair on board BIANKA. But the speed of my internet connection is about as slow as bucking a Hell Gate current. I'm not even using a WIFI connection! Even here on the Isle of Long things can get weird.  All I did was up anchor and move across the harbor so I would not be anchored off a lee shore for the night and my connection speed dropped into the frustration level. Led Zepplin tunes are playing in my head namely Communication Breakdown. 

So I think I'll just go up on deck and look at the stars instead.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

There is a good reason why all airline pilots are required to speak one language. But, on the waters of the world not so much.