| For most people sailing is synonymous to | | | | and then reflected back to the earth surface. The |
| adventure and thrill. It was in deed an adventure | | | | major drawback of using this radio is that the |
| in the olden times, when the communication | | | | user has to tune the set to the conditions of the |
| technology was not that developed. However, still | | | | ionosphere and particular time of the day. The set |
| the ocean can be a lonely place to be. Nowadays, | | | | also allows the user to send emails but the slow |
| with the innovative progression in the | | | | speed may make this a tedious thing to do. |
| communication scenario, the intensity of this | | | | Satellite Phone |
| adventure is not like the olden days. The | | | | Satellite phones make direct use of orbital |
| introduction of VHF, Satellite phones, SSB radios, | | | | satellites for communication. Most of the new age |
| internet etc. has made the world so small that | | | | HF sailboats are making use of this mode of |
| even sailing in the ocean is luxurious like sitting at | | | | communication cause of the high efficiency of the |
| home. The improvement in the safety aspect of | | | | medium. There are four major communication |
| the sailing is the most important impact of these | | | | networks present now. The four existing |
| innovations. Most of the Sailboats have these | | | | communication networks are Inmarsat, Iridium, |
| facilities on them so that they get the safety | | | | Globalstar and Thuraya. |
| they require. | | | | The long distance sailboats make use of Iridium as |
| VHF Radio | | | | it uses a large network of low-orbit satellites. In |
| VHF radio sets are great help to the sailors. It | | | | fact, there are low orbit satellites in the network |
| consists of both a receiver and transmitter and | | | | that are just 480 miles above the surface of |
| works on a frequency range between 156 and | | | | earth. This is the reason why the network offers |
| 176 MHz. It can be used as a medium of | | | | global coverage. The network even works in the |
| communication to the harbors and other ships or | | | | polar areas. Internet connection is also |
| vessels sailing. However, the major drawback of | | | | considerably fast in this network. You can send up |
| using a VHF radio set is the distance up to which | | | | to twenty emails a minute using this network. |
| you can communicate. This distance is dependent | | | | EPIRB |
| on the height of antenna in the vessel, curvature | | | | Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon, |
| of earth and the converging point of the two. | | | | which is also known as EPIRB is used for |
| Further distance can only be covered by relying | | | | communicating the distress signal when the |
| on other vessels. The quality of the | | | | sailboat is in danger. It is safety equipment and is |
| communication is also dependent on the radio | | | | not used for the normal communication purpose. |
| signal strength in VHF radio sets. | | | | When water enters the device, it will automatically |
| SSB Radio | | | | send a distress signal that has the longitude as |
| Single side band or SSB radio sets work on | | | | well as latitude positions of your boat to the |
| medium frequency as well as high frequency. | | | | nearest base. |
| Medium frequency works as the ground wave | | | | Most of the HF sailboats make use of these new |
| that is suitable for ranges from 30 to 300 miles. | | | | age communication mediums and ensure the |
| Beyond this point, the set requires high frequency | | | | safety of the boat as well as the sailors. |
| in which the signal will be sent to the ionosphere | | | | |