PUSH-TO-TALK SATPHONE, UNLIMITED GROUP CALLS
What are they? Two-way radio like communications between a pre-programmed group of users using satellite phone technology. Who are they for? Talking with a group of boats when cruising long distances in company.
Iridium’s Push-to-talk (PTT) service has yet to make significant inroads into the sailing market, despite having been launched five years ago. However, that may be about to change thanks to the availability of a greater choice of hardware and cost-effective all-you-can-eat call plans.
The service operates more in the manner of radio communications than conventional telephones. The idea is that a number of units can be connected via a private Talk Group, creating a two-way radio system that benefits from secure encryption. When one user in that group presses the PTT button the other handsets will hear what is being said.
The concept was originally developed for disaster response and humanitarian work, but may also be of interest to race organisers, or a group of yachts engaged in extended cruising. Some of the price plans make this a very viable alternative to SSB. A PTT satcom unit is also easier and more economic to install than SSB and doesn’t require time consuming training to become a licensed user.
It’s important to be aware that different handsets in this field offer different functionality. For instance ICOM’S IC-SAT100 is a pure PTT device, although there is a button to use for emergency calls to pre-programmed numbers outside the PTT group. Meanwhile, the Iridium Extreme PTT handset can be used for either listening on the PTT group, or as a conventional satellite phone. Even then, it can’t do both simultaneously and switching from phone mode to PTT mode takes a few seconds.
PTT services need to be activated separately to the regular sat phone, text and data plans. The PTT element is set up by the owner of the talk group, with costs depending on geographical coverage and the number of users in the group.
How useful are these devices? For most boat owners they are likely to be something to buy in addition to existing satcoms that are already carried on board, assuming your planned itinerary justifies the case for the additional functionality PTT provides.
There are three elements to the pricing of using the Iridium PTT service. To start with, there’s a fee of US$67 per month for each handset in the group. There’s also a fee for each talk group that varies according to the size of the geographic area covered. This specific area of coverage can be changed dynamically by a group’s administrator.
Talk Group prices start at US$152 per month for a 100,000km2 area (though this is waived for groups with more than five handsets) and range up to US$2,400 per month of a ‘Jumbo’ area of 2,220,000km2. In addition, each handset pays a PTT access fee (US$65-99 per month, depending on contract length), which provides all-you-can-eat PTT call time. Users with a compatible handset who want to access conventional Iridium satellite services will also need to pay for those at the standard rates.
Prices: Icom IC-SAT100, £1,379, www.icomuk.co.uk; Iridium Extreme PTT, £1,876, www.iridium.com
Over the past few years, marine electronics manufacturers have put a lot of effort into improving Multi Function Displays (MFDS). In this respect they have been helped by advances in hardware, such as vastly improved daylight viewable screens.
A lot of the recent processor development has focussed on reducing power requirements
– a clear benefit for MFDS, which have sealed waterproof units and no cooling fans. As a result performance used to be limited by the need to avoid processors overheating. However, the latest units from both Raymarine (Axiom+) and B&G (Zeus 3S) have quick quad-core processors that eliminate delays when redrawing charts.
The Axiom + models also have twice the onboard memory of previous units, along with screens that are 25% brighter, with double the resolution. These employ IPS (In-plane Switching technology), which increases contrast and viewing angles, along with hydrophobic and oleophobic (oil resistant) coatings that make operation of the touchscreen more reliable in properly wet and salty conditions.
Raymarine’s latest Lighthouse operating system (dubbed Dartmouth) includes four brightness modes, covering all conditions from a night mode designed to avoid loss of night vision, through dusk and overcast daylight to bright sun.
B&G’S latest iteration meanwhile is the Zeus3s, a high specification unit which also has an IPS screen with hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings, but adds a keypad and rotary dial for full control in the toughest conditions. It’s available in 9in, 12in and 16in sizes.
While it’s clearly not essential for most boat owners to update to new kit, just as we regularly replace our phones, having up to date tech makes key tasks easier, more fun and less hassle. B&G Zeus 3S from £2,700, www.bandg.com Raymarine Axiom+ 7in £745, 9in £1,295, 12in £2,495, www.raymarine.co.uk
RAYMARINE LIGHTHOUSE CHARTS
Producing charts is a new development for Raymarine, which now has an in-house cartography team. The idea behind the Lighthouse charts is to “provide extra clarity,” according to marketing director Jim Hands.
User control has been improved in a number of ways – for instance, you can change the size of navigation aid icons to best suit your screen and different zoom levels. There are also two different viewing modes aimed at leisure and professional users. The latter provides a ‘government style’ presentation of key data only, while the leisure option gives a more data-rich experience.
In both cases the data is from official hydrographic sources around the world. There’s also an option for high-definition satellite imagery that gives sufficient detail to show areas in an anchorage with kelp and clear sand.
Prices from €79, www.raymarine.co.uk