Tidbit: Walkie-Talkies [GMRS Radios] for casual comms

This is one of a series of brief, no nonsense posts that we call a Tidbit:

noun; small and [possibly] particularly interesting items of gossip or information...

The purpose is to share succinct posts about lessons learned, or things we use or do that work [or don't...] that are common to many of us boaters. 

This post is also worthy for listing in our Stuff we have and use sidebar —>

The goal is to garner feedback from those of you having first-hand experience with a better approach/ solution/ product...  

We never assume what we are sharing is the ideal or only; it just seems to best suit our needs [and/or habits and/or budget] from our experiences thus far...

Sometimes these Tidbits originate from a topic of discussion on one of the forums we participate in, and this happens to be one: Link to original post [27-Mar-2024]

Since we encounter this question on occasion, it made sense to post a more detailed response for future reference.

                               ➛ ➛ Peruse the right-hand sidebar for the up-to-date list of Tidbits ➛ ➛                               

Many users [ourselves included] use hand held Marine VHF radios to maintain comms when some or all crew are off the mother ship [on land or other watercraft] in remote areas.

Sometimes these are not appropriate- especially if you need to issue radios to several different guests off exploring in different directions since other vessels in the area might also hear the conversations [and we might occupy marine channels those actually boating need to use…]

Therefore, we have always keep a few [5; lost 1 over the years] cheaper, general use GMRS radios onboard for years for the same purpose. 

They work great. 

And once [so far…] on a remote kayaking trip, these radios were of great assistance during an emergency when one of 3 of kayakers [each with their own GMRS Radio] broke their wrist [during inclement weather; e.g., It was a dark and stormy night…] because of a fall on ice while hiking alone. 

There are several Walkie-Talkie radio types available, and are well described on this forum post.

Note: Last I knew [in the US anyway] technically you need an FCC license to use the high power GMRS channels, but that may have changed.

We issue them to guests whenever they are venturing off the boat [e.g., kayaking, SUP, dinghy, or hiking on land- remote or in a town.]

For safety, we do also issue those off on their own waterborne adventures from the mothership Marine VHF radios [and PLBs] for emergency use. [e.g., As we tell visitors ‘In case the mothership is struck by a meteor while you are away…’]

Coordination with users who may not be used to using radios:

About 15 years ago, we color coded ours with a wrap of different colored electrical tape on each antenna [useful when wanting to hail someone anonymously; original tape is still going strong…]

Photo taken Mar-2024; Taped applied ~ 2008?

We have fun making up bogus call signs:  [Sounds cool and officious; Less prone to interruptions by other radio users not in your group in crowded locations- like big cities- where we would likely be using cell phones anyway…]

Charley-Alpha-Kilo-Oscar, this is Charley-Alpha-Kilo-Bravo 

[Candy-Ass Kayaker Orange (antenna tape), this is … Blue…]

For distance use when separated, our protocol is to start/ hail first on a specified low power channel (e.g., GMRS 13; 1 watt- for better battery life) then, if unsuccessful raising the other party(ies), switch to a specified high power channel (e.g., GMRS 14; 5 watts?) and try again… [This works best with a comms schedule- e.g., everyone check in every 30 mins.]

Battery considerations: 

We prefer electronics that can use the Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries [AAA, AA] we standardized on almost 20 years ago [still rate among the best for low self-discharge rates; e.g., long shelf life once charged.] This is so we can issue spare batteries for the GMRS issued to those traveling a distance from the boat [just in case… There aren’t any charging stations handy when traveling by kayak, sup, or hiking in remote locations…]

Sidebar: Radios are half - duplex [only one can speak- or more accurately, be heard- at a time, and then you have to release the PTT button to listen… If you want to…] Even if VOX [voice activation] is used. This is very adequate for most of our use cases, and what VHF radio users are used to. [This paradigm is also perfect for certain couples; some have even confided they found that judicious use of their personal volume control very satisfying…]

But for ‘real time’ comms on the boat [volume up; e.g., anchoring, hauling anchor, mooring, etc.- especially in sporty conditions] we prefer full-duplex headsets [you can still hear the other person if you are talking- like a phone; no PTT (push-to-talk) button.]. Nothing missed that way…

We do recognize that some relationships claim to attribute their longevity to only one member being able to [or being the only one to ever] speak [be heard?] at a time [half-duplex; the other party remaining silent until the speaker is finished- reportedly sometimes for long periods thereafter- or has released the button on the radio in our case…] 

But there are situations when the ability to interrupt is necessary [if not sometimes risky…] hence our preference for full-duplex headsets for real-time comms during boat maneuvers… [Always with carefully modulated volume— of one’s own voice of course. After all, they didn’t nickname these headsets ‘Marriage Savers’ arbitrarily…]

  

Please share your experiences, choices, and recommendations. We learn something new every day…

Immersing ourselves in new [to us...] cultures...

One of the reasons many of us have adopted this cruising lifestyle is to travel; to visit lands and cultures we either have never experienced, or wish to learn more about.

There are often some minor barriers to admission; things we don't know or are unfamiliar with, like language, dress, customs, and cultural mores...

We never want to offend anyone, nor be perceived as the 'Ugly Americans'... 

I personally enjoy asking what must be mundane questions, but one has to start somewhere... 

This is akin to our being occasionally asked if we live in an igloo, have a dog team, where to exchange currency [this from fellow citizens- and yes, I can handle that for you...] or insistence that shipping to Alaska from the lower 48 US states is international... [A testament of our public education system perhaps?]

Regardless, I always enjoy being immersed in a culture- especially one that is new to me. I have found that is the best way for me to absorb some the cultural nuances and bits of language. But it rarely sticks for long- especially if we are just passing through- but I can't stay isolated just because I am embarrassed by my own ignorance...

Another example: I have lived and boated in Mexico several times, the most recent being many years ago. I was fluent in Spanish then, but languages don't stay that way [for me...] without continued use. 

Keeping with my desire for immersion, when I have an opportunity to converse in Spanish I jump right in. I try speaking without thinking it through in English first [i.e., translating; it is said you know a language when you think in the language you are speaking- or attempting to speak in...] This can lead to some funny situations...

I remember being in Mexico joining friends for dinner in very nice restaurant- after a few years of absence from the country [and the language...] I intended to order camarones a la diabla [Shrimp of the She-Devil (chipotle sauce) which was not on the menu... To die for! (Or die of...)]

At this point my tongue was well lubricated through my reacquaintance with the local beverages, and running about half a step ahead of the brain which was driving it...

What I actually ordered was a few demonic trucks [camiones.] And I knew this as soon as it escaped my lips. Hysterical laughter ensued; mine and theirs.

My second attempt would have required a waiter [camarero...] to volunteer to be diced and sautéed in the chipotle sauce...  Now they think I'm a stand-up comedian... A round from the house!

My friends are getting pretty hungry at this point, and some food in me might help ensure we receive something familiar for desert...

Of course I hit the target on my third try [as if they didn't already know...] and we [especially the wait staff] continued to chuckle our way into dinner... 

It was great fun and a marvelous learning opportunity at the cost of some humility; a small price to pay indeed.

C'est la vie! [...or should I say que será, será...]

And I can assure you boaters that- unlike unfamiliar cultures-  unknown waters do not compel in me that same desire for immersion...

First Aid Training, Knowledge, & Supplies

This post has now been added to our list of Stuff we have and use [and do...] sidebar where we will keep it up-to-date in the future.

Please read that updated version.

________________________________

Original Version:

We prefer exploring remote areas- both on land and sea. [Or is it we prefer to stay away from crowds...?] Consequently, we lean toward self-sufficiency and focus on prevention as well as preparedness. 

This philosophy is also our approach for rescuing a person overboard; we focus most of our efforts on preventing it from happening– leaving rescue procedures for last.

As part of our safety briefing with guests we discuss accident prevention. To emphasize how important injury avoidance is to us, we warn everyone that injuries— no matter how minor— will be amputated. No exceptions...

Invariably this prompts questions about First Aid kits, preparation [training] and most importantly, prevention.

From my experience, the answers to questions regarding how much training [and kit content] depend upon where and how we will be traveling [e.g., sailboat cruising, kayaking, and hiking in this context] and how isolated the areas will be. [i.e., How self-sufficient do you need/desire to be in an emergency?] 

I personally believe proactive prevention, followed by reactive training is even more important than the first aid supplies onboard for ocean crossing and remote area coastal cruising. Proper training will help you deal well with emergencies and give you the knowledge to formulate [and evaluate...] your own concepts for what to carry in your kit(s). 

Training will also help you find your balance for risk tolerance vs. those associated with your planned adventure(s).

I believe proper training also facilitates efficient communication with remote medical support services in an emergency. [e.g., Working with medical specialists over a radio or phone. (i.e., Telemedicine) It also makes it easier to obtain prescription meds for your kit(s)...]

There are, however, those who feel specialized First Aid training is not useful because they believe those lacking a medical background will not benefit from nor retain unpracticed training. [e.g., Dr. Welch]  

Do you agree?


How our strategy evolved:

We are prone to traveling in fairly remote areas where it is often unusual to see another vessel [or person] for days, or sometimes weeks at a time.

Therefore, when pondering prevention, First Aid kits [and training...] the first question we ask ourselves is how long might we have to cope with an emergency situation before we could anticipate the arrival of qualified assistance? [Whether that be someone arriving on scene- e.g., an ambulance; or us transiting the patient(s) to medical facilities.]

In a big city, it might be 10-20 minutes or so before an ambulance arrives on scene. Much First Aid training is based upon this scenario. But what if it took 2 hours; or 10; or a day; or two days before you could reasonably expect qualified assistance? [Whether they are coming to you, or you to them...] 

Ask yourself if you are you prepared for that...

Delayed [or remote via voice call; e.g., Telemedicine] assistance is the more likely scenario for a cruising boat. [See the Yachting World article in Additional Reading section, below...]

Can't we just read a good First Aid kit and book and be prepared for most contingencies?  

Possibly... And you could possibly read a book about sailing or driving a car, and then just go do it... 

More questions to ask yourself: [or; what did we ask ourselves...?]

Could you stand to listen to someone you care about [or a stranger for that matter] moan and scream in pain while you to read [and interpret] a book, or use an app on your phone? [Will your hands be clean and dry enough to use either?] Can you keep pressure on that bleeding wound, and/or keep their spine immobilized while you search your reference materials for what to do next? 

If there is more than one injury and/or patient, are you comfortable deciding who to assist first and the priorities of treatment?

In a remote location scenario, are you prepared to converse effectively with medical professionals on a phone or radio, provide the feedback they request, and understand their advice and guidance? 

If you answered yes to all of the preceding questions, then there is no need to waste more of your time here...

So, what is our current strategy? 

We plan around hands-on medical assistance [on-scene or self-transport to assistance] always being a minimum of 1-4 days out. Even if we activate an emergency beacon [e.g., EPIRB, PLB] or make a sat phone or radio call. Therefore we try to be prepared to cope and manage for 4 days as our designated worse case scenario. 

Figure this out for yourself and it will help you decide how comfortable you are with your level of knowledge and preparedness... Because we figure we may have to be self-sufficient for up to 4 days in a medical emergency, we both obtained Emergency Medical Technician [EMT] and other training. 

A reasonable alternative for those who cannot commit one or two college semesters to EMT training [EMT levels 1 and 2 are all we felt we needed] is the NOLS Wilderness First Responder [WFR] course [80 hours in 9 full days in a row- mostly outdoors...] 

Whether you have EMT, Paramedic, or NOLS WFR training, the NOLS Advanced Wilderness First Aid course [WAFA] is icing on the cake. [40 hours over 5 full days- time divided between classroom and outdoors...]

We really got a lot out of the NOLS WAFA course, and highly recommend it. But either of these courses will boost your knowledge and confidence immensely.

We have also heard very good things about the Offshore Emergency Medicine course by Wilderness Medical Associates International, but have not had an opportunity to attend one... yet... [Textbook included in book references, below.]

Do we really need all of this training?
   Hopefully not.

Have we had occasion to put it to use?  
   Unfortunately, yes. [More below...]

Do we need such diverse First Aid 'kits'? 
   Again, hopefully not. [But we don't normally need fire extinguishers either...]

Would lack of training or First Aid supplies prevent us from pursuing our adventures? 
   Not a chance. 

But if I have learned one thing about myself [with many requisite lessons in humility...] it is the more I delve into a subject, the more I discover I don't know... 

So, I have proved to myself more than once that ignorance truly is blissful– but not very useful in a pinch...

If you plan to always be close to first world societies and reliable means of emergency communication and transport, then you may be able to justify [rationalize?] less knowledge and training. 

It all depends on your personal risk tolerance, desired level of self-sufficiency, and the situations you may encounter on your chosen adventures. 

To help mitigate the risk of delayed response times in remote areas, we joined DAN Boater. 

This service [note: this is NOT insurance...] includes a 24/7 emergency medical hotline and worldwide emergency evacuation– among other related services– for US$100/year for a [US or Canadian] family [up to 5 individuals.]

This is a no brainer for us...

First Aid Kits

What supplies do we include in our First Aid kit(s)? [We found we were better able to formulate our own lists after some advanced training...]

A good initial reference [for boaters] is Practical Sailor's series of articles on this topic which includes evaluations of commercial First Aid kit offerings for various levels of need.

Independently, we decided upon the Adventure Medical [Marine] Kits line of offerings for our major kit. 

We have 4 levels of kits ranging from the usual stuff we need for minor, day-to-day issues, up to major trauma kits with neck braces, various splints, IV solutions, an AED in the near future, etc.

Adventure Medical Kits also happen to be what NOLS and many other organizations rebrand and sell.

We have amassed various levels of First Aid Kits, and carry what is appropriate for the adventure at hand. For instance, we have about everything you could need on the boat; carry a smaller subset of that in our kayaks, and an even less when exploring on land... [And no, we are not 'gram weenies'... Our kits are somewhat larger than many...]

For our boat ditch bag kit [and for grab-and-go and more extreme emergencies onboard] we chose the Adventure Medical Marine 3000 kit, and supplemented it with additional items we felt were worthwhile for our current risk factors. 

List of supplies included with basic kit

We added items like a traction splint, 4 neck braces in 3 different sizes, inflatable arm and leg splints, additional IV solutions, tooth/cap repair kits, Epi-pens [and spare ampules of Epinephrine and syringes...] fast dissolving [sublingual] antihistamines, prescription antibiotics and painkillers, high energy goo packs, and other specialty items. 

If you are wondering why we added some of these items [or what they are...] then you may be ready to augment your first aid knowledge...

We stow our kits in [truly waterproof] ditch bags made by Watershed. [They also make military bags and rifle cases Navy SEALs swim with... These are not your typical roll-top 'dry' bags– which in our experience leak if left floating on water for a while; and definitely leak if submerged...] 

Here are a couple of our ditch bags: the yellow one is the typical non-waterproof floating bag packed mainly with waterproof signaling and communication devices, and a few survival goodies. 

The red bag is one of our Watershed ditch bags currently containing our near-shore survival gear. [e.g., tent, sleeping bags and pads, food, cooking supplies, etc.– all packed in waterproof bags within the ditch bag... Remember we are playing on the Inside Passage at present and ditching the boat would typically lead us to shore quickly...]

The black snake on top of the bag is a paddle board leash. We install bungee style leashes on all of our ditch bags to safely and easily tether them to us, the raft, dinghy, etc. in a hectic emergency situation...

And speaking of ditch bags— we have 3; not including the First Aid Kits— stand-by for a separate post on that topic...

Many cruisers choose to make up their own First Aid Kits. Using the list from the Practical Sailor reference, above, and/or one of these commercial offerings is a good starting point if you decide to do that. 

However, we have discovered there really isn't much savings building our own comprehensive First Aid Kit(s) [especially if you include your time...] We also feel that the organization and ease of refilling/reordering contents included with the commercial kits is a worthwhile added value for us.

What is in our medical library? 
[We are not including EMT and other specialty titles here...]

Emergency and general First Aid: [In alphabetical order- by publisher where applicable]

• Hesperian Health Guides:
• Where there is no Doctor
• Where there is no Dentist
• Marine Medicine: A comprehensive guide 
• Included with Adventure [Marine] Medical Kits
• NOLS: [Not a DIY resource; requires the training...]
• Wilderness Medicine
• Wilderness Medicine Field Guide
• Wilderness Medicine Pocket Guide 
• Helps get you past 'brain freeze' in an emergency...
• Where there is no Pet Doctor  [If you have pets onboard as we do...]

Other books worth considering include:

• Merck Manual(s)
• Various titles of interest; great for diagnosing and treatment
• Don't forget the Veterinary version if you have pets...
• Physician's Desktop Reference [PDR]
• Various titles; useful if you need to understand medications in remote situations
• Wilderness and Rescue Medicine 
• Offshore Emergency Medicine course textbook referenced above

Have we ever been put to the test as a couple?

Yes, but luckily our personal worse injury to date [and here's hoping this record holds...] has been a fractured wrist; in inclement conditions at night in a remote setting on shore during a kayak trip. [Colles' fracture; very painful, but more inconvenient than life threatening...] Third-party water evacuation back to our vehicle– 20 kayak paddling miles away– was not possible until the next day [~16 hours- and one overnight- later] due to timing and inclement conditions. Subsequent ground transport and arrival at a medical facility occurred late on day 2. [~21 hours after the incident...] All-in-all not bad— unless you were the patient...

Lessons learned from that incident:

• More powerful pain relief meds were needed. [Now in inventory. Otherwise the kit was more than adequate.]
• Voice communication with rescue and transport resources [via sat phone in this case] is invaluable in an emergency requiring assistance. [Without that, it would have been 4 days before conditions abated enough where I could tow the patient- in their sea kayak- roughly 20 miles back to our vehicle, and then drive another 2 hours to medical facilities...

Is that the worst incident I have ever been involved with? Unfortunately, no...

I hope this explanation of how our strategies developed will help you continue your own discussions, and that you never have the occasion to test your First Aid skills or use your kit(s)!


Additional Reading of Note:

• Attainable Adventure Cruising: Medical Emergencies eBook
• Modest membership fee required, and so worth it to us...
• DAN Boater: member stories 
• Yachting World: Telemedicine at Sea

Please leave a comment sharing your First Aid strategy [and philosophy if you like]; favorite preventative measures; books on this topic; and any unique inclusions in your kit(s), if any. 
[e.g., We don't need snake antivenom in our current latitudes...]

Please don't SHOUT! [or: What does that hand signal mean?...!]

We have always used hand signals when anchoring, but there are times when a conversation [or both hands are required for the task-at-hand...] may be better, or even necessary. 

Hand gestures are nothing new... 

In fact, gestures most likely preceded oral language- and still do if we don't know a language... [And I'm reminded speaking volume is no substitute for lack of language skills.....] 

Unfortunately, Technology rarely helps in such cases... 


Once the anchor is down, communicating with the helms person regarding present depth and how much anchor chain is out is also simply accomplished using hand signals:

...or not so simply... [blurring is intentional to demonstrate the clarity with which gestures are sometimes received... ]
And no, these are not in our abbreviated arsenal of hand/finger gestures for anchor teamwork...

Walkie-Talkies [or any half-duplex radios] work for this need, but we found too many safety issues with years of use for these purposes. [e.g., one hand for the radio; missed dialog because you were both keying the mike/speaking at once; VOX (Voice Activation) is activated by ambient sounds, effectively muting the other party; etc.] Therefore, we decided to go with full duplex capability [like telephones- all parties can speak/hear simultaneously.]

We proofed that concept for ourselves using our smart phones with headsets and one of the many freely available bluetooth walkie-talkie apps.

That cemented it for us. And since we had already decided not to risk our smart phones in inclement conditions, we tried two different, robust commercial offerings; one with a belt-clip transceiver with corded headset, one pure headset version. [They cost about the same...]

We by far prefer the SENA SPH10 bluetooth headsets. 

Cruising Solutions sells them and has some great instructional videos.
(These are very feature-rich headsets...)

We still almost always use hand signals when playing with the anchor(s) but there are times while anchoring, docking, dealing with something on the foredeck, in the engine room, etc.- especially during inclement conditions- when coordinating in civil tones works wonders. 

This is especially true for situations for which the hand signal is not visible to the receiving party, or has not yet been developed [and it is not a convenient time to make up a new one...] 

Or perhaps the hand gesture chosen under stress might not be appropriate, intended, nor well received...

Hands-free, simultaneous voice communication is also very useful when at the top of the mast, in the engine room [these work well even with the diesel engine running...] in a crowded nightclub, etc.

They are very quick to put on and turn on, easy to mute [e.g., when in the engine room, or when speaking to someone else...] comfortable, waterproof, have many features [bluetooth pairing to smart phone for music, phone calls, etc.] and just plain work. 

We have also used them on the road [their original development was for motorcycle riders after all...] when driving separate vehicles, and especially like them when backing our truck/camper and one of our 27ft trailers into tight spaces. 

Hand signals just don't apply in such situations- especially in the dark...

As back-up we still have intercom capability with our wireless VHF radio mike, handheld VHF radios, and FRS [walkie-talkie] radios [which we always issue to away teams...] 

But for us, nothing beats reliable, phone-like conversation capability- especially in sporty situations. 

There is good reason why this type of capability/technology is often categorized as Marriage Saver in nature...

What communication styles, practices, and technology [if any...] work best for you in similar situations?

PS: This is one of the follow-ups about items not included in our End of year upgrades for the boat post because they were gifts... 

Satellite Phone Short Cuts [Iridium 9575] and Important Phone Numbers

This post was originally to announce this new page in our sidebar category Stuff we have and use [and do...]

This post now automatically redirects to the maintained permanent page.

Please read our updated page [which was last updated July-2017] to see the most recent information, as this post is only an announcement and will become out-of-date over time... 

The out-of-date original post follows: [24-June-2016] The text is aged parchment color to remind you this is the old version...  _________________________________________________

Original post 24-June-2016:

We use an Iridium Extreme satellite phone [Model 9575] when we travel in regions where we cannot use our mobile phones and there is no WiFi available.

Following is some information about using this phone [some of which may apply to other phones...] which we share in advance with our guests [and fellow sat phone users...]

We include ways for testing some of the 9575 features, querying minutes remaining, and sources of important phone numbers we like to have on hand in case of need. 

Since our satellite phone is just one of several ways of communicating with us, we maintain a comprehensive document detailing methods and procedures for contacting us. 

We only share this document with select friends and family using Google Docs as the gatekeeper. [As outlined on our Computers, Devices, and Applications page...] 

We also share our contact document via a link we add to the comments section on the NOAA registrations for our EPIRBs and PLBs so any SAR authorities can gain immediate access. [We do this in part because, for unknown reasons, the NOAA emergency beacon registration forms do not accommodate satellite phone numbers- as of June-2016 anyway...]

Here is a sample version of our live Contacting Denali Rose document in case it is of interest.


Iridium 9575 Documentation:

The [222 page...] Iridium manual is not required reading, but perhaps worth having in your virtual library to help keep Murphy at bay...

The quick start guide may be worth a glance, however...

How to make a voice call:

First, a note for our guests about our current sat phone plan: We can call world wide. However our current [discounted] service plan only allows the phone to operate when physically located within Alaska or Canada, and when within ~20 miles offshore of those respective coastlines...

Here is my quick start guide for making voice calls using our sat phone:  [This is pretty much just like any cell phone...]

• Turn on phone
• The phone must have clear view of the sky
• Point top of antenna to the sky [The tip of the antenna tilts so you can point it straight up...]
• The phone may work acceptably well inside of fiberglass boat cabin if not connected to the external antenna
• Wait for green light [indicating it is on the network]
• A 3 bar minimum signal is preferred for a longer call duration [before dropping...]
• All sat phone calls drop eventually due to satellite orbits
• Enter the complete 11 digit phone number [just like dialing from a mobile or land phone]
• Country Code [1 for US and Canada]
• Area Code
• Phone Number
• e.g., USCG Alaska RCC [Rescue Coordination Center] numbers:
• 1-(800) 478-5555
• 1-(800) 399-5555
• Press Green key to initiate call
• Press Red key to end call

A note about dialing our sat phone: The 9575 can be programmed to accommodate standard international dialing protocols. We choose this so that in case of an emergency, no specialized dialing knowledge is required 

Why is this important? You must dial 00 (zero zero) first when calling from a sat phone. The 9575 (and probably other sat phone models) does this internally via a setting if we so choose, eliminating the need to remember [and possibly forget under duress...] this requirement... 

More about the Iridium 9575:

GPS: If you are not familiar with this model sat phone, it also has a built-in GPS (which only works well outdoors in clear view of sky- otherwise we have witnessed it off target by as much as 5-10 miles...) 

SOS: It also has a red SOS button (using GEOS, which is the same as a DeLorme or Spot device...) 

The red panic [SOS] button will get the same response as activating a PLB for life or death only situations... [See how to test, below.]

Phone numbers we like to have on hand in printed and electronic form:

Along with our regular phone book of numbers, here are some additional phone numbers we like to keep waterproof print-outs of [as well as keeping fresh copies in our virtual library and programming into our mobile and sat phones]:

• Alaska SAR [Search and Rescue] phone numbers [Other states are also available from this source...]
• USCG RCCs [Rescue Coordination Centers]
• USCG RCCs Alaska:
• 1-(800) 478-5555
• 1-(800) 399-5555
• Reporting and Cancelling accidental EPIRB, PLB, ELT activations
• 911: You can also dial a central 911 emergency service from an Iridium 9575 sat phone... [but not all sat phones...]
• Free Phone Test Call: 1-480-752-5105 [I believe this is Iridium only...]
• Use to confirm phone is operational and learn how to make a call
• If phone is working, you will hear a recorded call completion confirmation message
• Minutes remaining on sat phone account: Call or Text 2888
• Here is an example of an automated response from texting 2888 [analogous to texting *3282# on your mobile phone for a cell data usage report]: 

  You have 134 minutes. Your account will expire on Nov 06, 2016. [Renewal date... every 6 months] This account has no minutes expiring between now and Nov 6, 2016. [Minutes roll forward upon renewal and expire after 3 years.]

Testing the SOS (GEOS) safety service:

It is recommended you test the SOS setting on your device routinely. [We do this annually right after renewing the sat phone plan.]

Before calling the appropriate number below, please make sure you have your sat phone's IMEI number and Iridium sat phone number ready. 

• +1 888 460 4554 (Toll free - US Only)
• +1 281 271 8588 (International customers)
• Press option 6, then option 1
• The recording will ask you to go back to the main menu and select a non-emergency number if this is not an emergency
• Please ignore this message and allow the system to connect you with the emergency operations centre in order to conduct the test 
• Then tell the operator that you would like to test the SOS feature on your Iridium product and they will inform you to deploy an SOS and will inform you if the SOS is working correctly 

Computers, Devices and Applications

This post was originally used to announce this new page in our Stuff we have and use [and do...] sidebar.  

This page automatically redirects to the new permanent page.

Please go to that updated page to see the most recent information. [We update it several times each year.] 

The original post below is only the announcement and is now out-of-date... [It may be fun to look at in the future, however...]

The out-of-date original post follows: [Apr-2016] The text is aged parchment color to remind you this is the old version...

_________________________________________________

Original version, below. [Published 30-Apr-2016.]

It is now out of date! See the most recent version.]


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This is part of a series describing some of our common boat systems and their operation.

We refer to these often not only for our own use, but also when asked specific questions about systems on Denali Rose, and when participating in discussions on various forums.

We aren't implying our choices are the best or only way to go; they just happen to be the decisions we made about what works best for us...

It is worth noting that most of the software [i.e., applications, or programs] we mention, below, is also available for many other devices and operating systems...

And since we are talking about electronics, in the future our choices described on this page may become dated and/or obsolete. Therefore, we will attempt to keep this information current regarding what we have and use, and what we are researching/considering for the future. Check back often as this page will change over time...

And please leave a comment if you spot an error or omission, or have recommendations based upon your own first-hand experience.

Computers: This page is now out of date! See the most recent version.]

We are retired management professionals. Therefore we are lazy and prefer to avoid having to do too much [or know too much...] to keep our computers functioning well. We therefore use Apple Macintosh computers and its Unix based operating system. [OSX] 

We also run Windows on our Macs for any programs we need to use that require that OS. [None at present; May-2016]. Also, it surprises many that Windows runs faster on our Mac Powerbooks than on most dedicated Windows machines... This we constantly rediscover whenever booting/running Windows while sitting next to someone with a powerful, dedicated Windows computer...]

We like portability, so we use laptops. We each have a personal one, and we keep our prior generation models as back-ups. All are kept up-to-date, synchronized, and immediately available for use.

Our philosophy is that all of these electronic devices and gadgets- even though they are expensive- are disposable devices... [I know. That hurts, doesn't it? But think about that for a moment...]

Therefore we use them until they no longer work or perform well enough to do the job at hand. Then we replace them with current models. [Cry once...] Transfer everything over, and try to keep going...

Computer Software: [A select few of the many Applications (Programs) we rely upon...]

• Navigation:
• OpenCPN [Navigation and route planning; integrated with our N2K network.]
• GPS [and GLONASS] source is NMEA data on our wireless network
• Documents, Books, Manuals, etc.: 
• Google Drive [for the Ship's library documents. 20GB and growing... All manuals, technical books, documents, etc.]
• Install Drive sync software on your computer
• Keeps a copy on our computer(s) so we always have access to everything
• Syncs to the cloud whenever we have internet access via WiFi or Cell data connection so we have permanent back-up accessible from anywhere in the world from any computer
• Google Docs, [Spread] Sheets, etc. [for all spreadsheets, documents, etc.]
• Works offline, and syncs whenever we have an internet connection
• Excellent for collaborative efforts
• Google Calendar
• Works offline, and syncs whenever we have an internet connection
• Syncs with the calendar on our phones and tablets
• Great for sharing specific calendar(s) with specific individual(s)
• eMail and document transfer:
• Gmail [for personal and boat email when WiFi or cell data are available.]
• UUplus email [and document retrieval service e.g., Weather, news, etc.]
• Also works via any internet connection including Sat phone, WiFi, Cell, etc.
• i.e., Is not limited to sat phone only unlike the Iridium GO! email app.
• Optimized for Iridium Sat phones; works on the GO!
• Additional details available on the following pages:
• Satellite Communications
• Cellular and WiFi data
• Weather:
• PredictWind Offshore App [Weather]
• zyGrib [GRIB viewer; weather visualizer]
• Sharing Computer Screens with Tablets and SmartPhones: 
• View/control what is on your computer screen from your tablet or smartphone
• Activate Screen Sharing on Mac
• Install Mocha VNC on the tablet(s) and/or smart phone(s)
• Windows:
• VMware Fusion [For running other operating systems on your Mac]
• e.g., Windows, Linux, etc.
• Entertainment [Also see this heading under Tablets, below.]
• Movies: [Videos]
• VLC Media Player [Plays most video formats]
• Books:
• Kindle App [for reading books- and PDFs too; e.g., manuals] 
• You can also email PDFs to this app [Think boat manuals...]
• Syncs with our Kindle eReaders and our tablets and smartphones
• Unlimited book subscription [30 day free trial]
• Audible Books [Our favorite way to share a book... 30 day free trial]
• Bookbub - A free website that tracks discounted and free books by provider, and emails you when they become available. Sign up for your account, list your preferred providers, reading genres, and notification intervals. My Kindle has over 500 books on it, and most of them were free. Bookbub
• Music [Use your Music app of choice...]
• Since we use Amazon Prime for free shipping, we also get their music offerings. [Free 30 day trial]
• Movies:
• Since we use Amazon Prime for free shipping, we also watch many free movies and catch up on our favorite TV shows. [30 day free trial.]
• Netflix Streaming
• Etc.

Tablets: This page is now out of date! See the most recent version.]

Since we like the Macintosh computers, we have iPad Tablets. [iOS is the operating system that runs on iPhones and iPads]

We each have our own model of choice, and a third dedicated to ship's systems. [And like our computers, our old (still functioning) tablets will be kept as back-ups (and dedicated picture/slide show kiosks) as they are replaced in the future...]

We buy iPads with cell data capability [i.e., not WiFi only...] so they have a built-in GPS [part of the cell chip...] and can be used as back-up navigation devices or hot spots if we lost use of our smart phones.

Tablet Software [Also installed on our SmartPhones]: 

Some of the important Applications/Programs we rely upon are listed, below. There are many more. These just happen to be the ones we find ourselves using most often among hundreds of apps on our devices... [>200 in May-2016, and counting...]

• Navigation:
• Sea IQ Open [Recreational version]
• Garmin BlueChart Mobile [Great for route planning, tracking and user friendly enough for guests to use and follow-along without interfering with the primary navigation systems...]
• Skipper [The only app we have found that combines charts and Topographic land maps. This is very useful where we currently travel...]
• All of the above are integrated with Active Captain data for offline use.
• Commander Compass [Hand-held compass on steroids]
• Theodolite [A multi-function augmented reality app that combines a compass, GPS, map, photo/movie camera, rangefinder, and two-axis inclinometer into one indispensable app. Theodolite overlays real time information about position, altitude, bearing, range, and inclination on the iPhone’s live camera image, like an electronic viewfinder. Way cool...] 
• Weather:
• Storm [A somewhat sensationalistic (though occasionally fitting...) name for an otherwise worthwhile product from WeatherUnderground- another wx data aggregator...]
• Weather 4D [Weather and Routing]
• Steep initial learning curve with limited help [but a great product] 
• Includes realtime Iridium satellite orbit information [helps with planning/optimizing sat comms]
• Barometer App
• Specifically a recording barometer app e.g., electronic barograph 
• Device must have barometric sensor in it. 
• e.g., Beginning with iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2 
• Apps we are currently [May-2016] using/evaluating include: 
• Barograph
• Bar-o-meter
• The following apps from Black Cat Systems: [among many others...]
• NAVTEX
• HF FAX
• Both of the above are back-up app for interpreting radio transmissions if our packet radio modem failed
• See our Marine SSB & HAM Radio page for more info
• Weather Calc [Useful calculations and conversions]
• SWBC Sched [World wide shortwave radio broadcast schedule; e.g., news, weather, etc.]
• Sharing Computer Screens with Tablets and SmartPhones:
• Mocha VNC [For viewing Macintosh display on Tablet(s) and iPhones.]
• GoFree [Proprietary device and app for wirelessly mirroring our MFD (Multifunction display; i.e., chart plotter/RADAR) to Tablets, Smart Phones.]
• Journal
• Wave Trax [Logging and voyage documenting]
• Reference:
• Grog Knots [Best animated knots app...]
• Boaters Reference [An excellent pocket reference of all things boating...]
• USCG App [Detailed boating law info, Rules of the Road, and float plan generation and filing.]
• Wire Sizer [Calculates wire size needed and tracks your wiring projects]
• SWBC Sched [World wide shortwave radio broadcast schedule; e.g., news, weather, etc.]
• Security:
• Drag Queen [Free and robust anchor alarm from Active Captain]
• Siren Marine [Software for using/programming our Siren Marine security device]
• See this blog post for additional details
• Entertainment: [Also see this heading under Computers, above]
• Books:
• Kindle App [for reading books- and PDFs too; e.g., manuals] 
• You can also email PDFs to this app [Think boat manuals...]
• Syncs with our Kindle eReaders and our tablets and smartphones
• Unlimited book subscription [30 day free trial]
• Audible Books [30 day free trial]
• Bookbub - [A free website that tracks discounted and free (even temporary free offers) books by provider, and emails you when they become available. Sign up for your account, list your preferred providers, reading genres, and notification intervals. Donna's Kindle has over 500 books on it, and a majority of them were free.]
• Overdrive [A free app that allows you to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and more from your local public library, anywhere, anytime, all you need is a library card, and sign up for a free account. 
• Music [Use the Music app that comes with your tablet...]
• Since we use Amazon Prime for free shipping, we also get their music offerings. [Free 30 day trial]
• Movies:
• Since we use Amazon Prime for free shipping, we also watch many free movies and catch up on our favorite TV shows. [30 day free trial.]
• Netflix Streaming
• Etc.

SmartPhones: This page is now out of date! See the most recent version.]

You guessed it; we like and use Apple iPhones. [iOS is the operating system that runs on iPhones and iPads]

We also keep our older phones that have been replaced over the years, and unlock them so we can use them internationally with SIM cards we purchase as we travel...

We have a great cell data plan on our smartphones, so one is typically used as a hotspot device [using a cell booster to maximize the signal strength and distance] that is broadcast to all devices on the boat using our WiriePro [See Networking, below...]

Comparison shop smartphones and plans. 

SmartPhone Software: [See Tablet Software, immediately above, because most iOS apps run on both devices.]

Printer [and Scanner/ Copier]:

We wanted a compact printer [B&W and Color], scanner, and copier all-in-one as those are the functions we need traveling internationally.

We ended up with an HP Envy Printer and couldn't be more pleased. It is compact, wireless, and works first time every time... And the expendables are reasonably priced. At under US$100 it is hard to beat.

One thing we have learned over the years [regardless of which printer you have] is to use heavier weight paper [e.g, 24 pound stock instead of the usual flimsy 20 lb stock] for printed documents you will be providing others [e.g., foreign government representatives, etc.] It holds up better while you are transporting it in your shoulder bag, and feels good in the hand of the recipient. [Like letterhead stock does...]

FAX: [Facsimile]

For transmitting and receiving faxes, we use the HelloFAX service in a browser on the computer. [We need internet connectivity to send/receive a FAX...]

HelloFAX is an online service we use on the rare occasion when we need to transmit [or receive] a FAX. Sending is free; receiving requires a small monthly fee, and is something we rarely need to do...

Since we keep scanned copies of all our ship's papers, passports, etc. on our local computers, it is quick to print and/or FAX copies quickly, as needed. [e.g., When checking into foreign countries, applying for permits, etc.]

Networking: [Connecting it all together...]

  Wired: 

• We have both a NMEA 2000 [N2K] and a proprietary ethernet network [B&G] our computers can be physically connected to. However, we typically rely on a wireless connection as outlined below.

  Wireless: [WiFi or Cell Data for internet access]

• WiriePro 
• Boat WiFi router (local wireless and guest networks)
• Cell hotspot with SIM card available via WiFi
• See our Cellular and WiFi Data page for additional details
• WiFi-1 
• Proprietary WiFi device that allows us to see and control our chart plotter and RADAR screen from our tablets and smartphones
• Connected to ethernet network
• Also see GoFree application under Tablets/Software, above.
• Available from Amazon
• WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] from a laptop
• We can set up a local wireless network from any of our laptops if/as needed

Additional Resources: 

This page is now out of date! See the most recent version.]

• Reviews:
• Practical Sailor [Subscription required. Well worth it to us...]
• Panbo Marine Electronics Hub
• i-Marine Apps
• Sources:
• Amazon [We often find the best pricing especially when shipping to Alaska is considered...] 
• Us: [Denali Rose]
• If you find our information worthwhile, please use our link whenever you make purchases from Amazon. [There is absolutely no additional cost to you. Ever... And it is totally anonymous; We never know who made what purchases...] 
• Thanks for considering this. It does help keep us incentivized to produce and maintain this level of detail...
• See our Support page for additional information