Marine Electronics, November 2023

Starlink Changes the Satcom Equation, Electronic wind indicators

Marine Electronics, November 2023 Electronic wind indicators By Bill Morris Whether you are racing or cruising, knowing your precise wind speed and direction while underway contributes greatly to sailing strategy as you count down the miles remaining to your destination. But before you run to your local chandlery to select a digital or analog wind sensor and display, consider the wide array of options in these systems and find the package best suited to your needs. Some wind indicators are available as stand-alone units while others are included as part of a larger kit, which may include a thru-hull depth finder with transducer and a GPS receiver with antenna. Installation kits generally include a lengthy list of parts, so make sure the set is complete before you embark on the installation. > READ MORE Related articles from Ocean Navigator archives Ocean Navigator November/December 2023  Click the cover to view the articles in the November/December issue of Ocean Navigator.  Starlink Changes the Satcom Equation By Bill Morris The race among satellite internet providers to enable fast, effective communications for ocean voyagers while underway or at anchor is heating up with worldwide coverage, faster download speeds and competitive prices. No longer are cruisers forced to depend on marine single side band, ham radio or the unassuming yet still necessary marine VHF radio to make contact with the world beyond their decks. A whole new generation of handheld satellite telephones and deck-mounted satellite antennas have opened up world communication for yacht owners who have the need and the funds to install these amenities aboard their vessels. > READ MORE The digital age: barometers vs. barographs By Ann Hoffner When I crossed the Pacific Ocean on my Peterson 44, Oddly Enough, I wrote about local weather, the kind experienced in our exclusive part of the ocean where available forecasts covered too wide an area to be useful, and there's no one else to observe and interpret changes. Besides your eyes and some form of collecting faraway data, what is the most important weather instrument to have on a boat? The answer is simple: a barometer. "This is the classic instrument for understanding and predicting local weather," says John Rousmaniere in Desirable and Undesirable Characteristics of Offshore Yachts. Why? Because air pressure is a function of atmospheric conditions, and atmospheric conditions cause what we call weather: wind, temperature, precipitation, clouds. > READ MORE Copyright © 2023 Maritime Publishing, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Maritime Publishing 3980 Sherman St Ste 100 San Diego, CA 92110-4314 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.