Showing posts with label My. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 March 2016
The top ten things that make my life difficult
These are the things that grate on me. Although the numbers are very difficult to get at, I would estimate that annual North American sales of marine electronics related gear is about $800,000,000 per year. My guess is about 15 percent of the sales costs are required to install all of this gear. This works out to about $120,000,000 a year. Of this number easily half is spent working around poor boat design. That's $60,000,000 in annual costs to owners that good boat design would have saved.
Lets look at a small typical new boat package. Chart plotter ($2500), radar ($1000), VHF ($150), sounder module ($500), transducer ($200), VHF antenna ($80). This totals $4230. Using the 15% rule, installation costs would be about $635, this would be about one man day plus or minus to install the system. The wasted cost to the buyer is $317.00, This is a small system, and not an extreme case, of which there are many. So right out of its shrink wrap the new boat is already costing owners lots of real money.
The incapability of most boat builders, both large and small in understanding even the basics of how their customers will use their boats, and what they might want to install on them astounds me daily. Why are the water pick ups on both sides of the hull insuring I can't install a properly working transom mount transducer? Did you think this might be important, or you just don't know any better? It was purported by marketing to be a offshore fishing boat, but there is no mounting plate to install a radar, and no way to get the cable down to the chart plotter. The three hours it took to pull the transducer wire to the console because the 2" piece of PVC pipe pretending to be a grown up conduit is already packed to the max. The boat with no place to install an autopilot compass. A console interior with no mounting blocks to install gear. No fuse blocks, power leads, documentation, wire pulls, and many others round out the list.
# 1 The wire pull.
I chose this picture from the many I have illustrating this point. This is a name brand boat owned by a multi-billion dollar parent company. You now can't get a human hair sized wire through this hole, much less the radar cable that I wanted to install. The sad thing this is all to common. Multiple 90 degree turns, sharp as a razor un-chaffed holes that are all too small to do the job. Certainly you can afford a larger drill bit can't you?
While we are on the subject, there is this stuff called conduit. I think most boat builders are unaware of this tubular material because I don't see it often, or maybe they are used to draping the stuff inside the hull before the deck is attached. It's a very rare boat that can't improve on this problem.
#2 Accessibility, the manger has no room.
This breaks out into three broad sub-categories. You're looking first at the "Blivet." This is 30 pounds of marine gear shoved into a 20 pound space, making usable console real estate more valuable then Trump's Park Avenue penthouse. Two trim tab pumps, Mercury power steering pump, two batteries, battery switches, water tank fill hose, waste pump out hose, and plenty more. You couldn't design in another place to put some of this stuff? Really?
If you look down in the bottom right hand corner you can see the autopilot pump peeking out. I cut a ton of tie wraps to move that big bundle of white wires enough to get the pump wedged under the water fill pipe, and barely fitted onto the floor of the console. This was the only place to put it. There is a third battery under the console. I don't know why they didn't stick the other two batteries there also. Hey, I'm happy, I'm not complaining. I can get three of the four needed pump mounting screws into the floor, and the waste pump out hose helps pin it in place.
The second group covers a variety of sins that include equipment only accessible through a plate allowing you to touch it with one hand, or look at it, but not both. These I call the "Braillers." The other scenario is you have to remove the water maker, and the hot water heater to get at the cheap plastic pump that broke.
The third category is the no infrastructure accessibility for you. This is the inverse of the first. There are no locations for you to mount anything. Paper thin bulkheads that insure screws protrude into the next compartment, and no power for you, at any rate.
#3 Documentation, or the lack there of.
If you look down in the bottom right hand corner you can see the autopilot pump peeking out. I cut a ton of tie wraps to move that big bundle of white wires enough to get the pump wedged under the water fill pipe, and barely fitted onto the floor of the console. This was the only place to put it. There is a third battery under the console. I don't know why they didn't stick the other two batteries there also. Hey, I'm happy, I'm not complaining. I can get three of the four needed pump mounting screws into the floor, and the waste pump out hose helps pin it in place.
The second group covers a variety of sins that include equipment only accessible through a plate allowing you to touch it with one hand, or look at it, but not both. These I call the "Braillers." The other scenario is you have to remove the water maker, and the hot water heater to get at the cheap plastic pump that broke.
The third category is the no infrastructure accessibility for you. This is the inverse of the first. There are no locations for you to mount anything. Paper thin bulkheads that insure screws protrude into the next compartment, and no power for you, at any rate.
#3 Documentation, or the lack there of.
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I don't understand why boat builders can't provide anything more than a bag stuffed with a random assortment of product information, and call it documentation. No wiring diagrams or labeling, no layout drawings, and no bill of materials detailing what was installed on the boat, and where you might possibly find it.
I think in many cases as built wiring diagrams may not exist for many boats. A contractor designs and builds a wiring harness, and Bob at the plant knows what plugs into what, but maybe not why.
I think in many cases as built wiring diagrams may not exist for many boats. A contractor designs and builds a wiring harness, and Bob at the plant knows what plugs into what, but maybe not why.
The thing that drives me even crazier are interface blocks with no information. Lots of tiny wires with bright colors connected to lots of other colorful pretty wires, and not a wire tag to be seen. What's connected to what? Who knows without taking the time to play Sherlock Holmes. There is a magical machine called a label maker that makes my life easier, or a real wiring diagram would work well also.
I'm not going to belabor this but the factory used a pull string, or it's relative the pull wire to haul wire bundles through the boat when it was built. Why don't they pull a new string with it? Is it too costly? Or are they trying to break the Guinness world record for the largest string ball they're creating behind the plant. Pennies at the most to have a second pull string taped on before the pull, often saving me many hours struggling to fish the two ninety degree turns. with a vacuum cleaner and the special hemostats.
#5 Hey, they will never see this stuff.
Sloppy work just bothers me. I see a lot of it, especially in hidden locations. Things screwed down in the closest place that can be reached, if screwed down at all, Wads of extra wire heaped up into a piles. In the case of this boat, I think the wiring harness for their fifty footer was being used on their forty footer, and the excess had to be heaped up somewhere.
Also included in this less than esteemed category are unfinished surfaces gleaming with fiberglass spears eager for your blood, and ragged cutouts gnawed open by rabid beavers.
#6 You can have way too much tech.
Also included in this less than esteemed category are unfinished surfaces gleaming with fiberglass spears eager for your blood, and ragged cutouts gnawed open by rabid beavers.
#6 You can have way too much tech.
Whats the difference between a boat and a Toyota Corolla? Toyota will make a make more than a million Corollas this year. If they design a piece of high tech gear to use, a factory is built somewhere in the world to manufacture a million of them annually. That's about 4000 a day or about 500 an hour.
It's funny, I can't think of a single boat company that does a million of anything even in their wildest dreams. The Point? Low volume custom high tech has a high costs and a very short support life.
An example of this is the power distribution panel above. Take a simple thing like a circuit breaker, attach it to a computer board with a relay, control it with a computer, and it instantly becomes expensive, and much less reliable. Do boat marketing marketing gurus think the buying public has become so flaccid that the average boater can no longer turn on a switch? Oh Buffy, I'm exhausted from the effort it takes to turn on a light switch. I do wish we had a touch screen like Dave has to turn on the lights.
I stare at the custom made all digital panel that makes the gang plank automatically extrude itself out of the hull. "It's broken," I tell the owner. "Well replace it," states the owner. "I can't. It came from Italy and is not made anymore," I aver, "but I could make a nice little panel with four buttons. One will say in, another out. The other two will say up and down. I will wire them directly to the hydraulic pumps. It will last for years, you just have to hold the buttons down to use it instead of having it operate automatically." "Make it so" is the owners response, "will it have a LED display?
Levitating TV's, complex AV systems, joystick controls and touch screens switching panels are all fine with me if you want to pay for them. Just make sure there is a back up in place when things go array, and be sure your pocketbook can endure the long term repair waltz.
#7 Stuff that's just darned inappropriate.
It's funny, I can't think of a single boat company that does a million of anything even in their wildest dreams. The Point? Low volume custom high tech has a high costs and a very short support life.
An example of this is the power distribution panel above. Take a simple thing like a circuit breaker, attach it to a computer board with a relay, control it with a computer, and it instantly becomes expensive, and much less reliable. Do boat marketing marketing gurus think the buying public has become so flaccid that the average boater can no longer turn on a switch? Oh Buffy, I'm exhausted from the effort it takes to turn on a light switch. I do wish we had a touch screen like Dave has to turn on the lights.
I stare at the custom made all digital panel that makes the gang plank automatically extrude itself out of the hull. "It's broken," I tell the owner. "Well replace it," states the owner. "I can't. It came from Italy and is not made anymore," I aver, "but I could make a nice little panel with four buttons. One will say in, another out. The other two will say up and down. I will wire them directly to the hydraulic pumps. It will last for years, you just have to hold the buttons down to use it instead of having it operate automatically." "Make it so" is the owners response, "will it have a LED display?
Levitating TV's, complex AV systems, joystick controls and touch screens switching panels are all fine with me if you want to pay for them. Just make sure there is a back up in place when things go array, and be sure your pocketbook can endure the long term repair waltz.
#7 Stuff that's just darned inappropriate.
I find this type of stuff all the time. Start by looking at the ground block in the second picture up above, and bounce back. It's the block with all the black wires attached to it. This is a brand new boat, and they have already broken a big ABYC fashion rule. Yellow wire for DC negatives is now the new black. This sort of stuff bothers me at a subliminal level.
The iron nipple attaching the the two bronze parts together. A long term accident looking for a place to occur. Dissimilar metals, rust potential, and I have no doubt it was discovered to ooze liquids shortly after the boat hit the water. The white stuff is 3M 5200 used a "Leak Stop" goo.
Also on the list are standard flooded lead acid batteries located in places that insure they will never get their water levels checked very often. This makes it a sure bet I will be struggling them out of the boat prematurely, and replacing them with sealed batteries. I've never seen a dealer install anything less than the cheapest batteries available in a new boat unless the owner knows enough to write a check for something better. Throw into the mix prodigious usage of sealants to make sure things can never be separated for all time, and destroyed screw heads galore left for me to deal with.
Now it time to harp at owners, but fear not, it's a short list.
#8 Make sure you put all of that stuff back.
Irritating it is to deal with loads of other peoples crap that's in my way. The owner however is paying the bill to use my skills in this way. I heave the stuff out trying to ignore the black mold at the bottom of the pile that's dining on sunscreen thats oozed out of the tube. When I'm done I heave it back in. I just wish I didn't have to deal with it in the first place.
#9 Darwin is always at work.
The iron nipple attaching the the two bronze parts together. A long term accident looking for a place to occur. Dissimilar metals, rust potential, and I have no doubt it was discovered to ooze liquids shortly after the boat hit the water. The white stuff is 3M 5200 used a "Leak Stop" goo.
Also on the list are standard flooded lead acid batteries located in places that insure they will never get their water levels checked very often. This makes it a sure bet I will be struggling them out of the boat prematurely, and replacing them with sealed batteries. I've never seen a dealer install anything less than the cheapest batteries available in a new boat unless the owner knows enough to write a check for something better. Throw into the mix prodigious usage of sealants to make sure things can never be separated for all time, and destroyed screw heads galore left for me to deal with.
Now it time to harp at owners, but fear not, it's a short list.
#8 Make sure you put all of that stuff back.
#9 Darwin is always at work.
"I thought duct tape would work."
"If it's good enough for my house, it's gotta be okay on the boat."
"It was just a small leak."
"I thought that lamp wire would work okay, I used wire nuts you know."
#10 The maid is on vacation.
It shouldn't take a wearing a Tyvek hazmat suit and boiling your hands in Clorex afterwards to work on a boat. Sheesh, you don't know what soap is, do you?
That's my top ten, and don't get me started on the other things like anchor lockers that are hard pressed to hold more than fifty feet of rode, curvaceous foam dash surfaces designed to prohibit mounting anything, extensive use of out gassing fuzzy monkey fur, colorful pleathers that promptly degrade in the presence of any sunlight, and snow white leather furniture and carpets that will stain just by bringing a bottle of Merlot on board. They'er supposed to be boats, not Liberace's parlor. I got a lot more of this you know, aargh.
Many thanks to Rick Laporte for suggesting the story. I have added links to his blog M/V She-Kon, along with TJ, and Deb's Retirement Project, and Steven Robert's geek driven Nomadness.
Saturday, 9 May 2015
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Wooden Boat Plans - Make Your Subsequent Adventure
If you've ever preferred a boat, but did not know which kind to get why not test your hand at building your person. You will not ought to become an professional woodworker to attain this should you search into some wooden boat plans along with a couple of advised and you will likely be around the open water just before you recognize it.
Plans won't be that hard should you do some evaluation. The principle point you want to evaluate is should the plans are very easy to have an understanding of. Ahead of time of you start off wanting, give believed to what kind of boat is best to suit your needs. Also, take into consideration your degree of expertise with wood. Must you've in no way ever worked with it before you most likely decide to attempt anything vital to begin with, and maybe later function your way up. You don't want to have in in excess of your head to start with and get discouraged.
Boat plans are available in a variation of kinds so it is also greatest to check out a sample, if whatsoever potential. You'll locate instances that an organization will promote simple, but there have been created by someone that involves a total unique understanding of east than you do. It might be a great notion to carry out somewhat evaluation to the provider, too to discover how what kind of technical assistance they offer, if any, and test into testimonials from previous clientele. If they do not have a outstanding follow-up historical past quickly soon after the sale possibilities are you'll finish up shuck devoid of help.
When you opt for a particular program examine to view if it gives you a list of tools that you basically will need to have. This will decrease you needing to buy a great deal of pointless factors that will not be employed. It'll also hold away from receiving inside the middle of a stage and realizing which you don't have what you need to complete your process. An additional incredibly vital aspect would be to figure out ahead of you start in which you might be establishing your boat. Examine the plans to look into what the dimension will probably be at completion and following that select the location you'll have ample region.
Wooden boat plans offer you using a lot to contemplate, however it may be gratifying to understand that you designed one thing in addition to your quite personal hands. It can make the functioning experience of boating that substantially far more pleasant.
When you dreamed of producing your person boat but you do not know why, there might be ultimately a resolution. Find an huge collection of wooden boat plans that let novice and experiences builders alike, to find out the top approach to create a wooden boat. In case you are searching for or sailboat plans, you'll learn anything at all of your dreamed about.
If you've ever preferred a boat, but did not know which kind to get why not test your hand at building your person. You will not ought to become an professional woodworker to attain this should you search into some wooden boat plans along with a couple of advised and you will likely be around the open water just before you recognize it.
Plans won't be that hard should you do some evaluation. The principle point you want to evaluate is should the plans are very easy to have an understanding of. Ahead of time of you start off wanting, give believed to what kind of boat is best to suit your needs. Also, take into consideration your degree of expertise with wood. Must you've in no way ever worked with it before you most likely decide to attempt anything vital to begin with, and maybe later function your way up. You don't want to have in in excess of your head to start with and get discouraged.
Boat plans are available in a variation of kinds so it is also greatest to check out a sample, if whatsoever potential. You'll locate instances that an organization will promote simple, but there have been created by someone that involves a total unique understanding of east than you do. It might be a great notion to carry out somewhat evaluation to the provider, too to discover how what kind of technical assistance they offer, if any, and test into testimonials from previous clientele. If they do not have a outstanding follow-up historical past quickly soon after the sale possibilities are you'll finish up shuck devoid of help.
When you opt for a particular program examine to view if it gives you a list of tools that you basically will need to have. This will decrease you needing to buy a great deal of pointless factors that will not be employed. It'll also hold away from receiving inside the middle of a stage and realizing which you don't have what you need to complete your process. An additional incredibly vital aspect would be to figure out ahead of you start in which you might be establishing your boat. Examine the plans to look into what the dimension will probably be at completion and following that select the location you'll have ample region.
Wooden boat plans offer you using a lot to contemplate, however it may be gratifying to understand that you designed one thing in addition to your quite personal hands. It can make the functioning experience of boating that substantially far more pleasant.
When you dreamed of producing your person boat but you do not know why, there might be ultimately a resolution. Find an huge collection of wooden boat plans that let novice and experiences builders alike, to find out the top approach to create a wooden boat. In case you are searching for or sailboat plans, you'll learn anything at all of your dreamed about.
Monday, 3 November 2014
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Monday, 1 September 2014
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Generating a watercraft from scratch is a rewarding hobby. In an effort to begin, it really is crucial to work with detailed boat plans wooden. Most blueprints will let you know that plywood is typically the very best sort of wood to utilize to get a vessel. Make certain the blueprints you do find are simple to follow and outline all products you will need to work with.
Watercraft blueprints might be found anyplace on the internet. You are able to usually find some blueprints for free in the event you look at some hardware retailer internet sites. For extensive blueprints, more details, and far better instructions, you may must pay for them. Checking into DIY forums can help you uncover the blueprints you will need to begin making your watercraft.
The most effective variety of wood for constructing a wooden boat is plywood. It is because plywood is dimensionally stable. This implies it's going to expand and shrink much less during the adjust in temperature. You can find specific items you can do with plywood that can not be completed with plank wood.
Blueprints that call for plywood are normally less difficult to comply with. Considering that plywood is a extremely light material, it's going to be easier, and much significantly less time consuming, fixing and modifying your watercraft. Plywood also floats really properly on water. This sort of wood can also be lighter and makes it less difficult to lift when producing adjustments to your watercraft.
Most watercraft blueprints list the common essential materials including nails, a hammer, tape measure and paint. Even so, some very detailed blueprints can demand supplies like an airbrush kit to decorate your vessel and make the paint job appear specialist.
Boat plans wooden may be for novices or specialists. Most of the beginner blueprints need that the builder begin with plywood simply because it really is less complicated to start with. As you progress together with your watercraft creating, you'll be able to move as much as harder, costly supplies to create the watercraft of your dreams.
Generating a watercraft from scratch is a rewarding hobby. In an effort to begin, it really is crucial to work with detailed boat plans wooden. Most blueprints will let you know that plywood is typically the very best sort of wood to utilize to get a vessel. Make certain the blueprints you do find are simple to follow and outline all products you will need to work with.
Watercraft blueprints might be found anyplace on the internet. You are able to usually find some blueprints for free in the event you look at some hardware retailer internet sites. For extensive blueprints, more details, and far better instructions, you may must pay for them. Checking into DIY forums can help you uncover the blueprints you will need to begin making your watercraft.
The most effective variety of wood for constructing a wooden boat is plywood. It is because plywood is dimensionally stable. This implies it's going to expand and shrink much less during the adjust in temperature. You can find specific items you can do with plywood that can not be completed with plank wood.
Blueprints that call for plywood are normally less difficult to comply with. Considering that plywood is a extremely light material, it's going to be easier, and much significantly less time consuming, fixing and modifying your watercraft. Plywood also floats really properly on water. This sort of wood can also be lighter and makes it less difficult to lift when producing adjustments to your watercraft.
Most watercraft blueprints list the common essential materials including nails, a hammer, tape measure and paint. Even so, some very detailed blueprints can demand supplies like an airbrush kit to decorate your vessel and make the paint job appear specialist.
Boat plans wooden may be for novices or specialists. Most of the beginner blueprints need that the builder begin with plywood simply because it really is less complicated to start with. As you progress together with your watercraft creating, you'll be able to move as much as harder, costly supplies to create the watercraft of your dreams.
Sunday, 17 November 2013
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Thursday, 7 November 2013
Setting up my Iridium GO! IridiumComm
Update Dec 2015: Twitter Following & Private Messages, email blog to Blogger
(I am not an expert on the GO!. This was my attempt to combine eight different sources of info into one document, for my own reference. Might as well share it on the world wide web. I will update as I learn more, so feel free to send corrections/additions. Note to family & friends: We only turn the Iridium on when we're on the ocean or other extended periods without wifi/cell service. It is not our primary source of communication. For more info on the functionality available, check sv Totem's blog post: http://www.sailingtotem.com/2016/02/iridium-go-with-predictwind-for-weather-and-more.html)
(I am not an expert on the GO!. This was my attempt to combine eight different sources of info into one document, for my own reference. Might as well share it on the world wide web. I will update as I learn more, so feel free to send corrections/additions. Note to family & friends: We only turn the Iridium on when we're on the ocean or other extended periods without wifi/cell service. It is not our primary source of communication. For more info on the functionality available, check sv Totem's blog post: http://www.sailingtotem.com/2016/02/iridium-go-with-predictwind-for-weather-and-more.html)
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Iridium GO Cheat Sheet
The Iridium GO! is a satellite communicator that allows people "off the grid" (out of cell phone range ie. from hiking to sailing) to text and email, in addition to making phone calls. Anyone who has ever used a sat phone knows they can be expensive and aren't easy to hold a conversation on. The idea of being able to text or email makes the cost more reasonable (and easier for both ends to understand.). It is also excellent for keeping family members informed of your location, and in a pinch, can send an SOS to the Coast Guard. Cruisers use it for everything from Twitter to emailing back-and-forth to troubleshoot mechanical problems. It is only for the tech-savvy and you still may need help from another cruiser or tech support. (PredictWind recommends 1-3 days setup.)
Who you purchase it from, determines who your service provider/sim card is through and which plans are available. You seldom see the GO! on sale, but the plans available vary.
Reference material (www.iridiumgo.com, then click on “Resources”):
User Manual (came in box. I recommend also downloading an electronic copy)
Quick Start Guide: GO! App
(Also recommend 1PredictWind, “How-to-Set-Up-Unit-Make-Voice-Calls-and-Send-SMS-Messages”)
Quick Start Guide: GO! App
(Also recommend 1PredictWind, “How-to-Set-Up-Unit-Make-Voice-Calls-and-Send-SMS-Messages”)
User Guide: (iOS or Android) Iridium Mail & Web App
& 2Mail & Web app bulletin dated Sept 26, 2014. Especially “strongly advise iOS users to disable various apps” list (No longer available on Iridiumgo.com, superceded by firmware 1.4.1)
(Also recommend: 1PredictWind, “How to use the iPhone/iPad email & web app”)
Advanced Portal Quick Start Guide
Record the following for your records (back of User Manual):
Serial number: (APM) (under battery or “Information”)
SSID: IRIDIUM-(under battery then name of your wifi network or “Information”)
IMEI: (300325)-(under battery or “Information”)
Iridium Wifi password (range 100 ft): (default NONE) Add @ GO app, "Advanced"
GO App/Administrator password: (default guest/guest) Changing causes Web&Mail error?My Iridium phone number: 8816-###-#####(all Iridium phone numbers start with 8816)
(Text 8816########@msg.iridium.com)
Iridium email app registration: (register at www.iridium.com/mailandweb)
My Iridium email: (username)@myiridium.net
Service Provider (______________) phone #:__________________
Service Provider email address: ___________________________
SIM card number: ####-###-###-####-#####
My service provider account number: ____________________________
My Service Plan:________________________________________
1. User manual: This will help you get the unit powered up, sim card installed, and download apps. From there, you will mostly be using the GO app on your smartphone.
2. Firmware update: As of this writing, it should be 1.4.1, which supposedly has some helpful upgrades. You will need “Quick Start Guide: Iridium GO Advanced Portal” and a laptop with internet access to download the update (www.iridiumgo.com/update). THEN connect laptop to GO via the Iridium’s wifi. Open browser & go to 192.168.0.1 (Administrator log in is the same as GO App)
NOTE!: Don’t follow the Quick Start/User Manual directions in order. I was able to set up the Go app, but had trouble with the Mail app. I was advised to do a factory reset of the Iridium, set iPad/iPhone to “airplane mode”, then turn wifi back on, bluetooth off. Log into Iridium wifi, THEN GO TO THE MAIL APP FIRST before changing any settingsand see if “send/receive mail” is working (*see below). “Changing a lot of settings causes problems…” It turns out that, for me, changing the username/password to the GO app means I get a “Connection status: ERROR” in the Web and Email app.
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| GO! App |
3. GO App:
- Track: 2 kinds. Set “Interval” (designated float plan family member), and “Quick GPS” to one-time to predefined group. Works great. CHARGED AS OUTGOING TEXT
- SOS/GOES: This took me at least 3 tries to get set up. Registration didn’t “take” or something.
- Text: Set up relatively easy. People text you by going to http://messaging.iridium.com/ or emailing 8816########@msg.iridium.com (It costs us $0.10-0.35 to respond). To text out, enter mobile number or email address
- Phone call: To call out 00 or +[Country code] [phone number] (update contacts with country code) or use country code dropdown menu. Iridium-to-Iridium: dial “+” 8816 ### ##### (Change voicemail to “send a text”. $1.25/minute to retrieve?)
- Twitter: Set up by changing your Twitter account settings to your Iridium phone number, then logging onto the GO! app with your smartphone to complete verification. (https://support.twitter.com/articles/110250) CHARGED AS OUTGOING TEXT! You can post, but won't see your "feed." (Hint: To see your fellow sailors while underway, text/message FOLLOW @username to 40404 (your Iridium short code) & UNFOLLOW @username to stop. https://support.twitter.com/articles/14020. Also private message M @username?)
- (Link Twitter to Facebook): Facebook functionality doesn’t currently work (for the last year! They blame FB). There is a work-around by posting to Twitter and forwarding to Facebook. (I have a personal page and a “boat” page so I completed “Connect to FB profile”, then continue to “Connect to Facebook page”.) https://support.twitter.com/articles/31113
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4. Mail and Web App: connection speed 2.4kbps. Uses your data plan (except Twitter)
- See 2bulletin (Apple devices) and 3“Slow Internet/Using less Data”: Opera “Data Savings”, disable iCloud, Dropbox, etc. Turn off “Automatic downloads” for all apps, iTunes Match, “Find my iPhone”, disable PhotoStream, Skype, Facetime, “Location services”. Email manual fetching only.
- Facebook: NEW MARCH 2016! While on regular wifi, open Settings, Social Media then enter FB login in. See PredictWind for full setup: https://support.predictwind.com/hc/en-us/articles/203715910-How-to-Use-the-iPhone-iPad-Email-Web-App?preview_as_role=999999.9
- Email button: Register for Iridium email: iridium.com/webandemail (username is email address @myiridium.net) or “fetch” another (non-Iridium) email address ie. yahoo/gmail—be ready with POP or IMAP settings:
Email settings - *Mail & Web settings: “Your Account, User Name, Password” (from registering)
- (Add non-Iridium email address: Remote servers configuration, (click “+” to add another email address), “User name(@gmail.com), password—select Account Type to see if anything auto-populates—server address, etc {pop.gmail.com, 995, Use SSL ON. Go to your email providers support page for settings}).
- (Non-Iridium recommended. See Mail & Web User Guide: Remote Fetch Settings, Remote fetch ENABLED, Fetch asynchronously ON, Fetch # per cycle (max # emails you want per transfer). Then “Text when mail is available” ON {enter Iridium phone number})
- *To Receive: “Mail”, then “Send/Receive Mail” (bottom left). To compose: open “Mail”, “New mail” (bottom right), then “To Outbox” (top right). (Connect to Iridium wifi), “Send/receive (bottom left)”
NOTE!: There is no way to clear the email queue on the Iridium. If you set up daily Chris Parker weather emails & don’t turn the Iridium on for a few months, they will all download at once (data plan limit!). Iridium is “currently working on a solution”. The only workaround is to create a new Iridium email account (SailMail is another possible solution. You can log in on a laptop & clean out queue.)
BLOGGER: Use email to post: Go to settings, mobile & email. Set up your unique email (username.secretword@blogger.com) & choose “publish” or “save as draft.” To post: Subject is post title, body of email is post with #end, attach photo (RESIZE!) https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/154172?hl=en- Web button: Opera Mini (Apple devices per bulletin). BE CAREFUL. Use mobile sites or “Iridium partner” apps. http://www.google.com/gwt/n gives text version of any website. To set up Apple device, go to iPhone "settings", "wifi", select Iridium network, then HTTP Proxy "Auto". In app, select "Web" then follow instructions for config (says Safari?). PredictWind: "If having trouble, close all background apps (settings, general, background refresh OFF), do not have multiple tabs open in browser, kill everything (double click home button)."
- Weather button: generic weather from NOAA GFS model. Set location: settings, weather, location
NOTE!: My service provider says they calculate data used at invoicing. There is no way to "track" my data usage :-(
5. Partner Products: (set up to work with limited bandwidth)
https://www.iridium.com/products/types/Iridium-GO-1
- Weather: PredictWind app (requires laptop), GRIB Explorer Plus (Chris Parker recommend)(Additional weather options): Saildocs.com (grib) compressed email or Chris Parker email subscription (www.mwxc.com)
- Email: SailMail app "AirMail"
Complaints. Since there is no way to contact @IridiumComm support through their website, here are my gripes:
- Why two separate apps?
- Why can’t I have ONE manual? I don’t care if I need to download it. Just one. (But preferably a printed manual, because we are OFF THE GRID, thus buying a SAT COMMUNICATOR!)
- Why so many passwords/logins?
- Take the Facebook functionality out of your ad. It doesn’t work.
- Why only portrait mode? Mildly annoying, but I’m not the only one.
Links:
http://www.sailingtotem.com/2016/02/iridium-go-with-predictwind-for-weather-and-more.html
- My Dropbox Iridium files (https://db.tt/lVlTb9qR): Cheat sheet, Mail & Web Mobile App Bulletin (Sept 2014), Iridium documents (get the most current from their website)
- My blog post: “Slow internet and/or using less data”
- http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.com/2015/09/slow-internet-andor-using-less-data.html
- Iridium GO support: Iridiumgo.com, then “resources”
- Your service provider (I purchased my GO! from Amazon, so I have BlueCosmo)
- Predictwind has a great support page, even if you didn’t purchase through them: http://support.predictwind.com/hc/en-us/categories/200016475-Iridium-GO-
- Twitter support for SMS: https://support.twitter.com/articles/14020
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
My New Paddle
I was in a creative funk this morning. Should be doing something but not feeling like doing anything. I hate that. So, I loaded the canoe and walked to South Lake Union. As soon as I started walking I felt better. It is a beautiful day, sunny, calm and heading towards 55F. Lake Union, mostly industrial ship stuff or marinas and houseboats is nice today. No other traffic on the lake other than 3 seaplanes that land. There are some scaups about near the north end and I notice that the two ships on the right of the photo are the Labrador and the Retriever. I have my new paddle out, a traditional shaped spruce one that I just completed. It is a little thick in places, but works well and I like it better than my store bought one. A few modifications and it will be nice. I'll make another, it was fun. Once through Portage Bay and the cut I head CW around Union Bay. I spot one eagle hunting something on the other side of an island. It is circling and swooping and has probably got a coot to dive. I surprise the big female eagle as I come around an island. She was sitting on a drift log just 4 feet from two Canada geese. She flies over to the "birch perch" and 4 other geese quickly get up and fly over and land directly under her - odd behaviour. I see the swans flying on the far side of the bay and I pause to look at the big female eagle in the birch. When I break my gaze, I look around I realize that I can see six herons and two bald eagles and that two raccoons are watching me. I head over towards the swans (eleven), which are scattered today in twos and threes and then turn SE towards the main lake. Now it is just time to paddle, not think, just listen to the rhythm and watch my upper arm as it sweeps across my view.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
My Best Nightmare Coming True
I'm in want of someplace different, so, I paddle north in the big lake well past Union Bay. A seaplane with an old piston engine rumbles into the air, but it is well out of sight. The sound drifts off for a few dozen paddle strokes before the plane comes out from behind a hill whose trees have absorbed it's noise. It flies south past me towards Mt. Rainier. When I reach Wolf Bay (it is not much of a bay - not since 1916 when the lake level dropped 10 feet) an eagle flies past and then perches in a tree along the shore where crows pester it. It whistles a deep haunting tone back at the crows.
I am almost to Sand Point before I see the first motorboat. I turn around and head south.
As I near the lunchcounter, an eagle flies out of the NE lagoon. It is hunting and I see it splash full body down into the water. It comes up empty, circles some and splashes down again. Again it comes up empty. This time it circles, gradually climbing and gradually widening it's arc until it finally flies back to the NE lagoon.
I have to push many drift logs out of way to access a rich plastic debris spot. It is getting more difficult for me to collect plastic junk. My best nightmare may be coming true. I fill my boat with about 50 gallons of junk. Some of it is the pebble grain styrofoam, which I especially hate because it falls apart and soaks up so much water that I cannot use it for my artwork.
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