Re: Amateur Radio - to get weather info, access mail etc?

I am based in the UK and often travel in the French inland waterways, the 
English Channel and the Northern med.

For the sea areas I would recommend NAVTEX you will get weather re****ts in

English wherever you are. You may also with a modern set get some local 
inland forecasts but they may be in the local language. Sets are not that 
expensive circa $300. Most if not all Marinas publish a forecast on their 
notice boards each morning these usually last 2 or 3 days ahead.

For the inland waters the local TV or Radio will be best but these are in 
the local language. Do not forget the local papers. If you want English
the 
internet is best, use a cafe or get Wi Fi and hope for access. In the
inland 
areas we rarely need a forecast. You do need a forecast for the Seine 
between Rouen and the sea and for some exposed parts of the Rhone if a 
Mistral is due. Do not worry to much as the rest of the boating community 
will have plenty of info.

If you become a Ham the local French, German and Dutch Hams can mostly
speak 
English and can probably give a local forecast but remember they may not
be 
sailors.

If you need weather charts and cannot get the internet then Fax is the way

to go, any reasonable receiver and a computer should suffice. Get a free 
programme from the internet, use Bracknel from the UK or Offenbach from 
Germany

Alec.




"Marc Heusser" <marc.heusser@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote
in 
message news:marc.heusser-5BDE8A.17100921032008@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>I am an electrical engineer and could quite easily get a licence for
> amateur radio.
> Does it pay off if I'd do that to access weather charts etc on a boat -
> this year in Europe, both on inland waterways in France and in the
> eastern North sea (between Germany, Denmark and Sweden)?
>
> Apart from a transceiver I have a Mac that should decode the signals
> without any extra hardware with MultiMode
> (http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/multimode.html).
>
> Or are other options better?
>
> TIA
>
> Marc
>
> -- 
> remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
> <http://www.heusser.com>