December 28, 2006 15:33
bobetter Wrote:I think you are missing the point here. To send/receive email, one must also be "connected to the internet", how you do that (cel, sat phone,wifi, etc) doesn't matter.
No, I actually think you're missing the point. You can have email over HF (SSB radio) with sailmail or winmail but not have access to the 'net', i.e. able to access web pages and upload/download from the internet. HF email is cheap, proven, albeit slow, and is what most world cruiser still rely on, and will continue to rely on until satellite communications (such as the various hand held satellite phones) get better coverage and cheaper costs. Most offshore boats will have a SSB onboard with pactor modems, and thus email communications is possible while net access is not realistic, unless you have deep pockets. On most cruising budgets satellite communications is still a real luxury that they cannot afford.
Scot