Skype? or Hype?

Communication is very important while we travel. We might want to get in touch with our children, grandchildren, or friends. Emergencies can arise where we need to talk to someone immediately. We are looking into many modes of communication: ham radio, cell phone, satellite phone, phone card, email with Sailmail, email with a Pactor modum and Skype, among others. We wonder what will work best for us.

The important thing is see what will work while we are still in the US. Once we leave it will be very difficult to do the research and determine what will work best. To that end we have obtained our Ham license and listen to the ham frequencies daily. We listen to all the nets which deal with Mexico. We listen at 7:30 AM to the "Chubasco Net", at 7:45 AM "Keels and Wheels" and at 8 AM to the "Baja Net". We are doing mostly listening, however we are doing some transmitting. The Lord looks out after us in strange ways. The radio was not working well and He sent along a new friend Virgil Pattin, an expert ham radio operator into our lives. He helped me set up a new antenna and has worked with me on techniques of how to use it. THANK YOU Virgil. We could have not done it with out you.

Captain Mark uses Skype so today May 4, 2008 we downloaded it off the internet and are trying to determine if we can use it. We need to send it to all we might want to talk to within the next year and make sure they have Skype then hopefully we can talk with NO CHARGE. Sounds pretty good.

Let's see if it works.

T&C