If you think you going to be able to come here and just read about weather conditions and how wonderful sailing is, “Wrong”, you have to endure the entire Alex Dorsey experience. A quote:
“Let us conceder that we are all partially insane. It will explain us to each other.
– Mark Twain
I was happy to get my log updated with my shorting out sat-phone yesterday. I thought it would be my last transmission until the Marquesas.
If you saw my sat phone you could learn a little about who I am. It is bandaged and the bottom is glued together (5200), and the antenna partially burned. It has been through the ringer with me and I have had to fix it a number of times. It has become an old friend, or arch-rival depending on the occasion.
What do they call it when one shakes an infant to death? Well I almost killed my sat phone yesterday however I couldn’t find a good handhold for strangulation, so I shook away, AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
My phone and I both have circuitry issues; however I was determined to fix it and spent most of the day meditating about it. It is amazing what one can accomplish when you have time and a little incense. I remembered something one of the guys said at agiosat when I ordered a new 12v connector, “You know it needs a good battery right”. Why would he say that, I’m ordering a charger? The batteries are $120.00, and I never take the phone off the boat, I’ll just leave it plugged in all the time. Then it dawned on me. “Surely the good folks at Motorola wouldn’t have designed it to need a battery even though it was plugged in would they”?
Possibly not, I did take 2 lightning strikes in the last year. For some reason the phone needs to be connected to the data port in order to charge, I think it needs it for a ground.
Anyway. To make a long story short, If I keep the phone charging and off, and only turn it on when I need to xmit I might be able to use the trace power left in the battery. I think its working. I thought of rewiring the power from the charger to the battery connectors but the battery only puts out a few Mila-amps, and the charger an ample amount more.
Sorry for the rambling but that was my day yesterday. I really want to keep everyone online during my crossing.
The weather is beautiful and sunny. The Tropical Cyclone to my south is stealing a bit of my wind but I’m still managing 100 miles a day. I’m told it should freshen after Monday.
I’m trying to have a battery delivered to my friend in
Having the phone off all day is strange. I’m used to the company of my instant messages throughout the day. I will turn it on a few times throughout the day to check instant messages and transmit.
Peace from the middle of the Pacific
Sail far, and live slowly.
Alex
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