The Offshore App is designed for boats heading offshore with a need to download forecast GRIB files on an Iridium Go. To download GRIB files, weather routing etc using a PC / Mac computer you need to use the PredictWind Offshore App which you can download from here. Please see video on how to use the Offshore App.
The PredictWind Offshore App (Windows/Mac/iPad/iPhone & Android) will allow you to download GRIB files, Weather Routes, Departure Planning, GMDSS forecasts & Satellite Imagery.
If you already have a PredictWind account, you do not need to register. You can simply login with your PredictWind username/email and password.
- Download this app from Microsoft Store for Windows 10. See screenshots, read the latest customer reviews, and compare ratings for PredictWind Offshore.
- The Yacht Race Tracker App allows competitors to send GPS tracking data, or spectators to watch the yacht race. You can also setup your own personal tracking, and share a web link with friends to watch your progress in real time. Benefits. Friends can watch your progress in real time. Safety - so event organizers can monitor your progress. Replay the race - evaluate your race strategy.
The Free and Basic PredictWind Packages allow you to get Global GRIB files (50km resolution), however, you are not able to get these Gribs over a Satellite/SSB connection on the Free & Basic versions. We recommend buying the Standard or Professional PredictWind Packages for full use of the Offshore Application. You can see a full feature comparison table on our pricing page .
We highly recommend that you look at all the relevant Offshore App help topics, so that you do not miss out on any important features. You can view 'The Essential' help topics in less than 10 minutes.
The help topics are available without an Internet connection if you select the 'help' menu from the Offshore App. All help topics can be printed using the online Help Centre, if you prefer a hard copy.
Integration Options:
The Offshore App has an interface to allow direct downloads with the following Satellite systems:
- Iridium GO!
- Globalstar
- The Optimizer gives direct download access for Iridium, Inmarsat, Thuraya, VSAT, MSAT systems. Please check compatibility here.
Alternatively, you can send an email request to get weather data. You will need to have a satellite email system. SSB Radio users can also retrieve data via the Pactor Modem and the email request feature.
The Offshore App is designed for boats heading offshore with a need to download forecast GRIB files on an Iridium Go.
To download GRIB files, weather routing etc using a PC / Mac computer you need to use the PredictWind Offshore App which you can download from here
Please see video on how to use the Offshore App.
Downloading with a standard internet connection, or with the Iridium GO is a very similar process. Please see tips below;
- Ensure you are connected to your Iridium GO device. Go to wifi settings and select the Iridium-XXXX wifi. Please note it is normal for the Wifi connection to show error symbol with 'no internet access'. The Offshore App will establish an Internet Connection for the Offshore App, but not for other programs.
- On the download page select the 'Iridium GO!' tab at the top, if not already selected.
- You will need 5 bars to make a connection to get an acceptable data speed.
Predictwind Offshore
- The data speed of the Iridium GO! makes it impractical to get the large (above 200KB) GRIB files. We recommend you use the PredictWind Weather Routing to get this detailed information.
- If the signal strength is 5 bars, you can expect to download data at the rate of 12-18 Kbytes/min. Although you may have 5 bars of signal strength at the start of the connection (displayed in the Offshore App) this signal strength will drop below 5 bars, if there are any obstructions blocking the sky/horizon as each Iridium satellite passes overhead every 15 minutes. If there are any dropouts in the data connection the data rate will be slower due to the reconnect time.
- Any dropouts in the connection are handled by the PredictWind 'Smart Connect'. So there is no need to manually restart the connection. Just click the 'download all' button and wait for all data to be downloaded. Please do not click on any buttons during the auto-reconnect process.
- We recommend getting a weather routing & GMDSS text forecast every 12 hours when the forecast updates.
- The 50km resolution PWG forecasts are updated at 03:55 UTC and 15:55 UTC
- The 50km resolution PWE forecasts are updated at 05:30 UTC and 17:30 UTC
- The 50km resolution GFS forecasts are updated at 05:30 UTC and 17:30 UTC
- The 50km resolution ECMWF forecasts are updated at 06:30 UTC and 18:30 UTC
- For GRIB files we recommend getting the Offshore PWG/PWE/GFS/ECMWF GRIB files with a 24hr timestep, 5 days, 100km resolution, wind, rain, pressure & swell.
- The High resolution GRIB files are too large to download on the Iridium GO connection.
Predictwind Offshore Weather
CONNECTION ISSUES: If you are having trouble downloading data please make sure you methodically check all steps in the Iridium Help > Troubleshooting Tips.