Some news from the offshore communications world has run across my desk this week I thought I would share.

First, for SSB lovers, it looks like the ICOM M802 is again available to purchase in the US market: https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/at...A-17-960A1.pdf

Second, the Iridium NEXT system is making progress and sounds like it will be inplace "mid-2018". 10 more satellites were launched this week for a total of 30 in orbit so far, with 66 needed to complete the network. Too bad not likely to be ready for next year's run to Hawaii: http://investor.iridium.com/released...easeID=1043187 and http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/or...ium-3-mission/

Key bit: "the Iridium-3 mission was the third such flight by SpaceX on behalf of Iridium Communications in 2017. The previous two occurred in January and June. There are five more launches planned by the middle of 2018 to orbit a total of 75 next-generation Iridium satellites to completely overhaul the company’s voice and data constellation."

Iridium is being quiet about hardware compatibility (Handsets, Go, Delorme, YB, etc.) with the new system, which I take to mean while existing equipment may be compatible (we hope), you ain't SnapChatting or Instagramming out past the Farallons without new hardware.