April  18th, 2007 - SSB Communications 

SSB

SSB equipment and Installation

SSB & E Mail

SSB Training Courses

SSB Training Books

Helpful Resources

Below are Evaluated sites that have important information on all aspects of communications .

FCC

Radio Licensing

YachtCom
communications regulations and information

USCG Navigation Center Radio Rules & regulations

GMDSS

Global Maritime Distress Safety System. Radio Operators guide 

International Maritime Organization

IMO communication Zones

- Area A1 Within range of VHF coast stations with continuous DSC alerting available (about 20-30 miles) 

- Area A2 Beyond area Al, but within range of MF coastal stations with continuous DSC alerting available (about l00 miles) 

- Area A3 &  Area A4 The remaining sea areas.  More

Communications News©

Communication possibilities in the modern day offer a variety of options. We are providing newsletters on each, which include, Cellular phones, VHF, SSB, Satellite and Wifi.

This week SSB Radios examined

SSB

HF/SSB radios allow you to communicate from 75 miles to 3,000 miles offshore and beyond, depending on propagation, so you can stay in contact worldwide. Marine HF radios are often referred to as SSB radios, because for all marine frequencies, transmissions are always made in single-sideband mode. Propagation is an issue with SSB and its a general rule that you choose a lower frequency when the sun is low and a higher  frequency when the sun is high.

The SSB transceiver is a very reliable method of long range communication. Marine Very High Frequency (VHF / FM) transceivers have an effective range of only about 20 nautical miles and cellular phones have a very limited range. Satellite phones are very expensive and have limited coverage.

Benefits of HF/SSB Radio: 
Multi Party Conversation, Listen to International Broadcast Stations, Receive Weather Facsimile Charts for Free, Amateur Radio , Time Signals, Send and Receive E-Mail, Communications Reliability. To get the most out of your SSB check the Courses and book links below.

Weather forecasts, safety and chat. 
Cruisers like to keep in touch and its also a safety net, plus an information source like Weather. Herb Hilgenberg's Southbound II weather net is legendary among East Coast and Caribbean cruisers. You can keep in touch with any vessel at anytime, anywhere in the world as long as they have an SSB. 

Here is a link to Marine radio nets for cruisers  SSB frequencies and times.

SSB and DSC
SSB monitors DSC distress on channels 2,4, 6, 8,12 and 16 MHz. VHF monitors DSC on channel 70. Again to fully activate DSC you will need to connect your GPS to the SSB receiver and use your MMSI number. Pushing the DSC button sends out a signal on  a 2 MHz default frequency that includes your MMSI, your lat & lon and the time. The transmission activates an alarm on any radios within range.  To test your DSC capability send a "test" transmission to a Coast Guard stations MMSI number.

SSB equipment and Installation

You will need a SSB radio an Automatic Antenna Tuner, a grounding plane and a backstay antenna or 23 ft whip Arial. You will need to get a license see FCC in the left Column.

The Furuno FS1503EM w Tuner is an example of a SSB radio.

The FS1503EM won the NMEA award for SSB/GMDSS two years and is rugged and spalsh proof. It is e mail compatible and will use SCS Pactor II pro HF modem. 

150W

$2,500 approx.

Another example of a marine SSB is the ICOM IC- M802

This unit is E mail ready will take the Pactor modem, Its also DSC ready but will need a separate aerial plus GPS input.

Connects to the AT-140 automatic Antenna Tuner. 150W

$1,800 plus $490 for the tuner approx.

Sailnet article SSB installation Although Professional installation is recommended this article will help you if you decide to DIY. It will at least give you an idea of the complications and what's required..  

SSB E mail Setup

Both the ICOM and the Furuno Radios above are specially designed with e mail in mind.

To send e mail you will need a modem and a Computer. While there are a few different types available, the most popular is the PTC-II series from Special Communications Systems in Germany. 

These PTC-II modems are the only ones that can make use of SCS's advanced Pactor II and Pactor III protocols for squeezing lots of data through a relatively small chunk of airwaves. Approximately $750 for the Pactor II, plus $150 fro the Pactor III upgrade.

PTC-II series from Special Communications Systems in Germany

SSB E mail Providers

They provide a radio link and a shore side station with access to the Internet.

SailMail
The $250 per year membership allows you 90 minutes/week access to the Sailmail radio stations. This translates into about 50 cents/minute.

You will need a Pactor modem.

With 13 locations around the world, and a little patience you can usually find an available station. If your needs are such that you regularly exceed the 10-minute daily allotment, you'll need to look towards Iridium or Inmarsat.

CruiseEmail.com

Pompano Beach-based CruiseEmail, founded by Dr. John Gregory, has cooperating station locations in Florida, Maryland, Grenada and Belize, covering the east coast and Caribbean cruising grounds quite well. Stations in Europe and the med are under construction.

WinLink

Stations include 20 plus in North America, South Africa, 6 in Australia and New Zealand, 6 plus in Europe and the Med plus the Caribbean and South American coverage

For boaters who have passed the (relatively easy) test to operate on amateur frequencies and are in possession of their ham license, the Win Link service offers free email with a station network of more than 30 locations.

MarineNet

Founded by amateur radio operator John Heron. MarineNet software is optimized for use over slow-speed connections. In addition to automatically compressing email messages, it allows the user to view a message and delay downloading large attachments until a fast connection is available. This feature can save  money if someone accidentally emails you a large photograph attached to an email without realizing that it might cost you upwards of $50 just to download it! MarineNet maintains cooperating station locations in Florida, Germany and Michigan,  more stations to come.

Shipcom.com

ShipCom is the provider of HF SSB radiotelephone ship-to-shore service through its network of public coast stations. You can call a shore station on your SSB and be patched through on a land line.

ShipCom also provides VHF radiotelephone, ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship radio-telex, telegrams, HF SSB email, and satellite communications.

SSB Training Courses

RYA 

RYA UK. 

The Long Range Certificate is the radio qualification for mariners venturing out of VHF range. (valid for vessels up to 300 grt). 
4 Day LRC course: Qualifies holder for GMDSS using SSB Radio and Satellite communications. 

YACHTCOMM

GMDSS Long Range Certificate allows you to operate on any maritime MF/HF/VHF frequency/channel and Inmarsat from onboard your Yacht.

Hamble UK based Course.

SSB Training Books

IDi Yachts

The book is a complete guide on how to use your Marine SSB radio--for cruisers by a cruiser. It is an easy to read reference guide that describes all of the emergency, hailing, and working frequencies, East coast, Eastern & NW Caribbean, Pacific West Coast & Mexico SSB/HAM weather and traffic nets, US East & West coast voice weather broadcasts, US East & West coast weather fax frequencies, how to send email, how to make phone calls with your Marine SSB radio and troubleshooting & installation. Includes a removable "Quick Reference Guide" that you'll want to keep by your radio.

Check out the table of Contents here

MH professional

Captains quick guide, Using VHF and SSB radios.

This 14 panel quick guide is laminated carefully organized. 

On the spot reference is ideal for boaters who need a quick streamlined information resource.

Communications at Sea

This book is a complete guide to all forms of communication at sea. It examines the international marine use of cell phones, satellites, amateur radio, and email, cutting through the jargon and sales hype to enable readers to make the right choice for their needs. Comprehensive appendices on radio procedure, tables of radio frequencies and weather broadcast times provide invaluable reference information not available from any other single source.

Marine Amateur Radio

Developed by the United States Power Squadrons, the world's largest private, nonprofit boating organization, Marine Amateur Radio is a complete guide to the use of ham radio for two-way and network communications among boats and between boats and shore stations. Briefly, succinctly, and clearly, this sturdy handbook lays out the advantages of ham radio for boaters. It explains how to get an operator's license, how to select and install a receiver and antenna, and how to use the radio for voice and Morse code communications with other boats and to shore--including inexpensive telephone patches to home. It also shows readers how to link up with marine voice nets for weather and safety communication.

Related newsletter topics

VHF VHF and DSC explained

Glossary of Terms

AIS
Automatic Identification System

IMO
International Maritime Organisation

MARPA 
Mini Automatic radar Plotting Aid

MMSI
Maritime Mobile Service Identity

SAR
Search and Rescue Organizations

DSC
Digital Selective Calling is the red button on your radio for sending distress signals.

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