Marine SSB questions.

[David Zielke]

I am prepairing to go offshore this summer with a friend of mine and we are
in the process of fitting his boat for the trip. I have been slated with
the task of providing long range communication. There seem to be two
options:

1) marine SSB
2) HAM Radio (I am a HAM [ka4sli])

As for the marine SSB, am I correct that this is like a VHF radio and one
simply fills out the proper form with the FCC and pays the money?

As for the question of which one will be more useful, the route we are
looking at is Norfolk --> Bermuda --> Southern to mid Bahammas --> Florida.
Which type of unit will provide us with the best chance of keeping in touch
such that people know where we are?

I am looking at adding a pair of backstay insulators for the antenna and am
looking for a smallish transceiver which runs off a 12V system. Suggestions
in the used market (Marine SSB or HAM) would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance

David Zielke
'Botney Bay'
Cal 35 Hull 006

zie...@fozzie.nrl.navy.mil

[S...@mwvm.mitre.org]

In article <920430163...@fozzie.nrl.navy.mil>

zie...@FOZZIE.NRL.NAVY.MIL (David Zielke) writes:

>
>I am prepairing to go offshore this summer with a friend of mine and we are
>in the process of fitting his boat for the trip. I have been slated with
>the task of providing long range communication. There seem to be two
>options:
>
> 1) marine SSB
> 2) HAM Radio (I am a HAM [ka4sli])
>

In addition, for about the same range of prices, you can now get a satellite
direct radio that functions about like a cellular telephone. I believe usage
costs are higher (ham usage is free) but reliability is excellent.

>As for the marine SSB, am I correct that this is like a VHF radio and one
>simply fills out the proper form with the FCC and pays the money?
>

That is true - just add it to your present station license for the VHF and
pay their fee.

>As for the question of which one will be more useful, the route we are
>looking at is Norfolk --> Bermuda --> Southern to mid Bahammas --> Florida.
>Which type of unit will provide us with the best chance of keeping in touch
>such that people know where we are?
>

My understanding is that either a Ham SSB or a marine SSB is capable of
transmitting on the other's band - it is just a question of licensing and
the pre-fitting of frequencies. I'm fairly sure that the ham units can
dial or select the marine channels - after all hams can be trusted to stay
on their channels and respond in an emergency to marine aid requests. As
a licensed ham, I believe getting a ham unit that can reach marine channels
would be more useful.

There are nets of hams on the air routinely - I've listened occasionally
but am not a licensed ham so I don't monitor it to much.

[P.Bennett]

In article <167DAD...@mwvm.mitre.org>, S...@mwvm.mitre.org writes...

>In article <920430163...@fozzie.nrl.navy.mil>
>zie...@FOZZIE.NRL.NAVY.MIL (David Zielke) writes:
>
>>
>>I am prepairing to go offshore this summer with a friend of mine and we are
>>in the process of fitting his boat for the trip. I have been slated with
>>the task of providing long range communication. There seem to be two
>>options:
>>
>> 1) marine SSB
>> 2) HAM Radio (I am a HAM [ka4sli])
>>
>In addition, for about the same range of prices, you can now get a satellite
>direct radio that functions about like a cellular telephone. I believe usage
>costs are higher (ham usage is free) but reliability is excellent.
>
>>As for the marine SSB, am I correct that this is like a VHF radio and one
>>simply fills out the proper form with the FCC and pays the money?
>>
>That is true - just add it to your present station license for the VHF and
>pay their fee.
>
>>

>My understanding is that either a Ham SSB or a marine SSB is capable of
>transmitting on the other's band - it is just a question of licensing and
>the pre-fitting of frequencies. I'm fairly sure that the ham units can
>dial or select the marine channels - after all hams can be trusted to stay
>on their channels and respond in an emergency to marine aid requests. As
>a licensed ham, I believe getting a ham unit that can reach marine channels
>would be more useful.

Although some ham transceivers can transmit on marine frequencies, they are
not type approved for such use. Radio transmitters used in any service other
than amateur must be type approved, and part of the approval spec. will require
that the operator cannot make transmitter adjustments, or select random
operating frequencies, as ham rigs can do. One Icom marine SSB tranceiver will
operate on ham bands, and may be a solution for someone wanting both ham and
marine stations. this set is synthesized, with the operator able only to
select pre-programmed channels. The frequencies can be entered directly only
after muttering a secret incantation at the set, or flipping a hidden
"non-user-accesible" switch. A licenced amateur could likely obtain the
appropriate information from a dealer.

>
>There are nets of hams on the air routinely - I've listened occasionally
>but am not a licensed ham so I don't monitor it to much.
>
>>I am looking at adding a pair of backstay insulators for the antenna and am
>>looking for a smallish transceiver which runs off a 12V system. Suggestions
>>in the used market (Marine SSB or HAM) would be most appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks in advance
>>
>>David Zielke
>>'Botney Bay'
>>Cal 35 Hull 006
>>
>>zie...@fozzie.nrl.navy.mil

Peter Bennett VE7CEI Bitnet: bennett@triumfer
TRIUMF, Vancouver, B.C., Canada Internet: ben...@erich.triumf.ca