how many people use SSB for voice cf VHF?

[cpthook]

hi there
There seems to be lots of people using HF SSB for receiving weather faxes and
the like but do many people around the UK use HF SSB for ship to ship and ship
to shore transceive? If so, could I ask which frequencies you tend to use please
and why you choose them given there seem to be so many calling channels over
the different frequencies. Also do you use it when you are out of VHF range?
Sorry if these seem basic questions but I am new to marine radio and can't find
much info on marine SSB for voice.
Many thanks
Nick

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[johnsomerhausen]

Since most coastal cruising is within VHF range of coastal stations, there isn´t much point inm using SSB which consumes much more eletricity to achieve a communication. Once you are 100 or more miles offshore, SSB comes inmto its own for voice communications. The reason there are so many channels available is that HF "reach" varies with the time of day - 6 MHz is more suited for short range traffic during the daylight hours but has an increased range at night whilst 18 MHZ will reach far durinbg daylight hours but disappears at night. There are so many channels for each frequency range so that one can find a free one whilst the other ones are busy.
john

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[petery]

Apart from distress handling. there are no UK coast stations left to talk to but there are others around the world and there are 'nets' of blue water sailors in various oceans who have set times and frequencies when they talk together. 'fraid I haven't travelled to any of these places yet - so don't know any details.

... but you need the MCA Long Range Certificate (4 day course) before you can transmit and I understand that a 'ham' licence does not allow you to use Marine Frequencies

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[snowleopard]

the simple answer is that everyone uses vhf while they are in range (line of sight) it has the vast advantage that almost everyone monitors channel 16 continuously so you can speak to anyone at any time.

beyond line of sight you need to use ssb but as no one monitors it continuously (for a start the sets draw 3 amps in receive mode) you have to agree a time and frequency in advance.

very few people use ssb regularly in uk waters but across the atlantic it's very common. i wouldn't want to cruise the caribbean or cross an ocean without it.

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[MASH]

Could someone please expand on the differences between marine SSB and Ham, and the equipment/licencing and usefullness differences for the long-distance sailor?

Is it the same kit? Which is the more useful? Do you really have to do a 4 day course just to use a radio??? Who polices that, if anyone?

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[petery]

I believe it is only a licensing issue - both for the user and the set. However the ICOM 802 sold in the US can cover both bands. Usually, marine SSB sets cannot transmit on any non-marine channels.

.. and yes you do have to attend a 3 day+ 1 exam day course supervised by the MCA. You get an impressive-looking gold embossed blue 'passport' - but I'm sure that it will become smaller and plum-coloured when the EU muscle in. The course also covers GMDSS, EPIRB and Inmarsat.

A 'ham' friend carries both an amateur set and a marine set.

As I understand very few people listen out on HF other than by arrangement, I doubt if anybody 'polices' it - but if you do want to telephone via HF connections to foreign coast stations, you do need to register with an 'Accounting authority' to pay your charges.

I'm still a novice at this, so its all IMHO

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