Long Range Comms

[NDG]

Going cruising later this year, and would welcome advice from anyone who has a view on the question of long range comms. Firstly - Satphone or SSB? (don't say both!) Secondly, does anyone know where I can get an affordable SSB, or even a second hand one?

 

[alant]

see recent postings on Iridium.

 

[davel]

Try posting on the "WANTED" forum

 

[Boatman]

What do you mean by affordable ?

The First question you should ask yourself is what do you want these comms for, satphones are great for certain things while SSBs are great for other things it totally depends on what you want and need.

As for second hand etc, depending on what you want there are lots of cheaper (non-marine) alternatives to marine SSBs (eg Ham radios etc)

 

[ParaHandy]

You might find a select combination of both is best! See what you think of my intended strategy; use an SSB receiver for weather info and a phone such as Iridium for "chat".

Using SSB transceiver will consume more power than I'm prepared to countenance - SSB sets output 100s watts thro' a substantial aerial. Sat (Mini M/C) phones with voice are expensive and slow (beware! they quote compressed data transmission rates). Iridium is relatively cheap so long as you don't use it to excess. When I'm ready to go, I'm hoping that I might have some other 'phones to choose from. Reliability will be the key.

What I have learnt and experienced with SSB: SSB transmission of weather data is free. US Noaa is reliable, regular, repeated frequently, well documented and easy to understand (in as much as any weather chart is). German DDFK at Offenbach is also all of the above. UK have Northwood Navy transmissions which are amended by Navy meterologist which makes them rather more valuable than either German or USA forecast charts which are straight off the computer. An SSB receiver allows you to listen in to any of the amateur nets. Just a caution though; as I understand the position great chunks of the worlds' oceans are pure guesswork as far as weather is concerned.

 

[NDG]

Thanks, thats useful. I have heard that a receiver and a phone might be a good combination, and its useful to hear of other people's experiences. I would carry an Epirb, so the chosen tool would not primarily be for safety but more for weather info and for keeping in touch occasionally with home and maybe people met whilst cruising (not every day tho'!!). Your solution sounds like a good combination.

I wonder whether the cruising "community" tends to keep in touch to exchange information much via SSB on the Med/Canaries/Carribean 'circuit', or is it done (if at all) more on VHF and/or satphones these days? Anybody had any recent experience?

 

[tomboy352]

Re-SSB/Ham

I am a recently licenced Ham/marine SSB user.I use a Marine spec. Furuno 150watts tx/rx with insulated backstay ant. and cintered bronze earthing plates through grp hull. The marine side is a bit limiting but being able to call Humber CG from S.Norway and Holland for an inshore 3 day wx is useful. Partiscipating on the maritime mobile netts during last summer cruise gave me Internet wx reports from " Net Control " First name terms with cruising folk from Azores to Turkey via the radio telephone where problems and advice is often discussed. Contacts from as far as Ausie,Japan and Canada although these are much harder to reach. Blue water travelers tend to use the Ham Netts. Having communication on board when we are used to being out of VHF range on 3 day passages x The North Sea is confidence inspiring, plus you can have a QSO (Chat) at any time you fancy or need to. The most I have consummed on a sked would be about 3AH, so battery life has never been an issue. I would recommend a ham installation to anyone who takes traveling seriously. The rub is that it might cost you 1500 quid to set up a "new station" plus a winter at night school studying (I studied at home but have a technical background). Second hand ham gear (not marine authorised) is available through local ham clubs and at ham Jumbles. Always a lot of people changing gear.
Rgds, M0XPL/Maritime Mobile

 

[PaulJ]

Re: Re-SSB/Ham

Tomboy, is there such a thing as a "Ham Jumble Association" as there is for boat jumbles and is there a website detailing places and dates?

 

[tomboy352]

Re: Re Ham Jungles

I believe there is a wealth of stuff on the net, but never looked. Try under RSGB, or on 01707 659015. Radio Soc of G B . The yearbook at £16 has events. you might show interest on the phone, They sent me photo coppies last year of local Rallies and Clubs. Also members receive "Radcom"....should be available through good news agents or Library. That has details and adverts. Im not a member so cant help there. I studied using Radio Amatuers Exam Manual £15 ISBN 1-872309-45-3. Exams held at Xmas and May every year. Morse Test at 12 or 5 wpm can be taken at any rally.You need the 12 wpm for an "A" class licence to tx long range. Audio tapes are available.

 

[toad]

Try Walters and Stanton at www.wsplc.com thay normaly have secondhand radio eqp for sale and know what thay are talking about.

 

[ParaHandy]

Re: Re-SSB/Ham

The thought of having to sit the morse test was a factor in my decision. Have difficulty remembering phonetic alphabet - G particularly, for some reason - so morse would be v. difficult. However, I saw references to the morse element in the exam being dis-continued. Do you know if that is the case?

 

[tomboy352]

Re:Morse test

Parahandy, I heard that internationaly speaking, there is a lot of opposition to the morse requirement but that the Ruskies were holding out for it. Cant see it disappearing in the near future though. For one thing, you get less radio interfearance with neighbours with morse so it can be useful. There is a lot of it about on the HAM BANDS. Possibly 50% useage, The test speed of 5wpm is not out of reach of an average person. With a restricted licence , the practise and motivation would soon bring you to 12wpm. The test is quite friendly and should I say forgiving. So dont be put off. Clubs usually run morse classes. If you put enough dedicated hours into it, you'll manage.

 

[Bergman]

Re: Re-SSB/Ham

There have been some recent changes. Not absolutely sure of the details so best check with RA but I think you can get on HF bands with commercial SSB gear with a pass at 5wpm.

At that speed you can look it up as you go.

Don't approve personally. I think the morse test was (is) a good thing. Anyone prepared to do the work had earned the right to be an amateur operator and was more likely to be a good one. I for one think its a pity morse is no longer used, not even part of Yachtmaster sylabus anymore - all very sad.

 

[ParaHandy]

Re: Re-SSB/Ham

Well: 3amphr, backstay aerial, sintered bronze earth plate, transceiver and 5wpm. Just about achievable. Much appreciated & thanks.