SSB Net

[beneteau_305_553]

Is there a UK/North european SSB net on either the marine or the amateur bands active? The 14303 net covers the med and involves a lot of relays for northern boats

I'm going to be coming up the west coast of france, then east along the south coast of england over the next month and would like to be in a net if there is one going or set up one if other stations are interested.

Suggestions appreciated

 

[Bajansailor]

You could try checking in on the Transatlantic net on 21.400 - they are on every day at 1300 UTC, net controller now is Jack AA3GZ in Pennsylvania.
Jack took over running the net from Trudi 8P6QM (my Mum) who was running it every day (pretty much) for the past 20 odd years.
They have very few check ins these days though - maybe 2 or 3, compared to 40 or more 20 years ago - I think everybody is moving towards satcoms and emails by sailmail and winlink.

 

[KellysEye]

I've always been surprised that the UK doesn't have an SSB net. Most parts of the world do have a net and surely there must be enough serious cruising boats in the UK with SSB.

Perhaps the way to go is start one yourself (nets need a controller) and get some publicity for it. I would think the yachting rags would be interested in it.

 

[wotayottie]

I guess that SSB comes into its own on long sea crossings or in countries with poor weather services or inaccessible languages. In other words, you might need SSB at the eastern end of the Med, but why would you want it round the UK where there is good VHF service and mobile phones?

I have one, but its used just for ham radio chatting in the UK. When I had the boat in Spain it was far more useful.

 

[Sea Devil]

There have been the odd nets running in the Med and the Bill and Ben ham net but there really is not enough stuff to interest people in Europe for an SSB net to make sense.....

Once you get to the Caribbean it all changes - People are spread out. Moving around a lot - the only decent weather comes off the nets. Its a great way of keeping in touch and 'chatting'.

From Panama across the Pacific and onwards the nets become a vital way of keeping in touch, security, mutual help and I doubt anything will ever replace them. People without and SSB in these areas are missing a vital part of the cruising life but frankly when I am in European waters I almost never turn the SSB on except for weather..
Michael