martinwoolwich
New member
The radio thing. What is it? who uses it?
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SSB?
- Thread starter martinwoolwich
- Start date
BrendanS
Well-known member
A good explanation <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sgcworld.com/support/SGCwhatis.html>here</A>
In very simple terms, the VHF marine radios we use round the coasts have very limited range. If you are off-shore or going across the pond, VHF radios do not have the range to give you any contact.
HF radios have a far greater range, and that is effectively what SSB is, though there is obviously more to it than that.
You'll need specialist kit (obviously) and also licence to operate it
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In very simple terms, the VHF marine radios we use round the coasts have very limited range. If you are off-shore or going across the pond, VHF radios do not have the range to give you any contact.
HF radios have a far greater range, and that is effectively what SSB is, though there is obviously more to it than that.
You'll need specialist kit (obviously) and also licence to operate it
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ParaHandy
Active member
fairly sure that navtex is ssb which might be the most common signal we're likely to use .. weatherfax transmitted on ssb .. don't need a licence to receive ssb/hf transmissions, though.
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JonBrooks
New member
SSB = Single Sideband Band
It is the treminolgy used for the common transmission mode on HF marine radio.
VHF operates on 155-157 MHZ approx (FM)
HF is below 30 MHZ (SSB)
Main reason for use is long range communications (50 miles to worldwide approx)
It has had a bit of a resurgence recently.
I think mainly because of being able to use e-mail via SSB.
I have tried to make it very basic.
It can be a tad complicated.
The licence for this is known as the Long Range Cert.
Is a 4 day course run by certain RYA schools.
Hope this is of some help
Kind regards
<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741
It is the treminolgy used for the common transmission mode on HF marine radio.
VHF operates on 155-157 MHZ approx (FM)
HF is below 30 MHZ (SSB)
Main reason for use is long range communications (50 miles to worldwide approx)
It has had a bit of a resurgence recently.
I think mainly because of being able to use e-mail via SSB.
I have tried to make it very basic.
It can be a tad complicated.
The licence for this is known as the Long Range Cert.
Is a 4 day course run by certain RYA schools.
Hope this is of some help
Kind regards
<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741
ParaHandy
Active member
if you have a new HF set is it also a requirement to have DSC fitted to a marine transceiver as it is with new vhf sets?
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snowleopard
Active member
who uses it:
a lot more people the other side of the atlantic than here. for uk coastal cruising, forget it, for transatlantic, very useful. can't speak for the med.
apart from chatting to your mates it's also useful for:
BBC World Service
Radio France ocean weather forecasts
Email (extra kit needed)
Weatherfax (ditto)
Herb (US weather routing guru)
Weather & safety nets in US/ caribbean
Ham networks (receive only)
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a lot more people the other side of the atlantic than here. for uk coastal cruising, forget it, for transatlantic, very useful. can't speak for the med.
apart from chatting to your mates it's also useful for:
BBC World Service
Radio France ocean weather forecasts
Email (extra kit needed)
Weatherfax (ditto)
Herb (US weather routing guru)
Weather & safety nets in US/ caribbean
Ham networks (receive only)
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BrendanS
Well-known member
No, DSC is part of VHF marine usage. Doesn't apply to SSB.
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coco
New member
Not true! Shortwave DSC transceivers are being sold and used and in some countries even required.
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30boat
N/A
I may be wrong but I think that only ships need dsc on ssb.
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BrendanS
Well-known member
The question was, is it a requirement? It's certainly recommended, but not as far as I know required for private leisure vessels.
For use in UK waters, there is a clear description of 'recommendations'. These are not the same as requirements <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/gmdss.pdf>here</A>
Can't comment on requirements worldwide, but I'd be suprised if anyone is forcing leisure vessels to carry SSB/DSC
Yes, they are available, and are a requirement for many commercial vessels, but this is a leisure boaters forum.
Would be delighted to hear clarification on worldwide requirements, as this whole area is a minefield, as you'll see by previous threads between myself and Mainlysteam
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For use in UK waters, there is a clear description of 'recommendations'. These are not the same as requirements <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/gmdss.pdf>here</A>
Can't comment on requirements worldwide, but I'd be suprised if anyone is forcing leisure vessels to carry SSB/DSC
Yes, they are available, and are a requirement for many commercial vessels, but this is a leisure boaters forum.
Would be delighted to hear clarification on worldwide requirements, as this whole area is a minefield, as you'll see by previous threads between myself and Mainlysteam
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MainlySteam
New member
I also am unaware of any administration that requires SSB to be DSC capable for pleasure vessels. However, if buying a new set my view is that one should buy a DSC capable one (think Icom may have the pleasure market cornered at the moment with the IC-M802). As Brendan's link shows for the UK, similarly a number of countries (Australia is another) recommend that if an HF radio is fitted that it be DSC and I cannot think of any good reason at all not to take that advice.
Normally for small commercial coastal vessels most countries require an SSB to be carried only if the vessel operates outside of the coverage of the nation's formal VHF maritime radio safety service and my opinion is that that is a useful guideline for pleasure boats too. However, if operation is only occasionally outside of that VHF coverage then in my view a 406MHz EPIRB (with or without integrated GPS) alone is satisfactory.
John
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Normally for small commercial coastal vessels most countries require an SSB to be carried only if the vessel operates outside of the coverage of the nation's formal VHF maritime radio safety service and my opinion is that that is a useful guideline for pleasure boats too. However, if operation is only occasionally outside of that VHF coverage then in my view a 406MHz EPIRB (with or without integrated GPS) alone is satisfactory.
John
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