Where to buy an SSB for price and service

[BrendanChandler]

I have decided to buy an SSB and am looking for advice as to where to buy it.
Any advice would be very welcome.
Where can one buy the copper to connect to ground?

Thanks <font color="blue"> </font>
Brendan

 

[BigART]

Tricky one this, it took a while to find ours. There do not seem to be any new, legal sets for a reasonable price in the UK, Furuno do one but at a silly price (Cactus may be able to help here ), and the Icom 802 in not approved as I understand it. We managed to find our Icom 710 (which came highly recommended) second hand along with an ATU. Not easy, keep an eye on Ebay, backs of Mags, For Sale, etc.

As for the foil, having read the SailMail Primer, etc, I set off for my local Amateur Radio store (Nevada in Portsmouth) where I was met with blank looks and incredulity. The best they could suggest was to get hold of some car grounding braid. I couldn't find any wide enough so I cut a couple of 4 inch wide strips out of an old copper hotwater tank. A bit thick to be called foil but it will be robust and should work as it only has to connect to our steel hull. I haven't yet completed the installation but should be up and running soon. Have you noted the earth isolation issues? I am new to this game but I have received much good advice here on the Forums.

 

[Talbot]

Greenham Regis (all over solent area) or MEI both do the copper foil which should be used to connect the ATU to the counterpoise.

What sort of money are you looking to spend for the SSB and what do you want to use the SSB for?

 

[BrendanChandler]

What sort of money are you looking to spend for the SSB and what do you want to use the SSB for?

The expected answer is as little as possible; We are going for a long sail (some years and a long way). I want email, weather, to keep in touch with other yachts, those ahead of us and those sailing with us and for security in case it all goes horribly wrong.

Brendan

 

[Talbot]

If you want email then you will need at least an Icom M710 and a pactor II modem. Personally I decided that a slightly older radio - Icom M700(UK) would do everything but email easily. The reduced cost plus cost of the modem would more than pay for an Iridium phone, which is better for email anyway!

 

[Sea Devil]

The cheapest source of SSB and antenna tuner is the USA - West Marine for example but there are cheaper. Just email or call them and order for delivery in Gibraltar where you can bring it in hassel free.

The regulations in the UK are out of touch with reality so the simplest solution is to wait till you get to Gibraltar then order from there. (No VAT - no import duty and dollars for pounds)

Tell Shepards what you are spending and they may try to match the price and you will find Icom UK will also supply snipped non UK standard sets to Gib as well but the USA is nearly always cheaper - half the price (I have done this twice) Shepards Marina is a good place to fit out in with most things that you will need available. You will be stretched to find a use for an SSB until the Western Med so why pay more here?

 

[davidbains]

Brendan,
yachtcom.uk supplied my copper foil and groundplate and much good advice is on their
website.