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Old 23-04-2015, 08:30   #1
JMK
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8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

Just bought a boat with an SSB that was installed 8 years ago (the radio may be older yet). We're not planning on any extended crusing for a few years where an SSB would be useful. Is it better to try and sell it to buy newer equipment later? Sorry, don't have the brand name in front of me at the moment.

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J.M.
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Old 23-04-2015, 09:15   #2
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

Marine SSB equipment does not evolve nearly as quickly as most other electronics. A 20-year-old SSB could still be pretty useful. The one question I would ask is, does it have DSC? If so, definitely no reason to replace it. If not, then I would, but many others would not--the call is yours.
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Old 23-04-2015, 09:44   #3
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

J.M.,
Without knowing the brand/model, there really is no way to answer this with any confidence!

But, if the radio is an Icom M-802, then it is the current production Icom Marine SSB-DSC radio, and is the current "top-of-the-line" in affordable Marine SSB radios for cruising boats!!
There is no reason to sell it, unless you need the cash...
(I own two of them, one is 11 years old next month, and one is almost 8 years old, and both work perfectly!)
IC-M802 HF Marine Transceiver - Features - Icom America



Quote:
Originally Posted by JMK View Post
Just bought a boat with an SSB that was installed 8 years ago (the radio may be older yet). We're not planning on any extended crusing for a few years where an SSB would be useful. Is it better to try and sell it to buy newer equipment later? Sorry, don't have the brand name in front of me at the moment.
Now if on the other hand, the radio is an older model, then it will NOT have MF/HF-DSC capability (which is something that you'll want), and it may not be a 100% duty-cycle radio capable of easy/reliable digital comms....and it may not even be a true "marine" radio / may be an older ham radio, that is not what you'd want....
There are a lot of "mays" here, 'cause we don't know what radio you have....

But, if it is an older radio (not the M-802) or a ham radio, then you CAN still use it, even if just for receiving, to get used to how long-range radio / Marine SSB works....and then you'll be pretty well schooled when the time comes to buy/install a new radio!!

If you need the cash now, how much you'd get for the radio depends on what brand/model and it's age and condition...

As examples:
Older / Used Marine SSB's
Icom M-700pro = ~ $500




Icom M-710 = ~ $ 500 - $700




Icom M-800 = ~ $200 - $300




Icom M-700 = ~ $200 - $300



Icom M-600 = ~ $200 - $300





SGC SG-2000 = ~ $400





Furuno FS-1503 = ~ $400 - $500




There are other possibilities of course, but these are the most likely radios...and of course there are 100's of older ham radios that it could be...


I hope this helps...

Fair winds...

John
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Old 23-04-2015, 09:46   #4
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

I have an Icom 700 on board , old but still works !

If you really use it a lot or are a little bit of a hobbyist then maybe a new radio is for you , remember the radio is only a small part of the SSB system all the other stuff may have to be upgraded to see any benefits in a new radio .

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Old 23-04-2015, 09:58   #5
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

Depends on what radio it is, and of course condition... any corrosion evident? Some double that age would be fine.
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Old 23-04-2015, 12:46   #6
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

Thanks. I'll post a follow-up when I go down to the boat and get the exact equipment and model info.

J.M.
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Old 23-04-2015, 12:53   #7
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

J.M.,
You're welcome....
But, if you look at the photos in my posting, and tell me which one it looks like, you can save yourself a lot of time/effort...
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMK View Post
Thanks. I'll post a follow-up when I go down to the boat and get the exact equipment and model info.

J.M.
Fair winds.

John
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Old 23-04-2015, 13:02   #8
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

If it's an 802 I may be interested in buying it. But if it's an 802 and I were you I would be keeping it.
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Old 24-04-2015, 08:06   #9
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

Mine is older and works fine when I rarely use it ..... hint hint, KEEP it.
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Old 24-04-2015, 09:35   #10
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

I checked the SSB model - it is something called a SEA 222. Certainly not a brand I'm familiar with.
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Old 24-04-2015, 09:44   #11
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

Here is some information about it, including an operators manual:
SEA 222 Transceiver - RigReference.com

It does not have DSC functionality. It will still function perfectly well for "normal" SSB communications, and you could certainly keep it if you want to. Especially if you are not planning any cruises out of VHF range, it might be a good idea to keep it and get a little experience with what you can hear and how SSB works, since you have it anyway.

Were I planning a voyage that included any significant amount of time outside of VHF range, I would sell it and install an SSB that included the DSC function. Of course, if you wait a few years to do that, it is entirely possible that there will be more choices on the market, and that they will be less expensive. At the very least, as time goes on there will be more used Icom M802 radios available on the used market.
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Old 24-04-2015, 09:46   #12
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

The Sea is bulletproof, but , I don't think it will work well for pactor etc.
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Old 24-04-2015, 10:10   #13
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

This got me to thinking.....if anyone out there has a nice Furuno that they want to get rid of, let me know.

Cheers,
Tim
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Old 24-04-2015, 10:30   #14
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

Sidebar: And sorry if this is obvious, but the OP will need a license to transmit on SSB. To prevent accidents, and ensure there are no arguments about accidents, the microphone cord usually unscrews from the radio, so the mic can be secured in a drawer.


In the meantime, finding out where the cruisers' networks are, seeing whether wx information is useful, etc., may be worth looking into before deciding on keeping or removing the radio.
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Old 24-04-2015, 11:09   #15
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell

No license is required to transmit distress calls.
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