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23-04-2015, 08:30
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: OPacific Northwest
Boat: Vancouver 28
Posts: 55
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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.
Thanks,
J.M.
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23-04-2015, 09:15
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
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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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23-04-2015, 09:44
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Florida
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 2,583
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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
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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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
__________________
John, KA4WJA
s/v Annie Laurie, WDB6927
MMSI# 366933110
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23-04-2015, 09:46
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto Canada
Boat: Bristol 45.5
Posts: 848
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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 .
Regards
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23-04-2015, 09:58
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,477
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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.
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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23-04-2015, 12:46
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: OPacific Northwest
Boat: Vancouver 28
Posts: 55
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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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23-04-2015, 12:53
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Florida
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 2,583
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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
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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Fair winds.
John
__________________
John, KA4WJA
s/v Annie Laurie, WDB6927
MMSI# 366933110
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23-04-2015, 13:02
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
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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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24-04-2015, 08:06
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: coast of maine
Boat: Swan 48
Posts: 22
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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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24-04-2015, 09:35
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: OPacific Northwest
Boat: Vancouver 28
Posts: 55
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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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24-04-2015, 09:44
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
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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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24-04-2015, 09:46
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,477
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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.
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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24-04-2015, 10:10
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virgin Islands
Boat: PDQ 36, 36'5", previously Leopard 45 cat and Hunter 33 mono
Posts: 1,345
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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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24-04-2015, 10:30
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#14
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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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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24-04-2015, 11:09
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
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Re: 8 yr old SSB - keep or sell
No license is required to transmit distress calls.
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