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Old 12-11-2019, 15:09   #1
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Fleming Island, FL
Boat: Island Packet 420
Posts: 199
SSB worth keeping?

Our new-to-us boat currently has a SSB installed, but as part of our upcoming refit, we're considering removing it. Reasons being that neither of us no how to use it, I understand it's a relatively finicky install, and it seems excessively cumbersome to use (based on reading other peoples questions about setup and use).

Our intention is to have an IridiumGo onboard for weather, regardless of whether or not we keep the SSB.

So, with current technology and looking towards the future (i.e. Tesla Starlink), is it worth the effort to ensure the SSB is installed correctly and learn how to use it?

Cruising intentions include a few years (at least) in the Caribbean and hopefully South Pacific.
blinkerfluid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2019, 15:29   #2
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Somewhere in the North Atlantic
Boat: Passport 40
Posts: 77
Re: SSB worth keeping?

Our boat came with an ICOM M700 that was a piece of garbage, mostly because it was old and didn't work well for digital modes such as weather faxes. This summer we replaced it with an ICOM IC-7200 (amateur HF) that plugs into a windows laptop via USB. It works really well for NOAA weather fax, WINLINK (ham-radio email), and other digital modes. Can't legally use it to transmit on the marine bands, but we find the amateur digital bands to be more useful.

Some people like SSB for the cruisers nets. We haven't gotten into those yet but the Caribbean is well served by several nets that you can't get from a satellite system. We also find the BBC, Voice of America, and Radio Havana Cuba to be entertaining on SSB.

That said, we're also going to get an IridiumGO for redundancy and communication with family. While we can email anyone with SSB, texting and calling friends is more straightforward with the satellite system.

If you already have the system and it works, I think you might as well learn how to use it before you throw it out. At the very least it can serve as redundancy, which is never a bad thing. I agree that it can be finicky at times, but playing around for a couple hours will teach you a lot.
Mediator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2019, 15:34   #3
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,479
Re: SSB worth keeping?

This is exact question gets posted periodically...with a wide variety of opinions in response. Give the forum a search and you will find relevant threads.
belizesailor is offline   Reply With Quote
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