SSB Channels

[impi]

Hi Every body.

We have, after swearing blind this is old technology we would not embrace, now installed the Icom 805 SSB into our catamaran and are ready to head for Panama from the Fort Lauderdale this weekend.

Being new to this 'old technology' I would like to know from members to the forum where I can best download channels (and time schedules) to be used on our SSB for a) weather by voice (we have JV.comm for weather fax), b) Sailing nets and any other general channels for fun and / or information whilst we cruise from here and into the Pacific toward the French Polynesian islands.

All comments and ideas shared would be hugely appreciated.

Cheers

Brent

[Hermanns]

Impi,


I too feel you. What's old is new again - doh!

We swore off SSB too, only finding ourselves where we began and not recognizing it - LOL

[Teknav]

Before heading to French Polynesia, buy a travel guide to that area published by either Frommer's or by Fodor's. You'll need supplies when you get there, this guide will tell you where to find them. (Are you fluent in French or in Tahitian? English is not spoken outside tourist/resort areas.) Sail away! Mauritz

[Albro359]

Go to Jimmy Cornells Noonsite ..... www.noonsite.com ...and search for what you need

[jeremiason]

I have been keeping this list for the last four years...

I distribute it freely hoping that if people find errors, additions or deletions they will notify me..

Hope it helps

[Albro359]

Thank you for that...excellent !
Cheers

[impi]

Originally Posted by Teknav

Before heading to French Polynesia, buy a travel guide to that area published by either Frommer's or by Fodor's. You'll need supplies when you get there, this guide will tell you where to find them. (Are you fluent in French or in Tahitian? English is not spoken outside tourist/resort areas.) Sail away! Mauritz

Thanks for the advice. We have purchased a number of guides and will look if these are amongst them. Ana has a French passport and speaks fluent French ... May have to hold onto her for a while

[impi]

Originally Posted by jeremiason

I have been keeping this list for the last four years...

I distribute it freely hoping that if people find errors, additions or deletions they will notify me..

Hope it helps

Thank you for this jerimiason ... this is the kind of stuff I was hoping for. I have checked some sites on line but am not sure how 'up to date' many of these are so this helps!

[Dsanduril]

These guys seem to keep a somewhat current list more geared toward marine SSB nets:

East Coast Cruising Nets

[medicrene]

SSB is excellent for weather and for long distance communications. I use an old ICOM m-700 to download weatherfax. I have weatherfax software and a demodulator. It works great. I also use the SSB to keep in touch with Ham cruising nets.

[donradcliffe]

The following should get you to Panama--

http://www.caribbeancompass.com/ssb_radio.pdf
Panama — Noonsite

Once in the Pacific, there are usually informal SSB nets started in Panama--ask around the anchorages. There is also the Welcome to the Pacific seafarer's net | Pacific seafarer's net for hams, which has BIG shore-based radios.

If you are going to French Polynesia, check out Pacific Puddle Jump Official Web Site for the bond exemption and other useful links.

For weatherfax, the frequencies/times are found at

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/rfax.pdf

the schedule and content of individual faxes changes pretty often, but they don't change the time the current schedule is broadcast--receive the schedule first.

[btrayfors]

One of the best sources for up-to-date frequency information for marine and ham SSB nets, as well as weather fax frequencies is:

Pactor-II/III Radio Modem sales, FCC License filing, Marine SSB & HAM Radio Net schedules &amp frequencies.

Gary Jensen maintains these lists pretty well.

From Ft. Lauderdale, I'd suggest you begin in the mornings LISTENING (only, unless you are a ham) to the Waterway Net on 7268kHz LSB. It begins with weather information at 0745 Eastern time and runs for about an hour.

Immediately after that net is the Cruizheimers Net on 8152kHz USB (marine SSB). Dozens of boats check in each morning.

The Maritime Mobile Service Net begins around 11AM and continues most of the day on 14300kHz USB. That's a ham net for boats.

Bill

[impi]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

These guys seem to keep a somewhat current list more geared toward marine SSB nets:

East Coast Cruising Nets

Yeah ... this one looks good too ... going down the list here and great to have this info

[Paul Elliott]

Here are the NOAA / USCG SSB voice weather broadcast schedules: USCG HF Voice

[impi]

Originally Posted by medicrene

SSB is excellent for weather and for long distance communications. I use an old ICOM m-700 to download weatherfax. I have weatherfax software and a demodulator. It works great. I also use the SSB to keep in touch with Ham cruising nets.

Medicrene ... thanks for this. What software do you use? I was a bit disappointed when I saw the lack of quality on my weather faxes whilst we tested the unit, although the installer mentioned it would clear up a lot once off the dock. This is why I also want to access voice for weather and purchased a digital recorder at radio shack to record the messages so I can do a replay if necessary