SSB radio or satellite phone?

[tolly]

I would like some help in the choise between SSB transciever or satellite phone (ex Iridium), when it comes to communication on ocean crossings. I know that using the sat phone is more expensive, but besides that?
Since I am about to install one of the systems on my boat, I would like some advice to make the best decision in this.

So, what are the pros and cons with the two systems?

What equipment would I need if installing a SSB transciever?

[LakeSuperior]

Do a search in this Forum as there are several threads that discuss this issue in great detail.

[svHyLyte]

All of theabove. The SatPhone has its advantages, particularly for down loading email GRIB files et al. The SSB, however, allows you to reach out and touch someone when you really need to. (Think of the SatPhone as a rifle-on pull one bullet; and, the SSB as a Shotgun--one pull, lot's a bullets.)

Frankly, one really doesn't need a very costly SSB rig to get very good performance. We have an ICOM M700 that has proven very sturdy and reliable; and, a GlobalStar phone that works--sometimes. Older SSB's, albeit absent all of the latest Bells'n Whistles, are very inexpensive.

FWIW...

[Mercz]

There are two other considerations:

Emergency communications

Marine SSB MF/HF radios are equiped with DSC functions, allowing to be part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), a worldwide distress system (free of charge). You supposed to have an MMSI number and be familiar with the proper radio procedures.

The Iridium system is NOT part of GMDSS (not yet). For sending distress alert by satellite, you need an EPIRB working on 406 MHz or more the expensive Inmarsat C.

Power consumtion

A marine SSB radio transceiver with 150 watts of output power requires a regulated DC power of 13.6 volts and at least 30 Amps.

Iridium 9555 needs a 12 watts power supply.

Other aspects, such as price of installation and cost of communications are discussed elsewhere. Also in my Marine VHF Radio Handbook.

Best regrards, Laszlo Mercz

[oldvarnish]

Simple: SSB for talking to other yachts, SATPHONE for calling friends and family ashore.

[Wotname]

OK, I am biased towards SSB having spent most of my career in radio comms of one sort or another and I wouldn't put to sea without a SSB but that is 'cause I like all the hums, squeaks, whistles and static ones gets with HF comms over distance and while I know that the SSB is part of the GMDSS, I also know that in many parts of the world, it is difficult to establish a reliable comms path quickly using SSB.

But pick up your satphone, turn it on and usually you can call your Mum within minutes and ask her for help. Seriously and within the bounds of all normal requirements to keep electronics dry etc. (sometimes a big ask), if you keep a record of emergency numbers back home (where they speak you language), all you have to do is give them a call, tell your mayday situation and get back to saving your boat while they sort out how to contact the nearest RCC and so on.

With a reasonable external patch antenna, this is all accomplished from down below while you are still tuning up the SSB.

Of course you have keep up the payments of your call costs or you might find yourself without service!

static static... "Come in Rangoon...static static.. you are breaking up... static...say again, words twice....static static...Rangoon?"
B*gger, where's my satphone

[meyermm]

While I agree for voice communications SSB is not great. But and it is a big but Satellite is not as reliable as some would like us to believe. Cost is where it all gets very murky with the Sat phone especially if you try and find out how much emailing relates to charges by the minute. Grib files can be downloaded easily using SSB as well as emailing with Pactor modem without escalating costs. The down side for me with SSB is installation costs and complexity + it becomes part of the boat so you cannot easily take it with you. My intention was to go Sat this time but the more research I do the more the price goes up to get the same performance.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by oldvarnish

Simple: SSB for talking to other yachts, SATPHONE for calling friends and family ashore.

Satphones are also good for calling friends and family from your life raft. You can ask them to call for help if you didn't already have the emergency numbers programmed in the phone.

[gbanker]

We used our sat phone to receive OCENS weather on our last crossing. Very reliable. Also it was easier to use than the SSB for emails.
If you go off cruising you will want the SSB for keeping in touch with all the people you meet (or will meet) along the way.

So, iridium satphone, in our experience, was reliable and costly. SSB cheaper if you can deal with it quirks. IMHO, if going with only one you want the SSB.

[JJB]

We have both, the sat phone is brilliant to have for web access if needed, but if push came to shove and I could only afford one or the other, I would be choosing SSB, mainly due to all emergency services using it, also the fact it's a point to multipoint system, so you can also communicate with those in the same general area as yourself.

If you are going to go with sat phone, I would be looking at Inmarsat rather than Iridium, My parents had Iridium for a while and found it not as good as Inmarsat.
Inmarsat also has far higher data speeds than Iridium. But sat phone data aint cheap.
My parents run an FB150 terminal we use an FB250.

[Livia]

How social are you? SSB nets are fun for the social amongst us.

[meyermm]

Based on the overall opinions it would again seem that while Sat has some good points it is still too expensive for the average cruiser. I had not made my mind up and in fact was leaning towards Sat even though I had a good experience with SSB previously. Thank you for the input it has helped greatly with my decision making.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by meyermm

Based on the overall opinions it would again seem that while Sat has some good points it is still too expensive for the average cruiser. I had not made my mind up and in fact was leaning towards Sat even though I had a good experience with SSB previously. Thank you for the input it has helped greatly with my decision making.

on the contary,our irridium on a$75 dollar a month contract worked out cheaper than using a mobile phone on a roaming contract in the med and red sea for out going calls.

it also allowed short emails 100 charcters to be sent to it for free.

we regularly had £150 pound a month bills on the mobile,untill we got the sat phone then averaged about £70 a month.

with the mobile you pay roaming charges for in coming and out going calls!

very useful for meeting guests in out of the way places.

[trevordean]

What about Satelite internet with a magic jack phone? Has anyone done this on an ocean crossing?

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by atoll

on the contary,our irridium on a$75 dollar a month contract worked out cheaper than using a mobile phone on a roaming contract in the med and red sea for out going calls.

it also allowed short emails 100 charcters to be sent to it for free.

we regularly had £150 pound a month bills on the mobile,untill we got the sat phone then averaged about £70 a month.

with the mobile you pay roaming charges for in coming and out going calls!

very useful for meeting guests in out of the way places.

If your replacing an SSB you want to be able to send and receive emails, download grib files as well as talk which is what I was able to do with the SSB. Having costed the purchase of the phone + compacting programme and the plans available etc it does not come out well. 100 characters is not a very large email + grib files usually contain a bit of data?