To SSB, or not to SSb...that is the question

[Cari Laut]

Originally Posted by team karst

U might want to recheck that. Now exceeded 3GHz.

Touche, still not in the HF spectrum, but you are correct.

[team karst]

U may remember the electrical utilities messing with HF over powerlines for their use too.
And the 220MHz theft. Was it UPS?

[Cari Laut]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

They may not be monitoring VOICE distress calls on HF frequencies, but they ARE monitoring DSC distress:

We will continue to monitor HF Digital Selective Calling distress alerting for all existing regions

Oh yeah, they ARE continuing to monitor HF voice distress alerting and hailing from Kodiak, Alaska, and Guam.

https://www.federalregister.gov/docu...ss-frequencies

Thanks for this.
I was the communications Chief for the FL Keys when the original "abandonment" of HF broke within the service. I had transferred before it took effect but I did not realize they continued to monitor DSC for the non-continental areas. Good to know.

[sv_pelagia]

Also:

Acording to the 2022 Radio Aids to Navigation, Canada CG still monitors HF voice, including 2182 kHz.

https://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/publicatio...index-eng.html

Other countries?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

Also:

Acording to the 2022 Radio Aids to Navigation, Canada CG still monitors HF voice, including 2182 kHz.

https://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/publicatio...index-eng.html

Other countries?

Usually only speaker watch these days. MRCCS now receive the majority of emergency calls from mobiles !!

[Cari Laut]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

Also:

Acording to the 2022 Radio Aids to Navigation, Canada CG still monitors HF voice, including 2182 kHz.

https://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/publicatio...index-eng.html

Other countries?

Others very well may. Im not familiar with other countries radio policies, or even current on US ones. Im on the other side these days. Only thing longer than my beard is my medical record

[alctel]

Originally Posted by Networker

Agreed on every point. Should be the end of discussion and thread.

Except, again, sat phones (and starlink!) can't do what HF does.

Satphones do point to point and weather better than HF does (again, if you pay for it) but you need to know the end point when you call, while HF is fundamentally a different form of communication as you can have many to many conversations, listen to news from a certain anchorage, etc etc. You can also get all the weather info you can get from satellite, as well as send emails, for free.

That may not be useful for you personally, and that's fine, but saying that HF is completely superseded by sat phones and obsolete is just completely wrong. Again, they do different things.

[DomShangPen]

The beauty of HF / SSB is that there’s no infrastructures required. It’s direct contact.
In a conflict between major powers all those satellites would be fried in an instant.
Why do you think the government allocates those very precious frequencies to ham radio ?
And as noted before what a wonderful way of communicating long distance between boats .

[ilenart]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

Also:

Acording to the 2022 Radio Aids to Navigation, Canada CG still monitors HF voice, including 2182 kHz.

https://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/publicatio...index-eng.html

Other countries?

Currently in Tasmania and twice daily they have weather reported over VHF and HF. At the end of the broadcast they invite any responses on HF then VHF.

Plus as I have already mentioned above, Australian Bureau of Meteorology has HF voice and fax services. These also cover the South Pacific and Indian Ocean weather.

HF Marine Radio Services

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Brian.D

Why are we so persistent on telling other not to use something? I have an idea, when sailing, don't use a spinnaker because it is too difficult to set, use, and control. There. Done.

If a person wants to use SSB, let them. There is no more 'magic' than trying to setup, configure and connect with Irridum or InMarSat, or any of the space craft. We see it here all the time... "I can't get email working on IG." Everything requires some semblance of knowledge/training/know-how. No system is easier to learn than the others when face with no prior knowledge of the technology. All it takes is a desire to learn.

Anyway, sorry for ranting. I'm just saying, give the person options instead of saying that is 60s technology when it is actually start of the art communications equipment. That's all.

JMHO and, anyway, continue on with the discussion.

Ummm...the OP asked for opinions on if it's needed. If we follow your rant (you said it), no one is allowed to respond.

If the OP wants to pick up the HAM hobby, no one is saying he can't pick it up as a hobby but as a required piece of cruising boat equipment, it's largely outdated with very limited use cases and a shrinking user base.

[DeValency]

While i have SSB radio, didn't use it for years and in fact less and less people are using it, so even if you are a social junky, you wouldn't find much there. For now, IridiumGo with PredictWind is our solution. And hoping to soon have the new Starlink.

[WhiteHill]

While on this topic, could someone please clarify the situation regarding licenses? I believe that, to operate marine HF you need a license (like VHF), and to operate HAM radio you also need a (different) license. I understand that one type of license does not cover the other. Any comments, thanks?

[goboatingnow]

Yes you need a long range very for commercial SSB. You need a amateur licence for ham frequencies

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by DomShangPen

The beauty of HF / SSB is that there’s no infrastructures required. It’s direct contact.
In a conflict between major powers all those satellites would be fried in an instant.
Why do you think the government allocates those very precious frequencies to ham radio ?
And as noted before what a wonderful way of communicating long distance between boats .

Seriously dude. If the sats are all fried the last thing on your mind will be comms from your boat ( a) there be no one to talk too and (b) all around will be glass !!

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by alctel

Except, again, sat phones (and starlink!) can't do what HF does.

Satphones do point to point and weather better than HF does (again, if you pay for it) but you need to know the end point when you call, while HF is fundamentally a different form of communication as you can have many to many conversations, listen to news from a certain anchorage, etc etc. You can also get all the weather info you can get from satellite, as well as send emails, for free.

That may not be useful for you personally, and that's fine, but saying that HF is completely superseded by sat phones and obsolete is just completely wrong. Again, they do different things.

An iridium sat phone is as difficult to use as a mobile phone. You switch it on and dial a number

HF , certainly amateur requires a degree of technical understanding , good high quality installation , a stable high power supply abs you can’t do business over it either

Free is a debatable term for HF. The install will be far far more expensive then a iridium or in reach etc

And your right it’s not 60s tech it’s prewar

And I know I’m a licensed amateur

As the poster said , if it’s your hobby , plough right ahead , if you just want simple long range communications ability sat is clearly the way to go.

And for sure a pactor modem and a sailmail subscription are free !!!!