Is there any point in keeping our SSB radio?

[Baby tug]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I never felt that way about the VHF until we spent time in south Florida. The never ending coast guard announcements, the mindless blabbing….etc.

I switched to a handheld VHF years ago not one hole or cable or antenna on my boat , I ditched the radar a while back too Also as an afterthought I consider a handheld aircraft radio line of site is pretty much a limitless and there are a lot of aircraft overhead I have no personal experience with this but I have heard is quite effective

[Eder]

My next sail to the Marquesas won't rely on my SSB. My Inreach is perfect and by winter my Starlink will allow me to watch Green Acres reruns 1000 miles off shore.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Eder

by winter my Starlink will allow me to watch Green Acres reruns 1000 miles off shore.

Definitely the reason I venture offshore!

[team karst]

A lot a software has to run correctly for the commercial sat based systems to work. Cyber security is a real risk.
I like my inreach, but keeping my hf/ssb.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by team karst

A lot a software has to run correctly for the commercial sat based systems to work. Cyber security is a real risk.
I like my inreach, but keeping my hf/ssb.

It’s great to see people reaching for all sorts of edge case justifications to keep HF. I like it.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

It’s great to see people reaching for all sorts of edge case justifications to keep HF. I like it.

Or maybe people just like using HF. I like that.

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

It’s great to see people reaching for all sorts of edge case justifications to keep HF. I like it.

But it's the edge-cases where alternatives and redundancy prove their worth. If everything worked all the time and nobody ever needed help then the answers would be simple.

You are free to decide how close to the edge you want to consider. I've never needed to use any of my safety/comms gear to save myself, but I still carry some safety/comms gear.

[Caleb_Grey]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

It’s great to see people reaching for all sorts of edge case justifications to keep HF. I like it.

But it helped somebody once in 1972 so theres is that.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Paul Elliott

But it's the edge-cases where alternatives and redundancy prove their worth. If everything worked all the time and nobody ever needed help then the answers would be simple.

You are free to decide how close to the edge you want to consider. I've never needed to use any of my safety/comms gear to save myself, but I still carry some safety/comms gear.

The point is that the current sat based long range kit largely delivers most people’s requirements , is straightfoward to operate and its comparatively cheap to buy. Commercial marine HF for example is very very quiet these days , amateur radio is a hobby in itself and hence isn’t comparable.

Safety decisions really have to run along the median , it’s entirely unlikely iridium etc will suddenly get shut down and if it does your actual safety isn’t actually compromised unless you actively need it. Equally in some major international catastrophe , you’re unlike to be worried about sat comms !!

Hence we could trade claims and counterclaims as to which is more reliable Marine HF or sat comms. I would argue , for the vast majority of people who are not “ radio aficionados” sat comms , is simple to use , works and is a reasonable cost. That makes it safe.

If you , like me , like HF in all its forms , sure knock yourself out but that point of view is not mainstream in my opinion

[team karst]

Originally Posted by Caleb_Grey

But it helped somebody once in 1972 so theres is that.

Good one [emoji106]

[JPA Cate]

I've never needed to use any of my safety/comms gear to save myself,

We didn't have to use ham to save ourselves, but we did, one time, call on the VHF for help. We had run aground on a coral head in Kaneohe Bay (Oahu). The tide had covered up the pipe that was the bommy marker. We hadn't realized it was a king tide. We had tried getting the main up to heel the boat. (my bad! didn't check to be sure the shackle was tight, so straight to the masthead it went!) Jim swam out an anchor, so we could try to winch ourselves off, but couldn't budge the boat, and so he put out a call for help.

You never know who will need help or when, or what kind.

We've responded to many calls over the years, both VHF and HF, and glad to do it. Using it increases camaraderie, too. On our first trip from Mexico to the Marquesas, we all checked into the Seafarer's Net, and then took our mob off to another frequency, where we had limerick contests, and discussed strategies, and other events of our days. One can use SSB for fun. But fxy especially wrote that they do not like to use it for chatting. His boat, his choice.

Ann

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

The point is that the current sat based long range kit largely delivers most people’s requirements , is straightfoward to operate and its comparatively cheap to buy. Commercial marine HF for example is very very quiet these days , amateur radio is a hobby in itself and hence isn’t comparable.

Safety decisions really have to run along the median , it’s entirely unlikely iridium etc will suddenly get shut down and if it does your actual safety isn’t actually compromised unless you actively need it. Equally in some major international catastrophe , you’re unlike to be worried about sat comms !!

Hence we could trade claims and counterclaims as to which is more reliable Marine HF or sat comms. I would argue , for the vast majority of people who are not “ radio aficionados” sat comms , is simple to use , works and is a reasonable cost. That makes it safe.

If you , like me , like HF in all its forms , sure knock yourself out but that point of view is not mainstream in my opinion

These are all valid points, and I don't argue with any of them. If I had to choose between satphone and SSB, I would choose satphone every time. And that is indeed the mainstream position.

But the there are other factors beyond personal utility that some may wish to consider (and we have already discussed here, so I won't belabor the point).

[Cloroxbottle]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Is there any reason to keep the SSB for safety comms for an offshore cruiser?

Consider that if you eliminate that and go exclusively with GPS/Starlink/Satphone you're now fully reliant on satellites for 100% of your navigation and long range communication.

We have an SSB that I've decided to keep, if for no other reason than redundancy. I've actually decided to sit down and learn celestial navigation as well. GPS can be turned off for national security reasons and the world is a rather unstable place right now.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

The thing is, foxy, that anything from selfish business practices (https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...rs-265449.html) to wars, to a lightening strike can take out sophisticated electronics. Electronics being inherently unstable anyway, to say nothing of the possibility of an on board water intrusion. But, there are so many radio hams all over the world who are equipped for emergency comms, that one of them could help you or get help for you from a Rescue Communication Center when your fancy stuff is down, in the event you might want it (illness or injury aboard, maybe?).



Ann

And, once you own one they are poverty proof unlike satcoms with their ongoing charges.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

And, once you own one they are poverty proof unlike satcoms with their ongoing charges.

Well my iridium phone is now 12 years old and still works. So I don’t know what you are talking about