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 Post subject: SSB / high frequency radio
PostPosted: 16 Jun 2013 10:11 
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Skipper

Joined: 21 Jan 2010 12:57
Posts: 168
Thought that I'd solicit response from you knowledgable Tartan 37 folks. I've got an SSB w/antennae tuner that I had installed in a preciously owned boat. To utilize it in "Aorora" I'll have to construct the counterpoise necessary for antennae performance. Before spending the time and money to do this, I'd like to satisfy myself that there is not a comparable system available today using satelites for access to weather reportage and to call for help from over the horizon. I see advertised the devices from De Lorme (Spot & Connect) but have heard that the latter has had growing pains. A SAT phone will work for emergency of course and I suppose that one can call someone and obtain weather forecasts. Ultimately what I'm asking : is SSB (high frequency transceivers) obsolete?


 
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 Post subject: Re: SSB / high frequency radio
PostPosted: 16 Jun 2013 18:24 
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Skipper

Joined: 29 Dec 2006 09:38
Posts: 656
Ok. You ask a good question. My answer is that it depends. My background is having been out cruising for a couple years in the Caribbean and Central America. There are better ways not to mention much less expensive, to get weather and communicate with others on shore than SSB. But if you want to communicate two ways with fellow cruisers in the various cruising nets, I know of no substitute.

I did not want to spend the time and money to install SSB in my boat for a system that works only some part of the day, if you're lucky. I carried a little portable SSB receiver that allowed my to hear the folks on the nets and Herb and others on weather, but I got all my written weather and charts through my SKymate system. Skymate allows you to email, reports your progress to others, and receive GRIB and all other files from NOAA and you pay by volume. The unit costs about $1000, is simpler to install than a stereo and I had all needed for about $30 a month uses almost no electricity and a little green light goes on when someone emails you. Worked fine all the way to Panama and both Pacific and Atlantic sides for email and weather info Also, sat phone will work (Iridium, Globalstar did not work much at all) for all this much more reliably than SSB as I am sure you know.

So if you want to chat with fellow cruisers when way off shore or dialogue with the weather volunteers during those few hours it actually works in a day, you want SSB. But I got along fine without it and always had multiple options for communications that worked any time, BTW, Sirius worked great for keeping in touch with news and music all the way to Colombia.


 
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 Post subject: Re: SSB / high frequency radio
PostPosted: 16 Jun 2013 18:24 
Offline
Skipper

Joined: 29 Dec 2006 09:38
Posts: 656
Ok. You ask a good question. My answer is that it depends. My background is having been out cruising for a couple years in the Caribbean and Central America. There are better ways not to mention much less expensive, to get weather and communicate with others on shore than SSB. But if you want to communicate two ways with fellow cruisers in the various cruising nets, I know of no substitute.

I did not want to spend the time and money to install SSB in my boat for a system that works only some part of the day, if you're lucky. I carried a little portable SSB receiver that allowed my to hear the folks on the nets and Herb and others on weather, but I got all my written weather and charts through my SKymate system. Skymate allows you to email, reports your progress to others, and receive GRIB and all other files from NOAA and you pay by volume. The unit costs about $1000, is simpler to install than a stereo and I had all needed for about $30 a month uses almost no electricity and a little green light goes on when someone emails you. Worked fine all the way to Panama and both Pacific and Atlantic sides for email and weather info Also, sat phone will work (Iridium, Globalstar did not work much at all) for all this much more reliably than SSB as I am sure you know.

So if you want to chat with fellow cruisers when way off shore or dialogue with the weather volunteers during those few hours it actually works in a day, you want SSB. But I got along fine without it and always had multiple options for communications that worked any time, BTW, Sirius worked great for keeping in touch with news and music all the way to Colombia.


 
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