Saftey sure costs a lot. SSB is pretty expensive for the few times a coastal cruiser and sometimes live aboard uses it. Anybody got a decent, there ain't no cheap ones, source to discuss the alternatives? Used radios, Ham conversions, or other options. I know they reduced the licensing requirements for Ham but is a license necessary for purchase of SSB?? That's purchase and listening not actual transmission but with transmission capabilities. I've been told you cannot buy Ham without a license.
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Cell Phone
I do similar kind of sailing and agree that SSB or Ham is too expensive for the limited amount of use. On a trip from Seattle to San Diego, my friend and I just used our cell phones. He had an analog model and I had a digital model. The analog model had better range. The range is still similar to a marine VHF. But we got reception out to about 30 to 40 miles off the coast. A lot of the time we were further than that and out of range. But that's the compromise you make. Bob Miller Hunter 37C "Gusty Getaway"
I do similar kind of sailing and agree that SSB or Ham is too expensive for the limited amount of use. On a trip from Seattle to San Diego, my friend and I just used our cell phones. He had an analog model and I had a digital model. The analog model had better range. The range is still similar to a marine VHF. But we got reception out to about 30 to 40 miles off the coast. A lot of the time we were further than that and out of range. But that's the compromise you make. Bob Miller Hunter 37C "Gusty Getaway"
think again!
First of all, you can buy either a ham radio or SSB without a license, and can listen to either. An SSB requires a license, just like your VHF didm to transmit. I am not sure if it is required if you stay in the US, but it certainly is if you leave US waters. There is no test for this license. If you transmit, you are required to identify yourself, including your call sign, so will need this license. The same applies for Ham transmissions. Ham radio is an addiction (like sailing), and the Ham community has lots of swap meets where older rigs can be purchased inexpensively. My first Ham radio was an old Atlas that cost $150. It couldn't do everything that my current radio does, but it worked. By the way, be careful about modifying a ham radio to do SSB. An SSB is better at holding its frequency, and the difference can be noticed by Those Whose Business it is to Notice. They fine people, on occasion, too. If you do get "into" your HF radio, you may well find that you use it way more than you thought. Many wind up considering a near essential for information, safety, gossip, weather,email and phone patches.
First of all, you can buy either a ham radio or SSB without a license, and can listen to either. An SSB requires a license, just like your VHF didm to transmit. I am not sure if it is required if you stay in the US, but it certainly is if you leave US waters. There is no test for this license. If you transmit, you are required to identify yourself, including your call sign, so will need this license. The same applies for Ham transmissions. Ham radio is an addiction (like sailing), and the Ham community has lots of swap meets where older rigs can be purchased inexpensively. My first Ham radio was an old Atlas that cost $150. It couldn't do everything that my current radio does, but it worked. By the way, be careful about modifying a ham radio to do SSB. An SSB is better at holding its frequency, and the difference can be noticed by Those Whose Business it is to Notice. They fine people, on occasion, too. If you do get "into" your HF radio, you may well find that you use it way more than you thought. Many wind up considering a near essential for information, safety, gossip, weather,email and phone patches.
Radio Communications
Jerry; Don't depend on a cell phone to take the place of at least a 25 watt VHF. Cell phones can only call one number at a time, and the Coast Guard can't home in on a cell phone signal like they can on a VHF. VHF prices are so cheap anyone who goes even five miles offshore without one is foolish.
Jerry; Don't depend on a cell phone to take the place of at least a 25 watt VHF. Cell phones can only call one number at a time, and the Coast Guard can't home in on a cell phone signal like they can on a VHF. VHF prices are so cheap anyone who goes even five miles offshore without one is foolish.
Ham radio...
Jerry... Tim is right...You don' need a licence to buy a radio, ham or marine. You need it to use it only when transmitting. SSB is a MODE of sending and receiving signals, no a radio type. Both marine and ham radios are capable to do it, although ham radios have more features than the marines radios. Yes. You can buy a ham radio which will let you LISTENING to all the marine services and also (with the licence) transmit on the ham bands and get in touch with fellows all over the world. You can accomplish that with 500/600 dollars for a good second hand transceiver. If you are interested in more details of what a ham radio can do for your boating pleasure and safety, you are welcome to mail me to "alozano@monmouth.com" and I will details for you the facts and fictions of both type of radios... Aldo alozano@monmouth.com S/V Isabel
Jerry... Tim is right...You don' need a licence to buy a radio, ham or marine. You need it to use it only when transmitting. SSB is a MODE of sending and receiving signals, no a radio type. Both marine and ham radios are capable to do it, although ham radios have more features than the marines radios. Yes. You can buy a ham radio which will let you LISTENING to all the marine services and also (with the licence) transmit on the ham bands and get in touch with fellows all over the world. You can accomplish that with 500/600 dollars for a good second hand transceiver. If you are interested in more details of what a ham radio can do for your boating pleasure and safety, you are welcome to mail me to "alozano@monmouth.com" and I will details for you the facts and fictions of both type of radios... Aldo alozano@monmouth.com S/V Isabel
Station License Required for a Transmitter?
Clarification requested: Isn't a Station License required if there is a transmitter (SSB, ham, etc.) on board even if the transmitter section isn't used?
Clarification requested: Isn't a Station License required if there is a transmitter (SSB, ham, etc.) on board even if the transmitter section isn't used?
No John... You don't need...
...a licence for that unless you are transmitting. Although there are some rules regarding the dissemination of the some information you may be receiving (if you are interested on the particulars let me know), so far the equipment itself and its use as receiver, you can buy yourself the more sofisticated and superdupper tranceiver, ham or marine, and listen to it to your heart content with not licence o restriction. Try it! It's a fun world out there in the radio waves. Aldo WA2IST alozano@monmouth.com
...a licence for that unless you are transmitting. Although there are some rules regarding the dissemination of the some information you may be receiving (if you are interested on the particulars let me know), so far the equipment itself and its use as receiver, you can buy yourself the more sofisticated and superdupper tranceiver, ham or marine, and listen to it to your heart content with not licence o restriction. Try it! It's a fun world out there in the radio waves. Aldo WA2IST alozano@monmouth.com
Antenna Coupler cost
Don't for get about that. A coupler and antenna can cost as much as the transceiver itself. Bob miller
Don't for get about that. A coupler and antenna can cost as much as the transceiver itself. Bob miller
About the tunner...
Bob is right, Jerry, but keep in mind you will need a tunner only if you are transmitting, to match the output of the transmitter to the antenna. For general purpose receiving, a direct connection to whatever antenna combination you have, will suffice. And yes. They can be quite expensive, if you want to go for the high end tunners or the ones highly overpriced from the marine suppliers. However, for the type of power the average tranceiver put out (100/150 watts peak to peak) there a quite few options handling till 300 watts costing between $130 and $150, new. You can get a lot lower price on the frequents hamfests that take place all over the country on used ones, but very seldom you will get something small in size that match your future tranceiver. They are the kind we call boat anchors, and the weight and dimentions make justice to the nickname. Again, any further questions on the subject, be glad to answer it here or at alozano@monmouth.com... Good luck! Aldo alozano@monmouth.com S/V Isabel
Bob is right, Jerry, but keep in mind you will need a tunner only if you are transmitting, to match the output of the transmitter to the antenna. For general purpose receiving, a direct connection to whatever antenna combination you have, will suffice. And yes. They can be quite expensive, if you want to go for the high end tunners or the ones highly overpriced from the marine suppliers. However, for the type of power the average tranceiver put out (100/150 watts peak to peak) there a quite few options handling till 300 watts costing between $130 and $150, new. You can get a lot lower price on the frequents hamfests that take place all over the country on used ones, but very seldom you will get something small in size that match your future tranceiver. They are the kind we call boat anchors, and the weight and dimentions make justice to the nickname. Again, any further questions on the subject, be glad to answer it here or at alozano@monmouth.com... Good luck! Aldo alozano@monmouth.com S/V Isabel
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