Single Side Band help

[SAMUN]

Hello Salty Dogs

I thought I would start here looking for info. I am in need of a single sideband raido. Make/Model/New/Used ? I think with my aluminum boat, this is the way to go vs a sat phone to comply with offshore charter requirements. Any input or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Scott

[Robalo Bill]

Excellent idea..you should however start by getting your FCC technicians license. Mandatory requirement for using FM radios.

Bill

[Mark Mc]

If you do go that route, be sure to have it professionally installed. No matter how many great offers you get from all your friends to install it in exchange for pizza, this is where you do it by the book....you pay the money to have someone who does it for a living, and has done it many times before.

You could do some phone research by calling a few marine electronics stores on the coast, like B & F Electronics in Newport. Another really good guy in Newport is Rod Scheiwe (look up Scheiwe Marine).

Some other practical issues....how big is your boat? The shortest SSB antenna is about 17 feet long, some are 23 ft. Do you have rigging that is strong enough to hold that?

BTW..... I watched ebay (for SSB, tuner) for a while. Anything new, or appearing close to new, sold for.....very close to new. I think that meant....everyone was looking for a "deal" on one.

Good luck......... MM

[StickFish]

Scott, the big names in Marine SSB are SGC and Icom. There is a licensing requirement for Marine SSB, but I don't know any of the details. The biggest issue in the installation is the grounding of the antenna tuner. Since you have a metal boat that makes it pretty darn easy. You also want the tuner as close to the antenna as possible.

There are shorter antennas made by SGC, but in every instance you give up some performance. With a 23 footers, as Mark points out, bracing is going to be required. Most installs use a standoff mounted to the roof of the cabin and a base mount on the gunnel.

The one feature I would look for is the ability to switch over to the Ham Radio bands. While you may not be a Ham, in an emergency you can use whatever frequency necessary to save, property and life from imminent threat.

Good place to start with Icom is the 700 Pro and its matching antenna tuner. The SGC radios are sort of ugly and I don't know their product line very well. I don't think either as incorporated Digital Signal Processing yet, but that is a very nice feature to have.

Hope that helps

[SAMUN]

Thanks for the info you guys. I don't get North of Winchester Bay much. A friend suggested Georges Marine in Charleston.
Thanks again for the info.

Scott

[Goldrush]

ICOM and Furuno are the workhorses of the commercial/charter fleet. I haven't seen an SGC for many years, going back to crystal sets. In the ICOM line, the 700Pro and the 710 are the most common. The 710 has the ITU channels preprogrammed, the 700Pro does not. There is around $400 difference in the two models. I think they spec exactly the same beyond that difference. There is quite a lot of commercial traffic on other than ITU channels. To access this, you must buy one from a servicing dealer who can "open it up". I don't know what that entails, but I do know that it allows you to program any fequency you want. I have a good friend that has the Furuno 1502, which is the forerunner to the present model 1503. He loves it, and it sounds great. One of the more popular models is one that isn't made any more, the Stephens SEA 222. Most guys I know that have one wouldn't get rid of it for anything. If you see a good used one, grab it. I believe that Raytheon still makes the 152, and JRC makes one as well. They are quite pricey.

I hope this helps. Good fishin'!

[Tower Todd]

You'll need a station liscense and marine radio operator permit (MP) or restricted radio operator permit. These are available from the F.C.C. Here is the F.C.C. website:

http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/mp.html

TT

[SAMUN]

Thanks a lot you guys. The info is very helpful.

Scott

[CanCanCase]

Having just completed an install and licensing requirements, I figured I'd bump the thread with current info.

ICOM m802 is the current "hot ticket" - so much so that Bellingham area ICOM dealers have a waiting list that starts with all the big commercial accounts and IF there's one available, it'll go to the sport folks who want one.

To operate a marine SSB you need a Ship's Station License (about $60 and no test) and a Restricted Radio Operator Permit (about $160 and no test). The station license is good for 10 years, and the operator permit is lifetime. I found the FCCs website for licensing to be rather kludgy. I got the right permits after a series of educated guesses as to which type, class, code, and requirement I was applying for. If you're not 100% confident when dealing with government agencies online, this might be the license to call in or apply for in person if you can.

As for the install, go with the above suggestion to leave it to the pros. LaConner Maritime did mine, but I've heard great things about George's in Charleston too... I was just in there the other day buying charts and they knew (in too much detail for a good quick sale) exactly what they were talking about.

I'm searching iFish now for any chatter about frequencies/channels any of us monitor and chat on regularly. Given the distance capability of SSB, a fishing report from Cape Cod is a very real possibility! ;-)

-Case

[StickFish]

Originally Posted by CanCanCase

I'm searching iFish now for any chatter about frequencies/channels any of us monitor and chat on regularly. Given the distance capability of SSB, a fishing report from Cape Cod is a very real possibility! ;-)

-Case

When I installed the SSB radio in Maverick Maxcats boat, as a test I switched over to the 40 meter ham band and started up a conversation with a couple hams in Southern California. Sounded like they were sitting in the boat with us - so you are not far off.

As an another example of SSB distance. We were stuck in the hills outside of Newport deer hunting. Couldn't get any of the locals up on CB, so I switched to my HF rig and got a ham from New Zealand to make a phone call to a friend of ours in Newport 1/2 hour later we were unstuck. I sent him some green backs to settle up on the phone call.

[Chum Bucket]

I bought an M710, w/remote head like the 802, from Ebay with AT-130 tuner for about $1000. Other than some dust, was like new just as the seller stated. If you're not radio inclined or not willing to learn about HF radio principles, hire a pro!

I did my own install, but solicited tons of advice. The actual install of the components is straightforward. With a metal boat, ground plane is a snap. Fiberglass boats like mine can be quite challenging, but not impossible. Follow the general rules and you should be fine. I'm not totally satisified with my current install with regards to the tuner ground, but I've reached other stations a couple hundred miles away on the lower bands. I'm quite confident I can reach the USCG from the tuna grounds in an emergency even though I know I'm not putn out 100W. I have a Shakespeare 18' antenna, 5390? I just need more ground which means I'll be removing my cabin headliner to install a bunch of copper mesh to get the suggested 100 sq ft.

Take your time and don't cut corners. I'm still a newbie, learning how to use it. My hope next year is to make a list of those of us who have SSB's so we can chat offshore.

[CanCanCase]

Originally Posted by Chum Bucket

...My hope next year is to make a list of those of us who have SSB's so we can chat offshore.

Sounds great... there's "Sonrisa net" and "Baja net"... how about "iFish-dot net" !?

-Case

[Robalo Bill]

A metal hull eliminates a big headache of RF grounding. No ground shoe or copper foil $600++, also routing. The Icom M802 is an outstanding SSB, I've installed several this year. The advantages, DSP (digital signal processing) matched with the AT140 tuner....pass thru tuning on RX. 150 watts output on 1.9 t0 30MHz band = 200 to ~3000mile range. Additional antenna lead for DSC capability (GPS input). Two RS-232C ports for Pactor modem ....email, weather fax. This is not VHF, high voltages require proper instalation. Errors I've seen in owner installs, radio too close to tuner, the GTO 15 lead wire is part of the antenna and will radiate harmful RF. The 802 comes preprogrammed with 160 channels, USCG, phone service, ship to ship, weather fax and distress. Note, requires Station licenses through FCC, also has HAM channels but a General license is required. Lots and lots of features, capabilities and range unlike...line of sight VHF. See attached frquency guide for the M802.

Regards
Bill

[gerberman]

It sounds like the ssb radio is great after you find someone to talk to. The satalite phone cost outside 12 miles is $1.89 per minute, don't ask me how I know, (after I got my phone bill). Any phone call is considered International after the 12 mile limit. It would be great to have ssb on the boat and a base station at home. Something else to look at buying. BOAT (Break Out Another Thousand) Gerberman

[CanCanCase]

coming from the land where sat phones don't actually work halfthe time, I've never thought of them as viable emergency coms. I particularly like the idea of still being able to make phone calls via relay. The Alaska Marine Operator service is missed to this day.

I'd be happy to show off my shiny new SSB system any time. Looks like I'll be in the Charleston harbor through the weekend, then in-water in Bandon.

- Case

Originally Posted by gerberman

It sounds like the ssb radio is great after you find someone to talk to. The satalite phone cost outside 12 miles is $1.89 per minute, don't ask me how I know, (after I got my phone bill). Any phone call is considered International after the 12 mile limit. It would be great to have ssb on the boat and a base station at home. Something else to look at buying. BOAT (Break Out Another Thousand) Gerberman