Single Side Band?

[Gregotis98]

What's the difference between the marine ones and the trucker dudes style? I would imagine freq. but thought I'd check.

[Mark Mc]

Hi Greg,

Not sure what you mean by those used by truckers.

A marine SSB has real honkin' power, like 150 watts, and a mongo-huge antenna. They have some pre-set channels, but most channels need to be tuned in, like what a HAM operator would do. A SSB is what you use when you commercial tuna fish hundreds of miles out.

So I'd be surprized to hear that truckers would have this kind of radio. Now, there are CB's that have "split channels", so instead of the usual 40 or so channels, it can have over 100. I'm not even sure these are legal, but most of the serious commercial salmon trollers had these so it would be easier to have a "secret channel" with your buddies.

[Sea Jypzee]

I have a "Texas Ranger" CB with SSB that can tune higher or lower than the standard 40 channels. It also gives more power when kicked into SSB mode, though I'm not sure exactlly how much more right off. I can usually contact people much further out than what I can clearly hear them back with it. :grin: I was talking with one of the Depoe Bay charter boats out Tuna fishing one day. I was close in doing salmon while he was out on the tuna grounds. He said he could hear me clearly, while I could barely hear him.

I figure, when the doggydoo is hitting the fan, I want something that can reach out and touch the Coasties no matter where I'm at. :grin:

As Mark describes, when in the side bands, the freq. needs to be specifically tuned in by each person on the channel. I do not have a 'huge' antenna on the boat for it, and in fact, have the standard CB antenna for it.

It's a very good CB and I'd highly recommend it for anyone to put on their boat. It's Texas Ranger, TR-696F is the model number. I got it at a shop Clackamas if I'm not mistaken....I'd have to look it up but can for anyone interested.

[Mark Mc]

Hi Nancy...pretty interesting radio. So I'm learning something here. Looking at the specs, it's a tunable CB, which is an AM radio, and has 4 watts, 12 watts "PEP" on the sideband. Specs at:
http://www.rangerusa.com/tr-696fssb.html

My guess is that by moving up to other non-standard CB channels, you avoid the noise you would have from everyone in their RVs, etc. (in addition to the moderate power boost).

Still a completely different animal than a "big set" (150 watt) SSB.

Does the Ranger have any of the emergency frequencies programmed in?

[ 10-22-2003, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: Mark Mc ]

[Miss B Haven]

Gregotis- A real SSB transmits on 1.6-30 Mhz. Most are 150 watts output. The "truckers" radios are not SSB's, they are an enhanced CB radio. Note that an FCC license (Ham) is required for a real SSB. Pretty easy these days with the "no test" license (no Morse Code 5 wpm requirement).

Nancy- I don't know why you would think that CB would reach (the CG) farther than a 25 watt VHF?
It doesn't cover the Coast Guard Short Wave Emerg, Freq. for true SSB. It is also only outputting 4 watts on Channel 9 (the only CB channel that the CG covers).

Emergency Freqs: (this is SW- Mhz)

13.910 Federal guard frequency (contacts initiated here. Channel is guarded, or monitored constantly)
13.993 Federal guard frequency
6.999 Federal guard frequency (nights)
4.821 Federal Net
5.755 Federal Agencies - command & control net (nights)
11.045 Federal Agencies - command & control net (days)
5.211 FEMA command & control (nights)
10.493 FEMA command & control (days)
10.434 FEMA Y2K drills
9.462 FEMA
10.194 FEMA
17.519 FEMA Region 7
7.348 FEMA Region 8
3.032 National Guard - Primary (nights)
5.203 National Guard (nights)
4.442 National Guard (nights)
4.445 National Guard (nights)
4.520 National Guard (nights)
5.202 National Guard (nights)
6.766 National Guard (evenings)
6.910 National Guard (evenings)
7.648 National Guard (days)
10.796 National Guard (days)
5.350 Canadian Forces - command & control
18.027 CanForce channel
15.025 CanForce channel
11.223 CanForce channel
5.035 Australian Forces - command & control
6.826 Army MARS (military amateur radio services)
3.311 Army MARS emergency net (nights)
7.381 Navy/Marines emergency calling frequency (days)
4.041 Navy/Marines emergency calling frequency (nights)
4.590 Air Force calling frequency (nights)
13.927 Air Force command & control (days)
3.067 Air Force air-to-ground
3.081 Air Force air-to-ground
11.214 NORAD
5.297 NORAD
9.793 NORAD
9.023 NORAD (primary, nights)
6.870 F.A.A. command & control (nights)
13.457 F.A.A. command & control (days)
4.585 Civil Air Patrol calling channel
2.182 Coast Guard emergency and calling
2.670 Coast Guard emergency and calling
4.426 Coast Guard emergency and calling
6.501 Coast Guard emergency and calling
8.764 Coast Guard emergency and calling
13.089 Coast Guard emergency and calling
17.314 Coast Guard emergency and calling
4.125 Maritime (ship) distress channel
6.215 Maritime (ship) distress channel
8.291 Maritime (ship) distress channel
12.290 Maritime (ship) distress channel
16.420 Maritime (ship) distress channel
14.313 HAM maritime net

CB Freq/Power rules:

TRANSMISSION MODE AND RESTRICTIONS

CB Radio operators normally transmit double sideband AM on the first 23 channels. On channels above Channel 23, upper sideband or lower sideband equipment may be used. Four watts of carrier power is allowed for output on AM, and 12 watts of peak envelope power is the maximum power output on SSB. You may only use a type-accepted CB Radio transmitter. Any internal modification to a type-accepted CB Radio transmitter cancels the type acceptance, and use of such a transmitter voids your authority to operate the station. The same type regulation applies to power amplifiers. Power amplifiers are specifically disallowed for use with a CB Radio.

[ 10-22-2003, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

[jocose]

thanks i was surprised to get a answer... i had just installed the radio and antennae and knew the channel for the coast gaurd. they were nice about it and i didnt key the mic again... on the water is there a channel thats usually just boat to boat chatter?

[Miss B Haven]

jocose-
This didn't past in real well so here's a link- print/laminate and keep in the boat- comes in usefull.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/vhf.htm

PS- Ths CG doesn't really care what you do on the radio as long as it's NOT on one of there channels. The FCC is the one who cares about everything else.

U.S. VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies (20 June 2002)

Ship Ship
VHF Trans Recv
Channel (MHz) (MHz) Use
------- ------ ------ ---------------------------------------------------------
01A 156.05 156.05 Port Operations and Commercial, VTS. Available only in New Orleans/Lower Mississippi area.
05A 156.25 156.25 Port Operations or VTS in the Houston, New Orleans and Seattle areas.
6 156.3 156.3 Intership Safety
07A 156.35 156.35 Commercial
8 156.4 156.4 Commercial (Intership only)
9 156.45 156.45 Boater Calling. Commercial and Non-Commercial.
10 156.5 156.5 Commercial
11 156.55 156.55 Commercial. VTS in selected areas.
12 156.6 156.6 Port Operations. VTS in selected areas.
13 156.65 156.65 Intership Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge). Ships >20
14 156.7 156.7 Port Operations. VTS in selected areas.
15 -- 156.75 Environmental (Receive only). Used by Class C EPIRBs.
16 156.8 156.8 International Distress, Safety and Calling. Ships require
17 156.85 156.85 State Control
18A 156.9 156.9 Commercial
19A 156.95 156.95 Commercial
20 157 161.6 Port Operations (duplex)
20A 157 157 Port Operations
21A 157.05 157.05 U.S. Coast Guard only
22A 157.1 157.1 Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadc
23A 157.15 157.15 U.S. Coast Guard only
24 157.2 161.8 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
25 157.25 161.85 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
26 157.3 161.9 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
27 157.35 161.95 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
28 157.4 162 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
63A 156.175 156.175 Port Operations and Commercial, VTS. Available only in New Orleans/Lower Mississippi area.
65A 156.275 156.275 Port Operations
66A 156.325 156.325 Port Operations
67 156.375 156.375 Commercial. Used for Bridge-to-bridge communications in l
68 156.425 156.425 Non-Commercial
69 156.475 156.475 Non-Commercial
70 156.525 156.525 Digital Selective Calling (voice communications not allowe
71 156.575 156.575 Non-Commercial
72 156.625 156.625 Non-Commercial (Intership only)
73 156.675 156.675 Port Operations
74 156.725 156.725 Port Operations
77 156.875 156.875 Port Operations (Intership only)
78A 156.925 156.925 Non-Commercial
79A 156.975 156.975 Commercial. Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only
80A 157.025 157.025 Commercial. Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only
81A 157.075 157.075 U.S. Government only - Environmental protection operations
82A 157.125 157.125 U.S. Government only
83A 157.175 157.175 U.S. Coast Guard only
84 157.225 161.825 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
85 157.275 161.875 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
86 157.325 161.925 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
87 157.375 161.975 Automatic Identification System duplex repeater
AIS 1 161.975 161.975 Automatic Identification System (AIS)
AIS 2 157.425 162.025 Automatic Identification System (AIS)
88A 157.425 157.425 Commercial, Intership only.

[Beer Waggin]

I need one of them tunable radios too!

[Miss B Haven]

NRD-LMAO.... We now return you to the Fishing Channel! 4 hours of non-stop HITS!

[jocose]

thanks miss B as always i appreciate your advice and this informative ifish site.

[Sea Jypzee]

sorry, posted this morning and then was off to work. I have the CB so I can 'reach out and touch someone'. Yes, the VHF actually has more power, but I enjoy the peace of mind of having a 'back up' mode of communications.

Mark - The radio I have is http://www.rangerusa.com/tr-696f.html The one you linked is for the base model.

[ 10-22-2003, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: Sea Jypzee ]

[jocose]

i bought a standard brand marine radio at a garage sale for 15 bucks and spent 30 more for a 10 foot antenna and have talked to the coast gaurd station at tongue point from my back yard in vancouver... is there a channel thats more common for boat to boat chat.. ive wanted to check my radio a few times but didnt want to bother the coast gaurd? joco

[Miss B Haven]

jocose - You can't use a VHF Marine radio off the water without a Base License. The FCC will getcha! :shocked:
Lots of abuse in this dept with the little 5 watt hand helds but I wouldn't be talking to the CG from my back yard without a Base Station Lic.

[8knots]

The least expensive SSB radio in the West Marine catalog is $1,009.00 and jumps up from there, not to mention the antenna and possible copper shielding needed. My understanding it they are used mainly by offshore commercial and world cruisers and used much like ham radios. Satellite communications will possibly replace SSB's in a few more years.

[rojo]

SSB can get up to say 1500watts. On one of the ships I was on we had one that was 1000watts low 1500watts hi. lots of range, really get a bounce with those....Roger

[1pump]

So I'd be surprized to hear that truckers would have this kind of radio. Now, there are CB's that have "split channels", so instead of the usual 40 or so channels, it can have over 100.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">The RCI I run in my truck has 480 channels, and both upper and lower sidebands. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't bother with it. I never use the sidebands, and I'm not gonna hassle with the big antenna I'd need to get the most out of it.
BTW, you have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting busted by the FCC. They don't enforce anything with 2-way radio traffic.
I wish they would, though.

[Miss B Haven]

[quote]Originally posted by 1pump:

BTW, you have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting busted by the FCC. They don't enforce anything with 2-way radio traffic.
I wish they would, though.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Amen Brother!

I think the Coast Guard has even given up on 16! Open mikes and chit chat all year!
[img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

[Pilar]

Gregotis, E-mail me. I have some photos from yesterday sent to me from a friend that you might find very interesting.