Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rsmith
Most offshore guys use them for relaying fishing info. Plus VHF is useless more than 20 mi offshore
Useless?? Did you say useless? Hopefully the statute of limitations has expired on this one. I put a 200 watt amplifier on the VHF aboard my old SeaRay 30 years ago. When I got to Wrightsville Beach one summer they told me they heard me talking to a marina back on Isle of Palms (Charleston) hours earlier. Had to be bouncing off the ionosphere or something. I'm glad I wired a switch into the power supply. I think the antenna must have glowed in the dark from the way that voltmeter headed south. Nobody, but nobody stepped on me. What fun.
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
racclarkson@gmail.com
Useless?? Did you say useless? Hopefully the statute of limitations has expired on this one. I put a 200 watt amplifier on the VHF aboard my old SeaRay 30 years ago. When I got to Wrightsville Beach one summer they told me they heard me talking to a marina back on Isle of Palms (Charleston) hours earlier. Had to be bouncing off the ionosphere or something. I'm glad I wired a switch into the power supply. I think the antenna must have glowed in the dark from the way that voltmeter headed south. Nobody, but nobody stepped on me. What fun.
VHF is line of site. You could have a million watt linear it wouldn’t matter.
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
I copied a HAM I know at an audio site, his reply... While VHF FM is inexpensive and great for quality communications on the water with nearby boats or shore based VHF setups, HF SSB is a better choice for the high seas where other boats and the shore might be hundreds of miles away. I'm not a boater but I know how HF and VHF propagation differ.There are HF SSB digital modes (sitor, amtor, packtor, winlink, shipcom, etc) and services that provide email or chat-like communication over the air. The commercial services charge a fee while HAM radio operators will often use Winlink. Winlink is tied to the internet by shore based stations and the system allows email exchanges between a boater on the high seas and family and friends on land.And of course there's always HF SSB voice communications.There are also satellite phone based services via Iridium, Inmarsat, Globalstar, but these can be pricey.
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Top Hatt Craig
The commercial services charge a fee while HAM radio operators will often use Winlink. Winlink is tied to the internet by shore based stations and the system allows email exchanges between a boater on the high seas and family and friends on land.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like this is not secure and a great way to send your SSN to the prince in Algeria.
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
I'm sure its safe Krush. No one woukd take advantage of a sailboater all alone in a foreign country.
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
Do you still need a license to operate them?
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rsmith
VHF is line of site. You could have a million watt linear it wouldn’t matter.
Right, but it happened. Sometimes things just do. That day they just did.
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Avenger
Do you still need a license to operate them?
SSH yes.
VHF should but not always needed.
Re: Is SSB still a useful electronic
You are required to have a ships station license that actually covers all electronics that broadcast a signal which includes VHF, SSB, and even radar, but a lot of people don’t even bother with the license and still use these electronics. The Gov’t does not have the resources to enforce this regulation. John