Empathy List Archives

SB

Scott Bulger

Sun, Oct 14, 2007 4:28 PM

I don't have a SSB radio on Alanui. I've been advised a hand held SSB
receiver will enable me to listen into the cruising nets in Central America.
Do you think it would be worth $500 to purchase the Icom IC-R20 or are there
less expensive, quality products available?

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA

I don't have a SSB radio on Alanui. I've been advised a hand held SSB receiver will enable me to listen into the cruising nets in Central America. Do you think it would be worth $500 to purchase the Icom IC-R20 or are there less expensive, quality products available? Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA

TR

Terry Rolon

Sun, Oct 14, 2007 4:46 PM

If all you want to do is listen, then I'd get a good receiver. You'll
need a good antenna even for that. Better than what comes with a hand
held I'd think. For actually communicating with the world for voice,
weather, routing or email I personally prefer Iridium or Globalstar sat
phones off shore and broadband wireless near shore. If your boat is
fiberglass and they didn't install a ground plane when they made it,
there's probably going to be a bit more to it than just buying a
transceiver and popping her in and powering her up if you want the best
performance. I've always bought one for my boats, since in the larger
scheme of things the added cost is relatively small, but I've never used
them much. Before sat radio I'd listen to BBC and such, but now a days,
not even that. They do broadcast a mayday well, assuming there is
anybody listening. Some things you read suggest the USCG won't always
answer a distress call made via the phone......Anyway, I won't buy
another one for the next boat.

tr

Scott Bulger wrote:

Do you think it would be worth $500 to purchase the Icom IC-R20 or are there
less expensive, quality products available?

If all you want to do is listen, then I'd get a good receiver. You'll need a good antenna even for that. Better than what comes with a hand held I'd think. For actually communicating with the world for voice, weather, routing or email I personally prefer Iridium or Globalstar sat phones off shore and broadband wireless near shore. If your boat is fiberglass and they didn't install a ground plane when they made it, there's probably going to be a bit more to it than just buying a transceiver and popping her in and powering her up if you want the best performance. I've always bought one for my boats, since in the larger scheme of things the added cost is relatively small, but I've never used them much. Before sat radio I'd listen to BBC and such, but now a days, not even that. They do broadcast a mayday well, assuming there is anybody listening. Some things you read suggest the USCG won't always answer a distress call made via the phone......Anyway, I won't buy another one for the next boat. tr Scott Bulger wrote: > Do you think it would be worth $500 to purchase the Icom IC-R20 or are there > less expensive, quality products available?

PP

Peter Pisciotta

Sun, Oct 14, 2007 10:02 PM

There are 2 primary reasons to have long-range
communications aboard a cruising boat: weather, and
safety. SSB is still relevant, though Iridium and some
weather subscription services can replace it.

I think you'd find the SSB cruiser nets are fairly
helpful: there's typically a land-based moderator who
knows the local weather conditions extremely well (I
forget the name of the guy who does Baja or where he's
located, but he's been hosting the 'Net for years).
And anyone who's ever heard emergency instructions
relayed via multiple VHF users can attest that having
a long range radio set is nice. And your closest help
may be another boat who is much more likely to have
SSB than Iridium. ANd it doesn't have to be a full-on
emergency: could just be that you need some gasket
material, or a 3" x 5/8" bolt or something. There
simply is no way to do a broadcast contact with
Iridium.

NOTE: If you do decide to have one installed, make
sure you have the time to thoroughly test it before
departing the area. Poor installation (especially
grounding) seems to give never-ending problems -
mostly on transmit so I'd guess that the advice to
have a good antenna even for receiver-only is sound.

Peter
Willard 36
San Francisco

There are 2 primary reasons to have long-range communications aboard a cruising boat: weather, and safety. SSB is still relevant, though Iridium and some weather subscription services can replace it. I think you'd find the SSB cruiser nets are fairly helpful: there's typically a land-based moderator who knows the local weather conditions extremely well (I forget the name of the guy who does Baja or where he's located, but he's been hosting the 'Net for years). And anyone who's ever heard emergency instructions relayed via multiple VHF users can attest that having a long range radio set is nice. And your closest help may be another boat who is much more likely to have SSB than Iridium. ANd it doesn't have to be a full-on emergency: could just be that you need some gasket material, or a 3" x 5/8" bolt or something. There simply is no way to do a broadcast contact with Iridium. NOTE: If you do decide to have one installed, make sure you have the time to thoroughly test it before departing the area. Poor installation (especially grounding) seems to give never-ending problems - mostly on transmit so I'd guess that the advice to have a good antenna even for receiver-only is sound. Peter Willard 36 San Francisco

passagemaking@lists.trawlering.com

SSB reciever, worth the money?