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Idiot's Guide to Marine SSB

As such, SSB is the only way to go for the various regional cruising nets, such as the Baja, Sonrisa, Chubasco and Southbound. It means that when Don Anderson of Summer Passage, for example, transmits his latest weather forecast, anyone who wants to can listen at the same time. When someone has a question about the forecast, everyone can hear the question and Don's response.

Marine SSB is also perfect for cruising events such as the Baja Ha-Ha , the Caribbean 1500 and the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. "While the Ha-Ha doesn't require SSB radio," advises the Grand Poobah, "most boats do have them. They're good for safety — but fun, too. The folks with SSBs are able to actively participate in all the roll calls, weather and fishing reports, and other fleet news. Over a period of nearly two weeks, personalities develop over the radio, and an even greater sense of community is established."

In racing events such as the TransPac, Pacific Cup, and Singlehanded TransPac, it offers more than just straight communication. "Thanks to marine SSB, our 1700 hour reports and discussions maintain the racing camaraderie and fun," notes Jack McGuire, KG6CJN, communications chairman of the '08 Pacific Cup race. Although not the subject of this article, the other significant benefit of SSBs is that, when used with a Pactor modem and SailMail, they allow for the transmission and reception of brief emails while offshore.

You don't need to pass a Ham radio operator's test to use a marine SSB. All that's required is a valid Ship Station license and a lifetime Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's permit. No testing required! The Ship Station license is good for 10 years and is non-transferable. If you're good at dealing with online government forms, you can apply for a license at http://wireless.fcc.gov. If you're not so good at it, or don't want to take the time, my lovely wife Suzie will be happy to help for a fee: (714) 549-5000. How does Ham (amateur radio) differ from SSB? If you're new to long distance marine radio, I suggest not even worrying about it. Although I run the Radio School and some of the income comes from teaching students how to use Ham radio and pass the test, I generally discourage new SSB operators from taking that step right away. Get the no-test license for SSB radio, become familiar with the procedures and protocols, and use it for a few months. If you find that you're one of the very few cruisers who talks on the radio so much that SSB frequencies aren't adequate, then look into Ham radio. Or if you're going to the South Pacific, where there's lots more traffic on ship-to-ship channels, you might consider eventually moving up to Ham status. But generally speaking, it's really only for serious radio buffs. By the way, there is nothing to prevent folks with SSB radios from listening on Ham frequencies, and indeed, there are some helpful Ham-only weather broadcasts. If you're worried that you might accidentally stumble onto a Ham-only frequency, start transmitting, and really piss off the 'radio police', fear not. SSB radios that are capable of working Ham frequencies come 'locked' from the factory. Some can only be unlocked using software, while others can be unlocked by simply pressing three keys at the same time. In cases of genuine emergencies, Ham frequencies can be used by people who don't have a license.

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How Far on What Bands?

A marine SSB system operates on marine radio spectrums called shortwave, medium frequency and high frequency — 2 MHz-26 MHz. This radio spectrum is shared with hundreds of other radio users including shortwave broadcasts, Ham radio, FEMA, the American Red Cross, and long-range aircraft.

Radio signals within the SSB shortwave spectrum refract off the ionosphere and come back to earth hundreds or thousands of miles away without the need for communication satellites and/or ground stations. Each marine SSB radio frequency band has a very predictable skywave bounce bulls-eye. If you choose a band that's too high, your signal will skip over the other station. If you choose a frequency that's too low, your signal won't go far enough to reach.

The following is a good guide for choosing the band of frequencies that will target your first skywave bounce:

2 MHz 200-400 miles 4 MHz 400-600 miles 6 MHz 600-1,200 miles 8 MHz 800-1,600 miles 12 MHz 1,200-2,400 miles 16 MHz 1,600-3,200 miles 22 MHz 2,200-4,000 miles plus 26 MHz unpredictable during our solar cycle minimum

Pop Quiz #1: You are in San Francisco and you want to talk with your buddy who's on his boat 1,200 miles away in Cabo San Lucas. Which band on marine SSB might you choose?

Answer: Because 4, 6, and 8 MHz would likely fall short on the first radio signal bounce, 12 MHz and 16 MHz would likely be your best choices

The thing that usually drives new SSB operators nuts — and I know that it still irritates the Ha-Ha's Grand Poobah — is that SSB radio frequency/channels are so different from VHF, FM, television, and almost every other kind of channel. On VHF, for example, channel 72 is channel 72. On television, channel 7 is channel 7. What could be more simple?

Certainly not SSB radio. Get this: while 4146 is always 4146 on SSB, it's also known as 4A, and sometimes the designator 4-1. In addition, depending on the individual radio, it's often channel 35 or channel 77, and could also be some other channel. That's right, depending on what radio you bought and when, and who might have customized the user channels, channel 35 and channel 77 may or may not be 4146 and vice versa. And, of course, it might also be channel 63 or 147 — or a bunch of other channels.

The best way to get to 4146 is to just tune to 4146. The problem is that you may have to do a lot of knob turning, which can be annoying. In order to eliminate unnecessary wrist injuries from knob turning, some manufacturers 'channelized' the more popular frequencies. That is, they assigned specific channels to specific frequencies. For example, the Icom SSB radios of several years ago assigned channel 35 to frequency 4146 (aka 4A and 4-1). Unfortunately, in later radios, they decided to assign channel 77 to 4146 (aka 4A and 4-1). In addition, some retailers created custom 'user channel' packages, which gave yet another channel designation to 4146.

How did it all come to this? SSB operators used to have to spin the frequency knob like crazy to find anyone because there are more than 1,000 SSB frequencies — only a very few of which will ultimately be of interest to you. (More on that later.) As a result, most modern marine SSB transceivers — a fancy name for a combined transmitter and receiver in one black box — have nearly 700 pre-stored duplex channels (specific frequencies designated as channels for easier access). After all, what's easier: dialing through 1,000+ frequencies or 700 channels?

Nonetheless, you could spin your SSB dial all day long and you'd probably still hear nothing — except for WLO, the excellent radiotelephone station located in Mobile, Alabama. If you want to pick up something, look for on-the-hour weather and traffic reports on the following International Telecommunications Union (ITU) three- and four-digit designators: 405, 417, 805, 824, 830, 1209, 1212, 1226, 1607, 1624, 1641, 1807, 2237 and 2503. If you punch in 1607 on the hour, you'll get traffic lists and weather broadcasts from powerful WLO. The U.S. Coast Guard also broadcasts voice weather reports on ITU channels 424, 601, 816, 1205, and 1625.

Because SSB radios are more complicated than VHF radios, you might initially have a little trouble punching in the three- and four-digit ITU channels and/or the actual frequencies.

Icom America, Furuno, and SEA are the last remaining SSB manufacturers, and of the three, Icom is the undisputed leader when it comes to equipping recreational vessels with marine SSB gear. To help North American sailors more easily call up relevant ship-to-ship, Coast Guard, weather facsimile, Ham and marine telephone stations, Icom has pre-programmed 160 "favorite channels" — channels 1 through 160 — into a memory circuit titled 'User Channels'.

If you have an Icom 802 and tune to channel 77, you'll find that you'll be on frequency 4146 (aka 4A). And if you tune to channel 135 on an 802, you'll find yourself on frequency 3968, which is home to the Sonrisa Net at 7 a.m. Pacific Time in the winter. It will even show 'Sonrisa Net' on your screen, even though the Sonrisa Net only uses that frequency a few hours each day.

Your radio will no doubt also have a toggle for 'channel/frequency'. As you move it, the display will switch back and forth from, say frequency 4146 to channel 77 — assuming, of course, that 77 has been assigned to 4146 on your particular radio.

Most Icom marine SSBs may be tuned off of a memorized channel, to hear a weather report on a frequency that has recently moved. Press the 'CL' button — the channel knob now goes into frequency changing — and turn the knob in tiny steps. You may need to do a lot of knob twirling to get to some of the new weather nets. Be sure to push 'CL' again to get out of this mode.

Take this opportunity to run all the user channels on your radio, and make a list of what frequencies/stations they refer to. As mentioned, if you have a newer Icom 802, it's very likely, but not certain, that you have the same channel/frequency combinations as owners of other new Icom 802s. But if you have an older Icom model, or perhaps had a custom user channel package installed into your 802, I'd recommend that you have an authorized Icom dealer come down and give you the most recent user channel package. He'll just plug his computer into the front of your radio and download the new stuff. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes and will sync you with the majority of other SSB radios.

Favorite SSB Channels

When cruising Mexico, these are the only channels you'll
really need for calling ship-to-ship or ship-to-California.

If you look at the table above, you'll see Latitude 38's favorite SSB channels that will help you better understand that each channel has a specific purpose. You'll notice there aren't 700 of them. That's because you can use only 33 primary channels. And for cruisers in California and Mexico, you'll almost certainly use just five of them: 4A, 4B, 4C, 8A and 8B. That's not many, but you'll rarely have trouble finding an open channel. (There are an additional 49 secondary channel/frequencies on the 4 MHz and 8 MHz bands that you can use if they aren't being used at the time, but if you're just starting out, you don't need that additional confusion.)

The main thing to do is play with your user channels/frequency combinations so you become familiar with them. It won't take long. If you find that your channels are out of sync with most other folks' SSBs, you might want to change yours to match theirs. Depending on how technical you are, you may or may not need assistance.

Calling for Help over the SSB

There are six Coast Guard Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) channels/frequencies:

2182, the distress channel 4125 (4S) 6215 (6S) 8291 (8S) 12,290 (12S) 16,420 (16S)

The Coast Guard and other international rescue agencies monitor them 24 hours a day. U.S. Coast Guard monitors out of Hawaii, Guam, Alaska, San Francisco, New Orleans, Miami and Norfolk.

Warning! Remember, different bands have different ranges. If you make an emergency call on 2182 when you're halfway between Mexico and the Marquesas, it's very unlikely anyone will hear you. If you check the earlier chart, you'll see that you'd actually want to transmit on 12,290 (12S) where the range would be 1,200 to 2,400 miles.

Marine SSB has been allocated hundreds of international channels, some of which are closely guarded by the U.S. Coast Guard and worldwide rescue agencies. They are prepared to act immediately on any received mayday or call for medical assistance. The Coast Guard maintains 24/7 distress radio guards on the following frequency bands:

Checking Your SSB Reception and Transmission

As a new user, even if you get some meaningful reception as you dial around the channels, you'll probably still wonder if your SSB is working as it should. One way to find out is by trying to pick up the time signals at 10 and 15 MHz and WWV, which provide a continuous signal for a ready reference. If you're still at the dock and plugged in, you may find that turning off the shore power battery charger will make a huge difference in your reception. Ditto for refrigeration, fluorescent lights, and inverters. If you're not sure that you're transmitting, you can tell a lot by looking at the LCD display on the face of your radio. First, push the 'TUNE' button, at which point the radio should briefly transmit a low power signal to tune the automatic antenna coupler. Do this on any 6 MHz channel as long as there is no traffic on it. The word 'TUNE' should flash a couple times on the LCD screen, and then stay up on the screen when the radio cycles back to receive. Still see the word 'TUNE'? This is good. However, if the word 'THRU' comes up, or 'HI SWR', you've got problems. It's probably time to bring in an NMEA-qualified marine SSB specialist to find out what's wrong between your radio and your tuner.

Assuming you do get 'TUNE', it's time to pick up the mic and try a short transmission. After doublechecking that the frequency is clear, key the mic, and speak directly into it saying "FOOOOUUUUR." The mic should be touching your lips when you do this. If the following things happen, it suggests that your transmission is good and powerful:

1) The LCD bar graph goes full scale. 2) Your cabin lights dim slightly. 3) The instrument indicator lamps glow. 4) The bilge alarm squeaks. 5) The house battery drops about half a volt.

It's perfectly normal for instrument panel lights to glow and bilge alarms to squeak when a powerful 100 watts are coming out of your SSB. But be sure to doublecheck that the LCD transmit indicator shoots across the screen when you say a very loud "FOOOOUUUUR."

A potentially more dangerous way to test the transmit power output is with a small fluorescent tube at night. Ask your first mate to hold the glass tube against the insulated backstay antenna or the big white whip. Caution! Be sure they don't touch the backstay with their fingers or other parts of their body, as this could result in a nasty burn or worse. Say the magic word ("FOOOOUUUUR") once again, and the tube should instantly light up. The glass must actually be touching the radiating antenna or antenna lead-in single wire for this to happen.

If the cabin lights dim, the head flushes, numerous bilge alarms go off, and the fluorescent tube lights up, chances are excellent that you're putting out 100 watts. But are they clear watts? Only a radio test with another SSB user can determine that, so ask someone else in the marina to dial in a common ship-to-ship channel, such as 6224, and run your radio check. This will be a good test for a nice, clean signal. If your test partner reports that your sound was garbled, and you've just added a new email modem to your rig, temporarily disconnect the wire going from the back of your SSB to the computer. If your voice is now clear, these additional wires are the problem. Your local marine electronics specialist carries snap-on filter chokes, which may resolve the garbled voice problem.

A good test for the range of your radio is with me! I'm happy to offer Latitude readers free, on-the-air radio checks on an appropriate SSB frequency that will agree with the approximate range between your station and mine here in the Newport Beach area. If your boat is in the Bay Area, we will likely use 8 MHz. If you are local, we'll go with 4 MHz, and if you're down in Cabo, we'll probably choose 12 MHz. Call me at (714) 549-5000 on weekdays and we'll find a nice quiet channel for our radio check.

Another great way to test your marine SSB transmit-and-receive capability is with weather guru Don Anderson on his marine SSB Amigo Net. He begins at 1415 hours Zulu (UTC) on 8.122 MHz, upper sideband. If you have the latest frequency load from Icom America, it's already stored in memory as channel 105. If you don't find it in memory, you will need to break out the instruction book and learn how to program a new frequency into your user-programmable frequency 'bin'. It's not hard, but if you've never done it before, it can be a mystery. If you have problems while in San Diego you might want to call in a marine electronics tech familiar with marine SSB equipment. Try Shea Weston of Offshore Outfitters at (619) 225-5690 or (619) 980-6217 (cell).

Two Final Tips

First, if you sent your Icom 802 to the factory to get the 'clipping' problem fixed, you'll note that there are two places to plug in the antenna. One is for the DSC antenna, the other for your SSB antenna. Unfortunately, they are not clearly labeled, and a number of people have plugged their SSB antenna into the wrong port. As a result, transmit and receive range are minimal. You'll see an antenna tuner error if plugged into the wrong jack. Set it up temporarily and test it with time signals.

Second, to avoid violating FCC rules, Icom is very conservative regarding output power and how wide the signals are. I think they're too conservative. If you get that voice compression software unlocked, your radio transmissions will boom out with a commanding signal like Voice of America. The software upload is available only from authorized Icom dealers. They can come aboard and plug it into your radio, as well as the most recent 'user channel' update. It usually takes just 15 minutes.

- gordon west

Also see Latitude 38's Guide to Marine Nets .

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SSB Marine Radio

Is an SSB Marine Radio Right for Your Boat?

SSB marine radio is the bluewater sailors' favourite method of long-range communication. Once you've got the equipment installed - sadly not an inconsequential investment - all calls are free.

SSB (Single Sideband) radio has a much greater range than a VHF (Very High Frequency) radio's typical 35 to 50 nautical miles.

Medium Frequency (MF) SSB radio has a range of around 400 nautical miles, but High Frequency (HF) will reach out for several thousand.

Clearly the power required to achieve this range is considerably more than for a VHF radio; SSB marine radio sets typically draw a peak current of around 25A when transmitting.

The SSB Marine Radio Installation

The component parts of an SSB radio installation are:~

An MF/HF SSB transceiver - Some SSB radios can transmit and receive on all of the HAM radio frequencies as well as the marine channels. If you have, or intend getting, a HAM Radio License then the additional cost of one of these sets may well represent excellent value for money;
An antenna - Most sailboats use an insulated section of the backstay as an antenna, although some twin-masted vessels use the triatic stay if they have one. Alternatively, a fibreglass whip antenna can be used - and most usually is on catamarans that have no backstays. But whatever antenna set-up is used, without a good ground plane, radio signal and reception will be dismal;
A ground plane - Bronze thru-hulls, bonded together with copper strapping, can be used successfully to form a ground plane but this method may promote electrolysis problems. An easier approach, avoiding any electrolysis issues, is to use a sintered bronze grounding shoe to the outside of the hull, below the waterline. Of course the best ground plane of all is provided by a steel hull;
An automatic antenna tuner - SSB radios transmit on a wide range of frequencies which affects the impedance of the fixed-length antenna, which in turn affects the performance of the transmitter. An automatic antenna tuner, sometimes referred to as a coupler, matches the antenna to the output from the SSB. Manual tuners are available, and are cheaper too, but require constant readjustment with frequency changes, making the radio much more difficult to operate as a result.

As with all modern VHF radios, top of the range SSB radio sets have DSC functionality built in, but if you want to use it together with the capability of being able to transmit on all marine MF/HF/VHF frequencies from a yacht then you need a GMDSS Long Range Certificate.

Such an SSB set, interfaced with a GPS (for DSC capability) and a laptop computer provides further functionality - access to weather fax, and email communication.

Weatherfax via an SSB Marine Radio

There are around ninety weather stations around the world which regularly broadcast meteorological maps on HF SSB frequencies.

With one of the weatherfax software programmes - Mscan Meteo or ICS Weather Fax6 for example - loaded into your computer, a weather map specific to your area of interest can be downloaded, often together with an associated forecast.

It can then be viewed on screen, or sent to a printer if you have one, for detailed analysis.

Email via an SSB Marine Radio

Just one more electronic gizmo - a radio modem - to install and then, once you've enlisted with an SSB email service provider, you can send and receive emails wherever you are.

Most SSB email service providers charge an annual subscription, so there are no line-time or by-the-bit (minutes used) charges as with mobile phone or satellite systems.

There are limits on usage though. For example, subscribers to www.sailmail.com , one of the most popular SSB ESP's are required to limit their use of the SailMail stations to a running average of 90 minutes per week.

File attachments can't be sent with outgoing emails and only certain attachments - such as weather data in .grib file format - can be received.

Licensed HAM Radio Operators can sign-up to the Winlink 2000 system which is completely free to use, but unlike sailmail, does not allow business transactions to be carried out over their network.

You might like these...

How DSC Radio Greatly Improves Your Chance of Rescue at Sea

By far the most important feature of DSC radio is that it provides a safer way of placing a distress call to the coastguard, and now it can even be done with a handheld DSC/VHF radio

VHF Marine Radio; Which One is Right for Your Boat?

If you're looking to buy a VHF Marine Radio the choice can be a bit overwhelming. So what should it be, a fixed VHF or a handheld VHF? Maybe one with AIS or GPS built in perhaps?

How a Marine EPIRB Can Get You into Trouble, As Well As Out Of It

Activating a marine EPIRB or a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) when you're not in distress can get you in big trouble with the Coastguard, as this cautionary tale relates.

How a Marine AIS Unit Can Take Some of the Stress Out Of Sailing

But what type of marine AIS unit best suits your needs? A Class A Transponder, a Class B Transponder or an AIS Receiver unit coupled to your chartplotter?

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Demystifying SSB radio

In an increasingly plug-and-play world, marine high-frequency (HF) single sideband (SSB) radio has developed something of a bad reputation, particularly among people relatively new to cruising or long-distance sailing.

Naysayers might argue the technology is decidedly low-tech compared to the smartphone in your pocket or tablet in the cabin. Some just consider it frustrating to use and would rather rely on a satellite phone for voice and email communications. There is also the upfront cost, which can exceed $4,000 or more for a radio tuner, modem and installation.

But marine single sideband has legions of fans and plenty of regular users. Although even its staunchest defenders acknowledge an initial learning curve, they cite its myriad benefits available with a little effort. These can include low cost of ownership, access to email and detailed weather data using a Pactor modem, and the potential for speedier rescues during an emergency.

“The satellite phone, when it’s working and if you don’t care about the expense, it’s still point-to-point communication or one-to-one, whereas radio is an entirely different thing, it’s one-to-many,” said Bill Trayfors, a longtime sailor and radio expert based in Arlington, Va. “Nobody else can hear you when you’re talking on a satellite phone, it’s just a telephone call from one place to another. Whereas if you’re on a radio, anyone else who is tuned to that frequency can hear you, and quite often that turns out to be a lot of people.”

Voyaging nets Possibly the biggest benefit of marine SSB radio are the “nets” — these are regular radio meet-ups that occur at certain times on a certain channels. During these sessions, boaters can swap weather observations and route tips with sailors hundreds of miles away or more. For voyagers making long trips solo or two-handed, these groups can provide a much-needed link with the outside world.

This capability is where single sideband radio really shines, said Dave Skolnick, an Annapolis-based sailor whose company, AuspiciousWorks, sells both satellite and radio-based marine communication systems.

“You can talk to people in front of you, behind you or before you leave some place,” he said in a recent interview.

“If you leave Norfolk on an Atlantic Rally, or you’re in the Caribbean 1500, or the Salty Dawg Rally or the Pacific Puddle Jump, on any of those you’ve got a whole group of people in front of you telling you what the weather is like, what they’re seeing, what fish they caught or what they had for lunch. You’re out there by yourself, but with single sideband you’re out there in a community.”

That sailing community also can be called on during emergencies. Mariners in distress can ask for help over popular channels using marine SSB, reaching vessels tuned to those frequencies 100 miles in any direction. Modern SSB radios with digital selective calling (DSC) have emergency distress signals that are automatically broadcast on several frequencies.

“Anybody equipped with DSC is going to hear it, setting off a rather loud alarm,” Trayfors said.

Rescue benefits National rescue authorities monitor these frequencies and would likely pick up the signal and be able to locate the distress vessel through the radio’s MMSI number. These distress signals also could trigger a response from the U.S. Coast Guard’s AMVER system, in which nearby commercial ships can respond to the emergency.

An Icom IC-M802, a popular marine HF SSB.

Courtesy Icom

“If the nearest recreational boat is 80 or 100 miles away … at 6 or 7 knots (that person) is going to be closer than a fixed-wing aircraft out of the U.K. followed by commercial ships that might be two or three days away,” Skolnick said.

“All of a sudden, that guy that feels far away at 100 miles at 6 knots becomes your first responder, and that makes a big difference and you are going to get that with single sideband where with a satphone you’re not.”

Marine SSB also works pretty well for communicating with friends and family back on shore. Sailors can make phone calls back home through the ShipCom service using SSB for about $1 a minute. When connected to a modem, these radios can send and receive email through SailMail and other systems, which cost around $275 a year. Radios can also receive detailed weather reports in the form of GRIBs, synoptic charts and voice broadcasts on a regular basis on several frequencies.

Download speeds over radio can also be faster than over a satellite connection, according to Gordon West, a California-based radio expert.

Marine SSB’s capabilities aren’t especially useful if sailors can’t figure out how to use them, however. Single sideband radios can have hundreds of marine frequencies, and it’s not hard to imagine novice users endlessly spinning a tuning dial looking for a certain channel.

There are some tips that make finding frequencies easier. When connected to a computer, the Airmail email software can automatically tune your radio to find optimum frequencies. The nets, weather broadcasts, fax broadcasts and other information also tend to happen at set times on set frequencies, meaning users can learn to find a handful of useful channels without having to navigate the entire spectrum.

Start small “Rather than getting frustrated trying to learn whole thing, the best way for a newcomer is to pick one or two net frequencies and join those every day and listen to those every single day,” Trayfors said, likening the nets to “crowdsourcing.”

Some nets can draw 50 to 100 boats to a frequency at a given time, but the rest of the day there won’t be anyone there, he said.

There is typically overlap between ham (amateur) radio users and marine SSB users. Unlike ham radio, marine SSB does not require an exam, although users must have an FCC-approved radio and a station license for their boat plus an operator’s permit. These can be acquired by filling out a form on the FCC website.

Skolnick admits marine SSB can take some effort to learn and understand. But he said it’s no more complex than learning other onboard components.

“For all of the work that you do learning about diesel engines and watermakers and sewage systems and air conditioning and generators and Wi-Fi and all that other stuff, it just isn’t that hard to understand how to really effectively use single sideband radio,” Skolnick said. “It’s not hard,” he added, “but there is a learning curve and you do need to put forth some effort.”

Given the benefits a marine SSB rig provides, however, the effort would seem worth it for many voyagers.

Casey Conley is a staff writer for Ocean Navigator and Professional Mariner and is the editor of American Tugboat Review .

By Ocean Navigator

What is an SSB and Do I Need One?

May 6th, 2021 by team

by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor)

If you’re buying a boat, you may come across an item on the inventory that says something like this:

Icom IC-M802 SSB Radio w/ AT-140 Tuner

So we know it’s a radio, but what does the SSB mean?

“SSB” is short for Single SideBand radio, also known as a High Frequency (HF) radio, or in old maritime thrillers as a “shortwave.” It’s a radio which broadcasts and receives on a much wider and lower range of frequencies than your VHF radio.

Do You Need One?

Without getting into the gruesome technical detail…the answer for most boaters is: Probably Not .

If you are planning to cruise full time or sail offshore making blue water passages, then an SSB can be a VERY useful and powerful tool. But if you’re a casual coastal sailor, you will have little use for one.

Marine SSB can send voice and data over long ranges, sometimes several thousand miles if atmospheric conditions are favorable. Most weekend boaters don’t need to talk to people that far away as part of their regular boating activities.

The Case FOR Getting an SSB

If you plan to cruise the world or cross oceans, there is an excellent case to be made for having an SSB.

While some claim that a satellite phone is a suitable replacement for emergency and rescues, there are many disadvantages when compared to an SSB.

An SSB DSC distress call will activate the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) to your troubles when it is received. You can do this with a phone call too, but it’s not automatic.
Your SSB Distress call is broadcast to every ship in range, and range can be hundreds or thousands of miles. A satellite call goes to one number.
The distress call is broadcast to ships closer to your vessel; far off shore your most likely rescue is from nearby marine traffic.
Commercial ships are required to monitor GMDSS frequencies, so any ship nearby can pick up your call.
Rescue vessels without satphone capability can reach you to coordinate a response via radio.

And of course, there are the social aspects. For a fleet of small vessels cruising near each other but spread out over hundreds of miles of water, it’s the best way to keep in touch.

Crossing the Pacific, we had half a dozen other boats between the Galapagos and the Marquesas at the same time. We kept up a daily net, where we’d meet on the air and share our positions, help each other with problems, brag about the fish we caught, and give each other general updates. We knew who was out there, where they were, and if someone didn’t check in, there were other people nearby to help. While it helped pass the time and made being alone at sea less lonely, it also gave us a very important safety net.

How is SSB Different From a Marine VHF?

There are several key differences in operation and capabilities between the two.

The Short Answer

SSB uses different, lower frequencies and has a much longer range.

Also, it’s not set up in neat numbered channels like a VHF so it’s trickier to use. And much more expensive and complicated to install.

The Longer, More Technical Answer

Marine VHF (Very High Frequency) is the standard radio we use to call boats in within a few miles of us. VHF is limited to line-of-sight distances, and it’s rare to speak with people over ten or fifteen miles away at all, never mind clearly. Sailboats with masthead antennas and fixed VHF radios can do it, since line-of-sight increases from the top of the mast, but even that is limited to twenty-five or so.

VHF Frequencies range from 30 to 300 Mhz and have wavelengths from three feet to about thirty-five feet (1 meter to 10 meters). These short wavelengths don’t travel that far and don’t penetrate things, and are absorbed by the ionosphere.

Single Side Band uses High Frequency (HF) from 3 to 30 Mhz, with wavelengths of 10 to 100 meters (30 to 330 feet). These longer wavelength, low frequency signals will bounce off things, including the upper atmosphere. This bounce allows the radio waves to travel very long distances. HF radio waves can propagate all the way around the world, though ranges of a few hundred to a couple of thousand miles are more typical.

A marine SSB, like an Amateur Radio, will allow operation on exact frequencies. Marine VHF has set “channels” which are agreed upon frequencies for standard marine operation in a country. When you call on Channel 16 on VHF, your radio is tuning in to the 156.800 Mhz frequency behind the scenes, which other radios expect and you don’t need to worry about. These frequency-to-channel assignments are federally regulated and consistent, which is why they work are easy to use. A marine SSB may come with “channels,” but they are a more loosely agreed upon names for frequencies. There’s no governing body to say “This is Channel 55” so everyone agrees. It makes finding a frequency to chat on a little more challenging. The installation is also more complex, and costs are higher. A VHF radio needs a power supply and an antenna. An SSB needs these as well, but also it needs a “ground plane,” an antenna tuner (sold separately!), and possibly a second antenna. The primary antenna can be large, and many use an insulated section of the backstay. This works well, but requires cutting the backstay and installing insulators. The cost and complexity are discouraging unless you really need or want it.

If I have an SSB Already, What Can I do with it?

If you have a functioning SSB on your boat and you plan to cruise offshore, learn how to use it. It’s a powerful tool for staying in touch with other cruisers, and for getting help if you need it.

Even if you’re not cruising, if you have one take some time to learn how to use it, you can have some fun with it. But you might find the effort to do more advanced functions (like getting weather faxes) not worth it if you’re in cell phone range and can download the same information on your phone in seconds.

A few things you can do include:

Learn how to contact far off stations. Getting an Amateur Radio license (also called a Ham License) is a good way to learn. With a Ham license, you can talk to many more people in other countries.
Learn to do digital communications. It’s slow, but you can get and send e-mail when you don’t have a connection to land.
Get weather faxes and weather information.
Send distress calls over much longer distances than VHF.
Posted in Blog , Boating Tips , Cruising , iNavX , iNavX: How To , Navigation , Sailing , Sailing Tips

6 Responses to “What is an SSB and Do I Need One?”

December 24, 2022 at 2:39 am , Robert Moore said:

the SSB radio system is a significant advancement in the world of radio communication allowed sailors to navigate and effectively interact.

December 26, 2022 at 10:32 am , Robert Moore said:

The transceiver, which is usually hidden behind the covers, includes all the key electronics, PCBs, and crucial elements for reception and transmission.

July 22, 2023 at 9:23 am , Tom Brian said:

This kind of radio is frequently used on yachts and boats. You may therefore hear people refer to it as a marine single sideband radio. Access to essential marine radio channels is provided along with two-way communication on board.

August 17, 2023 at 4:20 pm , Steve Lee said:

Definitely a critical tool for any sailors planning extended cruising…we used to use these in the Keys back in the day on all our boats…thanks for breaking down the intricacies of SSB!

February 25, 2024 at 6:00 pm , Drake Geco said:

Thanks for the explanation about what Is an SSB radio and how it works and how one can have fun with it even if not sailing.

May 08, 2024 at 11:44 pm , Joe Mullins said:

Do you need a license to operate a single side band radio ?

Everything you need to know about SSB marine radio

For many who sail around the world, a short-wave radio system is a must-have on board, as an SSB marine radio system can be used for very long distances. It is easy to see why sailors would want to communicate with each other, particularly on nautically demanding sea passages. In addition to radiotelephony, e-mails can be sent and weather information received via a Pactor modem. All components must be carefully installed in order to operate the system without any problems. Find out which components you need and what to be aware of during installation in our SSB-Marine Radio Guide.

What is ssb radio.

Advantages of SSB
Amateur radio device vs. SSB marine radio

Installation

Grounding the antenna
Choosing an antenna tuner
Cable connections
Installation location
Installation example

Data transfer

Receive emails on board
Providers for transferring data
Recommended frequencies and programmes

SSB stands for Single Sideband. An SSB radio modulates a special type of wave during transmission, also known as short-wave radio. Short-wave radio equipment on ships is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) established under SOLAS, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

Marine radio via Very High Frequency (VHF) or Short Wave (SW) - What is the difference?

Marine radio includes both (VHF) and Short Wave (SW) frequencies. The difference between the two lies in the type of frequency range used. The VHF range is limited to about 25 nautical miles. Short-wave radio, on the other hand, also covers longer distances due to the reflection from the Earth’s outer air-layer (the ionosphere). The term HF radio (High Frequency radios and/or High frequency marine radios) is also used. VHF and HF radios can be operated with the same MMSI number. Application for a separate MMSI number is not required when purchasing an SSB radio system.

The short-wave range is used in both maritime and aeronautical radio for long distance as well as in military and amateur radio, and is crisis-proof. An SSB radio device is useful in maritime radio communication, above all for long-distance sailing , as it allows radio signals to be transmitted and received from almost anywhere in the world. Even in tricky passages, SSB radio and the worldwide radio network allow other sailors to communicate with each other and share breakdown and repair advice or even medical help. Sailors can communicate via SSB radio on the shortwave frequency *pre ARC Radio Net 8.297*. A Facebook group of the same name also allows users to listen without a radio on land.

Shortwave is also often used for radio communication on regattas. At the World ARC, Oyster World Rally or the Sydney Hobart Race, for example, shortwave equipment is obligatory. Further regattas/rallies all over the world are organised by the World Cruising Club.

Join the SSB Marine Network Facebook group »

Should I buy an amateur radio device or an SSB marine radio?

Which device you choose depends first of all on the radio certificate you have, either an amateur radio certificate (HAM) or a marine radio certificate (LRC). SSB amateur radio systems are usually cheaper to purchase than SSB marine radios, but the amateur radio certificate is much trickier and more complex to obtain than a marine radio licence, also known as a Long Range Certificate (LRC). Amateur radio training also teaches basic electrotechnical know-how.

The more expensive SSB marine radios, on the other hand, often have a DSC function. DSC stands for Digital Selective Calling. DSC is a marine radio call method that uses acoustic and optical signals to identify incoming calls. This means that there is no need to constantly monitor radio traffic for relevant calls.

The data transmitted via DSC appears on the DSC controller of the radio system called and is also stored in a memory so that it can be recalled at any time. A separate antenna is required for the DSC function. For SSB marine radios, we recommend our AA-35 active/DSC antenna to use the DSC function.

Both SSB amateur radio equipment and SSB marine radio receivers operate on frequencies between 3 and 30 MHz Amateur radio users are relatively free to choose a frequency in the ranges 1.8 / 3.5 / 7 / 10 / 14 / 18 / 21 / 24 / 28 MHz in accordance with frequency usage plans. Marine radio users have fixed channels in the frequency range 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 18 / 22 / 25 MHz You can listen on all frequencies, no matter which radio certificate you have.

SSB-Amateur Radio Equipment vs. SSB-Marine Radios

	SSB-Amateur Radio Equipment	SSB-Marine Radios
Certificate	Amateur radio certificate (HAM)	SMarine radio certificate / Long Range Certificate (LRC)
Transmit frequencies	1,8 / 3,5 / 5 / 7 / 10 / 14 / 18 / 21 / 24 / 28 MHz	2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 18 / 22 / 25 MHz
Receive frequencies	0.5-30 MHZ pervasive	0.5-30 MHz pervasive
Frequency selection	Free frequency selection in accordance with frequency usage plans	Preprogrammed channels
Costs	Cheaper to purchase	More expensive to purchase due to additional functions such as separate 2nd receiver, remote control unit, splash-proof display. Display of the current position with connected GPS device. 150 Watt transmitting power.
DSC	No	Yes

What should I know when installing SSB radios?

The best SSB radio is of little use if the system is not installed correctly. Proper installation must include several points:

1. Grounding the short wave antenna

A short-wave antenna should typically be symmetrical in shape with two conductors. Since most ships are single-mast, the second conductor of an asymmetric antenna can be balanced by tuners and seawater grounding. Depending on the material of the hull there are different possibilities:

Grounding on ships with metal hulls On ships with metal hulls, care must be taken that no DC voltage is applied to the hull via the tuner. Even if antifouling paint has been painted, there is still contact to the seawater by means of capacitive coupling. Use an electrolysis blocker or DC blocker, such as the DCF-47, to prevent voltage from reaching the hull.

What should I know when installing SSB radios?

Grounding on ships with GRP and wooden hulls

There are several possibilities for GRP and wooden hulls. Ground plates made of bronze material, also known as Dynaplates, ensure the correct earthing and that interference is prevented. The grounding plates should only be used for grounding the tuner and not for other electrical installations. For the grounding plates it is important to choose a size sufficient for SSB radio. Our rectangular grounding plates measuring 300 x 80 x 13 mm are ideal for this purpose. If you have a wooden hull, simply install the supplied fibreglass plate between the grounding plate and the hull. Grounding plates should never be painted over! After 6 months, algae and mussels can form on the rough surface of the bronze material, which limits the function of the grounding plates. In this case they must be cleaned, preferably with a metal brush, or completely replaced. You should always attach the grounding plates using the floating method, so you can uninstall and clean the pads at any time without taking the boat out of the water.

SSB Radio Expert Tip

SVB recommends grounding GRP and wooden hulls by using SSB-Ground-Paint. This is a highly concentrated, silver-plated solvent-free copper coating which is applied as close as possible to the tuner, below the waterline in the bilge or in the aft area for good grounding on approx. 3 m². Here, the painted surface represents one half of the condenser and the seawater the second half. Both halves are separated by the hull. The advantage of this method is that the painted surface is maintenance-free. It can be painted over with boat paint as desired and the tuner can be connected to the painted surface with a wide copper band. SSB-Ground-Paint does not serve as lightning protection grounding.

KISS-SSB Grounding System

A third option is the KISS-SSB grounding system . It consists of a 300 cm long hose with a 119 cm long supply line. Inside, wires for the respective resonance frequencies are located. The KISS-SSB is connected to the tuner's grounding screw and placed loosely in the fuselage. It is important not to install the grounding system too close to the live cable. The KISS-SS grounding system does not serve as ground protection against lightning.

2. Choosing a suitable antenna tuner

All SSB radio systems have an antenna tuner. In shortwave, a wide range of 2-30Mhz is used. This range should be covered by an antenna (isolated backstay or whip antenna). These antennas have a resonance frequency depending on their length. In order to be able to use the antenna beyond this resonance frequency, an automatic antenna tuner is used, which electrically "extends" or "shortens" the antenna and brings it back into resonance. The tuner should be installed inside, as close as possible to the antenna. Reliable antenna lengths for the backstay are 7.0 m to 13.5 m and max. 17m. The antenna starts at the tuner output and the cable to the backstay is factored in.

3. Make sure good quality of cable connections for best transmission and reception quality

Every loose connection and every area that is too small for the transmission of shortwave power has a negative effect on the transmission and reception quality of the SSB radio system. There may be a risk of short circuits and corrosion. The coaxial cable connecting the radio and tuner should be of low attenuation. The soldering of PL plugs must not allow any contact between the conductor and the shielding and there must be sufficient contact area for the conductor. As an antenna for short-wave radio systems, a section of the backstay is usually electrically insulated. As an alternative to an insulated backstay, the Glomex rod antenna can also be used. If the insulated backstay is used as an antenna, it is important to establish a good connection with the high-voltage cable via a backstay clamp. A good connection is achieved by a large contact surface of the clamp to the insulated backstay and a waterproof connection of the high voltage cable to the tuner and antenna.

SSB Radio Accessoires

4. Choose installation location with care & maintain necessary distances

When installing SSB radios with a shortwave frequency, it is essential that the necessary distances are maintained to avoid interference or loss of performance. It should also be noted that the feedline from the antenna tuner to the insulated backstay radiates a signal. A UV-resistant GTO-15 high-voltage cable should be installed between the tuner and antenna. A coaxial cable, which is installed by some shipyards here, keeps the tuner from adjusting the antenna system correctly and a large part of the output is not radiated by the shielded coaxial cable. The GTO-15 should be kept at a distance from the uninsulated part of the backstay using a so-called "standoff". With contact or too close installation of the high voltage cable to the uninsulated part of the backstay will result in a loss of output.

For metal hull sailing yachts, large deck insulators should be used when routing cables through metal, otherwise they will act as a capacitor and the output will remain below deck.

As a general rule, any type of antenna on board should be as far away from metallic objects as possible for best results. When installing the tuner, proximity to the ground is extremely important.

SVB provides a detailed installation manual with every SSB radio system purchased.

Installation example of an SSB radio:

Backstay clamp
GTO-15 High-voltage cable
GPS Antenna NMEA0183
DCS Antenna AA-35
ICOM Automatic Tuner AT-140
SSB Ground Paint 3m2 (connected to tuner with copper foil)
IC-M802 main unit
IC-M802 Display
SP-24 speaker
DR-7400 HF modem
Battery / power supply

How can I receive email on board? Short wave data transfer

During longer journeys it may be useful to receive data on board, e.g. e-mails, weather faxes or weather GRIB data. This can be done via a Pactor modem. The modem is connected to the transceiver and a PC or laptop via USB or Bluetooth. The Pactor modem then converts the computer data so that it can be transmitted via short wave. The data is exchanged between the ship and shore stations, with the shore stations transmitting the short-wave data to the Internet.

First, the owner of the Pactor modem sends a GRIB file containing the sea area and the required data (wave height, wind direction, air pressure, etc.) to the land station.

The land station transmits the short-wave data to the Internet. After a few minutes the ship receives a GRIB file with a detailed weather forecast for the area and the required data.

In addition to the weather forecast for a specific region as a GRIB file, the Pactor modem can also be used to send a weather fax of the general weather situation.

Pactor modems are manufactured by the German company SCS. In our range you will find the DR-7400 model, which already uses the new Pactor 4 method, also called P4 dragon, which improves speed. The DR-7400 Pactor modem is surpassed only by the DR-7800, which also has a built-in display and is therefore much more expensive. We do not have this model in our standard range, but we will be happy to order it for you if you are interested. A third Pactor modem that is available on the market is the PTCIIIusb.

This modem has a much lower speed than the DR-7400 and is no longer available from us. To mount your Pactor modem on board, you will find a mounting kit with so-called Pactor brackets, brackets for mounting the modem on your yacht.

A Pactor modem has even more advantages: With a Pactor modem and an SSB system, Navtex weather messages can be received. A separate Navtex weather receiver is not required. The same applies to weather faxes. Even small e-mail attachments such as pictures up to 50 KB can be sent with a Pactor modem.

Possible providers for transferring data from your Pactor modem

To use the Pactor modem, you need a provider who can supply you with the worldwide network of radio stations, making data transfer possible in the first place. Depending on which radio license you have, two providers are possible:

1. Winlink / RMS Express

Winlink is a network that is operated free of charge by and for amateur radio operators. There is no need to register to participate in the service, just enter your callsign and password in the appropriate software. For each callsign the maximum usage time is limited to 30 minutes per day in order to offer each sailor a free frequency.

2. Sailmail

Sailmail is a network that is operated on HF Marine Bands and need a payment of $275 for one year. There is need to register at the sailmail website in the service, just enter your callsign and adress . For each callsign the maximum usage time is limited to 90minutes a week.

Provider	via Winlink - 30 minutes a day no costs	via Sailmail - 90 minutes per week cost US$ 275 per year
Stations	Almost worldwide (shortfalls in the Pacific)	Worldwide
Reliability	good	very good

SSB testing facility at SVB in Bremen

To test radio systems, SVB has set up a remote radio system in Bremen. The system covers a frequency range of 0.5-30MHz.

Which frequencies and programmes are recommended for shortwave radio in Europe and the Caribbean?

Via the shortwave frequency pre ARC Radio Net 8297 khz in J3E/USB sailors can communicate via SSB radio on a daily basis. A Facebook group of the same name also allows communication on land.

Weather GRIB-Files & Software by WetterWelt

Weather GRIB files are available for sailors with SSB radio and Pactor modem or an Iridium telephone. With a special WetterWelt software you can extend the range of weather data.

Chris Parker’s Weather Net

Chris Parker is very well known in the USA. He also makes weather reports and weather advice via shortwave and talks directly to the sailors via shortwave. He transmits all year round at 2200 UTC on the SSB frequency 8137 kHz and transmits simultaneously on 12350 kHz, each in J3E/USB.

Trans-Atlantic Radio Net

The Trans-Atlantic Radio Net broadcasts daily in winter and spring at 2130 UTC, half an hour before Chris Parker's Weather Net on the SSB frequency 12350 kHz.

German Weather Service (DWD)

The German Weather Service (DWD) also has a shortwave frequency that can be used to transmit weather reports in spoken form and receive them with an SSB system. The spoken transmission of the sea weather report is transmitted on 5905 kHz and 6180 kHz in AM at the following transmission times:

SSCA Net Callsign KPK

Many German sailors are also registered with the American organisation SSCA, which operates its own coastal radio station with the call sign KPK. SSCA is the equivalent to Trans-Ocean in Germany. Many sailing boats also have SSB equipment on board. It is transmitted daily at 1215 UTC (0715 EST or 0815 EDT) on the frequency 8104 khz in J3E/USB.

Sailors in the Mediterranean region hold daily exchanges at Med Net in spring, summer and autumn from Monday to Saturday. The check-in frequency is 6516 kHz. The frequency is then changed to 8131 kHz and finally to 12359 kHz in J3E/USB.

Where & When Propagation Tool

The Where & When Propagation Tool is also available to clearly receive or send calls from or to the other end of the world via SSB radio. The program shows at which time and on which frequency, depending on your current position and the approximate position of the other party, a call works particularly well.

North Sea, Baltic Sea and German coastal areas:

06:00-06:30 UTC
12:00-12:30 UTC
20:00-20:15 UTC

Mediterranean Sea:

16:00-16:30 UTC
20:15-20:30 UTC

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Written by our SVB (technical) experts

Our team of SVB technical experts is there to give our customers professional advice on all matters relating to technology on board. With specialist know-how, extensive training, and a technical flair for electrical connections, fittings etc, our crew are more than qualified to advise our customers.

+44 (0)1227 741741

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An introduction to Marine SSB Radio

So what is SSB Marine Radio?

Using a hf/ssb radio, other considerations.

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Practical Boat Owner

Digital edition

How to use SSB radio to stay in touch with the shore

Tony Preedy
May 4, 2022

Radio communications are vital for for both racers and cruisers sailing offshore, writes Tony Preedy

how-to-use-ssb-radio-PBO274.SSB_radio.arc19_ssbnetcontroller_aguadulche_hr_8450

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) 2019 SSB net controller, Agua Dulch. Photo: World Cruising Club

Single Side-Band (SSB) radio is the system used by yachts and ships for long distance communication. Originally, it enabled vessels to communicate over long distances between each other and the inland telephone system.

In the UK this was via the coast radio station at Portishead – but that facility was abandoned when satellite communication became common. Many older yachts that cruised abroad retained their SSB radios, mainly for reception of news or to join weather nets.

SSB is still used in remote regions. Some fishing boats still use SSB to communicate between each other if they are out of range of VHF. These vessels were licensed by the GPO and later by Ofcom.

Article continues below…

ssb-radio-explained-PBO274.SSB_radio.tony_preedy_ham_radio_equipment

SSB radio explained: The budget rival to satellite phone connectivity

These days it’s relatively easy to maintain phone contact almost anywhere in the world – but to do so from…

SSB radio antenna: How can I install one on my boat? Our expert answers

Q: I recently bought a NASA Target HF3 SSB radio antenna receiver. The manual that came with it is OK…

An operator’s licence was obtained from the Department for Trade and Industry after training in the operation of the radio and how to deal with telegrams and emergency situations.

It permitted someone, usually the skipper, to use the equipment on vessels up to 1,600 tons. Above that a dedicated Wireless Operator was required. Today this is replaced by the VHF licence for yachts – but this only gives a line-of-site communication so the higher the aerial, the greater the range.

You need a long-range licence to operate marine SSB radio
Most racers and those leisure sailors that use MF/HF SSB use a specifically designed radio for that purpose such as Icom’s HF SSB Marine Radio IC-M804

Long-range radio skills could determine Golden Globe Race winner

High Frequency (HF) SSB radio is a mandatory requirement for the Golden Globe Race (GGR) but most competitors have never used this long range communications equipment before entering.

This year, the second edition of the revived GGR will depart from Les Sables d’Olonne, France on Sunday 4 September. The ‘retro, solo, non-stop’ circumnavigation challenges sailors to re-enact the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Yacht Race, sailing 30,000 miles around the world using yachts and equipment that were available when Sir Robin Knox-Johnston made history as the sole finisher.

Prior to satellite communication developments, HF SSB was essential kit to sailors in places like Australia, who needed to cross the Southern Ocean to reach the rest of the world.

how-to-use-ssb-radio-PBO274.SSB_radio.guido_title

Golden Globe Race 2022 entrant Guido Cantini aboard Hannah of Cowes , a Vancouver 34

Don McIntyre, GGR founder, explains: “In the 1970s when I started sailing, your only safety link was High Frequency long-range radio. You needed to radio long distances. EPIRBs did not exist.

“During my 1990 BOC Challenge there were EPIRBs, but no Iridium sat phones. Nearly every day for eight months, I called Sydney Radio direct from anywhere in the world on my trusty High Frequency (HF) single side band long range radio.”

Don believes that HF SSB skills, while vital for emergency group communications, could also be a deciding factor in who wins the next GGR race.

He said: “The first seven weeks and the last seven weeks of this GGR are tactically very important if you hope to win. Weather planning is vital. Get it wrong and you stop. The rest of the voyage is more hanging on for the ride as you sail in a narrow band through the Southern Ocean.

how-to-use-ssb-radio-PBO274.SSB_radio.new_gear_ic_m804_set_day_wb_57807126

“Entrants with good HF SSB radios, and who know how to use them, have a huge advantage by receiving accurate weather data and even discussing computer weather information with friends.

This kind of information is potentially worth more than the best sails. It could win you the race after rounding Cape Horn. It is allowed under the rules. They cannot accept weather routing which is someone else telling the entrant where to go to get the best winds.

“As they race south to meet the Southern Ocean for the first time, weather info will be about missing storms rather than sailing fast. Realistically they are so slow they will not miss many, but one thing you can be sure of is that every entrant will be relying on his/her HF SSB radio for more than they ever imagined when they were planning for the race.

“Twice a day they can chat with each other to give encouragement and feel not so alone. I remember in my BOC this was amazing. Many not have spoken to family and friends since they left. Their sense of isolation and being at the end of the world will grow. Their ability to call anyone on the radio is a huge plus.”

how-to-use-ssb-radio-PBO274.SSB_radio.arc_jmitchell_jm6_8701

Typical communications set-up on a transatlantic ARC yacht. Photo: World Cruising Club/James Mitchell

SSB radio for offshore sailing rallies

During ocean stages of World Cruising Club (WCC) rallies there are daily SSB (HF) radio nets, which are a mix of safety messages, discussions on weather and routing, and social contact between the boat crews. There have been fishing and bake-off competitions, an SSB orchestra, quizzes and other fun activities.

The radio net is coordinated within the fleet by volunteer net controllers. It’s their job to act as host, switch frequencies, run the roll-call, rebroadcast the daily weather forecast and record any yacht positions.

It can be a tiring task, but all the net controllers agree that it’s also fun and they are never short of being brought a drink or two on arrival!

Each year, the great advantage of the radio net is shown when co-ordinating the fleet response to emergencies at sea. HF radio provides the only means of broadcast communication at sea, making it ideal for speaking to a large group simultaneously, using the DSC alert function to bring the fleet on-air. And of course, speaking on air is free, with no per minute charges unlike satellite systems.

SBB radio is not a requirement for the transatlantic ARC rallies , but it is for circumnavigating with World ARC. The distances involved in crossing an ocean on a small boat can make you feel vulnerable and isolated and so it is especially important to maintain wider social contact with other crews while at sea.

World ARC participant Hal from Cayuse said: “SSB is the only way to communicate in real time on a daily basis. The radio net breaks the day up, and adds interest to the day. Talking on SSB is much better than communicating by email.” It has been used as a social ‘glue’ for the rally on long passages, but also has a very important role in communicating if there are problems on board.”

Radio net for cruisers

Arriving in different cruising grounds, especially in the Caribbean and for round-the-world cruising, having an SSB radio will provide access to cruisers radio net; informal groups that meet at a regular time and on a published frequency to share information.

There is usually a controller who directs the net, but anyone can join in as they’re run by cruisers for cruisers. Weather and security messages are shared and often cruisers will use the nets as a way to keep in contact with friends.

Radio nets tend to be regional and popular in areas with lots of live-aboard cruisers, such as the Caribbean and the Sea of Cortez.

For more information on cruiser radio nets visit noonsite.com

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What are SSB Radios?

SSB radio is used by boats or yachts for communication at sea. It is part of the Global Maritime Distress, and Safety System established under SOLAS, the international convention for the safety of life at sea.

The full form of SSB Marine radio is Single Side Band radio. The SSB radios offer quick access to over 700 radio channels. MF or medium frequency SSB radios range about 400 nautical miles, while HF or high-frequency SSB radios range a thousand miles.

Hence, they have a larger reach than VHF radios, ranging from 35 to 50 nautical miles. The system consists of chargeable lithium-ion batteries, chargers, an external antenna, and an automatic antenna tuner and is used by sailors, mariners and naval forces.

The State of California declared that these batteries contain certain cancer-causing chemicals and should be handled cautiously. While charging the radio system, one should place it on a fire-proof surface and not leave it unattended for a long time. Also, good quality cable connections should be installed for greater transmission clarity.

While many believe that a satellite phone may come in handy during emergencies, an SSB radio with marine SSB transceivers is the most helpful tool since it sends distress signals to all ships in the vicinity and alerts the rescue authorities automatically. In contrast, you can call just one number through a satellite phone. Also, pairing the SSB radio with a Pactor modem would allow one to receive weather faxes, weather GRIB Data and e-mails onboard a vessel.

Depending on the requirement, one can opt for SSB amateur radio systems cheaper than SSB Marine radios. However, an amateur radio certificate is more difficult to get than a marine radio license or a Long Range Certificate. Also, the expensive SSB marine radios have a DSC or Digital Selective Calling function too.

The SSB radio was first used as a part of the navigational radio system after World War II. The main reason for introducing the SSB radio system was the problems caused by the AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio system.

One of the main disadvantages or problems of the AM radio system was that it absorbed a considerable amount of unwanted power and space. Also, the AM system was not foolproof. The messages and information passed through the AM system could be listened to and monitored by unwanted channels leading to important information being passed on and emergencies being created.

The SSB radios offer a wide variety of services like a two-way communication marine radio system with the captains of other boats, yachts and the coast guards. Apart from this, the SSB radios are not affected by distance. They can be easily used for calls and messages between yachts or boats far away from each other without disrupting or distorting transmission. In addition to being a marine radio system that offers full-proof communication channels, the SSB radio system also provides entertainment in the form of music to the boat’s crew. The SSB radio thus provides a comprehensive marine radio communication system to the shipping industry.

However, a specific transmitter must be equipped in the boat to receive and send messages through an SSB radio system. If this transmitter is not fixed to the ship, then routine radio communication transmitters like the AM radio channel would be used for receiving the SSB radio signals. The voice modulation in AM radio frequency channels will be vastly different because of the difference in the transmitting channels. This could make the messages distorted, leading to further confusion and chaos.

The appropriate systems that need to be used to read the messages sent via the SSB radio system correctly are the Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO) or the Carrier Insertion Oscillator (CIO). The system of SSB radios is a significant development in the field of radio communication. This development will only increase in the days to come, helping the seamen navigate and communicate even more effectively than ever before.

Table of Contents

Frequently Asked Questions

1. is ssb the same as ham radios.

HAMS make use of the same kind of SSB but on HAM Frequencies. The coast guard uses frequencies on marine channels. However, in case of an emergency, they can also call out to all ham radio operators on ham frequencies.

2. How far can you talk on an SSB Radio?

An SSB Distress call is sent to all ships within range, and the range can be thousands of miles. It is also sent to the nearest search and rescue services, depending on your location. On the other hand, a satellite call can be dialled to only one number.

3. What is an SSB Radio system?

SSB Marine Radio or Single Side Band Radio is used for communicating over very large distances without the requirement of any subscriptions or ongoing costs and tariffs. It is mainly like AM and FM.

4. What is the importance of SSB Radio onboard ships?

Apart from being a system that provides foolproof communication channels, ensuring the safety of vessels at sea, the SSB system also keeps the sailors entertained as one can tune in to various channels and hear music or even weather reports. Hence, it offers all-around communication services to the shipping sector.

5. Do you need a licence to use SSB Radio?

Yes, all two-way communication radios require a licence which depends on the type of radio one has. One can opt for SSB amateur radio systems which are cheaper than SSB Marine radios. However, an amateur radio certificate is more difficult to get than a marine radio license or a Long Range Certificate.

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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Marine High Frequency Single Sideband Radio

Introduction to MF/HF-SSB Marine Radio

To fully explain the principals and operation of medium and high frequency radio (MF/HF-SSB) would take hundreds of pages and would go well beyond what the average maritime user is likely to need. However, a basic understanding of Medium Frequency (MF) and High Frequency (HF) Single Sideband (MF/HF-SSB) is an absolute must if you plan to communicate effectively. So here we will try to provide you with some of those basics and caution you that we are not providing answers to every possible factor or situation.

Medium & High Frequency - SSB Page Menu

MF/HF-SSB Simplex Frequencies
MF/HF-SSB Distress Frequencies
MF/HF-SSB Duplex Frequencies

What Is MF/HF-SSB?

The Marine MF/HF-SSB radio is a combined transmitter and receiver much like your VHF. The primary difference between the two is the frequency ranges that they operate in. Typically Marine MF/HF-SSB radios operate in the frequency range of 1.6 MHz to 30 MHz. Probably, the most important concept here is that: "They allow the operator to select a frequency based on atmospheric conditions to establish communications over varying distances."

Unlike VHF which is typically a line of sight radio, MF/HF radios are able to refract their signals within the atmosphere providing increased range. This plays an important role in long distance ship to ship or ship to shore communications.

Why Do I Need a HF Radio?

The #1 reason of course is SAFETY, but even routine long distance communications is still an important consideration. When your cruising ambitions or your job begin to take you further offshore, when you begin fishing the canyons, or making your first jump from the mainland to an offshore island; you will quickly realize that your tried and true VHF radio is no longer up to the job.

When the distances involved get out beyond 30 NM’s or so (depending on antenna heights,) the VHF marine radio is no longer adequate to provide either normal or emergency communications. In order to maintain this communications lifeline will now require the use of MF/HF radio or a satellite communications system.

The rapid advances in electronics that we have witnessed over the past 20 to 30 years, such as the changes we have seen in the personal computer, have also provided benefits in the manufacturing of radio communications equipment. Today the average boat owner can make use of HF world-wide communications systems that would be the envy of even the largest ships of yesteryear.

Along with the long range communications abilities of HF-SSB radio, these sets can be easily adapted to provide the user with a number of other services. Email, teletype, NAVTEX, and weather facsimile are among the many things that can be easily accessed. These services are easily set up by making use of a computer, some software, and a modem. Also many of the newer marine HF-SSB radios can be "Unlocked" allowing access to the amateur radio frequencies for those boaters who are also licensed amateur radio operators.

How Far You Ask?

Unlike the marine VHF radio operating at frequencies between 150 and 160 MHz, (MF) and (HF) radios use lower frequencies (1.6 to 30 MHz.) These lower frequencies are a major factor in allowing HF radios to communicate over much longer distances. In fact, given the right conditions, worldwide communications are possible. Because of this and the relatively low cost, HF SSB is extremely popular for the blue water passagemaker and long distance or world cruiser.

The distance that one can reliably communicate depends on many factors. We are only going to mention a few of the most common:

the time of the day;
the season of the year;
and the frequency in use.

As you will learn, many of these factors are tied directly to the sun and its effect on our planet’s atmosphere. This one thing alone, is probably the single most important factor in HF communication and that leads us into our next topic "Propagation."

Propagation

To be able to communicate effectively and to achieve the full benefit from your HF radio, the MF/HF radio operator must have at least a basic understanding of radio wave propagation.

"Propagation" is the reason that HF radios can communicate at longer distances. Simply put, propagation is the refraction/reflection of radio waves by the different layers of the ionosphere. There are 3 types of propagation by HF radio and all are propagated simultaneously. They are Ground Waves, Direct Waves, and Sky Waves. We will take a closer look at 2 of these types of propagation that are of major importance to the mariner:

"Ground Wave" where the radio signal tends to follow the curvature of the earth’s surface. Ground wave propagation occurs at lower frequencies and is rarely effective above the 3 MHz band. It is ideal for relatively short distances during the daytime, 100 to 200 NM, and occasionally out to 400 NM at night.
"Sky Wave," where the radio signal refracts through a particular layer of the ionosphere and then back to earth. Because of the refraction of the radio signal in the ionosphere, longer distances can be achieved, often thousands of miles during the day and many thousands of miles at night.

Radio wave propagation is probably the cause of most headaches for the new HF radio operator. Many do not understand when using a frequency that is capable of communicating at 4000 NM, why they can’t talk to the Coast Guard only 250 NM away. The simple answer: with the higher frequencies needed for long range communications, the ground wave may not reach the station and the sky wave may pass right over it.

The illustration below may help in visualizing this. Any station within the skip zone will likely never hear your broadcast.

Choosing the Right Frequency

The basic rule when using HF radio, is to know how far (approximately) you are trying to communicate. Once that distance is known then it is a simply a matter of selecting an appropriate frequency.

Some rules of thumb on frequency selection:

The higher the sun above the horizon the higher the frequency you will need to communicate
For the same frequency you can generally communicate further at night than during the day
Winter is better than summer for improving the distance you can communicate
The higher the frequency, generally the further you can communicate.

While these are useful to keep in mind, you must remember that these are only general guidelines.

There are a number of computer programs and applications on the market to assist you in selecting the right frequency to use for communications. Some are even able to account for current solar phenomena in their calculations to improve their accuracy. The question is - are these necessary for the average marine HF radio user? Probably not.

There are also many tables, like the one below, available that can provide you with a starting point for selecting the proper frequency for communications. These tables should provide an acceptable starting point in selecting the correct frequency for any given communications distance.

Marine MF/HF-SSB Sky Wave Propogation
	Range
MF/HF Frequency Band	Day	Night
*2 MHz	200	400
4 MHz	400	600
6 MHz	600	1200
8 MHz	800	1600
12 MHz	1200	2400
16 MHz	1600	3200
22 MHz	2200	4000+
26 MHz	Often Unpredictable or Unusable
* 2 MHz is Ground Wave Coverage Only.

Remember, the sky wave ranges shown above are approximate only. They may vary considerably due to atmospheric conditions. Unlike VHF, the HF ranges listed do not mean that you can communicate to anyone out to that range, instead; It indicates the approximate ranges that you can communicate AT! If you are trying to communicate with someone 400 NM's away on a 16 MHz frequency it is highly unlikely that you will succeed. Your ground wave signal will never reach them and your sky wave will likely skip right over them.

An often used "Rule of Thumb" for Daytime Use Only:

Simply multiply the Frequency Band (2, 4, 6, 8 MHz, etc.) times 100 to arrive at the average range for that frequency band.

Example: If trying to contact either a shore station or ship station that is about 1500 NM away at 1400 LT. A good frequency to start for initial contact might be in the 16 MHz Band. (16)MHz * (100) = 1600 NM. You could then try the next frequency band below or above that to check for improved communications.

Simplex / Duplex / USB / LSB / A3 - What?

Finally a short explanation of some of the nomenclature you will be dealing with when using a marine HF-SSB.

"ITU Channels:" The International Telecommunications Union, has established a standardized list of paired frequencies for transmit and receive and assigned them channel designators. These ITU Channels use the same frequencies worldwide much like your VHF.

"Simplex:" Simplex is when the frequency you transmit and receive on are the same. An example would be when you transmit and receive on 2182.0 kHz.

"Duplex:" Is when you transmit on one frequency (say 8195.0 kHz) and you receive on a completely different frequency (say 8719.0 kHz.) This particular pairing of frequencies by the way is known as "ITU Channel 801."

As a general rule, ship to ship communications are carried out on simplex frequencies where both transmit and receive frequencies are the same. Duplex frequencies on the other hand are intended for use as ship to shore frequencies although simplex frequencies can also be used for this purpose.

A quick note about Upper Sideband (USB), Lower Sideband (LSB), and Amplitude Modulation (AM) as well as the A3J / A3A / A3H emission settings on your HF radio. As a practical matter with voice communications using Marine HF-SSB these settings can be left at "USB" and "A3J."

Most Marine HF-SSB radios come with a large selection of channels programmed into the radio so that it is ready to use out of the box. While many of these channels can be re-programmed, generally speaking the distress frequencies both voice and DSC are not re-programmable.

HF/SSB radios typically being more complex to operate than the typical VHF marine radio, most countries including the U.S. require that vessels operating MF/HF SSB radios must have a station license and the radio operator must also be licensed to operate them. See our Ship Station Licensing and Radio Operator Licensing pages for more details.

Training of some variety is highly recommended for the operator of HF-SSB radios. Whether you choose some type of formal training or self-instruction you will need a good grasp of HF radio procedures to be able to operate your MF/HF-Single Sideband Radio efficiently.

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Choosing and Installing an SSB Radio

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Signal output from transceiver to coupler input via coax cable.
Coupler output to antenna via primary wire, not coax. Use the largest size wire practical (we use #6 tinned wire). Since your coupler will try to tune the wire running from the coupler to your antenna along with the antenna element, its important to use only primary wire for this run. Coax cable run for this application can interfere with proper tuning due to its shielding.
Wiring harness from coupler to transceiver. Simple plug-ins for power, data, etc.
Coupler to ground via two to three inches wide copper strapping.

The following are approximate prices for the major components needed for a Marine Single Sideband installation:	$1,099 to $1,999
Automatic Antenna Tuner	$399 to $499
Antenna Backstay Insulators	$50 to $250/each, depending upon type and wire size
Antenna 23 foot whip	$100 to $200 plus mounting bracket
Copper Strapping	$21 per 25-foot roll
Ground Shoe	$113 to $275 each, depending on size

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Single Sideband Radio

Head more than about twenty miles off shore and VHF won't cut it. Single sideband could be the answer.

— Published: December 2015

Boats that venture offshore will quickly move beyond the normal communication range of VHF radio. Although the 406 MHz EPIRB system provides remarkable emergency signaling capability, it is an emergency one-way system. Maintaining communication, for both routine and emergency purposes requires the use of either satellite or high frequency (HF) radio.

The same electronic developments that have so remarkably influenced VHF radio transceivers have made HF radios capable of worldwide communication practical for even small boats.

This method of radio communication differs from both the narrow-band FM system used for marine VHF radio and from the double sideband amplitude modulation system employed for conventional AM broadcast radios. Single sideband (SSB) modulation provides the advantage of using all of the available transmitter power to convey information using voice or digital means. Typical uses include communication with commercial high frequency shore stations that can connect to the world's telephone system, communication with other vessels and amateur (ham) radio.

Many cruising sailors find that the SSB "Nets", informal groups of ham operators who communicate on specific frequencies at preset times are an invaluable resource. The use of SSB frequencies allows much wider area coverage than is possible on VHF. The exchange of information includes weather, notice to mariner information of possible value to those transiting the area, arrangements for meetings of friends and so long as no commercial value is involved, arrangements for obtaining repair parts when sailing in out of the way places. Obtaining a ham license is now much easier than ever before. The FCC deleted the Morse code requirement from the Amateur Radio Service Part 97 rules on 23 February, 2007. Unlike other radio station licenses, there is no charge for a ham license.

While marine VHF radio transmitter power is generally limited by law to 25 watts, HF-SSB sets are generally capable of emitting between 100 and 150 watts of peak envelope power (PEP). These power levels, when delivered to a properly designed antenna system and using the appropriate frequencies, can provide communication over distances of hundreds to tens of thousands of miles. The wiring that supplies DC power for the SSB set must be properly sized for the radio's peak current drain and the distance from the boat's battery. Although the average transmitting power drain of a 150 watt PEP radio won't exceed 5 amperes at 12 volts, the momentary peak drain can reach 25-30 amperes.

Short wave signals do not travel far along the earth's surface. Unlike VHF radios whose transmissions travel in a straight line, short wave signals travel upward in the atmosphere where they encounter a layer of air molecules that have been electrically modified by energy from the sun. These layers can act as mirrors, reflecting the radio energy downward toward the surface of the earth. In effect, the transmitted energy bounces off the high altitude layer and can then be received at a point far distant from its origin. The altitude and the reflecting quality of the ionized reflecting layers in the atmosphere is influenced by the season of the year and the time of day at both the transmitting and receiving stations. Establishing communication over long distances therefore requires choosing frequencies that will return to the earth's surface at the location of the listener. Numerous aids are available to guide the choice of appropriate frequency.

The microphone used with the HF set and the way it is used can determine the ability of the remote listener to understand your message. As with VHF sets, the microphone is designed to be held close to the user's mouth, no more than an inch or two away. It is best to use the microphone in as quiet an environment as possible. Since most HF communications can occur from a below deck position wind noise won't normally pose much of a problem.

HF-SSB sets can be used with various types of modems (modulator-demodulator) to provide digital communication capability. Some modems allow a computer to be used as a form of Teletype, others allow the computer to send and receive email via the radio although connections are generally very slow and pictures cannot be sent. The email services available include commercial providers such as WLO, Mobile, Alabama and Pin Oak, in New Jersey. Licensed amateur radio operators can use email services provided on a voluntary basis by some ham organizations such as Sail Mail and WinLink. HF-SSB radios also have great value in receiving weather reports and notices to mariners and can be connected to computers to decode weather fax transmissions.

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Single Sideband Radios

Single sideband radios are a proven communication device popular for long range cruising sailors. SSB radios have the capacity to transmit and receive voice communication with a global range (with the right atmospheric conditions). SSB radios require the operator to maintain an FCC license for operation. Hardware consists of a unit mounted inside the vessel and, typically, the sailboat backstay used as the antenna. Contact Off The Hook Yacht Services for SSB installation information.

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Is the Single-sideband Radio Still Relevant?

My wife Theresa and I, with only a VHF radio to reach the outside world, fell into the incommunicado category during our cruising days. This is one reason why contributing writer Capt. Frank Lanier, who has been busily testing a wide range of electronics aboard his Union 36, is contributing to this weeks post on the relevance of single-sideband (SSB) transceivers.

As satellite communication equipment becomes more reasonably priced, more reliable, and more compact, we often hear sailors raise the question, Are single-sideband radios even relevant anymore? As Lanier points out, the question is easy to answer: Yes, absolutely. Here is an excerpt from his forthcoming report on single-sideband radios, which also will look at some of the latest products for simplifying SSB installation.

While single-sideband radios have long been a priority aboard any serious cruising vessel, technology has put the squeeze on SSBs reign as the defacto choice for long-range communications in recent years. The challengers are satellite-based communication devices that have stormed the market in recent years (see reviews in PS January 2013 and March 2013 issues). Of these, satellite phones are the primary high-seas communication alternative to SSB transceivers (a fancy word meaning it can both transmit and receive). Satphones have become particularly attractive since the introduction of affordable (or at least more affordable) units and service plans.

As with any apples-to-oranges comparison of two totally different systems providing similar features or services (voice communications, e-mail, etc.), both will invariably have their pros and cons. The trick is weighing each of these to determine which is best for you.

Operationally, the most obvious advantages of satellite phones is their ease of use, a result of our familiarity with cell phones. Other advantages would be the ability to easily call a landline phone number (although this can also be done with SSB using services like ShipCom), as well as easy (or no) installation requirements or costs.

A satellite phones portability is also a bonus over SSB; you can take it with you should you need to abandon ship or simply want to carry it along on shore excursions for non-emergency use. As to satphone cons, the first is the same disadvantage attributed to cell phones when compared to VHF radios. Satphones can’t provide ship-to-ship safety communications or communications with rescue vessels or aircraft.

Also, as is the case with cell phones, if you make a distress call using a satphone, only the party you call will be able to hear you. An SSB radio allows for an unlimited number of people to listen in on a transmission. Other nearby commercial and recreational vessels that may be monitoring the airwaves could lend a hand or communicate directly with you to offer advice, act as relay, etc.

Single sideband is also the only way to participate in various regional safety and cruising nets, such as the BASRA (Bahamas Air and Sea Rescue Association) Weather, Safety, & Traffic Net; Cruiseheimers Traffic Net; or Chris Parkers popular Caribbean Weather Net. Many cruising events, such as the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers Caribbean 1500, require participants to have a single-sideband radio on board, so that they can stay in contact and share important safety and weather bulletins.

Another benefit of having an SSB onboard is the ability to tune into AM and FM bands and shortwave radio stations around the globe, allowing you to receive the latest news, sports, or simply listen to music no matter where you are.

An additional safety benefit is that some SSB models are equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC), which is part of the internationally adopted Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS). All commercial ships mandated to have DSC are required to monitor DSC marine SSB frequencies while at sea. In the event of an emergency, they (or any other HF-, SSB-, DSC-equipped vessel) would receive your exact location (assuming youve provided GPS data to your SSB) and the nature of distress at the push of a button. As with VHF DSC, this effectively takes the search out of search and rescue, allowing rescue agencies (and nearby good Samaritans) to provide immediate assistance, rather than waste valuable time trying to locate you first.

Look for our forthcoming report on single-sideband radios, antennas, tuners, and various auxiliary devices in the September issue of Practical Sailor .

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Should You Get Your Ham License?

By Matthew Bennett
Updated: February 9, 2013

I first heard of ham radio as a young boy. I thought it would be fun to get my ham-radio license in the same way a young boy wants to be a firefighter or a policeman. I got older and forgot about some of my aspirations while I worked on schooling, a family, and a career. Then I had an experience that rekindled my desire to get my ham or amateur radio license.

Several years ago, I had the chance to help bring one of the Transpac race boats back from Hawai’i. We had an Iridium satellite phone to help keep in contact with friends and family. We also had a single-sideband radio that was even more useful. The cost of using the phone meant that it was used sparingly. Instead we relied on the SSB for daily email and check-ins with other sailors heading back to the mainland. My experience with the SSB served as a catalyst to encourage me to get my amateur radio license. Now that I’ve been through the process, I hope I can help you determine if it’s something you might want to pursue as well.

Are Ham and Marine SSB the Same?

Until I started studying for my amateur radio license, I thought ham and SSB radios were the same thing. When I learned they weren’t, I tried to figure out the differences. My hope was that one was a subset of the other. While there’s some overlap, you can do things with a marine SSB that you can’t do with a ham and visa versa.

Ham radio has a much wider range of frequencies, some of which overlap those in marine SSB There are also more transmission methods that can be used such as amplitude modulation and frequency modulation. Hams can also transmit using single-sideband, which is really just a modified form of AM. Marine SSB has a number of frequencies that aren’t open to ham radio operators. While both ham and marine SSB operators can participate in the Caribbean M/M net on 7.241 MHz, only marine SSB can participate on Herb Hilgenberg’s Southbound II net on 12.359 MHz. A quick glance at a listing of the various cruising nets () and their frequencies cross referenced with the ham radio bands () shows that both ham and marine SSB users can access them. However there are a number that are only available to marine SSB

What’s Required for Marine SSB?

Most sailors know that they aren’t required to get an FCC license for their VHF radios. The only exceptions are if you can answer “yes” to any one of the following questions:

• Are you are required to have a radio by law (because of vessel size or usage)? • Do you plan to communicate with or enter into foreign ports? • Do you have a radio other than VHF, EPIRB, or radar?

Since marine SSB falls outside those radios listed in question three, you’re required to get an FCC license if you want to install one on your boat. The license is called a “ship station license” and currently costs $160. The license is good for 10 years but is non-transferable. That means if you sell your boat with your radio, the new owner will need to apply for his or her own license. Furthermore, you can’t take the radio out of your boat and install it in a new one without getting another ship station license.

In addition to the ship station license, at least one person on board (generally the owner of the boat) needs to get a restricted radiotelephone license. It costs $60 but is good for a lifetime. There is no need to take a test. Simply fill out the paperwork and send the FCC your money.

Both licenses can be obtained by filling out forms 159, 605 , and its Schedule B. They can be found at the FCC’s website () along with instructions. You also have the option of applying online and using a credit card to pay the license fees. If you’re the kind of person that enjoys doing your own taxes, it’s a fairly straightforward process.

If you plan to do any offshore cruising, I highly recommend having a marine SSB radio. This will allow you to keep in contact with other sailors traveling outside your VHF range as well as various nets, which may be able to render assistance in case of a problem or emergency.

What’s Required for Ham?

Getting your ham license is a bit more complicated but costs a lot less. There are three different levels of licenses: technician, general, and amateur extra, and you have to pass the tests in order. That means you can’t take the amateur extra test without first passing the technician and general exams. Each test session costs $14, but you can take multiple tests at the same time. As with the ship station license, a ham license is good for 10 years. As long as you renew your license at the end of the 10-year period, you aren’t required to take the test again. If you do let your license lapse, you have two years to renew it before having to take the test again.

The technician license is actually pretty easy to get. The first time I took an online practice test, I passed using mostly common sense. However, I must confess that I have a degree in electrical engineering and so most of the topics covered by the test were a review. That being said, my 13-year-old son passed the test after studying for only a couple of hours, as did one of his friends. The downside to the technician license is that it doesn’t allow you to do much more than use the frequencies similar to marine VHF.

After I passed the technician license, the test administrators handed me the exam for the general qualification, and I took it the same night. This test wasn’t nearly as easy and required that I put in some study time. It opens up a lot of the frequencies common to marine SSB I bought the American Radio Relay League ‘s study book from Amazon.com and spent a week going through the material before taking the test. Again, it was mostly a refresher from a lot of the stuff I learned back in school. However, there were one or two new topics specifically related to amateur radio, so I was glad I’d studied.

I passed my general exam and only missed one question, which pleased the test administrators. Then they handed me the extra amateur exam, for which I hadn’t studied. Naturally I didn’t pass but came amazingly close. I have the A.R.R.L. study guide and plan to take the test shortly.

So do You Need Your Ham License?

The short answer is “not really.” If all you plan to do is check into the regularly scheduled nets, then getting your ham license may be overkill. However marine SSB and ham radios aren’t like picking up a phone and calling someone a continent away. Certain frequencies work fine during the day, but won’t work at night. Others work better at night. Studying the information required to pass the ham general exam will give you the background you need to understand how your marine SSB works and how to use it to its fullest advantage.

I decided to get my ham license so I could participate in some of the sailing nets from the comfort of my home in the land-locked state of Utah. I don’t plan to do much talking and anyone can listen to the nets without having to have any type of FCC license. However, if someone has a problem like a broken watermaker (something that happened during the trip from Hawai’i that we were able to fix, thanks to the help of others), I wouldn’t be able to render assistance without a ham license.

When I sailed from Hawai’i to the mainland, I never felt alone. The constant contact with family and friends through email were thanks mostly to the marine SSB radio. Once I had trouble making the connection to send and receive the crew’s daily messages. I poked around a bit and tried a few different things before I was successful. Now that I have my ham radio license, I know what the problem was and could have solved it more quickly. Had it been an emergency, I might not have had that extra time.

I highly recommend that anyone planning on doing much long-distance sailing should minimally take the time to go through the ham license material. Going one step further and taking the test may be the incentive you need to help study. If you would like to take the test, the website can be used to find when the next test is being held in your area. Good luck.

Matthew Bennett has a bachelor of science in electrical engineering degree from Brigham Young University. He lives in Draper, Utah, with his family and sails Never Land_, his Catalina 250 on the Great Salt Lake._

__ Click here to read more about SSB radios .

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5 Single Sideband Tips

Five ways to make the signal you transmit from your SSB clearer and more reliable (published February 2015)

We were on a passage from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean Sea. The night we reached the halfway point across the pond, we fired up our ICOM and tuned into WOO in New Jersey, which was one of AT&T’s ship to shore radio centers. We got the operator from 2,000 miles away, who tuned her antenna for our location and then placed a telephone call for us so we could tell our families that all was well and that we were making good progress.

That night, propagation was excellent so we stayed on 12 megs and trolled around the usual frequencies until we found a couple of botats we knew chatting in the Caribbean 1,000 miles away. We chimed in to say hello and learned that a group of our friends would be gathering in Grenada for Thanksgiving. Cool.

The next morning, we tuned into our local coffee klatch on 4 megs and spoke with three other boats that were sailing more or less in company with us but were hundreds of miles apart. We chatted about the weather, gave our current positions and wished each other well.

Now, in the days of sat phones, the ship-to-shore radio to telephone business has gone the way of the dodo. But SSBs are still a fine way to communicate between cruising boats, especially with all of the SSB radio networks out in the world’s best cruising grounds. And, they provide, through SailMail, an inexpensive and mostly reliable way to send and receive email and get weather forecasts.

These days, many rallies and offshore races either require or strongly suggest that skippers carry and know how to use a proper marine single sideband radio. While these radios are not hard to use, they do have some quirks that can affect their performance, or the strength of the signal that you blast out into space in the hopes that your friends, fellow ralliers or the Coast Guard can hear you.

If you are not a radiofile, then it makes all the sense in the world to have your new radio, tuner, antenna and modem (for email) installed by a trained professional. Once you get the hang of using your SSB, you’ll discover how useful it can be, particularly if you are sailing in an event or buddy boating with a number of other cruisers.

But, even when you have the radio properly installed and are confident you know how to use it, there are always gremlins that creep into the system along the way and after some time in the marine environment. Here are five common problems you may have to deal with to make sure you are broadcasting at your full 150 watts and getting out the clearest signal possible.

Basic SSB Propagation Single Sideband radios broadcast in two ways, ground wave and sky wave. When you are communicating with another radio operator within about 200 miles or, the signal they receive will be the ground wave. These are not just line of sight and can travel over the curve of the earth, but not far. In general, you will use 4 and 6 megs for short range transmissions. The sky wave when using higher frequencies bounces off the ionosphere and it is the bounce that gives the transmission long distance communication. When conditions are good a sky wave may bounce two or three times and that is what allows it to transmit over greater distances. The higher the frequency, the longer the skywave and the farther away its reach. Normal traffic for cruisers will be in the 8 to 22 meg range.

1. CONNECTIONS Your boat is constantly moving and you and your crew are always rummaging through lockers looking for gear and equipment. Wires can get knocked, plugs can get bumped and heavy or sharp gear can find its way into places where it can cause problems.

Plus, in the marine environment, where the air is naturally corrosive, connectors, plugs, fasteners and anything carrying electricity are destined to develop current inhibiting build-ups of corrosive coatings.

So, if you find that your radio’s signal is getting weak and your friends tell you that you are coming in faintly and not at all at long range, the first place to look for problems will be at all of the connectors from the back of the radio to the tuner, ground plane and antenna. Take them apart, clean them thoroughly until they are corrosion free and then reassemble them with care. Self-amalgamating electrical tape wound tightly around new, dry, clean connections will help delay the inevitable for a long time.

2. GROUND When your radio was installed, the installer probably added a ground for the radio in the form of a ribbon of copper that was attached to the boat’s bronze through-hulls, keel bolts or any other metal connection that links to the water around the hull. Or, you may have had a Dyna-plate (or two), installed under the water, which will provide an excellent ground.

The purpose of the ground is to provide the radio and its antenna with what is called a counterpoise. Basically, the ground provides the antenna with a counterbalance that enables it to deliver its full amount of power. With no counterpoise, or with a poor one, the antenna will be playing with one hand tied behind its back and your signal will be feeble.

To make sure the ground is working properly, you have to inspect it thoroughly. Check for bad or corroded connections. Make sure the ribbon of copper is well attached to bulkheads and the through-hulls or Dyna-plates. If all is well, then your transmission problems may lie elsewhere.

3. VOLTAGE It is common for cruisers and those in events offshore to have radio schedules first thing in the morning when propagation is good and the crew is generally awake. And, it is not at all unusual for a few boats in the group to have weak signals or signals that sound as though the transmission was coming from underwater. Such garbled or weak signals can often be blamed on low voltage flowing from the house battery bank, which is often the case in the morning after using running lights, radar, nav instruments and a laptop all night.

The simple solution is to charge the batteries before using the radio. But, the long-term solution is to make sure your battery bank and charging system is able to keep up with your daily power needs. At 150 watts, you are draining the batteries at a rate of 12.5 amps while in broadcast mode. Talk for a long time and you can use a lot of battery power.

But the voltage problem may not be simply low batteries. If you suspect voltage is a problem, then use a multimeter to test voltage in the radio’s circuit from the battery bank to the breaker panel and at the power cable on the back of the radio. The batteries may be charged to the recommended 13.5 volts but you will likely see a degradation of voltage at the panel and in the power line. If it falls below 12 volts, you have a problem.

One solution will be to run the radio’s power circuit through its own breaker and directly to the house batteries or the on-off vacuum switch instead of through the main breaker panel. Upgrade the wiring to a heavier gauge and make sure all end fittings are large, clean and well secured. This should improve voltage to the radio and the signal you are broadcasting.

A Modern SSB System as spec’d by Steve Bowden at Sea Tech Systems that gives you worldwide wireless E–Mail & Weather. • ICOM M802 Marine HF SSB Radio with 150 Watts of Power, All ITU Channels & HAM; Frequencies Open, Built-in Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Variable Frequency Oscillator (VFO) Tuning & One-Touch E-Mail Access • ICOM AT-140 Automatic Antenna Tuner • SCS PTC-III USB HF SSB Radio Modem (TNC) • All required cables including a radio control cable (12-ft) with 2 ferrite filters that allows tuning of radio frequencies by AirMail (SailMail). • Marine Radio Software Collection CD including AirMail Software for SailMail & Winlink, ViewFax, ITS HF Propagation, & “Marine Single Sideband Simplified” By Gordon West

4. THE TUNER The antenna tuner effectively “tunes” the antenna to match the frequencies you are broadcasting on and thereby optimizes the signal. If the tuner is not doing its job, the antenna will be tuned to only a single frequency and will be much less effective.

The tuner should be installed in a dry, safe place as close to the antenna as possible. If you have a whip antenna on the stern, the tuner should be in a cockpit locker or lazarette right next to the antenna. With an insulated backstay, the tuner should be below decks right at the transom and the cable should run from it to the insulated length of wire in as short a route as possible. You can attach the antenna wire to the backstay below the insulator with electrical tape. But, using one inch offset brackets to keep the antennas away from the stainless steel stay reduces interference. The end of the antenna wire will be hose-clamped to the length of insulated backstay. Make sure this connection is corrosion free, tightly clamped and well secured with electrical tape.

Your radio may have a “Tune” button on it. Press this to see if you get a “Tune” message on the LCD screen. If so, you are all set. If not, then you have a problem. You also can test a tuner problem in a limited way by broadcasting on all frequencies from 2 megs to 26 megs. You should see the same amount of voltage drop on your voltage meter on all frequencies. If not, the tuner is not working properly and you will need to check the connections and possibly call in a trained radio professional.

Tuners can fail due to wetness, rough treatment or power problems. Make sure the wiring in and out of the tuner is installed with drip loops so any water that gets onto the wires is interrupted before it can run along to the tuner’s connectors.

5. PRACTICE WITH THE PROS When you install your new radio or buy a boat that has an SSB already installed, you will need help figuring out how the radio works, as the manuals that come with ICOMs and other brands are written for electrical engineers and professional radio technicians. They were not written for the rest of us.

A good radio tech will be able to get you up and going in a couple of hours so you can use the radio competently and understand how all of the pieces work together. Think of it as a process. The 150 watt broadcast signal is a lot of energy and can have unintended effects on other equipment on the boat. You may find that you have one of the problems above. Or, you may find that the modem you have installed so you can use email creates interference when you are broadcasting. If it does, you may have to add small filters to the modem’s wiring to the radio.

The radio may not be compatible with fluorescent lights, which may add static or worse while you are receiving and transmitting. You will have to turn them off when you are using the radio and don’t rely on fluorescents at the chart table.

You may find that the radio’s signal confuses your autopilot and causes it to do strange things or quit altogether. If that is the case, you will have to install filters in the autopilot’s circuitry to prevent this from happening. You may get a similar reaction from the wiring to your refrigerator, and, you may hear the bilge pump kick in every time you broadcast or see the indicator lights on the break panel flicker.

Worldwide SailMail Stations SailMail in their own words: “The SailMail Association is a non-profit association of yacht owners that operates and maintains an email communications system for use by its members. SailMail email can be transferred via SailMail’s own world-wide network of SSB-Pactor radio stations, or via satellite (Iridium, Inmarsat, VSAT, Globalstar, Thuraya) or any other method of internet access (cellular networks, WiFi). The SailMail system implements an efficient email transfer protocol that is optimized for use over communications systems that have limited bandwidth and high latency. Satellite communications systems and SSB-Pactor terrestrial radio communications systems both have these characteristics.”

With a professional on hand, these strange side effects can be quickly identified and filters can be installed wherever necessary. It is even better if the radio professional is a cruiser or has taken part in events that have required SSBs. If not, then the next step is to find a fellow boat owner who is an expert with his or her radio and get them to walk you through the full routine and give you a list of favorite channels, networks and schedules.

Author: George Day

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Icom Releases Single Side Band (SSB) long-range digital Marine radio

Last month, we were out covering some of the new communications gear hitting the marine world at the 73rd annual Seattle Boat Show in New York City.

One of the most anticipated radios that launched at the show was ICOM’s new Single Side Band (SSB) radio, the M803.

The ICOM M803 is a long-range digital communications radio for both marine and ham frequencies.

The radio features include a distress call button, dedicated DSC scanning, GPS, twominute instant replay audio function, and HF email capabilities. The M803 also includes an advanced RF direct simple sampling system that improves higher receiver sensitivity and higher quality audio. According to ICOM.

Other features include a distress call button, dedicated DSC scanning, GPS, twominute instant replay audio function, and HF email capabilities. The M803 also includes an advanced RF direct simple sampling system that improves higher receiver sensitivity and higher quality audio. Currently, there are no competing devices on the market, so take advantage of the new M803 to complete your marine communications needs.

Output Power: 150W
Frequencies: 0.5-29.99 MHz
Channels: 830 (160 programmable, 72 ITU SSN duplex, 249 ITU SSB simplex, 193 ITU FSK duplex, 160 email)
Waterproof: IPX7 (conotroller only)
GPS: Built-in

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COMMENTS

A Second Look at Marine SSB
SSB is also known as marine high-frequency single-sideband (HF SSB), a name derived from the frequency range it uses, the HF range of 3 to 30 megahertz (MHz). Medium Frequency (MF) is located below the HF bands at .3 to 3 MHz, while Very High Frequency (as in your VHF radio) is above at 30 to 300 MHz. (See adjacent article Im With the Band.)
Marine SSB
Despite several advances in offshore voice communications such as satphones, marine single sideband (SSB) isn't going away anytime soon. That's because SSB, unlike satphones, allows an unlimited number of people to listen to a transmission at the same time. ... If your boat is in the Bay Area, we will likely use 8 MHz. If you are local, we'll ...
Is an SSB Marine Radio Right for Your Boat?
SSB marine radio is the bluewater sailors' favourite method of long-range communication. Once you've got the equipment installed - sadly not an inconsequential investment - all calls are free. SSB (Single Sideband) radio has a much greater range than a VHF (Very High Frequency) radio's typical 35 to 50 nautical miles.
Demystifying SSB radio
Ocean Navigator February 28, 2017. In an increasingly plug-and-play world, marine high-frequency (HF) single sideband (SSB) radio has developed something of a bad reputation, particularly among people relatively new to cruising or long-distance sailing. Naysayers might argue the technology is decidedly low-tech compared to the smartphone in ...
What is an SSB and Do I Need One?
Icom IC-M802 SSB Radio w/ AT-140 Tuner. So we know it's a radio, but what does the SSB mean? "SSB" is short for Single SideBand radio, also known as a High Frequency (HF) radio, or in old maritime thrillers as a "shortwave.". It's a radio which broadcasts and receives on a much wider and lower range of frequencies than your VHF radio.
Deciding Between Marine SSB or Ham, or Both
Marine single sideband lets you communicate to the Coast Guard, high seas telephone service, email through sail mail, and talk with other sailors who have marine SSB on board. No ham license needed. Your ship needs a marine SSB call sign, called a station license, which is good for 10 years and also includes your International Mobile Maritime ...
Installing an SSB Radio
SSB. An excerpt from Advanced Marine Electrics and Electronics Troubleshooting: A Manual for Boatowners and Marine Technicians. Single-sideband (SSB) radio is the long-range counterpart to VHF radio. Where marine VHF is limited to line-of-sight communications and a maximum of about 25 miles, SSB radio has the potential to transmit and receive over hundreds or even thousands of miles.
Conjuring Up Some SSB Magic
Photos by Frank Lanier. In our first article on marine single sideband, or SSB, radios, we discussed the relevancy of SSB and the benefits of having one onboard (particularly as compared with satellite communications), and we offered a market scan of the more popular radios available (see PS November 2014).The goal of this report is to delve into the SSB installation process, to introduce some ...
What is SSB Radio?
SSB stands for Single Sideband. An SSB radio modulates a special type of wave during transmission, also known as short-wave radio. ... Many sailing boats also have SSB equipment on board. It is transmitted daily at 1215 UTC (0715 EST or 0815 EDT) on the frequency 8104 khz in J3E/USB. Med Net
5 Single Sideband Tips
Basic SSB Propagation Single Sideband radios broadcast in two ways, ground wave and sky wave. When you are communicating with another radio operator within about 200 miles or, the signal they receive will be the ground wave. ... When you install your new radio or buy a boat that has an SSB already installed, you will need help figuring out how ...
An introduction to Marine SSB Radio
SSB Radio or Single Side Band Radio is a way of communicating over very large distances without the need for subscription or ongoing costs and tariffs. ... The best and most common way of establishing a good antenna on a sailing yacht is by utilising the backstay. This requires the backstay to be insulated with two insulators, one approximately ...
How to use SSB radio to stay in touch with the shore
Single Side-Band (SSB) radio is the system used by yachts and ships for long distance communication. Originally, it enabled vessels to communicate over long distances between each other and the inland telephone system. In the UK this was via the coast radio station at Portishead - but that facility was abandoned when satellite communication ...
What are SSB Radios?
Marine Technology. SSB radio is used by boats or yachts for communication at sea. It is part of the Global Maritime Distress, and Safety System established under SOLAS, the international convention for the safety of life at sea. The full form of SSB Marine radio is Single Side Band radio. The SSB radios offer quick access to over 700 radio ...
Marine MF/HF SSB Radio
The Marine MF/HF-SSB radio is a combined transmitter and receiver much like your VHF. The primary difference between the two is the frequency ranges that they operate in. Typically Marine MF/HF-SSB radios operate in the frequency range of 1.6 MHz to 30 MHz. Probably, the most important concept here is that: "They allow the operator to select a ...
Marine SSB, Ham Radio, or Both?
It seems like it was just yesterday that amateur radio guru Gordon West was guiding Practical Sailor readers through the maze of marine single-sideband (SSB) radios on the market. In fact, it was nearly 20 years ago. While the high-frequency (HF) marine radio landscape has shifted dramatically since then, Wests advice for those who are trying to choose between a marine SSB or a ham radio has ...
Choosing and Installing an SSB Radio
Even today, in our age of ever-changing communications, its the Single Sideband radio that sailors turn to as their primary means of long-distance communication. Most serious cruising sailors wouldnt leave home without one, and an SSB is required equipment for virtually all long-distance offshore races.
Single Sideband Radio
Single sideband could be the answer. — Published: December 2015. Boats that venture offshore will quickly move beyond the normal communication range of VHF radio. Although the 406 MHz EPIRB system provides remarkable emergency signaling capability, it is an emergency one-way system. Maintaining communication, for both routine and emergency ...
Single-Sideband Radios Endure
Typical single-sideband transceiver installation Illustration by Tim Barker. Cold-hearted is the sailor who doesn't daydream of slipping the lines and setting sail to parts unknown. Troubles arise for many of us, however, when we try reconciling this dream with the connectivity demands of modern-day living, not to mention the desire for ...
Single Sideband Radios
Single sideband radios are a proven communication device popular for long range cruising sailors. SSB radios have the capacity to transmit and receive voice communication with a global range (with the right atmospheric conditions). ... Hardware consists of a unit mounted inside the vessel and, typically, the sailboat backstay used as the ...
Is the Single-sideband Radio Still Relevant?
As Lanier points out, the question is easy to answer: Yes, absolutely. Here is an excerpt from his forthcoming report on single-sideband radios, which also will look at some of the latest products for simplifying SSB installation. While single-sideband radios have long been a priority aboard any serious cruising vessel, technology has put the ...
Ham Radio License vs. SSB Single Side Band marine radio
Marine SSB has a number of frequencies that aren't open to ham radio operators. While both ham and marine SSB operators can participate in the Caribbean M/M net on 7.241 MHz, only marine SSB can participate on Herb Hilgenberg's Southbound II net on 12.359 MHz. A quick glance at a listing of the various cruising nets () and their frequencies ...
5 Single Sideband Tips
Single Sideband radios broadcast in two ways, ground wave and sky wave. When you are communicating with another radio operator within about 200 miles or, the signal they receive will be the ground wave. ... Blue Water Sailing is now in its 22nd year of publication and reaches readers across North America and around the world. The magazine was ...
Icom Releases Single Side Band (SSB) long-range digital Marine radio
One of the most anticipated radios that launched at the show was ICOM's new Single Side Band (SSB) radio, the M803. The ICOM M803 is a long-range digital communications radio for both marine and ham frequencies. The radio features include a distress call button, dedicated DSC scanning, GPS, twominute instant replay audio function, and HF ...