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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.
| When cruising Mexico, these are the only channels you'll 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.
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 . 
 Installing an SSB Radio
 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. An SSB radio bounces radio signals off the lower layers of the earth’s atmosphere, which in turn reflect the signals back to earth. (You can think of SSB transmissions as giant triangles spanning many miles.) Voltage and Current Requirements An SSB’s appetite for amps covers a fairly broad spectrum, ranging from about 2 to 3 amps in Standby/Receive mode to about 30 amps when transmitting. This is not too much of a problem unless the operator is the chatty type or spends a lot of time downloading weather charts via a modem. However, 30 amps of consumption is a considerable amount, and it will drain batteries rather rapidly if they are not being recharged. Installation guidelines • Be sure to use correctly sized power feed wires to serve the unit, especially in consideration of restricting voltage drop to a maximum of 3%. Based on ABYC E-11, you will need a minimum of 6 AWG (13 mm2) wire to supply power to a 12V SSB set over a 20-foot cable run. • Adhere to voltage supply parameters. Most if not all SSB units operate at a nominal 12V. For a boat with a 24V or 32V system, you will need a DC-to-DC power converter. Overvoltage supply to the transceiver will damage the unit quicker than you can snap your fingers! A typical l2V (nominal) SSB has a voltage operating range of 13.6VDC, ±15% maximum. Consider this 15% an absolute maximum because performance will definitely be affected if power falls below -15%. • Use the 3% voltage drop parameter to ensure peak performance. Lower-than acceptable voltage will have a profound impact on power output from the unit and its potential range. It may be useful to think of potential power out of the unit as proportional to the power available to operate the unit. • An SSB requires a first-class grounding system to function at its peak, and the antenna needs what is known as a counterpoise, a ground that is an integral part of the antenna system. • For best results, use the multicable harness provided by the SSB manufacturer, which typically includes the coaxial antenna lead, power cables, and a cable to connect the automatic antenna tuner (a commonly specified available option). All the individual cables in the harness are terminated with watertight connectors for the tuner or transceiver, and all the individual conductors within each cable are connected to the right pins. Stick with the original manufacturer’s harness! This is not an area where you will win high marks for creativity. Regulations for SSB use vary from one country to another. In the United States, FCC rules apply. Additionally, specific regulations apply if the radio includes DSC and GMDSS. This is where a true electronics equipment specialty house can put you on the right course. Electronics specialists are usually FCC licensed and will be well versed in the specific regulations as they apply not only to installation of equipment, but also to licensing requirements for equipment operators. Inquire before you get in trouble, because the rules changed a few years ago. In some cases, an FCC license is required to perform installations. Noise Issues with SSB Electrical “noise” on board can dramatically affect an SSB’s ability to produce clear, static-free signals in Receive mode. Potential noise emitters include anything that relies on an electrical spark for its operation-virtually any motor, fluorescent lights, and relays and solenoids. After installation, test your SSB to ensure that the antenna is not receiving any emitted noise. Since SSBs operate over a fairly broad frequency spectrum (from 2 MHz to 22 MHz), it is hard to predict which electrical devices might contribute to excessive background noise. To help you find the culprit, conduct a process-of-elimination test, as follows: 1 Set the radio between channels at the low end of the spectrum (towards the 2 MHz end). 2 Activate other AC and DC equipment one at a time. 3 Run all the engines, including AC generators. 4 Repeat this test sequence at all of the commonly used frequencies to be sure that you haven’t missed an annoying RFI emitter running at a higher frequency. Keep in mind that some background noise is normal and unavoidable. But if, for example, audible noise dramatically increases when you turn on a fluorescent light, you’ve isolated a culprit. Also keep in mind that some electrical equipment is cyclical and may only function intermittently (such as bilge pumps). Check cycling loads when they’re actually operating, not just with their power activated. If you identify a noise source during this elimination process, it’s best to consult the radio manufacturer or its local dealer to determine the best type and rating of filter to install. Your concerns, as the electrical installer, are largely limited to those mentioned: the power supply, cabling, noise, antenna, coaxial cable, and antenna counterpoise. Any problems not related to these issues must be addressed by an electronics technician. Read more from Ed Sherman on his blog, Ed’s Boat Tips .
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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:~
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 RadioThere 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 RadioJust 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 SeaBy 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 ItActivating 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 SailingBut 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? Recent Articles 'The Dream', a Hallberg-Rassy 41 for SaleNov 07, 24 10:55 AM The Nicholson 32 Mk10 SailboatNov 02, 24 09:45 AM Oct 29, 24 12:47 PM Here's where to:
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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
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:
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." PropagationTo 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:
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 FrequencyThe 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:
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.
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.   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 SSBIf 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.
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 AnswerSSB 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 AnswerMarine 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:
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 ? Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.  Send us a message
 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.
“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
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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 popular accessories, and to present an initial report of our field testing; a more in-depth field test report will follow in an upcoming issue. A typical SSB system comprises four main components: a radio (including any remote displays); an antenna tuner; the antenna itself; and the ground plane (also called the counterpoise). Worries about how to operate an SSB are often the first concern when buying an SSB, and a close second would have to be the expense and complexity of the installation itself. Do-it-yourselfers will typically find that installing the radio, remote display, and antenna tuner is no more difficult than installing any other onboard electronics, such as a VHF radio or a chartplotter. The challenge comes with the antenna and the ground plane. Although Icom, the maker of our test radio (an Icom M802) does not make antennas or recommend specific brands, its general instructions call for a backstay antenna-which involves cutting your backstay and installing insulators-or a whip antenna (rarely used on sailboats). The Icom M802 manual also expresses a preference for a conventional ground plane such as a bronze ground plate (Dynaplate), copper mesh, and/or copper tape, the latter two often combined with existing bronze through-hulls to complete a path to the water (not necessary, but usually beneficial). Our goal was to evaluate some of the more novel (and in some cases, controversial) products into a single system and conduct some long-term testing to see whether they provide acceptable performance-both lab testing and real-world use. In the past, weve found that these shortcut SSB installations fall under the no pain, no gain heading (we had to work to get that pun in), but given the reports weve gotten from other users, we were optimistic. What We TestedIn our search for an easy SSB installation, we tested three products. Icom, a global company whose product line includes communications equipment and products based in the marine, avionics, land mobile, and wide-band receiver industries, provided us with its popular M802 SSB radio. GAM Electronics-a producer of high-quality, high-gain antennas for commercial fishing and consumer recreational vessels since 1958-provided its GAM/McKim split-lead SSB antenna. And Seattle-based Radio-Teck/KISS-SSB sent us its popular KISS-SSB ground plane/counterpoise. How We TestedArmed with a stopwatch and infinite patience, we installed each of the units according to the manufacturers instructions aboard our test boat, a 1978 Union 36 cutter. Testers evaluated them over a seven-month period while cruising along the Atlantic East Coast and northern Bahamas. This article describes our test installation, the components we chose (and why), and installation basics. Although our experience using the installed components in the field will be summarized in the conclusion, findings regarding performance are only preliminary. A full bench-test evaluation of the systems functionality will be covered in our next SSB report. Installation commentsConfirming manufacturers easy-installation claims, testers were able to install the Icom M802, AT-140 tuner, KISS-SSB, and a GAM over a two-day period, although thorough planning and preparation made a big difference in efficiency. Nothing kills installation momentum like having to make multiple trips to the store for connectors, wire ties, tools, and other necessary parts that youd forgotten during the planning stage. For do-it-yourselfers, a number of excellent books show how to install an SSB system. Three good manuals to have on hand are the Marine SSB Radio for Idi-Yachts, The Icom M802 Radio Manual for Idi-Yachts (both by Capt. Marti Brown), and Volume V Icom M802 Starting from Scratch by Commander T.L. Sparks. No license is required to install an SSB system, and the books from Brown and Sparks will be a big help when planning your installation. Savvy dealers have also helped alleviate the grounding and antenna challenges by adding self-install kits to their product line. Some companies like Dockside DSR ( www.docksideradio.com ) have built a business around selling DIY antenna/counterpoise kits, and walking cruisers through installation process. That being said, if you have zero electronics installation experience, this is probably not the best project to cut your teeth on. Having access to someone with SSB installation experience (whether a professional electronics technician or a knowledgeable fellow boater) will be a welcome avenue of assistance to the novice installer. Including a conventional ground plane and antenna to the system will likely add another full day of work to the project, and depending on what your groundplane is, it may involve a haulout. This can quickly hike up the cost of an installation. We selected the Icom M802 for our SSB system test based on features, functionality, ease of operation, and its overall popularity within the cruising community. We liked many of the features that have made the M802 so popular, particularly the fact that it can be used on both the marine HF and amateur radio HF frequencies (with the appropriate licensing). Testers also liked that the M802 included a large, easy-to-read LCD display as well as the quick, easy channel selection provided by the two large dials. The system that we tested included the M802 transceiver, RC-25 remote control head, external speaker, and Icoms most popular antenna tuner, the AT-140. Since the transceiver for the M802 is separate from the control head, you have more options for installation. On our test vessel, we installed the control head at the navigation station while mounting the transceiver itself in an out-of-the-way, unused space beneath the chart table. This space was only 4 feet away from the batteries, reducing the length of wire runs. We mounted the AT-140 approximately 10 feet aft of the transceiver in the lazarette and as high as possible on the bulkhead. This brought it closer to the antenna, and above any possible accumulated bilge water.  Photos courtesy of John MacDougall GAM Split-Lead SSB AntennaAlthough the manufacturers description of the GAM split-lead antenna notes a number of benefits, the biggest draw for most sailors is undoubtedly ease of installation. You can install an SSB antenna a couple of ways. On sailboats, the normal practice is to insert insulators in the backstay to create whats correctly referred to as a random-length end-fed wire antenna (as opposed to a long-wire antenna, which would be a wire antenna that is multiple wavelengths long). Insulated backstays are fairly complex to install, and many boat owners cringe at the thought of cutting their backstay to install the needed insulators. In this type of installation, a measured length of the backstay is cut at the bottom and the top, and the cut section is re-connected with insulators. The jury is still out on the risks of having an insulator fail. Some riggers regard them as no less vulnerable than other components, so long as you follow inspection and replacement guidelines. Others avoid them. It is safe to say that it is preferable not to cut the backstay, but it is a convenient option that has generally stood the test of time. The GAM is a split-lead SSB antenna (which simply means that it has twin radiating elements) that eliminates the need for backstay removal and cutting. The center tube of the antenna housing is split, which allows users to put it on the backstay and slide it up to the desired height for the bottom of the antenna housing (15 feet or less from the connection to the tuner). In addition to ease of installation, the manufacturer touts greater electrical conductivity and no shock hazard, etc., although the risk of shock from a backstay is minimal, and most backstays are large enough to compensate for the lack of conductivity compared to copper. The GAM antenna housing is constructed of tough, ultraviolet-resistant, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and is 1 5/16 by half-inch thick and fits backstays from quarter-inch and 7/16-inch in diameter. Overall, the GAM antenna is 34 feet long-so youll need a backstay that is at least that long to install it-and weighs 6 pounds. We found the GAM split-lead antenna to be robust, well made, and extremely easy to install. From open box to mission complete, the entire process took our one-man installation team less than an hour. No muss, no fuss, and no special tools needed. Once we slid it into place, we secured it at the base with the simple plastic clamp provided. For extra security, you can also add nylon wire ties (provided) every 4 feet during installation. The GAM is also easy to uninstall, so its no problem to remove it for inspection, stowage, or in order to transfer it to another boat. As to possible downsides to the GAM, it will provide a bit more windage aloft than a wire backstay, but this should be negligible. According to some experts we spoke with, the split-lead design is more temperamental, less efficient than a traditional backstay antenna, and can interfere with the operation of other onboard electronics due to coupling (i.e. closeness of GAM to the backstay). We saw no noticeable interference problems with the GAM during our field trials, but we intend to explore this in more depth for our next article. GAM recently announced a new grounding product called the Pensum, which is their version of the KISS SSB. If you thought the GAM was controversial, the KISS-SSB is an even hotter topic in cruising circles. This product, which eliminates the need for a traditional ground plane, generates more fist-shaking and SSB tech-nerd name calling than arguments over exactly how many jigowatts it takes to energize a flux-capacitor. The KISS-SSB is described as a self-contained, tuned counterpoise radial ground system-a fancy way of saying that instead of actually being connected to ground, it contains radials (wires) cut to specific lengths designed to resonate throughout the marine and ham frequencies. The perfectly measured lengths of copper and marine sealed coils act as an exact mirror image of your radiating backstay, whip, or GAM antenna, the maker explained. This is what bounces your radiated signal wave off your antenna. These radials are housed in a 1-inch, sealed tube roughly 10 feet in length, with a 4-foot lead at one end that attaches to the ground/counterpoise lug on your tuner. As with the GAM antenna, the big attraction for the KISS-SSB is ease of installation. Many traditional installations utilize a capacitive ground system comprising copper-foil strips (often 100 square feet or more) routed throughout the vessel and attached to every major metal onboard component along the way (fuel tanks, water, etc.). Spreading copper mesh on the inside of the boat is another approach. A seawater ground (a direct connection to sea water using a through-the-hull ground plate, etc.) is considered by many to be the gold standard for a ground-plane, but this will involve putting an additional hole in the boat (although an unbonded bronze through-hull may also be another option). In either case, the installation headaches are there. As such, its easy to see the allure of the KISS-SSB: no holes below the waterline for installation of a bronze plate and no copper foil or copper mesh to install. We found the KISS-SSB to be robust and extremely easy to install. Installation consists of connecting the lead to your tuner and stretching out the tube containing the radials. According to the instructions, you can run the radials pretty much anywhere-along the hull-to-deck joint, behind cabinets, underneath bunks or cushions, in the lazarette, etc. Running the tube in a straight line appears ideal, however the instructions note that a sweeping turn or even a sweeping U-turn are also acceptable. It appears that the only installation rules that you can’t bend are that the 4-foot lead can’t be trimmed, and if the radials are coiled, the coils can’t be less than 3 feet in diameter. Installation of the KISS-SSB aboard our test boat took about 30 minutes, including the time needed to wiggle into the lazarette to route and connect it. Some experienced HAM operators will say that they can build their own version of the KISS-SSB for less money. While thats likely true, most sailors can’t-and even if they could, the time spent would probably exceed the purchase price, and it likely wouldnt look anywhere near as good. Of the three products we installed for this evaluation, the Icom M802 is pretty much the best-known entity with regards to performance and reliability. It also brings the least amount of controversy to the table. In other words, while someone may prefer a different radio, theres no ruckus as to whether the M802 actually works as designed. The same can’t be said with regard to the GAM or KISS-SSB. Despite hundreds of reportedly satisfied customers, there is no solid consensus among amateurs or professionals as to how well either of these work. The KISS-SSB bears the brunt of the criticism as many techies argue that it is technically not a tuned or resonate radial, as advertised. In their view, two random pieces of wire crimped into the bilge or lazarette would do just as well, and indeed such an arrangement would also work to some degree. Well explore this further in Part 3. In our view, the answer to the question, Do these products work? is not easily answered with a simple yes or no. They worked well during our test cruise, but we werent trying to reach Madagascar, nor have we completed bench testing their performance. A more reasonable question to ask is whether they meet your needs. Theres no doubt that an ardent SSB or HAM enthusiast can install a better system and tweak it to connect with similar enthusiasts half-way around the world. But, if a less tech-savvy user can more-easily enter the world of SSB by installing a system with minimal fuss that meets all their needs to check email or speak with other cruisers in their corner of the world, is it a bad system? During our preliminary tests, weve used the system for both voice communications and email (see product update on top right ). It has worked perfectly so far during our initial email checks, which are pretty easy to assess. The voice checks have been harder to evaluate due to a number of variables, including weather, time of day (which determines which frequencies to use), location, and the quality of equipment on the vessels we conversed with. We hope that more testing with these products will provide a more definitive answer in Part 3. 
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 5 Single Sideband TipsFive ways to make the signal you transmit from your SSB clearer and more reliable. Previously published in BWS. 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 chan  You Might Also Like Problems with Paint Application Q & A Dinghy Security Winterizing Your Engine Read the Summer-Fall Edition of Blue Water SailingRead the fall 2023 edition of blue water sailing, recent posts. 
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Whether you want port or weather information or assistance in handling onboard emergencies (an injured crewmember or even an abandon-ship scenario), long-range SSB communications help reduce the risks of long-distance sailing. SSB is also known as marine high-frequency single-sideband (HF SSB), a name derived from the frequency range it uses ...
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.
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.
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.
Marine Amateur Radio provides all the information you need to select, install, and operate an inexpensive and completely dependable ham radio system on any boat, power or sail. This well-illustrated guide succinctly explains how ham radio gives you the advantages of a single-sideband system at a fraction of the cost.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.