Marine SSB will connect you to many maritime nets for weather and safety reports as well as to the cost guard. It will allow you to send email and position reports as well as receive weather gribs. Most marine ssb radios will open to the ham bands and connect you to millions of hams and to marine maritime networks. You will have to get a license for that. Marine ssb will work anywhere in the world and is not dependent on satellites. It is also for the most part free. SSB also has DSC if new enough.
Iridium is probably more reliable for communication with an individual but will not be heard by other boaters. It is also still relatively expensive. If your concern is calling home Iridium or similar service is far superior to SSB. You can communicate with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) to provide the communication support needed to implement the global search and rescue from either but your best bet here is a EPIRB. I have an Amateur SSB radio on my boat. It consumes about 200 Watts (about 20 amps) when transmitting. Most marine ssb put out about 150 Watts but consume about 300 Watts (around 30 amps) when transmitting. Satellite phones use much less power usually under 5 Watts. Many have their own rechargeable batteries. I guess the best way to look at it is comparing a modern VHF radio to a cell phone for near shore communication. Jerry Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 13, 2018, at 10:59 AM, Dan via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > I have an SSB radio system in my boat that still works. The antenna appears > to be built right into my backstay, and is no longer wired up, however the > wire is just coiled up on the transom and could be re-connected. Some local > sailors have told me to just simply get rid of it, however it doubles as an > HF radio (channel 2182, etc.) which could be handy in an ocean crossing? (I > also have VHF and may purchase an Eridium or Sat Phone eventually) > > How many of you guys still hang on to the old SSB? Should I lose it > altogether and make space in my nav station for something more up to date and > less power consuming? > > Dan > Breakaweigh > C&C44 > Halifax, NS > _______________________________________________ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and > every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > _______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
