Is an SSB/HF radio still a necessity?


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Daniel Coate
Daniel Coate
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Hi. Curious for thoughts from fellow OCC’ers…

I have a small (31’) bluewater boat and have sailed from home in Florida to Maine to the Caribbean and am planning on future voyages south and north, and hopefully a transatlantic attempt in the next year or so. I use IridiumGo and PredictWind and am quite happy with it’s stability and the weather, email, text messages, and voice I send and receive with it. I don’t have an SSB radio though. When I acquired the boat the PO had must have been planning to put one in, the boat has a dynaplate installed and insulators on the backstay.

In 2022 do others think an SSB is still a necessity? If I didn’t have the satellite comm, I would definitely say yes. However, I don’t feel like getting into the installation hassle, complexity and expense of a new SSB radio if I’m not going to use it. I’m not a chatty type so can’t see myself loving SSB nets.

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

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Eric Zon
Eric Zon
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SSB Course available July 2022

I have bought a boat with a SSB radio and have decided to learn more about it. I am going to follow the course with R.T training kimholt@btinternet.com from July 6-9th at the IOW. Unfortunately Kim so far has only me as a candidate so would be nice to find some more candidates. He has promised me the course will go ahead. More info as well on www.marineradio.co.uk/gmdss-long-range
Daniel Coate
Daniel Coate
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Eric Zon - 7 Jun 2022
SSB Course available July 2022

I have bought a boat with a SSB radio and have decided to learn more about it. I am going to follow the course with R.T training kimholt@btinternet.com from July 6-9th at the IOW. Unfortunately Kim so far has only me as a candidate so would be nice to find some more candidates. He has promised me the course will go ahead. More info as well on www.marineradio.co.uk/gmdss-long-range



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