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V8V2222
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HF/SSB radio services
Cruising this side -
Marine HF (SSB) radio is the principle service for
inter-yacht and shore communication.
When planning your
cruising to this side of the world - away from the well established
shore support and VHF communication
services in Europe/UK and North America - be sure to have
a functional HF/SSB Marine Radio (not a HAM/Amateur radio) with the complete international marine
channel/frequency band plan,
and the official Marine
Emergency frequencies.
A marine VHF radio does
not have the service range for operations on this side, and
there are very few VHF shore stations.
A HF/SSB radio will make communication
tasks so much simpler for
you, your future cruising friends, rally organisers, the
coast stations you want to contact, MRCCs around the
world, and anyone you need advice from regarding
anchorages, marina waypoints, fuel supplies, local markets,
shore tours, local transport etc.
A significant advantage
of HF/SSB radio communications for the cruising lifestyle is
that communication between yachts is free. You can talk to
other yachts in an event, or in the region, or ahead of you on
a cruising route, for no charge.
It's extremely useful
to also have these HF/SSB radio capabilities:
HF/SSB DSC - to alert Marine Rescue
Co-ordination Centres and other vessels in the vicinity in an emergency,
and to play your part as a possible source of help for other
mariners. DSC capability is increasingly
important as most governments have stopped voice monitoring
of the official Marine Emergency Frequencies since the
introduction of GMDSS for ships over 300 tonnes. (see our
website pages about
Marine Emergency contact
and
MRCCs.).
DSC is also important so you can be part
of the emergency contact network at sea, because your help
might be needed by others in distress. A DSC equipped HF/SSB
radio in your yacht can detect DSC distress alerts from other
vessels or from MRCCs, so you can play your part in
providing assistance to other mariners; just as you'd like
them to help you if the need arose.
Since DSC radios suited to
yachts have become available, there are more
new yachts with new HF/SSB radios with DSC, or
older yachts with replacement HF/SSB radios,
also with DSC. Therefore the number of yachts
with DSC equipped radios is increasing. Given
the fact most MRCCs around the world now rely
on DSC to initiate distress calls - either to
receive them or to send an alarm to other vessels to advise
them about a situation and/or request vessels to
provide assistance - it means a growing number
of yachts are now in a position to become part
of the maritime distress communications system,
so they can be easily contacted to help yachts -
or other vessels - that need assistance.
The DSC system allows HF/SSB
radios to be switched on and listening for DSC
alerts, but the radio speaker is muted, so you
do not have to put up with background noise and
other chatter,
or turn down the volume so if someone called
MAYDAY, you would not hear them; which is what
happened a lot without DSC. Because of the
background noise and conversations heard on non-DSC radios, many cruisers decided
to turn off their HF/SSB radios, and not
bother monitoring for MAYDAY etc voice calls
from other yachts or commercial vessels.
A DSC equipped radio
allows yachts to join the maritime distress
communications system - listening for DSC
distress alert from other vessels or an MRCC - without the
annoyance of listening to the background noise
and other conversations on open
frequencies. The radio quietly scans the DSC
call frequencies on 4,6,8,12 and 16 Meg for DSC
distress alerts. If a DSC alert is received, the
radio speaker un-mutes - with the radio
listening on the associated voice distress
frequency to the DSC alert frequency - so
you can now hear the voice distress call from a
vessel, or hear the MRCC calling for vessels to
assist someone in distress.
It's quite magical and
helps make it practical for cruising yachts and
their crew to play a valuable role as Search and
Rescue assets in the less congested oceans and
coasts where many cruisers explore. Now it's
easy to contribute to the safety network for the
maritime community - to be contactable and to
help people on other yachts, or any vessel, in
distress - just like the commercial vessels are
required by maritime law to do for you.
The unique MMSI number for
each vessel's DSC radio also allows you to call
other yachts individually, switching their
quietly scanning radio into an alert state, so
you can easily initiate a call to them on the
right frequency. It makes calling friends on
another yacht so much easier and more reliable.
It makes getting an update on their weather,
waypoints into their anchorage, the best
restaurant ashore, or where to find the cheaper
fuel, so much easier. And these conversations
via HF/SSB are totally free; no nasty satellite
phone bills at the end of the month.
Most of the
time you'll never hear a real distress
alert from your HF/SSB radio - which is
excellent - but on the rare occasion
that it happens, you may be closest
to the vessel in trouble and the
people on-board may really need your
help.
HF/SSB radio email - to maintain contact with
family/friends ashore, to book the next marina berth,
order spare parts, arrange shore excursions or flights,
provide distance education on-board for children, receive rally/race
information direct from organisers, and to access important
weather forecasts and weather warning information.
Many government
supported coast radio stations - including all of
Australia's stations and Singapore Radio - closed when GMDSS
was introduced for ships over 300 tonnes; because their
income from telephone interconnect services on HF/SSB
transferred to the
high-power satellite services (ie: INMARSAT) which large
ships were compelled to fit.
With the widespread use
of email by family, friends and businesses, email via HF/SSB radio -
ie: SailMail - replaces and exceeds the functionality of
telephone interconnect for making contact and for
access to important safety related information and
managing the cruising life. And it's vastly more convenient
and cheaper than phone calls.
Email via HF/SSB radio -
ie: SailMail - has free services that allow small-craft to request/receive important information -
such as official METAREA forecasts, GRIB weather charts,
weather and Maritime Safety Information (MSI) warnings -
from the internet. A direct internet connection is not
necessary to receive safety related information or to manage
life aboard a cruising yacht or other small-craft. HF/SSB
radio email provides most on-board internet related needs
for yacht operations, maintaining contact with family and
friends, and organising the cruising life.
Cruising yacht owners from North America,
Europe and the UK should be aware that:
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There
is no integrated VHF network or system of relay/repeater towers on high
points in SE Asia, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and around Australia's
massive coastline, so the range of
any VHF coast station is very limited. HF/SSB communications is the only reliable service for
communication distances beyond 15 to 20 nm from major ports,
harbours etc.
The substantial distances and lack of
VHF marine networks or relay towers - relative to home
waters - means VHF marine radio is very limited in it's
functionality in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, including
throughout SE Asia. It is not sufficient for cruising
this side.
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ISAF Special Regulations for radio equipment on
racing and cruising yachts are suited to inshore
operations in Europe/UK and North
America. They are not sufficient for this side of
the world.
The
ISAF/ORC Special Regulations for yacht racing (and
recommended for cruising) - developed for European
operations - require only a VHF marine
radio.
In contrast, Yachting
Australia's Special Regulations for yacht racing (and
recommended for cruising) specifies a functional HF/SSB
marine
radio for a Category 1 race, and it is recommended for
Category 2. Some Cat 3 races along Australian shorelines also
require HF/SSB radio. This is because the distances are
greater,
the support/emergency services are far apart, vessel
traffic densities are much lower, and because VHF marine
coast stations are non-existent along most coastal areas
of Australia. The same applies throughout the Pacific
and Indian Oceans and in SE Asia.
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An Amateur (HAM) Radio can be
(illegally) modified to
work as a Marine HF/SSB radio, but this is not
recommended. It will not have type approval from
communication authorities for marine operation, and many
communication authorities will not issue an official
radio callsign and vessel radio license if the only HF/SSB
on-board is a HAM radio.
Strictly speaking, the licensed Amateur Radio operator
on-board is the only person authorised to operate a
radio designed/licensed for HAM use. These radios are built for
flexible functionality when used
by a trained/licensed HAM operator who knows what should and should not
be done with the radio. The radio displays also have small
lettering, and dials/buttons that are far more difficult
to use in a bouncing boat with wet hands when your reading
glasses have fallen behind the bunk.
Here is a quote from the SailMail Association which
operates the integrated network of over 20 HF/SSB radio email
shore
stations around the world for it's 3000 members:
"The Icom IC-718 and
most other ham radios work with SailMail
if they are equipped with a High Stability Crystal Unit,
and if the radio is modified to transmit on all
bands. .... Ham radios
are not type accepted for use on marine
frequencies and their use may
not be permitted by your country's radio regulations.
For US-registered vessels, the
US FCC requires marine type-accepted radios (e.g.
Icom M802, M710, M700Pro
etc).
There is another reason why it is a bad idea to use a
Ham radio... Ham radios are much more complicated to
operate than marine radios because they have many
features that marine radios don't need. If these
options and features are set incorrectly the radio will
not work. Often on a cruising boat there is only one
knowledgeable HAM on-board. If that person is injured
and others need to use the SSB, they will be much less
likely to be able to operate a HAM radio than they would
a marine radio. Note that it is perfectly legal to use
Marine radios such as the Icom M802 on Ham frequencies.
This is a better approach."
Also,
Amateur (HAM) Radios do not have Marine Radio DSC functions, and
they are not pre-programmed with the
official Marine Emergency frequencies, or the full marine radio band-plan of
duplex channels and simplex frequencies. But Marine radios
such as the ICOM M802 and M801E do have all these features
included, and they also have user programmable
frequency/channel slots, where amateur radio frequencies
can be added.
These marine radios are far better options for the
safety of you and your crew, and also to perform your
duty as part of the maritime safety network and a potential
source of assistance to other mariners.
When selecting a
HF/SSB radio for cruising this side:
Be aware that most
monitoring of voice emergency calls - Mayday, Pan-Pan and Securite - by MRCCs around the world has stopped; since GMDSS was introduced for commercial vessels over 300 tonnes.
Making initial radio contact
with most MRCCs now requires a DSC alert to be transmitted.
Following that, normal voice communications on an official
marine emergency frequency will proceed. So look for a
HF/SSB radio that has the DSC function. The ICOM M802 and
M801E (or A) radios are very attractive for small-craft because
they are suitable for
voice calls, and radio email at full power; many radios
cannot operate email/data at full power. They also
have the DSC function, and they are a reasonable price. But be aware they need a second HF/SSB radio antenna (eg: a
HF/SSB whip antenna without auto-tuner OR an AM/FM
radio/stereo receive antenna with a splitter box to divide
the incoming signal)
for the separate DSC receiver
function.
The ICOM M801E (or A) has the additional advantage
of a heavy cast aluminium casing which acts as a heat
dissipater, eliminating the need for a fan that consumes
electricity and sucks salt air and dust through the radio.
Some countries (eg: UK/Europe, Australia) now require the M801E
(or A) - or
similar - as the minimum standard to issue a new radio
license and call-sign for a yacht.
Another significant advantage of
the ICOM M802 and M801E (or A) radios is the size of the display and text; big
enough to see when you can't find your reading glasses, or
when standing at the companionway.
In a lumpy sea, when
your reading glasses have fallen down the back of the nav
table, you - or other crew members - will appreciate a radio
with large display characters, and limited dials or buttons.
The ICOM M802 or M801E (or A) radios are practical, versatile,
robust, made for marine use, for email/data and are reasonably priced.
Yachts need an
official marine radio license and call-sign:
When you need to talk to
official organisations - such as Coast Radio Stations or
MRCCs - or you are entering another country where
licensing and availability of radios is tightly managed, it
is important that your radio installation is properly licensed,
with a call-sign; just like the commercial ships which officials are
accustomed to accepting.
Each license issuing country has unique call-sign
letters for marine radio call-signs. Officials in
countries you enter may know and recognise these call-signs as
legitimate. They may not recognise Amateur Radio call-signs
- which are issued to an individual, not the yacht - as legitimate for
a vessel's radio.
Official marine
call-signs are normally written on an official radio
license, issued by the national communications authority of
the country where the yacht is registered. Some
customs/port/marine/immigration/marine police/navy officials
may want to see that license; and they may check the license
validity/expiry date. Be sure your yacht has a valid and
current radio license and call-sign.
An Amateur Radio (HAM)
license is not sufficient. These are issued to a specific
individual to operate communication equipment on a limited
range of internationally agreed frequencies for
personal and experimental purposes only. The frequencies allowed
for Amateur Radio operation do not include the official
Marine HF/SSB channels/frequencies; which are not normally
accessible on an Amateur Radio.
Avoid creating
unnecessary problems for yourself and your crew at sea and in foreign
ports. Get a proper marine radio, a marine radio call-sign and
a marine radio license; like
all other foreign-going vessels in the world.
Training for Marine HF/SSB radio operation:
Many countries require
at least one person - normally the yacht owner - to
complete a basic course in marine radio operation before
issuing a marine radio license and Marine call-sign for a yacht.
Regardless of whether
this requirement applies to your yacht's country of
registration, for your own confidence and safety, it's
important for at least two people on-board to know how to
operate, do basic trouble shooting and communicate using the marine HF/SSB
radio.
There are numerous
cruisers with good Marine HF/SSB radios who can't use it
effectively because they lack a small amount of operator
knowledge. This training could save them a small fortune in
communication costs (eg: by using the radio rather than a
satellite phone), provide safety support for themselves and
fellow mariners, give them access to important weather and
safety related emails, and help expand the range of wonderful
cruising experiences available away from commercialised towns etc.
Be sure to sign up for a
HF/SSB radio course that covers more than just the basics of
DSC functionality and which gives practical hands-on
experience using the radios, so you can successfully utilise
this important - and cost saving - resource. Learn the
difference between simplex and duplex channels, understand
why the Maritime HF/SSB service uses different frequencies,
and what simple setup/install practices and routine
maintenance tasks will ensure your yacht's radio will perform
well.
If you
are buying a new or replacement HF/SSB radio for your yacht
or other small-craft:
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Buy
a reliable marine radio with DSC and email capability.
For example, the ICOM M802(DSC) or ICOM M801E.
It's cheaper, one-off, insurance, that will save you
lots of money compared to alternative (eg: satellite
based), cruising/boating communications. And it
links you into the Maritime Distress communications
system, with all it's advantages for you and your fellow
mariners.
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Use the same purchase philosophy
most of us would normally apply to
buying a new PC or notebook; get the latest technology
so it stays relevant and functional for as long as
possible. Therefore, buy the type approved marine radio
with DSC.
Installing a reliable
HF/SSB radio system:
There are thousands of
outlets where quality HF/SSB radio equipment can be
purchased. There are far fewer outlets which also have the
understanding of HF/SSB radio operation to help
ensure your system works well, and can provide answers to
installation and operating questions.
It pays to buy
from people who share your passion for boating and
have the practical experience with HF/SSB radio operations
to provide sound advice. For example:
UK/Europe:
Yachtcom - UK based - marine radio equipment
& Pactor modem
supplier for SailMail. Installation support and HF/SSB
training
courses.
North America:
Offshore Outfitters
- California based - marine radio equipment &
Pactor
modems supplier for SailMail, and
SailMail technical
support.
Australia:
Radios.net.au
- Queensland based - radio equipment supplier,
Pactor
modem distributor for SailMail and
BBREmail.
NAUTEK Marine -
Victoria based - boat electronics and marine
radio
equipment supplier, Pactor modem distributor
for SailMail and BBREmail.
SE Asia:
Brunei
Bay Radio - Marine radio supplier and Pactor
modem
distributor
for SailMail and BBRemail.
The SailMail website
also has an extensive list of sellers/installers who have
experience with HF/SSB radio, Pactor modems and SailMail
functionality. See the list near the bottom of the
SailMail home page.
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Call-sign:
V8V2222 SelCall ID: 2222
For enquiries click here to email
BRUNEI
BAY
RADIO
Brunei Bay Radio
PO Box 2234
Bandar Seri Begawan BS8674
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Phn: +673 2 262676 Fax: +673 2 262675
Unit 105, 1st Floor, PGGMB Building
Jalan Sungai Kianggeh
Bandar Seri Begawan BS8111
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
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