- V8V2222 -
HF/SSB radio services


Cruising this side -

you need a Marine HF/SSB radio

When planning your cruising to this side of the world - away from the well established support and communication services in Europe/UK and North America - be sure to have a functional HF/SSB Marine Radio with the complete international marine channel/frequency band plan, plus DSC capability, radio email, and the official Marine Emergency frequencies.

This radio will make communication 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 want to help you with advice about anchorages, marina waypoints, fuel supplies, local markets, shore tours, local transport etc.

And of course you can get weather information and other safety related services.  

Cruising yacht owners from temperate latitudes, North America and Europe should be aware that:

1. There is no VHF network or system of relay/repeater towers on high points in SE Asia, so the range of VHF coast stations 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 extremely limited in it's functionality in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, including throughout SE Asia. For example, Australia has declared it has no VHF radio service with DSC function. 
   
   There have been a number of incidents where international cruising yachts in the Pacific Ocean equipped only with VHF radios became very dependent on other vessels during their emergency in offshore waters.  Without a nearby vessel to relay messages via HF/SSB to/from the MRCC - and then relay on VHF to the nearby yacht in distress - they would be completely out of contact with the MRCC and planes, ships etc on-route to assist during an incident.  A functional Marine HF/SSB radio is important on this side of the world.
    

2. Many portable (ie: low power) satellite phone services are not as reliable in SE Asia (and probably many equatorial regions), because of factors such as the thin spread of satellites at the equator (eg: Iridium), and the density of tropical clouds.
   
   In SE Asia most low-powered satellite phones have service connection problems during heavy overcast conditions and/or rain. The same problem occurs with the regional satellite TV service; it often drops out in heavy cloud and/or rain. Our experience with HF/SSB radio email is the opposite; it keeps working despite heavy cloud and bad weather.
   
   For example, some users of BRUNEI BAY RADIO's HF/SSB email service have abandoned their existing satellite email systems (including Iridium, Aces and INMARSAT fleet 77), in favour of what they find to be a more reliable - and much cheaper - HF/SSB radio email service.
    

3. Yachting Association and ISAF Special Regulation lists of equipment for yacht racing and cruising suited to Europe/UK and North American conditions are not sufficient for this side of the world.  These equipment lists require only a VHF radio.
   
   In contrast, Yachting Australia's Special Regulations for yacht racing and cruising require a functional HF/SSB marine radio for a Category 1 race, and it is recommended for Category 2. This is because the distances are greater, the support/emergency services are far thinner, vessel traffic densities are much lower, and because VHF marine radio networks are almost non-existent.
    

4. It is therefore important that small-craft (ie: under 300 tonnes) operating beyond the short range of local VHF bases, are equipped with a Marine HF/SSB radio fitted with the emergency frequencies, and the complete Marine band-plan of simplex and duplex channels/frequencies. 
   
   Yachts should also have an official marine radio callsign issued by their country of registration. 
   
   A functional HF/SSB radio will ensure the ability to communicate with limited coast stations, official coast stations and MRCCs around the world.
   
   While cruising, this HF/SSB radio will also be invaluable to help reduce the  cost of cruising, to maintain voice contact with other cruisers, to create informal nets, to get the latest local area information - such as marina or anchorage approach waypoints - and to participate in self-help skeds and frequency monitoring.
   
   If buying a new HF/SSB radio, it is advisable to buy a radio with DSC capability, in order to initiate contact with an MRCC. 
    

5. It is also advisable to complete a training course to know how to use the HF/SSB radio, and to regularly use the radio for voice communication with other yachts, coast stations etc, so as to be confident of its use in an emergency. Regular use also means the radio is regularly checked for service functionality. 
   
   Many countries - or the Yachting Associations in those countries - operate training courses in marine radio communications. In some countries it is necessary to complete the course before an operator's license and ship's radio licence/callsign will be issued.

When selecting a HF/SSB radio for your yacht:

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 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 radios are very attractive for small-craft because they can handle voice calls, DSC function and radio email at full power, and come at a reasonable price. But be aware they need a second HF/SSB radio antenna for the important DSC receiver function.  The ICOM M801E 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 and dust through the radio.

Amateur Radios do not have Marine Radio DSC functions, and they are not pre-programmed with the official Marine Emergency frequencies, and not  equipped with 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. 

Another big advantage of the ICOM M802 and M801E 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!
 

Your yacht needs an official radio 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 officially licensed; just like the commercial ships which officials are accustomed to accepting. 

Official Marine call-signs are issued by the communications authority in the country where the vessel is registered. Each country has unique call-sign letters for marine radio call-signs. Officials in other countries 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 marine use.

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 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/assigned frequencies for personal and experimental purposes. The frequencies allowed for Amateur Radio operation do not include the official ITU Marine Band channels/frequencies, which are not normally accessible using an Amateur Radio.

And officially, the licensed Amateur Radio operator on-board is the only person authorised to operate a radio designed for HAM use. These radios are built for flexible operation by a trained operator who knows what should and should not be done with the radio. The radios also have small lettering, and dials/buttons etc that are far more difficult to use in a bouncing boat with wet hands and no reading glasses.

An Amateur Radio license is not an officially recognised authorisation for a vessel to carry and operate radio equipment on the Marine communication channels/frequencies.  

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, trouble shoot and communicate using the marine HF/SSB radio.

There are numerous cruisers with good HF/SSB radios who can't use it effectively because they lack a small amount of operator knowledge which could save them a small fortune in communication costs (eg: by using the radio rather than a  satellite phone), and help expand the range of wonderful cruising experiences, by using services such as HF/SSB radio email to get weather information, order spare parts, contact future marinas, organise crew arrivals and maintain contact with family while cruising away from towns, marinas and commercial areas. 

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 very important - and cost saving - resource.

Be sure to learn the difference between simplex and duplex channels, understand why the Maritime HF/SSB service uses different frequencies, and what simple setup/install requirements and routine maintenance tasks will ensure a yacht's radio can perform well and reliably.

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 help ensure your system works and can provide answers to installation and operation questions.  It pays to buy from these people who share your passion for sailing and have the practical experience with HF/SSB radio operations to provide sound advice.  This way you will be far better prepared for cruising this (bigger and emptier) side of the world.

UK/Europe:
    Yachtcom - UK based marine radio equipment, Pactor modems for
                        SailMail,  and training. 

North America:
     Offshore Outfitters - California based marine radio equipment, Pactor
                                       modems for SailMail, and SailMail technical
                                       support.

Australia:
     Radios.net.au  - Queensland based radio equipment supplier, Pactor
                               modem distributor for SailMail, and used equipment. 

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