YachtCom - Yacht Communications resource on the web

It is an international agreed legal requirement to have a ship's radio licence and marine radio operator's certificate before you use transmitting equipment on marine allocated frequencies or channels.

On the ship's radio licence you will find the ship's international callsign and, if requested, 9 digit MMSI number.
To obtain a ship's radio licence in the UK visit the Ofcom web site click here, in the USA visit the FCC web site click here.

Callsigns and MMSI numbers are internationally allocated.
If you know the vessel name, callsign or MMSI number you can find the vessel particulars at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) web site. click here for ITU ship database.

For USA ships visit the FCC ship license database click here.

More information on legal requirements click here for OFCOM Ship Radio Guidance Notes

Most yachtsmen use the marine VHF radio and mobile (cell) phones for their main means of communications.
Mobile phone coverage is limited due the ultra high frequency used (>850MHz) and location of base stations.

Marine VHF is the best way of summoning help. You can contact the coastguard upto 50 miles off-shore and talk to other yachts upto 15 to 20 miles on the open sea.

For further information on marine VHF communication click here.

Yachtsmen wishing to communicate with each other or the coastguard over a greater distance use SSB.

Before you can transmit using a marine VHF radio from your yacht, you require a:-

GMDSS Short Range Certificate (VHF SRC).

Marine SSB (Single Side Band) is a popular means of communication for the independent cruising yachtsmen and a must if you are planning to do bluewater cruising to the Caribbean, Pacific or Mediterranean.

The range of SSB is upto several thousand miles and calls between yachts are free.
In most parts of the world you can communicate with the coastguard up to serverl hundred miles off-shore.
Global weather can be received via fax and data and you can send and receive email.
Having an SSB transceiver on board offer security, entertainment and general communications while at sea.

• Weather Broadcasts (weather fax, Navtex, RTTY)
• SSB email from the high seas
• MF/HF SSB channels and frequencies
• Broadcast Stations, BBC world services etc.
• Coastguard Broadcasts from Eurpean, Australian & US Coastguards
• Amateur Radio - from onboard your yacht

If you want the capability of being able to transmit on all marine frequencies which include MF/HF/VHF and Inmarsat satellite from a yacht then you need a GMDSS Long Range Certificate (GMDSS LRC).

Click here to find out more about the Icom M801E SSB transceiver

WHY SSB MIGHT BE FOR YOU!
Get the answer from Rod Heikell's very informal site

When it comes to purchasing a marine SSB radio the choice is a little limited.

The reason for this is that marine equipment needs to meet the relevant type approval standards and marine radio's both VHF and SSB have to meet the GMDSS requirements.
Here in Europe marine radios being sold today (VHF and SSB) must have digital selective calling (DSC).

One of the best marine SSB transceivers is the Icom M801, there are 1 or 2 others but this is the best for fitting to your average yacht.
The Icom M801 meets all the relevant type approval standards and approvals and is therefore legal to install.

BE AWARE
Icom do manufacture other marine radios for the US market, notably the Icom M802, the M700pro, M710.
Yaesu Vertex / Standard manufacture the VX-1700.
These sets do not meet the EU approvals and therefore should not be installed on any EU vessel.

Also be aware of dealers offering modified amateur radio SSB sets like the Icom IC718, IC706 or any Yaesu or Kenwood transceiver.
The dealer may say its " very popular HF multimode radio for boats", which is correct if you have an amateur radio licence. What they are not telling you is that it is illegal to install on a boat and use on marine frequencies nor do they say what the penalties are if found using one.

If fitting a marine SSB to a European vessel
Be legal - do the right thing and install an Icom M801!

Read Section 4. Radio equipment conformity requirements of the OFCOM Ship Radio Guidance Notes

SSB shortwave radio email systems offer a low cost alternative to mobile and satellite phone systems and offers near global coverage. Most SSB email service providers work on an annual subscription basis, so there are no line-time or number of bits transfer charges as with mobile phone or satellite systems.

To use SSB Email you require an SSB radio such as the ICOM M710 or ICOM M801, a radio modem and a computer running Mircosoft Windows .
Using SSB email is as easy as sending email via your telephone line or mobile phone.

Click here for more information on SSB email

Click here for modem pricing information

To achieve good communications range and performance, it is essential that the SSB transceiver is properly installed and the operator of the set has a good understanding of SSB radio.

1. Power Supply.
   • An SSB transceiver requires peak currents of 25 Amps. Hence the voltage drop between the power source and the SSB transceiver should be no more than half a volt.
2. Good ground.
   • For any MF/HF radio system to work a good connection to ground or salt water is required. On a Steel yacht this is not a problem. On a plastic yacht you need to mount 2 or more ground plates to the bottom of the yacht and connect them to the ATU with 50mm by 0.5mm copper strip. Keep the antenna grounding system completely separate from the DC or electrical grounding system.
     Try to avoid inside the hull internal grounding such as wire mesh or inductive paint as these methods do not work well on low frequencies and will induce RF current into the boat and DC grounding system.

   Click here for more information on installing Dynaplates
   
   Click here for copper strip and other antenna accessories

   
   
3. A good marine antenna.
   • A whip antenna works best as it gives vertical polarization which is good for long range communications on higher frequencies, 8MHz and above depending on the whip length.
     The backstay can be used if properly insulated and a good RF connection is made. Due to the length of the backstay, performance is usually better than a whip on the lower frequencies, 2MHz and 4MHz depending on the length of the backstay.
     Try and keep the antenna well clear of any metal, including bottom section of backstay.

Click here for more information on installing SSB antenna

Click here for Pacific Aerials HF Whips

Click here for HF SSB Antennas Accessories

Attend a YachtCom Long Range Certificate course to find out more!

What to know more about connection up an SSB!
Read the SailMail Primer

DSC a part of the GMDSS and is basically a paging system which you can use to call other vessels or use to make all station safety, urgency and distress alerts.
VHF DSC radios are starting to become popular with yachtsmen, mainly because you cannot buy standard VHF fixed sets any longer. There are no handheld VHF DSC radios on the market.

MF/HF DSC is not very popular with yachtsmen due to size, weight and cost. However, ICOM have a radio called the IC M801 which is a complete marine SSB transceiver with built in DSC functions.

Before you can use a DSC marine radio you do need a radio operator's certificate, these are:-

GMDSS Short Range Certificate for VHF

or

GMDSS Long Range Certificate for MF/HF & VHF.

Mobile satellite communications is now well established and works on your yacht just like a terrestrial mobile phone. Mobile satellite phones should not be considered as a replacement for conventional marine VHF or SSB communications.

Satellite Facts :-

• Life times - Satellites have a limited life time, dependent on fuel and orbit.
• Number of calls - The satellite is basically a telephone exchange, it can only handle a limited number of calls.
• Coverage - Depends on technology deployed.
• Mobility - You do need an antenna above deck to receive and make calls.
• Reliability - In the main good, but like any other mobile phone technology do expect to lose/drop calls.
• Systems cost - It is very expensive to put satellites up there and maintain them.

More information on Mobile Satellite Communications