 YachtCom & SailCom Marine Training & Communications Equipment Phone: 01489 565100 overseas +44 1489 565100 ..HOME pageWhy marine SSB - Worldwide Communications via HF radioMarine SSB (Single Side Band) is a popular means of communications 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 up to several thousand miles and calls between yachts are free and there are coast stations broadcast weather bulletins and even low cost SSB email. The new SSB transceivers (Icom M801E) have digital selective calling (DSC) which allowes you to send and receive distress, urgency and safety communications between other ships and to and from coastguards. SSB DSC can also be used for routine calling between yachts. WHY SSB MIGHT BE
FOR YOU!Having an SSB MF/HF
transceiver on board your yacht offers communication independence, you are not
tied into any contracts or connection charges. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MF/HF Range Freq. | Day-light | Darkness |
| 2 MHz | 200 NM | 500NM |
| 4 MHz | 400 NM | 800NM |
| 6 MHz | 600 MN | 1200 NM |
| 8 MHz | 800 NM | 1600NM |
| 12 MHz | 1200NM | 2400NM |
| 16 MHz | 1600 NM | fade-out |
Marine SSB frequencies
The frequencies used for marine communications are internationally agreed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Below you will find a list of HF frequencies. In the main most frequencies are Duplex and intended for ship to shore use. Some bands do have simplex channels which can be used for either ship to shore or intership working.Marine Radio Equipment from SailCom:-
Marine
HF transceivers SCS pactor
modems for email via HF radio Marine Distress Frequencies (Radio Telephone (R/T) & DSC)
| Band | R/T Frequency | DSC Frequency | Day Time Range | Night Time Range |
| MF | 2182 kHz | 2187.5 kHz | 150 nm | 500 nm |
| HF4 | 4125 kHz | 4207.5 kHZ | 300 nm | 1000 nm |
| HF6 | 6215 kHz | 6312 kHz | 600 nm | 1500 nm |
| HF8 | 8291 kHz | 8414.5 kHZ | 1000 nm | 2000 nm |
| HF12 | 12290 kHz | 12577 kHz | 2500 nm | |
| HF16 | 16420 kHz | 16804.5 kHz | ||
| VHF | 156.800 MHz (Ch16) | 156.525 MHz (Ch 70) | 30 nm | 30 nm |
NOTE: Range is for guidance only and will depending on your operating conditions and HF radio propagation conditions.
Primary HF ship to ship frequencies
Channels (simplex)| Ch | 4 Mhz | 6 Mhz | 8 Mhz | 12 Mhz | 16 Mhz | 18 Mhz | 22 Mhz | 25 Mhz |
| A | 4146 kHz | 6224 khz | 8294 kHz | 12353 kHz | 16528 kHz | 18825 kHz | 22159 kHz | 25100 kHz |
| B | 4149 kHz | 6227 kHz | 8297 kHz | 12356 kHz | 16531 kHz | 18828 kHz | 22162 kHz | 25103 kHz |
| C | 6230 kHz | 12359 kHz | 16534 kHz | 18831 kHz | 22165 kHz | 25106 kHz | ||
| D | 12362 kHz | 16537 kHz | 18834 kHz | 22168 kHz | 25109 kHz | |||
| E | 12365 kHz | 16540 kHz | 18837 kHz | 22171 kHz | 25112 kHz | |||
| F | 16543 kHz | 18840 kHz | 22174 kHz | 25115 kHz | ||||
| G | 16546 kHz | 18843 kHz | 22177 kHz | 25118 kHz |
Marine Radio Courses from YachtCom:-
GMDSS Short Range
Certificate - RYA VHF Radio Course
GMDSS Long Range Certificate
for SSB (MF/HF), VHF and GMDSS INMARSAT. Simplex ship to ship HF frequencies, shared with fixed services
Channels (duplex)| 4000 kHz | 4024 kHz | 4048 kHz | 8101 kHz | 8125 kHz | 8149 kHz | 8173 kHz | |
| 4003 kHz | 4027 kHz | 4051 kHz | 8104 kHz | 8128 kHz | 8152 kHz | 8176 kHz | |
| 4006 kHz | 4030 kHz | 4054 kHz | 8107 kHz | 8131 kHz | 8155 kHz | 8179 kHz | |
| 4009 kHz | 4033 kHz | 4057 kHz | 8110 kHz | 8134 kHz | 8158 kHz | 8182 kHz | |
| 4012 kHz | 4036 kHz | 4060 kHz | 8113 kHz | 8137 kHz | 8161 kHz | 8185 kHz | |
| 4015 kHz | 4039 kHz | 8116 kHz | 8140 kHz | 8164 kHz | 8188 kHz | ||
| 4018 kHz | 4042 kHz | 8119 kHz | 8143 kHz | 8167 kHz | 8191 kHz | ||
| 4021 kHz | 4045 kHz | 8122 kHz | 8146 kHz | 8170 kHz |
Marine Radio Equipment from SailCom:-
Marine HF
transceivers SCS pactor
modems for email via HF radio Yachtsmans Nets
An open community of sailors keep in touch on a daily basis over the SSB radio, calls are totally free.The best time to listen is early morning 0600 to 0930 and in the evenings 1800 to 2100 local time, this is when radio conditions are ideal. You should hear a number of yachtsmen talking to each other although in Northern Europe it is not so popular compared to the the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
| Net Areas | frequency | Times |
| Mediterranean Net | 8122 kHz | 0530 GMT |
| Caribbean calling frequency and safety net | 8104 kHz | 1215 (0815 AST) |
| Atlantic Net (Herb) | 12359 kHz | 2000 |
| Bahamas weather net | 4003 kHz | 7:00 am AST |
| Caribbean weather net | 4045
kHz 8104 kHz 8137 kHz |
from 07:00 AST |
| Cruiseheimer's net (East coast and Bahamas) | 8152 kHz | 08:30 AST |
| Northwest Caribbean | 8188 kHz | 08:00 AST |
HF SSB Coastradio Stations
A network of coast-radio all for ship to shore communications. Below is a list of stations and the channels they use.NOTE: ITU channel are duplex (split frequency)
e.g. coast station transmits on one frequency and the ship transmit on a different (lower) frequency.
Where (Tx in kHz) this is the coast station transit frequency, the frequency you may wish to monitor.
Frequency split; the number of kHz that has to be deducted to get the ships transmit frequency
| Station | Callsign | 4MHz | 6MHz | 8MHz | 12MHz | 16MHz | 18MHz | 22MHz |
| ITU duplex channels | 401 to 429 | 601 to 608 | 801 to 837 | 1201 to 1241 | 1601 to 1656 | 1801 to 1815 | 2201 to 2253 | |
| Frequency split | -292kHz | -301kHz | -524kHz | -847kHz | -882kHz | -978kHz | -696kHz | |
|
DISTRESS (Tx in kHz) |
421 (4417) |
606 (6516) |
821 (8779) |
1221 (13137) |
1621 (17302) |
1806 (19770) |
2221 (22756) |
|
|
Olympia, Greece (Tx in kHz) |
SVN |
424 (4426) |
806 (8734) |
1232 (13170) |
1640 (17359z) |
2217 (22744) |
||
| Oostende Radio, Belgium (Tx in kHz) | OST | 411 (4387) |
815 (8761) |
1207 (13095) |
1630 (17329) |
|||
|
Monaco
Radio (Tx in kHz) |
3AC |
403 (4363) |
804 (8728) |
1224 (13146) |
1607 (17260) |
2225 (22768) |
||
|
Brunei
Bay Radio (Tx in kHz) |
V8V2222 |
428 (4351) |
608 (6522) |
835 (8710) |
1239 (13191) |
1804 (19764) |
2229 (22780) |
|
| Bangkok Meteorology Service - Thailand | --- (6765.1) |
809 (8743) |
||||||
|
Cape Town - S.Africa (Tx in kHz) |
ZSC |
407 (4375) |
|
808 (8740) |
1224 (13146) |
|
|
|
|
Shipcom -
USA (Tx in kHz) |
KLB |
417 (4405) |
805 (8731) |
1209 (13101) |
1624 (17311) |
|||
|
Shipcom -
USA (Tx in kHz) |
WLO |
405 (4369) 414 (4396) |
607 (6519) |
824 (8788) 830 (8806) |
1212 (13110) 1226 (13152) |
1607 (17260) 1641 (17362) |
1807 (19773) |
2237 (22804) |
|
USA
coastguard working channels (Tx in kHz) |
424 (4426) |
601 (6501) |
816 (8764) |
1205 (13089) |
1625 (17314) |
GMDSS Short Range
Certificate - RYA VHF Radio Course
GMDSS Long Range Certificate
for SSB (MF/HF), VHF and GMDSS INMARSAT. US Coastguard HF frequencies
| US Coastguard Weather Transmissions | ||
| Station and Callsign | Frequencies | Times (GMT) |
| USCG Chesapeake (NMN) | 4426 kHz, 6501 kHz, 8764 kHz, 13089 kHz, 17314 kHz | 0330, 0515, 0930, 1115, 1530, 1715, 2130, 2315 |
| USCG Pt Reyes (NMC) | 4426 kHz, 6501 kHz, 8764 kHz, 13089 kHz, 17314 kHz | 0430, 1030, 1630, 2230 |
| USCG New Orleans (NMG) | 4316 kHz, 8502 kHz, 12788 kHz, | 0330, 0515, 0930, 1115, 1530, 1715, 2130, 2315 |
| USCG Honolulu (NMO) | 6501 kHz, 8764 kHz, 13089 kHz | 0005, 0600, 1200, 1800 |
Marine Radio Equipment from SailCom:-
Marine HF
transceivers SCS pactor
modems for email via HF radio Australian HF weather frequencies
| Australia Coastguard Weather Transmissions | ||
| Station and Callsign | Frequencies | Times (CST) |
| Wiluna W. Australia (VMW) | 2056 kHz, 4149 kHz, 6230 kHz, 8113 kHz, 12362 kHz, 16528 kHz | 0300, 0700, 1100, 1500, 1900, 2300 |
| Charleville S. Australia (VMC) | 2201 kHz, 4426 kHz, 6507 kHz, 8176 kHz, 12365 kHz, 16546 kHz | 0200, 0600, 1000, 1400, 1800, 2200 |
Marine Radio Courses from YachtCom:-
GMDSS Short Range
Certificate - RYA VHF Radio Course
GMDSS Long Range Certificate
for SSB (MF/HF), VHF and GMDSS INMARSAT. Distress and Safety (SAR) communications
| Frequency | Comments | |
| 2182kHz | MF International distress frequency for ship, aircraft and survival craft. | |
| 3023kHz | Intercommunications between mobile stations engaged in coordintion of search and rescue. | |
| 4125kHz | Distress and safety traffic by radiotelephone | |
| 5680kHz | Intercommunications between mobile stations engaged in coordintion of search and rescue. | |
| 6215kHz | Distress and safety traffic by radiotelephone | |
| 8364kHz | Designated for use by survival craft stations. | |
YachtCom
YachtCom provides high quality radio and radar training for crew and skippers of non-SOLAS vessels:
GMDSS Long Range
Certificate (GMDSS LRC) GMDSS Short Range Certificate
- RYA VHF Radio Course RYA Radar Course
SailCom
SailCom Marine supplied HF comminucation equipment including pactor modems and anatennas:
Marine HF
transceivers SCS pactor
modems for email via HF radio
Marine antenna,
grounding and accessoriesCommunication
Receivers