A guide to HF/SSB Radio
HF/SSB radio plays an important part in maritime communications; it provides mariners with a viable and effective form of communication over long distances. Not only is it an efficient form of communication but HF/SSB radio offers other benefits including email, weather reports and charts and shortwave broadcast etc.

Listed below are just a few of the many benefits HF/SSB radio has to offer.
The benefits of HF/SSB Radio:

Multi Party Conversation
One of the main advantages of marine SSB is the ability to have a multiparty conversation for the exchange of information. Satellite communications is like a telephone call - you can only talk to a specific person at a specific time. You cannot talk to a group of individuals. SSB gives mariners the ability to share information with one another about weather, ports of call, cruising conditions etc. Marine SSB is more like an internet chat group than a phone call. 

Listen to International Broadcast Stations
Your marine SSB radio can also be used to receive (and in certain cases, transmit) other services that share frequencies adjacent to the marine band. You can tune into worldwide international broadcast stations and find out the latest news anywhere

Receive Weather Facsimile Charts for Free
You can easily interface your weather facsimile decoder with your marine HF radio and download weather charts for your particular area of interest.

Amateur Radio (link to Icom site)
You can also tune into amateur radio frequencies, and listen for local weather reports on the maritime mobile amateur radio nets.

Time Signals
You can tune into the international time signals wherever you cruise.

Send and Receive E-Mail
SSB allows you to send and receive email, providing the set is connected to PC and Modem.  You will need to be signed up to a service provider such as Sail Mail.

Communications Reliability
When used with an awareness of HF radio propagation, worldwide communication is possible. It is the ONLY method of long distance communication that is not dependent on any potentially fallible man made infrastructure. 

So what is available?
There are two solutions available on the European market based on the award wining Icom HF/SSB transceiver the IC-M802.  Available from April 2006 (type approval pending) the European IC-M801 will be available in two versions:

IC-M8101E will meet class E Standards for non-SOLAS vessels.

IC-M801GMDSS has a class A DSC operation and will meet GMDSS requirements and MED 96/98/EC, “wheelmark” requirements for SOLAS regulated vessels.

About the IC-M801
The IC-M801E/GMDSS both feature a remote head that can be neatly installed on a chart table or fly bridge whilst the 'black box' controller discretely mounts out of the way and out of sight.  The controller can be interfaced into a GPS, laptop computer or e-mail modem to make a complete communication system.  This controller is capable of operating from a 12-volt or 24-volt supply. Connections are also available for external loud speaker and the Icom automatic antenna coupler.

The IC-M801E/GMDSS front panel features a full keypad, allowing direct frequency entry. The large dot-matrix display offers 10 levels of backlighting to suit operating conditions.  Large dials and buttons allow for easy operation in rough seas.  Icom have included a headphone socket on the front panel, allowing the operator to use the radio during night watches.

The IC-M801E/GMDSS provides 125W of output power, enough to provide reliable long distance communication.  The large cooling fan ensures stable internal temperature even during high duty operation.  The IC-M801E/GMDSS is pre-programmed with 1035 international and domestic channels, plus 160 user-programmable "favourite frequency" channels that can be programmed into the radio by an authorised Icom dealer.

This SSB has power output to 125* watts, with selectable battery-saving, low-power settings for both voice and data transmissions.  The IC-M801 has Digital Selective Calling (DSC) function.

* The M801 has reduced output power of 125W

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