Single Sideband

Marlintini · 12-07-2003, 07:01 PM

How mant guys have them ?

Do you use it frequently? Is there alot of info passing over the main channels?

Or do you have them for emergency backup mostly?

Is it worth the investment or what alternatives would you reccommend?

Jellybean · 12-08-2003, 07:15 AM

I have a sideband on my boat, primarily for emergencies and for getting weather forecasts in the Bahamas. There really isn't a lot of useful traffic on them these days, since the development of satellite phones.

That being said, there are still people exchanging information on them every day amongst a small group of fishermen. Just don't count on hearing a lot of traffic.

flounder1979 · 12-08-2003, 08:09 PM

Get a sat phone. Save the money. On My new Topaz I decided this because You can not take the ssb in the raft with the you? Plus all my friend that go offshore alll have sat phones and we can call each other from diffrent locations and get each other on the meat. Not many people really use the SSB. And if they do they are not being real specific with any real info if they do not know you. Plus the wife or anyone else can get in touch with you. Sat phones all the way

swrock · 12-08-2003, 08:29 PM

flounder
do the satelite phones work anywhere?
do you get a certain amount of minutes like a cell phone? i've never talked to anybody that has one. is the cost much more than a cell phone?

seachaser 2100 rg

flounder1979 · 12-08-2003, 08:32 PM

The sat phone is like 300 dollars but the plans are very competive to cellular phone plans. I think i got something like 600mins for 49.95 a month Yes you can talk anywhere in the world basically with a satphone. I live on the east coast and have been 100+ miles from home and had no problem. The service was excellent, very clear.

swrock · 12-08-2003, 08:41 PM

thanks flounder.
that sounds like a good investment for a boater.

seachaser 2100 rg

Jellybean · 12-09-2003, 11:32 AM

Flounder:

Where did you find a sat phone for $300? In south Florida they're $1,000 or more. I assume you're talking about Globalstar.

Marlintini · 12-09-2003, 10:58 PM

Globalstar 1600 Phone:
$500 New
$300 Refurbed

30 min $35/month (voice mail add $8)
120 min $50/month (voice mail included)

Jellybean · 12-10-2003, 02:25 PM

You're right, the $1,000 is for the whole system with a separate handset and remote antenna.