RYA RADAR
YachtCom

HF SSB Email and SCS Pactor modems

SSB shortwave radio email systems offer a low cost alternative to mobile and satellite phone systems and offers near global coverage. Most SSB email system work on an annual subscription, 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 IC-M710 or ICOM M801, a radio modem and a computer running Mircosoft Windows 95 or above operating system.
Once you have your SSB radio to the correct frequency and connected up to your PACTOR modem, sending SSB email is as easy as sending email via your telephone line or mobile phone.

Frequencies & licencingThe frequencies used, in the main, are within marine allocated frequency bands and hence your ship's radio licence covers you for transmitting on these frequencies. Some USA stations do use private frequencies which may not be covered by your ships radio licence and you may find that your marine SSB transceiver will not transmit on some of the privately used frequencies.SailCom Marine can re-program the ICOM M710 to work on these frequencies.

SSB radio Modem and Transmission Media
You need to have a special radio modem to send and receive email via SSB. Most SSB email services providers transmit using a transmission media call PACTOR. PACTOR modems are manufactured by SCS in Germany.
Using PACTOR-III transmission speeds of 2.8 kbits per second or sometimes faster (3.6k max) can be achieved. For more information on PACTOR visit WWW.PACTOR.INFO

Click here for details on price
and ordering details of PACTOR modems

Global Link Network - Europe's leading marine SSB email provider
Global Link Network is Europe's leading marine SSB email provider.
  • Global Link Network SSB services includes:-
    • Receiving and sending email, up to 10 Mbs per year.
    • Receive weather information and send position reports.
    • Operates on marine allocated frequencies.
    • Software used is standard e-mail and web browser software such as Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
    • Kiel Radio works with SCS PTC-IIe PACTOR modem using professional version of PACTOR III.
    • Secure link, Kiel Radio uses the professional version of PACTOR III which offers users security when sending or receiving messages.
SailCom Marine can provide you with the SCS PACTOR modem and connecting leads, click here for details. Stations within the network
Germany, Kiel DAO 5 Channels on air
Switzerland, Bern HEB 7 Channels on air
Philipines, Manila DZO 3 Channels on air
USA, Washington KKL 1 Channel on air

sign you up for the service.
Click here to visit the Kiel Radio web site

Sailmail - Global SSB Email service
Sailmail is a USA organization offering low-cost HF/SSB radio e-mail service developed specifically for cruising yachts and works on a subscription only basses of just $250 year. Sailmail used a client software package called Airmail which is available free of charge. Sailmail coverage is very good, with a global network of stations, including a station here in Europe and the Red Sea.

Sailmail operates on a mixture of private and marine frequencies so do make sure that your marine SSB transceiver has been modified to cover the frequencies operated by Sailmail. The European version of the ICOM M710 will need to be modificated. For the M710 this is a simple software change, at YachtCom we have the software and tools and can do this for you.

The best modem to use with Sailmail is the SCS PTC-IIusb with PACTOR III. Using the SCS PTC-IIusb modem with the Sailmail software allows for remote tuning of your ICOMM710 or M801 transceiver.

SailCom Marine can provide you with the SCS PACTOR 3 modem configured to work with SailMail including connecting leads to your SSB transceiver, click here for details.


SSB Email frequencies for SailMail European Station

Station callsign: OSY
Location: Brugge, Belgium
Ship station dial receive frequencies in kHz. Ship station dial
transmit
frequencies in kHz.
Channel ID
(Callsign given in morse code)
Status
6329.0 6329.0 OSY ON AIR
8420.5 8420.5 OSY ONAIR
12579.0 12579.0 OSY ON AIR
16806.5 16806.5 OSY ON AIR

For further details on Sailmail visit
www.sailmail.com.

For further details on Airmail client software visit
www.airmail2000.com

Location of SailMail stations

Click here to order your SCS PACTOR modem

Copyright Bob Smith 1998 - 2008

Marine Radio
Operator's Licence

A marine radio operator's licence is an international legal requirement.
Yachtsmen operating a VHF only radio require a Short Range Certificate. If operating an SSB, VHF and Inmarsat from a yacht then a Long Range Certificate is required. Visit www.yachtcom.info for more information about marine radio and yacht communications.

GMDSS
Long Range Certificate

The Long Range Certificate is a higher level certificate to the Short Range Certificate and allows you to operate on any marine MF/HF/VHF frequency/channel and Inmarsat satellite from on-board your yacht. More information


Recommendation

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Here is what some of them have had to say about their experiences with YachtCom click here.

Enquiries & Enrolment

Telephone bookings are welcome between the hours of 09:30 to 17:30 Monday to Friday.

Payment may be made over the phone by all major credit and debit cards except American Express.

Phone: 014898 56558100

From overseas phone:
+ 44 .814898 56558100

RYA Radar course enquiry

Our location

YachtCom's training studio is located at Bursledon which is 5 miles from Southampton. Click here for directions and accommodation

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GMDSS
Short Range Certificate
1 day course

This is a 1 day RYA VHF marine radio course.
On completion you will be a competent radio operator and know the correct procedure for distress, urgency, safety by means of marine VHF DSC radio. More information

GMDSS
Long Range Certificate

The Long Range Certificate is a higher level certificate to the Short Range Certificate and allows you to operate on any marine MF/HF/VHF frequency/channel and Inmarsat satellite from on-board your yacht. More information