Icom Ic M802 Digital Marine Ssb Radio
What is an HF radio? Unlike UHF and VHF radios, HF uses a shorter frequency radio wave that bounces off the atmosphere over hundreds or even thousands of miles away. They are often referred to as long-range two-way radios, or Ham radios. These radios use frequencies that are in the wave bands between 3 and 30 Mhz. They are much more commonly used by ships at sea, airplanes as well as the military in order to communicate long distances.
There are UHF and VHF radios, but there are problems when you are at sea. For one thing, they are mostly used for line of site communication, and while if you are a fishing vessel and can see someone else, they will work. What if there isn’t anyone else within range of sight? VHF and UHF signals do go up into the sky, but unlike HF radio waves, they continue past our atmosphere and continue off into space, instead of bouncing back to Earth.
Now that you know the basics of what HF radios are, this is why they are important for ships to have them on every ship at sea, whether they are fishing boats, or long-range haulers. When you are out on the water, there aren’t any cell phone towers, WiFi, or landlines, but it is vitally important that you have communications with the outside world. In many cases, especially for commercial vessels, they have to communicate their location regularly.
Another important reason for needing a HF radio at sea is for emergencies. All too often, you see shows on cable about fisherman who have emergencies and the only way to get in touch with the coast guard or another ship is with these radios. To find out about any storms that are approaching and their severity, you tune to the weather stations that use these frequencies.
While not totally infallible, an HF radio can be a lifesaver for people on ships or boats at sea. It is often the only way of communicating with the outside world, and giving or getting valuable information. The only real problem with these radios is that they require an antenna that is mounted high up in the air, but large ships have main masts that are high enough to get and receive a good signal.
There are many different websites that offer HF radios for sale. You need to make sure that you are getting one that properly suits your needs, and is at a price you can afford. A good maritime mobile radio should have HF, SSB and VHF channels, so that no matter where you are you can send and receive a radio signal. You should also have a professional come in and install your radio, and set it up. You should also become familiar with the Cruiser’s Maritime Radio Network for HF sea radios.
Michael Christie.
Icom Ic M802 Digital Marine Ssb Radio
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