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
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.