On Oct 23, 8:29?am, HK wrote:
So, I was thinking, what with all the technological advances in
communications, why are we still stuck with VHF radios on our boats?
The limitations of VHF radio are obvious to all of us, so there's no
need to repeat them here. And I'm suggesting a move up to SSB or
satellite telephones.

Surely, there is a better way to handle boat to boat or boat to shore
communciations, with features like duplex, much greater range, less static.

Right?

VHF vs. Satellite phones: VHF can send a general broadcast, such as a
pan pan or a mayday. Satellite phones need to know what number to dial
in order to reach some boat across the harbor. One of the primary
functions of the radio is to enable a boater to call for help in an
emergency or respond to a call for help from another boat- removing
the general broadcast aspect from communications capability defeats
that function.

SSB: SSB signals carry a very long way. Wouldn't the airwaves become
so jammed as to be entirely unworkable in busy areas? As it is now
with VHF, especially set on "low", you can be using a frequency in one
location and somebody else can use the same frequency 15 or 20 miles
away and you won't interfere with one another. I could be wong, but I
think there are specific reasons why VHF is the preferred technology
for short range transmissions in crowded areas while SSB is
more popular for vessels well offshore and requiring extended range.

There's no reason you couldn't put a satellite phone on your Parker
and use that *instead* of a VHF for a lot of communications needs.