In article ,
"doug dotson" wrote:

The CG's handling of SSB is a bit unclear to me. We were in a situation
where
VHF contact was marginal. I asked the CG if I could contact them via SSB and
they said no, they did not support SSB frequencies.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

This is exactly right. USCG is in the process of getting it's GMDSS
system...FUNDED. They are about three years behind EU, and way behind
what they originally promised. USCG does maintain a listening watch
at a few COMMSTA's, but not on ALL of them and on different frequencies
than one might expect. USCG Kodiak DOES watch 4125.0Khz 24/7, and I
think USCG Frisco does as well. COMMSTA Juneau does have MF/HF
capability thru Yakatat but it is broke more than operational mostly
and they keep no watch at all on MF/HF. If your in trouble and beyond
VHF coverage, your best option is light off the 406 EPIRB, and wait for
the USCG Chopper to arrive.

Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @