Marine Single Sideband

Communication systems for commercial and recreational vessels

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Communication system design

Onboard performance testing ("pre-flight")

Problem diagnosis/troubleshooting

Training

Corrosion protection diagnosis



Communication system design
As with most every aspect of boating, the best marine communication system for a vessel depends not only on the captain's requirements and intended usage, but also on the vessel. Fortunately, with currently available equipment, the major components of a system can be tailored to your specific needs. The more important issue is how well these parts are integrated: the layout and installation, the integrity of the cabling and connections, the quality of the RF (radio frequency) ground system, and the susceptibility to noise and interference from other electrical systems on the vessel.

When you're ready to upgrade or install a new marine communication system, we can help select the right components and oversee the installation of radios, antennas and components, antenna tuners, marine ground systems, Pactor modems for Email, and computers. We are not agents for particular manufacturers and will choose only equipment that best meets your requirements.

When Marine Single Sideband designs and installs your communication system, we will demonstrate system performance by measurement and by on-the-air contacts.

Onboard Performance Testing ("pre-flight")
Picture a vessel with a typical offshore or cruising complement of communications equipment that was installed five or more years ago. Sure, it seems to be working today, but can we say with any confidence that everything is working as it should, particularly if an offshore or extended coastal cruise is anticipated? We can provide comprehensive performance testing of your entire communication system and tell you whether it is operating as originally intended, before you leave for Tahiti!

N O T I C E
The Federal Communications Commission has published a document

Small Passenger Ship Inspection Checklist

that outlines mandatory inspection procedures for "small passenger ships." Marine Single Sideband will perform this inspection on those vessels required to carry radio equipment to comply with the requirements of the Communications Act, sections 381-386. These procedures are not mandatory for recreational or small commercial vessels, but they are the basis for the "pre-flight" inspection detailed below.

There are three key components to a good performance test. Instrumentation is usually employed when there is reason to believe that some performance parameter is deficient. In the end, much can be gained from actual on-the-air evaluation. A typical "pre-flight" test would consist of the following.

Physical inspection:
Testing with instruments: Actual on-air testing
There is no substitute for this.

Problem diagnosis/troubleshooting
Communication system problems tend to fall into two broad categories: those that are immediate and unmistakable, and those that creep up on you so slowly that you don't notice the degradation of performance.

The immediate problems are often easier to diagnose and fix. A cable may have failed or a fuse may have blown. Or a radio or antenna tuner may have suffered an internal failure that needs expert repair. Sometimes, these problems will be intermittent, while in other cases, the equipment will be completely dead.

Marine Single Sideband can diagnose these problems and often repair them on the spot. In cases where major internal equipment failure is suspected, we can put the equipment on our test bench to verify or better identify the problem. This is important, given the inconvenience of shipping the unit to a factory authorized repair facility. Often, we are able to effect the repair locally, particularly if the problem involves re-calibration or alignment. If not, we can pack and ship the item for you, and verify that the problem has been corrected when it is returned.

Gradual deterioration of communication equipment performance can be handled similarly, but fortunately, it is not a common failure mode for modern solid state products. A more likely cause is corrosion of contacts on external cables, or deterioration of coaxial cables. We can test these likely causes, isolate your problem, and assist with correctional actions.

A third category consists of those problems originating with the initial installation; i.e., the equipment never really worked satisfactorily. The only solution then is to review the original system design and installation, make necessary changes, and verify that it is performing as expected.

Training
Let's face it: like most fields, boating has grown vastly more technical and, in many ways, more complicated. Electronic communication is no exception. The good news is that equipment and installations today are much more reliable than they were even twenty years ago. But the bad news is that this improvement comes at the cost of some complexity.

Whether your equipment was installed by Marine Single Sideband or someone else, we can assist you in mastering its basic operation, including single sideband operation and even Email via radio (Sailmail, and for hams, Winlink) and weather fax. We can usually provide this assistance at your convenience, and on your vessel. Invite the whole crew to participate if you wish.

Corrosion protection diagnosis
One of the more costly problems that afflicts boats of all sizes is corrosion due to galvanic and/or electrochemical actions. This is often first noticed upon visiting a new marina or a transient vessel docking nearby. We provide comprehensive in-water measurements and analyses and recommend actions that will reduce the potential for harmful corrosion.

Corrosion protection analysis can provide information about corrosion problems that are not yet evident, and it can help identify the causes of corrosion already observed. In either case, Marine Single Sideband will perform the following


Remember that conditions conducive to corrosion can develop rapidly as the boat's environment changes, such as when boats enter or leave the region of influence of your boat. An annual checkup can make good economic sense.