One might argue the VHF radio is the most valuable piece of safety equipment on board a vessel. The VHF radio is the most versatile communication system for a boat. Calls for help are likely to be heard by many to a maximum distance of approximately 25 miles with a fixed mount system. Single sideband radio (SSB) operates in medium and/or high frequency bands that are reliable for distances exceeding 25 miles. SSB radios typically have an output power from 50-150 watts. At the Marine Electronics Center.com we offer VHF radios from leading manufacturers such as ACR, Cobra, Icom, Midland, Raymarine and Uniden. Please browse our ever expanding selection of VHF & SSB radios.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING VHF AND SSB RADIO SYSTEMS

• Is there a preference for hand held or fixed mount VHF radios ?

Answer = If you are going to be using your  VHF radio continously or require maximum range you will want a fixed mount unit. Hand held VHF radios operate on approx 6 watts with a range of  about 5 miles due to the short antenna. A fixed mount unit has a max output of 25 watts with a useful range of approx 20-25 miles; Antenna height is the key to range optimization.

• What is DSC capability ?

Answer = Digital Selective Calling or "DSC" is similar to a mayday button on a VHF or SSB radio. When activated it automatically broadcasts an encoded distress call that will be picked up by other nearby vessels equipped with DSC. If the radio is interfaced with a Loran or GPS, it will also automatically broadcast the distressed vessels position. To use DSC you must obtain a MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number. To obtain a MMSI number go to www.boatus.com/mmsi

• How does an SSB radio differ from a VHF radio ?

Answer = SSB radio requires a large ground plane in order to radiate its signal. With SSB radios, antenna selection and installation is more complicated. SSB radios generally require a much longer antenna than VHFs and different antenna tuning for different bands.