SSB Nets in Caribbean

Will be heading south to the Bahamas and on down the Caribbean this spring and would appreciate any input on useful SSB cruiser net frequencies for that area. Thanks ya'll!

Here's a link that might be useful.

Marine and amateur radio net details, times and frequencies on SSB, Ham, HF and VHF for cruising yachts.

Do you have a general ham license?
The Waterway Net 7.268 @ 7:45 Eastern time will get in touch with lots of folks. They are very organized, friendly and helpful.

The ham license is far and away the best thing for the nets in that area, or at least that was true when I was cruising there. A ham radio also allows you to access the internet to send and receive email. Cannot really say that I have kept up with the current state of that, but it is easily researched. And just a word to the wise -- the hams get really, really upset about a non-ham trying to use their frequencies for communication.
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John
AF4WM

Captain K said:

Will be heading south to the Bahamas and on down the Caribbean this spring and would appreciate any input on useful SSB cruiser net frequencies for that area. Thanks ya'll!

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Here's the East Coast Atlantic frequency list. As far as weather goes, Chris Parker probably is the best.

East Coast Cruising Nets

Larry M wrote:

"As far as weather goes, Chris Parker probably is the best."

What happened to Herb? He was our lifeline for weather when we were cruising. But he was getting along in years, and so guess he may have passed away. A shame. He helped many a cruiser.

John

jwnall said:

Larry M wrote:

"As far as weather goes, Chris Parker probably is the best."

What happened to Herb? He was our lifeline for weather when we were cruising. But he was getting along in years, and so guess he may have passed away. A shame. He helped many a cruiser.

John

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The schedule says Herb's still on the air. He's a legend for sure. I think Chris Parker has picked up his slack. In addition to his free weather discussions (different times on multiple frequencies), Chris also does paid subscription services from daily forecasts to specific passage weather.
http://www.caribwx.com/

Oh, and one other thing that I want to add about the ham frequencies. Even though I think that having a ham ticket may save your life someday, I know that a lot of people just are not interested enough in that material to study and pass the tests. But I think that probably 99% of the benefit to a cruiser is just being able to listen anyway, and you do not need any license at all to listen. Just a radio.

John

Anode said:

Here's a link that might be useful.

Marine and amateur radio net details, times and frequencies on SSB, Ham, HF and VHF for cruising yachts.

Do you have a general ham license?
The Waterway Net 7.268 @ 7:45 Eastern time will get in touch with lots of folks. They are very organized, friendly and helpful.

Click to expand...

No sir, not a HAM, have only a Marine Radio Operator's Permit. Wish I were...I've heard good things about what doors that can open. MANY THANKS for the link. Great information there!

Captain K said:

No sir, not a HAM, have only a Marine Radio Operator's Permit. Wish I were...I've heard good things about what doors that can open. MANY THANKS for the link. Great information there!

Click to expand...

A Ham licence is easier to get these days since Morse code is no longer required for the general class operators license. Regardless, in an emergency, no one will care if you have a license or not.

Larry M wrote:

"Regardless, in an emergency, no one will care if you have a license or not."

I agree.