Here’s a concise, practical guide to reliable marine communications — what to buy by category, why it matters, and a few installation/maintenance notes.

Key categories & recommended options

1. VHF (fixed) — primary short-range voice/safety radio

• Recommended brands/models: Icom IC‑M605 (feature-rich, AIS combo options, DSC, NMEA 2000/0183 integration) and Garmin VHF 315i (25 W, Class D DSC, built‑in GPS/NMEA). Both are proven, widely supported choices for nearshore and offshore workboats/pleasure craft. (icomamerica.com)

2. VHF (handheld) — backup & MOB

• Recommended: Icom handhelds and Standard Horizon models get top marks in independent testing for RX/TX performance and waterproofing; choose an IPX7+/IPX8 submersible unit with DSC/GPS if you’ll go offshore. (Practical Sailor testing/coverage). (practical-sailor.com)

3. AIS (transponder & receiver) — collision avoidance and situational awareness

• Recommended: Vesper Marine (WatchMate / WatchMate Vision / XB series) and Digital Yacht AIS transponders. Look for Class B SOTDMA (for better reporting), built‑in GPS, NMEA gateway and alarm/smart features (anchor drag, CPA alarms). (marinelink.com)

4. Satellite internet (high‑speed / commercial) — for real broadband at sea

• Recommended options depend on range and budget:
  • Starlink Maritime (high throughput, “Maritime” priority plans; multiple priority tiers including 50 GB → 5 TB options and marine‑grade hardware). Good for heavy data (crew welfare, large transfers) where available. (starlink.com)
  • Inmarsat FleetBroadband / Fleet Xpress — L‑band resilience and managed maritime services (widely used commercial option, GMDSS integration and 99.9% availability claims). (inmarsatgov.com)
  • VSAT / mini‑VSAT (KVH TracPhone / mini‑VSAT) — enterprise/continuous broadband for commercial vessels and yachts; KVH is a market leader. (kvh.com)

5. Satellite narrowband / two‑way messaging & SOS

• Recommended personal/shipboard units: Garmin inReach family (Iridium network), ZOLEO (Iridium-backed messaging with dedicated SMS number). Choose inReach/ZOLEO for global two‑way texting, tracking and SOS; Garmin has integrated emergency coordination and recent models add multimedia capability. Pick based on budget, subscription plans and whether you want a permanent phone number (ZOLEO) or Garmin’s integrated rescue service. (theverge.com)

6. EPIRB / PLB (emergency beacons)

• Required/strongly recommended for offshore voyaging. Buy a 406 MHz EPIRB (preferably with built‑in GPS). Register it with NOAA (mandatory in U.S. for 406 beacons) and follow servicing/battery‑replacement schedules. U.S. regulations designate Category/Class requirements for certain commercial vessels — check CFR/USCG rules for your vessel type. (navcen.uscg.gov)

7. SSB / MF‑HF (long‑range voice/data for ocean passages)

• For long ocean passages consider SSB/SSB‑mail or HF voice systems from Furuno, Icom, Sailor/JR; these provide voice and limited data at long range (and are still used for ship‑to‑ship/shore). Choose a commercial model and authorized installer for reliability.

Installation & system tips (short)

• Redundancy: have at least VHF fixed + handheld + EPIRB/PLB + a satellite messenger. If you rely on satellite internet for critical comms, keep a low‑bandwidth fallback (Iridium/inReach or L‑band) for SOS. (starlink.com)
• Antenna placement: mount VHF and AIS antennas as high and clear as practical (separate VHF and AIS antennas by recommended spacing or use a quality splitter/combiner). Satellite antennas need clear sky with minimal blockage. (icomamerica.com)
• Integration: prefer radios with NMEA 2000/0183 so position, DSC alerts and AIS can appear on your chartplotter/MFD. (icomamerica.com)
• Registration & legal: register your EPIRB with NOAA; get an MMSI for DSC/automatic calling and properly program it into your radios/AIS. Follow USCG/FCC rules for commercial vessels. (navcen.uscg.gov)
• Service & testing: test handhelds/radios per manufacturer guidance; have EPIRB serviced/replaced per battery expiry; update firmware on smart AIS/satellite gear.

If you want, I can:

• Narrow recommendations to your boat type/use (small sailboat vs. trawler vs. commercial vessel) and give a short shopping list (models + approximate price ranges + what to buy new vs. used).
• Or assemble a “minimum safe‑communications” kit for day‑cruising, coastal, or blue‑water offshore use.

Which would you like?