Two score and 4 years ago, I had an Amateur radio license. I only used it a bit in the 2M bands. Any thoughts as to having an Amateur radio on board for coastal cruising? If I do it, I would probably get my general. Thanks.. Jon
Benefit of Amateur Radio on board???
- Thread starter PGIJon
- Start date
If you do or intend to do any offshore trips, there are a number of island nets for use during passages and some local ones throughout the Carribean which are good but I never found any benefits not already available on the marine HF frequencies.
As far as VHF is concerned, marine VHF is useless once you get offshore but some of the 2m repeaters range extends 50 miles offshore along the west coast of Fl.
As far as VHF is concerned, marine VHF is useless once you get offshore but some of the 2m repeaters range extends 50 miles offshore along the west coast of Fl.
Kermit... I do mean other than Marine VHF or 2 & 6 Meter Amateur bands. Are there Amateur rigs with lower cost/battery/power/installation requirements than typical Marine SSB that may serve useful? -Jon
Kermit.. No one judges anyone here. That's what's great about these boards... Anyone can ask anything! Including me!
Is there a benefit to have an additional radio aboard? Yes, always. Redundancy is good. Over redundancy (like having 4 or 5 radios) is a little overkill. Why is it good? Mostly because even if you are 40 or 50 miles off shore in transit, there is always a watch on the HF 20 meter band.
Marine SSB is always better but Amateur seems to be more active. If you already have a Marine SSB such as an Icom M-802, I believe it can be modified to work the Ham bands and it will be legal. However, if you purchase say a Yeasu 857D and modify it for Marine use, then you will be violating the law. But, there is no law that says you cannot scream for help on a radio that is not authorized for that band/frequency.
I have a small 27 foot boat. I built a 20 meter dipole for my Kenwood TS-50 I carry on board. I have used it a few times on the Maritime Mobil Service Network @ 14300 KHz. Not for anything specific, just to check in while afloat. It is also fun just to chatter at time when one is bored. LOL
One thing about the MMSN, if you are afloat and check in, you can rest assure that there will be many beam antennas pointed in your direction, and, many ears listening. That in itself is enough to know that one is being watched over.
In short, I would say go for it. Yes, Marine gear is pricy and installation require a little more than what one would do at home, but it is worth having that extra umph of safety aboard.
Marine SSB is always better but Amateur seems to be more active. If you already have a Marine SSB such as an Icom M-802, I believe it can be modified to work the Ham bands and it will be legal. However, if you purchase say a Yeasu 857D and modify it for Marine use, then you will be violating the law. But, there is no law that says you cannot scream for help on a radio that is not authorized for that band/frequency.
I have a small 27 foot boat. I built a 20 meter dipole for my Kenwood TS-50 I carry on board. I have used it a few times on the Maritime Mobil Service Network @ 14300 KHz. Not for anything specific, just to check in while afloat. It is also fun just to chatter at time when one is bored. LOL
One thing about the MMSN, if you are afloat and check in, you can rest assure that there will be many beam antennas pointed in your direction, and, many ears listening. That in itself is enough to know that one is being watched over.
In short, I would say go for it. Yes, Marine gear is pricy and installation require a little more than what one would do at home, but it is worth having that extra umph of safety aboard.
Thank you Brian! Do you have a picture of your 20 meter dipole? What is your battery configuration to support the TS-50? Thanks! -Jon
I don't have any photos of the dipole. However, the construction is 3/16" wire rope and Budwig HQ-1 center connector. The tuning of the antenna is much lower than it would be for 14300 KHz. I get about a 1.5:1 SWR due to cutting off to much when I was tuning, but it is usable. The antenna is raised with my main halyard while on the hook or at dock. I do not have a spare halyard to raise the antenna. That is in the works. The dipole might be replaced with an alternate backstay antenna.
Battery use is not different. Since I only use the radio sparingly, I have not seen and issue with the batteries. Short transmissions and only the power I need to close the link. Have not done any data with it so that might use more battery power.
I don't like sending people to other boating forums, but SSCA has a very good communications forum with lots of great information about Marine SSB and Ham Radio at sea. http://forum.ssca.org/viewforum.php?f=5 Look for WA6CCA, Bill Trayfors. Some very good reading.
Battery use is not different. Since I only use the radio sparingly, I have not seen and issue with the batteries. Short transmissions and only the power I need to close the link. Have not done any data with it so that might use more battery power.
I don't like sending people to other boating forums, but SSCA has a very good communications forum with lots of great information about Marine SSB and Ham Radio at sea. http://forum.ssca.org/viewforum.php?f=5 Look for WA6CCA, Bill Trayfors. Some very good reading.
In the aviation world
No marine HF experience, but many years of avionics: It isn't uncommon to not be able to reach anyone due to atmospheric conditions. I remember one time trying to do a radio check to San Francisco from Seattle, no answer for 3 tries, Honolulu called back to see if they could help. If we had more bandwidth we may have been able to reach San Francisco. I’ve also heard stores of pilots unable to reach an antenna they could actually see. I'd hate to be in that position in an emergency. I guess this is just another vote for more choices, not just redundancy.
Ken
No marine HF experience, but many years of avionics: It isn't uncommon to not be able to reach anyone due to atmospheric conditions. I remember one time trying to do a radio check to San Francisco from Seattle, no answer for 3 tries, Honolulu called back to see if they could help. If we had more bandwidth we may have been able to reach San Francisco. I’ve also heard stores of pilots unable to reach an antenna they could actually see. I'd hate to be in that position in an emergency. I guess this is just another vote for more choices, not just redundancy.
Ken
now Kermit you know very well that if you had been wearing your tinfoil hat you would have been good to go you really need to expand your wardrobe :stirthepot:
Brian. Thank you for your reply. I'll check that site out... Do you think this would work fixed on top of the mast? http://www.amazon.com/Yaesu-ATAS-12...ATAS-120/dp/B004UM9UL4/ref=pd_bxgy_422_text_y
Thanks
Jon
Thanks
Jon
Jon, personally I won't put anything 5' on top of my mast. I would probably be ok with it on the stern rail, but even then I personally wouldn't do it. Read what Bill, WA6CCA, and others have to say about HF antennas on boats. I really think you would be best served by installing an antenna that mariners know work. No need to reinvent the wheel on this. On top of that, it is a good read.
This is also a good primer on SSB on boats by John, KA4WJA, http://forum.ssca.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17252&sid=f6c253ba787db52cac0db60dc9f6782d. A little long but a good read. This is mainly about Marine SSB and not Ham but the shoe fits.
This is also a good primer on SSB on boats by John, KA4WJA, http://forum.ssca.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17252&sid=f6c253ba787db52cac0db60dc9f6782d. A little long but a good read. This is mainly about Marine SSB and not Ham but the shoe fits.
In the days before the internet and snail mail or telex were one's only long distance communications options, other than the terribly expensive marine radio KLM & KLH, ham radio was a wonderful communication tool.
Today it is nothing more than an expensive dinosaur. If it was legal to open it up into an all frequency radio, it might make sense as a less expensive SSB radio usable on marine and ham bands, but that is frowned on.
If you are traveling internationally, you must get a reciprocal license to operate a ham rig in EVERY country you visit, which can be a PITA.
However, if you want to play, meeting people from all over the world and collecting call signs of those you talk to, then it can be a blast, if you have the battery power for big radio. Also, there is some challenge in making tuned antennas for the frequencies you frequent.
I loved ham radio back when I was circumnavigating, but there's no way I'd spend the money necessary to have a HF ham rig, the antenna tuner, antenna that would be a functional back up for the internet or sat coms.
Today it is nothing more than an expensive dinosaur. If it was legal to open it up into an all frequency radio, it might make sense as a less expensive SSB radio usable on marine and ham bands, but that is frowned on.
If you are traveling internationally, you must get a reciprocal license to operate a ham rig in EVERY country you visit, which can be a PITA.
However, if you want to play, meeting people from all over the world and collecting call signs of those you talk to, then it can be a blast, if you have the battery power for big radio. Also, there is some challenge in making tuned antennas for the frequencies you frequent.
I loved ham radio back when I was circumnavigating, but there's no way I'd spend the money necessary to have a HF ham rig, the antenna tuner, antenna that would be a functional back up for the internet or sat coms.
I've got a 2 meter on the boat that I have used only a couple of times. I'm with Cap here.....cell phones, sat phones, and the Internet have rendered it all but a curiosity..
Don't forget WINLINK, which is the free SSB email service open only to ham operators. Totally volunteer run. Info at http://wiinlink.org
And the other question is, do you enjoy amateur radio? If it will add a fun new angle to your cruising then go for it.
Dave
KK6GIL
And the other question is, do you enjoy amateur radio? If it will add a fun new angle to your cruising then go for it.
Dave
KK6GIL
Thanks all.... My main goal to reestablishing my amateur status was to provide me with a reliable longer range (say up to 100 miles) communication alternative to standard marine VHF. The secondary goal was an enjoyable past time while cruising. I'm beginning to think that for emergency purposes, an individual PLB, or one with texting capabilities may serve me better. As Capta pointed out, in the long run, I probably would not use it that much to justify the investment.
Thank you all especially Brian!
73
Thank you all especially Brian!
73