HAM radio internet

[Captain Jaz]

Hi again guys and gals, I'm thinking of studying for my HAM radio license, can anyone tell me what kind of equipment I'm going to need to connect to the internet using one in bluewater?
And will a license from the UK be usable in the US and French Polynesia?
And finally, does anyone know where I can take my test somewhere near Leicester UK?
Although I could wait till I'm in Chesapeake MD before I take the test if you think this would be the better option...
I don't mind link's to relevant websites instead of answers if you prefer.
Thanks.

 

[Captain Jaz]

I'm new here and have looked for old posts on this subject, but couldn't find any... if there are posts on this subject, please link them to me.

 

[Chuckbear]

you can not connect to the internet with a Ham rig or SSB. You can send and receive email and weather information in text form but that is about it. You need a dedicated receiver for internet in the form of a wireless connection via cell service, not good offshore, a satellite phone, again with limited abilities or a satelite system.

 

[Captain Jaz]

Ahh ok, Thanks. I heard that such things are also possible via VHF... Is that true?
And is it a similar set-up for that?

 

[Chuckbear]

Sorry but the internet can not be accessed by any type of radio. I gave you the ways you can access the internet on a boat. You can access internet through a WiFi interface with your computer where a Wifi hotspot is available. Here is what we use

http://sea-trek.blogspot.com/2008/12/simple-and-inexpensive-wifi.html

 

[Captain Jaz]

Great, thanks. I won't be near any WiFi hotspots for most of my travel's, but just weather reports and e-mail, will be fine. I already have a WiFi card, but I may need to get a better one for marina's where the signal isn't as strong I think...

 

[Chuckbear]

If you want to get email and weather info you will need a computer, SSB and or Ham radio, Pactor modem, and the software, probably Airmail, and put them all together. If you are a Ham you can use the Winlink system for free and for just SSB you can subscribe to Sailmail. Both run off of the Airmail software.

 

[Captain Jaz]

Thanks chuck, that link you sent was very useful... Just delving into the options it suggests now...

 

[Bill Roosa]

getting your lisense

To get email over SSB you do not NEED a ham license. you can use a marine radio and buy a license for it. Ham gives you more options as it gives you more frequency bands to play with.

Are you a UK citizen? If so I don't think you can get a US ham licence. You would have to get a UK license. I've not researched that in depth though.

A good link for ham licensing is

http://www.arrl.org/

Try the tab right under the header.

 

[Captain Jaz]

Re: getting your lisense

Ah, I never heard anything saying that non-US citizens can't get a US HAM license... If anyone can confirm this please let me know... Though I assume that UK license holders can use there license in the US and visa versa from what I've read... I'm just looking up satellite phones at the mo, found them going for about $300 over here, but still trying to find what my network and call charges would be... If anyone can give me some pointers on this subject, or the others mentioned here, that would be most helpful.

 

[Captain Jaz]

Useful link thanks Bill, looks like they're looking at expanding the internet capabilities of HAM's, that alone would make it worth my while....

 

[sailingdog]

Basically, if you're away from civilization, the only real choice you have for true internet access is via satellite phone. If you don't mind the high capital costs and ongoing costs for both monthly service and data volume, you can get full internet access at sea. If you only need e-mail d weather information, then SSB radio with a Pactor III type modem will do the job. The costs vary and depend on the source of your weather information. Sailmail is reasonably low priced, but not free.

If you're closer to civilization, cellular phone data plans are a choice.

If you're near civilization, WIFI-based internet becomes a possibility.

 

[Captain Jaz]

Hmmm... thanks... I can afford the initial outlay for a satellite phone, but I can only justify it if the running costs aren't too much.. I shall have to look in to it...
Cheers

 

[Captain Jaz]

And full internet at sea is a luxury not a necessity.. And the phones in my price range only offer a 9kb connection compared to my current 1000kb!! Its barely enough to browse! So i may be better off with the HAM...

 

[Brian D]

There is a company called KVH that has small satellite antennas for maritime use. I think the package is a also a little pricey and the SSB/Rx is a better option. Citizens of foreign countries can operate in US territories if a Reciprocal agreement is in place between the two countries. US and UK have such an agreement.

Another option for WeFax is to use a good quality receive only radio. WeFax transmissions are not acknowledged and are just broadcasts. eMail needs to be Acknowledge and requires a transmitter or sorts.

Good luck.

 

[Auspicious]

Just to be pedantic - wifi and sat-phones are radios also. *grin*

If you are a UK citizen sailing a red ensign boat you will be better served with a UK amateur radio license. See http://www.rsgb.org/ . The RSGB can also tell you what reciprocity agreements are in place between the UK and other countries. In many places you continue to operate (sometimes with a prefix or suffix defined in the rules) without any administrative requirement other than carrying your home license and a copy of a reciprocity form. In other places (the Bahamas for example, for US-licensed hams), you specifically apply for a reciprocal license.

The RSGB can point you to some local folks who will help you get licensed. I'd recommend also making contact with hams near a sailing center where you are likely to find sailing hams (or hamming sailors) who will have a better understanding of the rules as applicable to your situation.

You might also try the fora at ybw.com - they are decidely more British in their user base.

Again, if you fly a red ensign you will definitely want to go through the process in the UK for getting your marine radio licenses.

Realistically, you are limited to e-mail, weather fax, grib files, and Navtex when at sea with either SSB/Pactor or sat-phones. Inmarsat is the first meaningful connection mechanism to actually have web access, and it is an expensive investment with quite high running costs.

 

[Bill Roosa]

New tehcnology on the horizon

The US commercial cell phone companies are VERY interested in getting the Internet to your cell phone. One of the technologies is data compression. This has application for the Ham world. They where talking of a prototype that could squeeze 3 MB down to 3kB (1000:1 compression) which would make "surfing" doable if you limited yourself to "cell phone" enabled sites. Cell phone enabled sites would provide content in "reduced bandwidth required" format so that your tinny-winny-itsy-bitsy cell phone screen would not require lots of scrolling.

Hams will be the first to backward engineer this and put it to use in their cars, boats, and mobile rigs so it might be advantageous to be on the bleeding edge in the near future.