HAM RADIO

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Why dont ALL cruisers have a HAM radio aboard? The license today, is all but guven away, but thats another story. Anyway, it is nice to be able to track sailors during their journey. And also you can get weather FAX and other weather reports on SSB. Just download a program for a $35 one time fee, plug your headphone jack on the back of your HAM (SSB) radio to the mic input on your laptop and voila!! Back to my original point....amongst other benefits, there is a maritime mobile network on 14.300MHz that is comprised of volunteers. You can fill out a simple 'trip plan' over the radio, telephone, FAX or e-mail. They in turn post for you on shiptrac.org. this allows friends and family to track you on your journey. All you have to do is radio in whenever and however many times a day you want and give them infor as to course, speed, intended destination, approx. arrival time etc. They also post notes for you such as "hit bad weather , running a day late, all is OK. see you soon". That kinda stuff. They will make phone calls for you and relay messages for you.Its really a comfort for you friends and family to "hear" from you every day. Tony B KC5SDI

 

[KorculaChris]

Has it really become that easy?

Many years ago I got a General and the admiral got the Tech class licenses. I managed to learn the code at , what was it, 5 wpm? and promptly forgot it after passing. I've heard rumors that the code requirement is being dropped, is it true? Although an anachronism, I suppose knowing Morse could be useful in an emergency. When we cross the pond I will be glad of a Ham radio and the extra coverage, especially on 20 meters, and for weather fax and email.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

I dont follow it much,

But i think they are doing away with morse code altogether. If and when they do, every trucker will have a HAM radio and you will be lucky to be able to talk more tha a few blocks away. When i took my general it was 13wpm, but in either case, no one knows code anymore but a HAM.I dont think it is any longer reuired for Ships. I signalled a CG vessel one time with a flashlight sending SOS , and when they finally came up to me, they wer wondering why i was flashing my lights at them.Anyway, I think it could be considered a major piece of safety eqpt. not to mention the nicety of the marina's network

 

[Ross]

Tonyb, I won't dismiss the value of good radio

gear but I am concerned that far too many people already rely on rescue to a far greater extent than they should. I believe that you should prepare yourself and your boat as though rescue were not a possiblity and as though abandoning the boat would happen only when it abandoned you. When these steps have been taken then being able to call for rescue is prudent.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Ross

My original post was not about rescue, it was about staying in touch. Its a also a fun hobby, but is also a piece of emergency gear, no different than marine VHF or SSB. I agree with you in that While we should perpare our boats as if rescue were not a possibility, things do happen. How do we prepare for a direct hit by a water spout on a nice day....and they do happen. How do some people prepare for a whale sinking their boat and in my case one time i went out on a beautiful morning with a great weather forecast and while the NWS was predicting a great day today, and a strong front coming tomorow night, i looked up and there was a black line in the sky with tomorrow nights cold front this afternoon. I didnt have to be rescued though, but just saying that under the best of plans , things go wrong. It is prudent of every mariner to make the best use of everything available to him. I think a HAM radio is a good thing for the unexpected. The Titanic didnt plan on an iceburg. Anyway, i use it for the 'company' it gives me when i get bored when soloing and also for my friends and family to know that all is OK when all they know is that a bad weather system has passed over me.Believe me, when i leave the dock, I'm as prepared as I can be and disaster or emmergency is the furthest thing from my mind. The Radio is just one more thing in preparedness, in essence, no different than a life jacket or EPIRB that i tend to forget i even own. Tony B

 

[dave]

code requirement is gone

the code requirement is gone now (or will be shortly) and the bands have been adjusted accordingly.I would not count on it to be rescued, but it can have advantages.www.arrl.org will get you all the info to get going.dave

 

[Jack W -2005 H 36]

Info?

Where can we get info on getting a license?What type of antennas are needed etc...?

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

The ARRL

The ARRL (American Radio Relay League) has all th info you need including a list of HAM clubs in your area to get a more personalized help. Look it up on internet. A new $100 Watt radio a tad larger than a VHF will run approx $750. there are lots of antenna set=ups for sailboats including antenna tuners. Brand new set up probably $1300 total. A HAM club can probably turn up a good used set-up for about $350 to $500 total.  GOOD LUCK

 

[Brian D]

Had my license...

Since 1980, but have never used it while sailing. If and when the "bigger" boat comes to me then I'd consider getting a SSB for the boat. Until then, I just hang on Marine VHF.DE KF6BL

 

[Benny]

Unfortunately it is a dying breed.

With the advent of satellite phones and wireless digital communications what we know as radio is going the way of dinasours and printed newspapers. Hobbists will keep it alive for a while but with dwindling numbers it is bound to dissapear. I regret it having been an enthusiast for many years but other than for entertainment I see no longe range future for it.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

I Agree , Benny and Brian

I got my lecense around 1993 when i first started working offshore as a deckhand then shortly after a Capt. I used to get bored at times working on the boats, so i decided that i needed hobby to keep me busy when extremely bored. Then I though about HAM radio, it was something I always wanted to do when i was a kid, but we were poor, so it was out of the question. Anyway, shortly after that I started working on platforms and rigs and used to bring my radio with me and measure and make wire antennas on the spot. It was a great passtime til about the year 2000. Then the oil companies started to become more conscious about possible fires and explosions. There went my antennas, and thus the radio transmitting. My radio sat in my mini storage till 2004 when i took my first long solo (long for me anyway). I put it on my Catalina 30 and it kept me company at night when anchored out and during the days when making a long passage. And now i have it on my new old boat just for traveling. Other than that , i prefer the internet as a pastime.  And yes, its time has come and gone. It is going by way of the dinosaur. Most people like myself prefer the internet as a passtime. The easing of morse code requirements and its ultimate elimination is a sign of the dwindling numbers of radio operators. The ARRL like any group, eventually becomes self serving and needs to justify their jobs and their original purpose gets lost in the shuffle. So to try to make more money and get more members, elimination of the code is the most logical means of doing it. Be that as it may, (dont you just love that expression) it can be a useful tool for entertainment when soloing, communications link for those left on the beach, and in an emergency. Other than that, I never use it. When satellite phones get down to a reasonable price, and they will in the near future, and everyone has one, then HAM radio will be truly dead.

 

[Brad Hoff]

SSB and Ham Difference

I understand that many SSB radios have "ham" bands as well. I will be in the market for a unit when I finally decide to make the leap to the bluewater world. As I understand it, SSB and Ham are two different frequencies where the SSB is for more industrial use (like the VHF) and Ham for more personal communication. If and when I decide to set it up I know I will want Ham for sure but wondering if I should go SSB as well. Do the combination units cover all SSB and ham bands as well? Could I go with just a ham and get all I need? Thanks for this great discussion on a topic overlooked by most of us bay sailors.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Not Different , Really

SSB itself, is the type of radio signal for example. AM and FM signals are technically different in the way they are transmitted, well, SSB (Single Side Band) is another type of transmission as is CW for morse code. For the average person, dont pay any attention to this, it is somewhat irrelevant to the question. I just thought i would give a brief, nontechnicaal explanation.  OK , back to your question...what mariners refer to as SSB is actually a radio capable of transmitting a SSB (not important) voice transmission on MARINE BANDS ONLY. It however, can receive typically and continuously all frequencies from the normal AM band (AM Radio) right up to the 10 Meter (Not Important to this question ) HAM frequencies, which also encompasses receiving CB radio. But remember, it can only TRANSMIT on MARINE FREQUENCIES. HAM radio is the opposite, literally. It too can tune continuously from AM radio to the 10 Meter HAM frequencies, but can only transmit on HAM frequencies and not MARINE.  With a typical HAM radio, it is a very simple procedure to modify the radio so that you can transmit and receive on ALL frequencies including MARINE Bands. By the way, most HAM frequencies are also transmitted on SSB type radio signals. Just thought i would throw that in. Also, for some reason, HAM radios are about 1/3 the price of a good Marine SSB radio and the sound quality of a HAM radio is way much better than a Marine SSB radio.I hope this helps more than it confuses.  Tony B KC5SDI

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Differences

The terms "ham" and "marine" ssb are both single sideband voice communications; the distinction between them is the frequencies on which you are allowed to transmit. The new Icom marine ssb also will allow coverage of the ham bands (frequencies) and is type-accepted (FCC talk for frequency stabilty) whereas ham ssb transceivers are not (type accepted) ad may not cover marine frequencies. Legalities aside, ham transceivers don't necessarily cover the marine frequencies without modification but you can find some which either have been modified or are easily done so and will be alot cheaper if that matters.More important, having a transceiver which covers both is considered esential and most hams that I know use a modified ham transceiver for both purposes. In an emergency, no one would fault you for not having the proper type-accepted radio.The modification is simple - usually just removing one diode conveniently placed just under the top cover of many ham transceivers.Hope that clears it up somewhat

 

[Bill Roosa]

SSB is a mode

while ham and marine are frequency allocations. I have been looking into it and while there is a license that does not require morse code it is for the higher frequency ranges (read shorter distances). Of course short to a ham may be like 1000 miles in good conditions. All the really long distance frequencies are in the more advanced license bands and still require 5 WPM receive and maybe send. Wither you have to take the send part is up to the examiner so be nice to him/her. Be fore warned the code you have to receive is not "plain text" it is in the compressed ham jargon. For instance:2E0TCZ DE DL0RTSMOST R OK OM BUT PSE QRS = TKS FER RPRT ES INFO ON RIG = RST IS 349 WID QRN = HR NAME IS WOLFGANG ES QTH IS NR BERLIN = HR ALSO QRP 1W OK ? AR2M0RTZ DE GM0AYT KN2E0TCZ this is DL0RTSMost are OK old man please send more slowly, Thanks for report and info on (my) rig, R(eceive)S(end)T(ransmit)(quality) is 3,4,9 (respectively) I am troubled by static, Here name is Wolfgand and my location is near Berlin, Here also shall I decrese power to 1 watt? over2E0TCZ this is DL0RTS and I don't want anybody but 2E0TCZ to answerSo even if you learn morse code you really can't talk with anybody until you learn to speak HAM. The difference between the ABCs and words. You can use phone and digital with the same ease you do now but the digital is S-L-O-W.One real difference between the bands is that ham cannot be used for business. If all you want to do is talk with the family and friend and order an occasional part for the boat then ham works fine. Ham email, weather, and internet is free and slow. Marine is pay as you go for digital (sometimes by the character), has the international community listening in on the emergency freqs (all ships at sea are required to monitor the emergency freqs if they are required to carry a radio) and slow too. Also some of the newer marine radios have DSC features and GPS hook up so should you have an emergency you can have the radio report your position and a short message like "I'm a bright red Catalina 30' named Don't Panic" with just a push of a button.Like all things sailing, it depends on what you want to do.

 

[David10790]

Interesting how many HAMs on this site

I used to be VE3AYQ. Gave up my licence a few years ago, as I was not using it. You can now phone around the world for a few cents and if needed by a SATphone. Days of HAM are all but gone.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

you might be right David

but there is still some sense of accomplishment doing it with equipment and antennas you made or brought back to life compared with today's appliance operation mentality. It's even more fun talking to hams in far away places about sailing and sailboats. K1VSK

 

[Peter]

Questions for the Hams here...

This is a little technical and off the thread, but seeing so many hams who are sailors made me want to ask some technical questions, as I am (at least I hope) soon to be a ham. I'm taking the technician exam this weekend, after a 1-day coaching course. Assuming I pass, I plan initially on my boat to run an HT or mobile VHF/UHF rig thru repeaters. I'm told that this setup will keep you in touch pretty much anywhere (that you're in line-of-sight to the repeater, of course). Questions I have:1. Is it true there are enough VHF repeaters around to give you "full coverage" in say 80-90% of the US without "dead spots" with no coverage?2. Using repeater-to-repeater relays, can you talk from like, San Francisco Bay to Puget Sound, as I've been told. If so, then HF is only really required for basic contact when you go offshore, out of the "line-of sight" of the VHF/UHF repeaters, right?3. Most modern ham HF SSB mobile rigs run at +/- 100watt input, which would draw 10-15 amps from the battery. I have limited battery capacity. I see some QRP rigs (low power) that run around 10 watts. Can you get out relatively reliably say, across the US or international on HF with 10 watts SSB with a backstay antenna and antenna tuner on the boat? (I realize I'll need to upgrade to general license to use the HF, but some of the combined HF/VHF rigs (ICOM or Yaesu) sound interesting as they have both VHF I can use as a tech, and HF after I upgrade to general.)4. Can I reliably use the boat's VHF antenna running to both the marine VHF and a 2-meter ham rig (with a splitter) without running SWRs that are too high?I used to be licensed as a novice in high school (40 years ago), but lost interest and didn’t upgrade (you didn’t renew a novice ticket then) when I found girls were a lot more interesting than antennas and radio tubes. I apologize for the questions, but when I was a novice ham, using 75 watts CW on HF, and with no repeaters on 2-m VHF, these technical items didn't surface.As to the current test to be a ham, I was impressed that the questions in the current pool used for the tech test look at what you needed to know to operate safely and legally without requiring a lot of superfluous study of stuff most of us will never use, given that most radios in use today are not "home brewed".And, like Tony was, I’m looking at ham radio not as a substitute for a cell phone, but as entertainment, additional safety comms, and some fun.Any answers?

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

There are lots of cruisers networks

There are several popular cruisers networks. Most of them just check in with each other at a predetermined time and exchange some basic information. It comes in handy whether u are on the hook or on the go. For instance when a bad storm passes, its nice to know that everyone is checking on eachother to seee that all is OK. More than likely, these people may be hundreds of miles apart and never met in person.There is absolutely no doubt that all of this will be replaced by the internet WHEN sat phones come down to a reasonable price. Right now satelite communications are still way out of my budget.  HAM radio does not serve any real purpose if you sail where your cell phone service is always available.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Peter

Answers below:1. Is it true there are enough VHF repeaters around to give you "full coverage" in say 80-90% of the US without "dead spots" with no coverage?in the Stockton area you will find complete coverage but there are areas of the country, primarily low density population areas, where it could still be spotty2. Using repeater-to-repeater relays, can you talk from like, San Francisco Bay to Puget Sound, as I've been told. If so, then HF is only really required for basic contact when you go offshore, out of the "line-of sight" of the VHF/UHF repeaters, right?Right - and you will find a number of repeaters with HF links too. Some are restricted by access tones and others may be minimally useful because of poor propagation conditions on HF. Buy th ARRL Repeater guide which will give you lots of info on this. 3. Most modern ham HF SSB mobile rigs run at +/- 100watt input, which would draw 10-15 amps from the battery. I have limited battery capacity. I see some QRP rigs (low power) that run around 10 watts. Can you get out relatively reliably say, across the US or international on HF with 10 watts SSB with a backstay antenna and antenna tuner on the boat? (I realize I'll need to upgrade to general license to use the HF, but some of the combined HF/VHF rigs (ICOM or Yaesu) sound interesting as they have both VHF I can use as a tech, and HF after I upgrade to general.)It would be closer to 20 amps on peaks but your point is still valid. It might be a lot less frustrating for you to increase your battery cap. Using 10 watts will work but I think you'll find using higher power would make it alot more enjoyable and easier. Keep in mind the power usage of a 50% duty cycle SSB signal won't seriously deplete a 12V battery that quickly.4. Can I reliably use the boat's VHF antenna running to both the marine VHF and a 2-meter ham rig (with a splitter) without running SWRs that are too high?Probably but you'll need to consider both your 2M rig's SWR sensitivity as well as coax loss because of the mismatch as well as the splitter's loss. Most folks find that having the antenna (the marine VHF) on top of the mast yields enough height to compensate for those losses so try it first before installing a second antenna for 2M.