HAM RADIO

[Rodney]

Marine SSBs Junk?

I think not! I use an Icom M710R Marine SSB on the ham bands. I get consistent comments about the good audio quality. The audio quality on receive is at least as good as any ham tranceiver I've used and being licensed and active for 40 years, I've used a few. The Sailmail network uses Icom marine SSBs exclusively. Those radios are powered up 24/7/365 at locations world wide for years and they have had only one failure. These things can run key down at full power continuously. FCC type acceptance standards for marine SSB is far more stringent than the ham requirements as far as splatter, stability and other factors. As far as ham radio being a dinosaur and being replaced by Sat phone, I recently raced in the Pacific Cup from SF to Hawaii. Daily position reports to the race committee communication boat was done via the marine SSB freqs. Then, we used the same radio on the the ham radio winlink system to download wefax info, e-mail family members and update our website all the way across to Hawaii, all for free. At no time did we fail to connect via the ham system. We had a sat phone (Iridium) and we tried to download our wx data via the sat phone. It worked while we were near the coast but as we got more than 400 miles out, it refused to download wx files though it still worked for voice calls. And, at $1.80/min connect time, was expensive. The ham/Icom marine SSB won that little contest hands down. Ha, we were even e-mailing the sat phone tech and Nobletec folks to try to figure out the sat problems via the winlink system/Icom SSB. As far as licensing, to operate a marine SSB on marine frequencies, one needs to have 1) A Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit, and 2) A Ship Radio Station Authorization. The Ship Radio Station Authorization also gets you your MMSI number that you need for the DSC system. If you only have a VHF onboard, no license is needed. As soon as you add radar, SSB, etc, the Ship Radio Station Authorization is needed. If you operate the marine SSB on the ham bands, you need a valid ham license with appropriate priviledges. 73,RodneyS/V SashaySF BayK6YOTWDB9686

 

[Captain Dave]

N9QKX

I run Dual band 2meter/440 on my Boat during the Summer. Its a YaesuFt-50r Ht. I get good coverage here on the Southern side of Lake Michigan,and don't need more than a couple of watts. Was interested in Sideband,but believe around here there is not much use for it. Had an HF rig,but dont really want to use the Backstays as an antenna. This year, I will use one of my Mobiles,and also mount a 1/4 wave antenna up on the Mast. I really like the idea of a Directory for Amateurs who are Boaters.You can include me.  I am a Tech-Plus working on my General. Could get up to 9 words a minute CW,but had trouble past that.

 

[Jack, N1IY]

Clarifications...

The new requirements for ALL ham classes have eliminated the code. That applies to the Extra Class as well. As a Volunteer Examiner here in La Paz we start testing WITHOUT the code in February. Several have written about not wanting to cut their backstay to do Ham/Marine SSB (and copper strapping for grounding). Much has been written about alternatives (but not by vendors). A copper wire used for antennas is hard-drawn (won't stretch) and can be run from the stern of the boat up to the top of the mast. It must have an insulator at both ends (fiberglass hull is not when splashed with water). This will perform as well or better than the insulated backstay, in fact it has better conductivity. Manual tuners work well and you can feed with coax from anywhere in the boat, auto tuners should be mounted next to the antenna. Also much has been written about grounds. Over water a good ground can be your lifelines (counterpoise) or any metal immersed in the water (keel, strut, etc.) With experimentation you can achieve an excellent ground. That manual tuner will help show the way. Vendors tell only one story, the solution to which is their product. N1IY