Thanks to both Jack Tyler and Swords, I appreciate your feedback on the SSB issue that I posted last week. It looks like I need to do some more research with manufacturers. See you in La Paz this winter. Alex Nepenthe
SSB Receiver
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SSB
I do not claim to be any authority on the SSB issue, but have talked to some knowledgable people concerning this issue. What they tell me is that the ham and marine bands are one and the same. Only the marine band is just the USB. I was primarily interested in a receiver only, but basically was told to buy a transciever, and just not broadcast on it, unless in an emergency. Also was told to find a used ham set, as this would by far be the best priced unit I would find, and capable of working on both USB and LSB if needed.
I do not claim to be any authority on the SSB issue, but have talked to some knowledgable people concerning this issue. What they tell me is that the ham and marine bands are one and the same. Only the marine band is just the USB. I was primarily interested in a receiver only, but basically was told to buy a transciever, and just not broadcast on it, unless in an emergency. Also was told to find a used ham set, as this would by far be the best priced unit I would find, and capable of working on both USB and LSB if needed.
"Ham" and "Marine" are not the same
The terms are used to very loosely refer to certain frequencies (or ranges of frequencies called "bands") on which transmissions and/or transmitting equipment and operators are licensed for the intended service or purpose. Marine service is a commercial service in which the vessel is licensed as well as the operator. The marine equipment must meet specific and far more stringent requirements and the manufacturer must obtain design certification from the FCC. "Marine" radios may have equipment requirements for receivers as well. "Ham" radios are much less restricted in their design and can even be "home made". Ham radios generally require far more knowledge to operate and the licensing requirements make a ham license more difficult to obtain. Marine radios must meet far more stringent design and performance standards and thus are more expensive generally but easier to use. Ham radio service is for "personal" use and marine service is "commercial". If you want to talk to your real estate agent about selling your house, that is a commercial use and would not be proper on the ham bands. Most of the licensing and legal requirements pertain to transmitting but not all. You are generally forbidden to divulge most of what you hear to a third person. Some people (liberal democrats) like Jim McDermott seem to be politically exempt from those laws but my advice is do not try that at home. Some ham radio equipment is capable of being modified for transmitting on marine frequencies but is not "type accepted" by the FCC and therefore not legally permitted for that use. The FCC can and will know the difference. Enforcement of the rules is apparently optional. Some manufacturers like Icom, SEA, SGC and others make transceivers which are legal for both purposes. IMPORTANT: YOU CAN LEGALLY USE ANY MEANS OF COMMUNICATION IN THE EVENT OF A REAL EMERGENCY LICENSED OR NOT. If the feds hear you, (and they will) you'd better be prepared to explain yourself. If you have a radio on board which can transmit, you probably should have the correct licenses to show the CG in the event you are stopped. If you take a ham radio to foreign countries like Mexico, take your ham license or expect to pay a "fee".
The terms are used to very loosely refer to certain frequencies (or ranges of frequencies called "bands") on which transmissions and/or transmitting equipment and operators are licensed for the intended service or purpose. Marine service is a commercial service in which the vessel is licensed as well as the operator. The marine equipment must meet specific and far more stringent requirements and the manufacturer must obtain design certification from the FCC. "Marine" radios may have equipment requirements for receivers as well. "Ham" radios are much less restricted in their design and can even be "home made". Ham radios generally require far more knowledge to operate and the licensing requirements make a ham license more difficult to obtain. Marine radios must meet far more stringent design and performance standards and thus are more expensive generally but easier to use. Ham radio service is for "personal" use and marine service is "commercial". If you want to talk to your real estate agent about selling your house, that is a commercial use and would not be proper on the ham bands. Most of the licensing and legal requirements pertain to transmitting but not all. You are generally forbidden to divulge most of what you hear to a third person. Some people (liberal democrats) like Jim McDermott seem to be politically exempt from those laws but my advice is do not try that at home. Some ham radio equipment is capable of being modified for transmitting on marine frequencies but is not "type accepted" by the FCC and therefore not legally permitted for that use. The FCC can and will know the difference. Enforcement of the rules is apparently optional. Some manufacturers like Icom, SEA, SGC and others make transceivers which are legal for both purposes. IMPORTANT: YOU CAN LEGALLY USE ANY MEANS OF COMMUNICATION IN THE EVENT OF A REAL EMERGENCY LICENSED OR NOT. If the feds hear you, (and they will) you'd better be prepared to explain yourself. If you have a radio on board which can transmit, you probably should have the correct licenses to show the CG in the event you are stopped. If you take a ham radio to foreign countries like Mexico, take your ham license or expect to pay a "fee".
More info:Sea of Cortez/Ham radio
Alex, Please look us up in La Paz when you get there. If you are interested in getting a ham license, I serve as a VE (volunteer examiner) along with others and you can take your FCC exam there. Get the study materials in the US (see Gordon West, ARRL, etc.) practice the minimal code (CD and computer) and study the question pool. These tests are multiple choice and you will have the actual questions and answers ahead of time. It is not a big deal to get the technician or general license. When you pass the test (in La Paz or ?) you can get a Mexican reciprocal license. You will then also be legal in the US. The class of license dictates your operating bands/modes in the US, but Mexico has only one class of license so the reciprocal license gives you full privileges in Mexico. The marine license granted by the FCC in the US just requires that you pay them $, fill out a form, and get a station license and an operator license. Using only the marine freqs would be very limiting in the real world of cruising in Baja/Mexico. Look us up in Marina de La Paz (s/v La Paloma) as we have been there for 7 years (6 months each winter). Hope to see you. Jack Swords, N1IY
Alex, Please look us up in La Paz when you get there. If you are interested in getting a ham license, I serve as a VE (volunteer examiner) along with others and you can take your FCC exam there. Get the study materials in the US (see Gordon West, ARRL, etc.) practice the minimal code (CD and computer) and study the question pool. These tests are multiple choice and you will have the actual questions and answers ahead of time. It is not a big deal to get the technician or general license. When you pass the test (in La Paz or ?) you can get a Mexican reciprocal license. You will then also be legal in the US. The class of license dictates your operating bands/modes in the US, but Mexico has only one class of license so the reciprocal license gives you full privileges in Mexico. The marine license granted by the FCC in the US just requires that you pay them $, fill out a form, and get a station license and an operator license. Using only the marine freqs would be very limiting in the real world of cruising in Baja/Mexico. Look us up in Marina de La Paz (s/v La Paloma) as we have been there for 7 years (6 months each winter). Hope to see you. Jack Swords, N1IY
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