----- Original Message -----
From: Wally
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 12:53 PM
Subject: [Liveaboard] SSB
Hello all - finally caught up with the list, thank you Ron!
I'm looking for information on SSB as I'll need it for this winter's
cruise. I've got only a very basic understanding of this subject, so you hams
here, be gentle! In other words, light on the jargon.
What equipment should I be looking for? What are some acceptable brand
names? I know I need the transceiver, but do I also need a tuner or other
equipment?
Antenna? Ground?
All is needed, I have connected to chainplate for an antenna, this
activates the whole rig and mast, as long as the rigging is not
bonded/grounded. Downside is that you need to keep crew away from all rigging
when transmitting. Also, try to get the antenna 10+ feet from the laptop, and
your body. I tried a thru hull for a ground, it worked well but electrolysis
began to dissolve the fitting. I am actually using the lifelines, stanchions
and toerail as a "ground" now, with good success.
I know I want the marine freqs, but I also know that they are
(sometimes?) blocked. What's with this? How do I know a specific radio will
have the bands I want or need?
I have the old style ICOM 710, it is BIG and difficult to reset the
stations, which are all presets, otherwise, it is well made, high quqlity. It
will do both marine and ham freqs, which ARE different. (Dealer did a mod for
Ham)
I've seen some radios online that appear only to have one band, such as
the 6m band. I presume that doesn't work for a boater's needs, right?
6M is about 50mHz, popular marine bands are (approx) 2, 4, 6,7,8,12 Mhz.
A license for SSB is only a matter of signing the forms, right? And as
a Canadian, I don't believe there is a minimum Morse requirement for me to get
a ham license any longer?
What you need most (in USA) is a Marine Station License and (separate)
radiotelephone operators license. This is good internationally for Marine
bands. A Ham license is good ONLY for Ham bands, which do have some cruising
nets but the bulk of cruiser traffic is on Marine bands. Hams are required to
get a recriprical license from each country, but not at sea. Marine band has
Sailmail e.mail avail for a $250/year fee, Ham has free Winlink e.mail.
Neither license requires Morse code, Ham requires a technical exam. Ham radio
cannot be used to discuss work or money issues.
Lots of questions I know, but on a delivery from Puerto Rico last year,
we had a brand new Yaesu that was essentially useless because the owner had no
knowledge of the thing, it wasn't open to the marine freqs (despite having
being sold on that basis) - I wasn't able to communicate with either Chris or
Herb.
I suspect that it had preset channels that were hard to reset.
I am a new Ham, my friend, the 40year Ham, recommended I buy an Icom
Ham radio instead of the Marine Icom. It would have been easier to tune the
channels and probably about $500 cheaper, but possibly harder to get mated to
the Pactor modem for e.mail. The Winlink/Sailmail software controls the radio
and tunes the e.mail stations right in your laptop and works easily. E.mail at
sea is nice, you can update your location, float plan and condition as often as
you like.
Quite a lot of info at http://hfradio.com/ I bought my radio there
as a tested package of radio & modem including a software change that energized
Ham freqs.
Lee Haefele
So - anyone want to educate me here?
Thanks,
Wally
The hours spent sailing are not deducted from your time on earth...
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