Glenn Ashmore wrote:
Well, if you just plan to run down the coast a ways and use sailmail or
check in with the local nets you probably don't need to learn much. But if
you are half way to Hawaii and the "eathers" are not right you need to know
some about propagation in order to choose a good frequency. There are also
several knobs on that black box that can either screw up your signal or make
it clear so it is better to know what effect each has and how to use it.

A good bit, if not the majority, of the tests these days is about safety and
the rules that try to prevent the bands from becoming totally chaotic.
Compared to 40 years ago when you pretty well had to know how to build a
transmitter out of bailing wire and cow patties the technical part these
days is laughable. The only hard part is memorizing the band frequencies.

Ham radio is more than a utility. I realize that building boats on the
scale that we are turns us into a sort of hermit but sitting out an off
season in some foreign anchorage it can become a center of your social life.



Granted my question was a little tongue in cheek, but it has been a slow
day at the boat yard. (90+F tends to restrict your glass laying schedule).

Along the same "time marches on" theme, it has been announced that the
USN will cease using paper charts. Conversion to be complete in this decade.

That one will be interestingG.

Lew