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.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
ink.net...
Gene Kearns wrote:

Hmmmmm...... well, I'm not sure I'm ready to jump on the "good for ham
radio" bandwagon. Maybe it will eventually interest some more
qualified people.... that would be good, I think. If anybody wishes to
make the.... argument that the test is too *hard,* well, I just went
deaf. However, I *am* willing to listen to those people that aren't
wishing to make things easier (because it's just too hard), but want
the test to be more about what they intend to *do* with Amateur Radio.

A couple of questions.

My only interest in HAM radio is to be able to get necessary weather
forecasts and communicate with other sailors who happen to be in my net at
the moment, when I'm at sea or in an anchorage.

I choose not to want to open up the box and play with what's inside.

I choose not to design and build radio equipment.

I quit building Heath Kits more than 30 years ago.

I think of HAM radio as nothing more than a utility, like electricity or
water or sewers.

If I have to stop and review operational procedures every time I turn it
on, it becomes a bigger PITA than it is worth.

Given all of the above, what are my best options?

Lew