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need inexpensive marine ssb and ham radio for cruising sailboat.
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told that they would NOT talk to me on SSB. That's what happens when I let my fingers do the talking Doug s/v Callista "Doug Dotson" wrote in message ... My solution to my situation was to send an email to a friend who then called Vessel Assist. Assistance was there 45 minutes later. This is after trying for 2 hours to raise the CG or CGA just to be told that they would talk to me on SSB. A few comments below. Doug s/v Callista "Jack Painter" wrote in message news:JsTnc.35319$pJ1.1691@lakeread02... "Doug Dotson" wrote in message ... Hummm. Last time needed help and was out of VHF range I was never able to raise any USCG station on marine SSB. When I did finally get within range of a VHF CG station (very poor signal). I asked if I could switch to an SSB frequency for better communications. I was told that USCG no longer monitored Marine SSB, so it was poor VHF or nothing. A few comments below. Doug s/v Callista Doug, I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience with USCG communications. HF propagation is, as you know better than most, is never a sure thing, especially from long distance, low power, solar activity and other interference. But we do the very best possible 24/7 to maintain the best HF coverage of any agency in the world from the USCG communication stations. I'm aware of propagation issues. My dissapointment was when I finally got tenuous VHF contact with the CG and asked if there was an SSB freq I could contact them on, they said NO. They did not support SSB. My distance at that time was maybe 30 miles just off the coast of Jupiter Inlet. When the T/V Bow Mariner exploded and sank, they put out one Mayday on 2182 USB. They were lucky. I tried to call the CG on 2182 when I couldn't raise them on VHF. No answer. Four USCG Groups from Newport RI to Charleston SC answered it almost simulataneously. It has been and continues to be monitored at every USCG Group. CAMSLANT CHEASPEAKE (Virginia), where I work, monitors several listed SSB maritime band guard frequencies and will assist any mariner on them (We do not monitor 2182, Groups do that). CAMSPAC PT REYES in California does the same for Pacific traffic. If you made a call on one of those guarded frequencies, and you believe your radio worked, and it was not answered, you should make a report to the USCG about it. Right, filing a report will make everything work. How about if I file a report about the ICW shoaling up If a mariner cannot obtain good copy from one of the many guarded SSB maritime channels, I sure don't know why the odds would be better on a circuit they are not authorized to use _except in an emergency_, as they would not know the times guarded, direction or location antennas pointed, etc. Well, if I can't raise anyone on the channels the are "guarded", then I should just pack it in and give up rather than try using another channel that may be illegal in a non-emergency situation. So if I can't get help from USCG or USCGA then I should just drift along. If you are authorized to modify a radio, I'm sure you would try that route, but it is not legal advice to give to the general boating public, including commercial craft to modify or illegally operate SSB radios. Now that is precious. Since when is it illegal to advise someone. It is only illegal when someone violates the law. And as I said earlier, many ham rigs are type accepted for marine SSB use. I have the Rules and Regs here. Please advise me on where it says that giving advise is illegal. Tracking down abuse from commercial fishermen is easier than some might think, and when they operate on government curcuits they are prosecuted. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/default.htm has all the information about maritime SSB guard frequencies and other means of communications for emergencies at sea. I'll check it out. As to why the license which is good for ten years to life, depending on class and type, could cost $150, that's not something we can do anything about, unless you think your Congressman would lobby the FCC to change it. It's not good for 10 years to life. It is good for 10 years period. Although the yearly rate is fair, the lump sum up front cost turns many off and so they just don't bother to get it. FCC licensing is inconsistent at best. I didn't have to pay a penny to get any of my ham licenses, my GROL, or GMDSS/M, but I have to pay for a ship's station license. Go figure. Hope this was some help, 73's Jack Painter USCG Auxiliary Virginia Beach, Va "Jack Painter" wrote in message news:gkDnc.34930$pJ1.10709@lakeread02... Hi Doug, Yes I'm aware that a licensed Amateur Radio operator can build and modify equipment with the proper class license. I beleive any license class is acceptable. We rely on your expertise and abilities in communication emergencies. I am the Emergency Readiness Coordinator for the USCG Auxiliary Division 5, Port of Hampton Roads, Va, and we utilize all available agencies and volunteers in an emergency. What is bad practice though, is to encourage anyone to modify communications equipment which as you know, is permitted only under very limited circumstances and could not therefore be acceptable for general use in emergency communications. If you can't do it legally, can't test it, can't tune it, and can't practice with it, you shouldn't have been encouraged to consider such equipment as part of your planning for emergencies. There are several ham rigs on the market now that are type accepted for marine SSB use. The mods are legal and operating them on the marine SSB frequencies is legal. The SGC SG-2000 was the first one to be granted type acceptance, but I'm pretty sure that several others are now accepted. Responsible sailors can easily get a license for SSB marine operations So can irresponsible sailors. If they want to encourage sailors to get the license, why charge $150 for it? and learn how to contact the USCG and other monitoring agencies, including commercial and volunteer watchstanders on authorized SSB marine bands. I work in this field for USCG HF communications, and we are happy to provide assistance to boaters in this matter. Well as I said earlier, the only time I was in an emergency situation, I got absolutely nowhere with marine SSB. Best regards, Jack Painter Virginia Beach, Va "Doug Dotson" wrote in message ... Fortunately, ham radio is not under the same rules as marine SSB when it comes to modifications. Type accepted marine gear cannot be modified but ham gear can. I can build my own rig if I want to and I am not violating any law unless have emmisions that are in violation to those specified (freq, spurious radiation, harmonics, etc). In other words, I can't violate the law unless I transmit. If you look closer at the rules, all rules are suspended in an emergency. So transmitting on a modified rig is not illegal in an emergency. As far as having a cheap rig on board, that is a personal choice. I have cruised with many that don't have an SSB. Doug (That is my real name) s/v Callista "Jack Painter" wrote in message news:fgCnc.34527$pJ1.28623@lakeread02... Gee, how do you really feel about it? Nice language. Those of us whose parents were married don't talk that way. And we don't hide behind phony internet ID's. Anyone thinking about unauthorized mods to a SSB radio can write me and I will be glad to find a local representative in your area where you can have the law explained to you in person. "master" try to teach his only mate, a totally inexperienced girl, how to raise the mainsail while he headed them out into 10' rollers in a 25kt NE That's poor judgement, and good sailors have no problem understanding this. Jack Painter Virginia Beach, VA "santacruz" wrote in message ... I'm not normally rude to ****heads like you - but you're not answering his question. You must be another ****ing Bush Republican. It is perfectly legal to modify ham radios so they can transmit on marine SSB freq's in an emergency. Go ask your Mother - she'll confirm this. BTW - 25 knots and 10 ft seas in a 38' boat is just exciting sailing. We get that frequently between Long Beach and Catalina - and it's great fast sailing. On Sun, 9 May 2004 01:13:45 -0400, "Jack Painter" wrote: "Eric" wrote in message . com... I am looking for an inexpensive tranceiver for my sailboat.I am rapidly running out of money and need a cheap reliable rig.I have just insulated my backstay(37 feet).aAny ideas? Thanks,Eric. Eric, Your somewhat typical request elcited somewhat typical replies so far. Maybe it's helpful to you to get an answer to that question, but I think you're attitude is likely to cost someone's life, probably your own. If you really think getting a "cheap reliable rig" as you are now "rapidly running out of money" is the acceptable order of things before an offshore excursion, you are an accident waiting to happen. Well meaning but improper advice from the group comes complete with telling you it's easy to break the law, and encouraging you to do so. These legal eagles really believe that so long as you later have an emergency (assured in your case Eric), you didn't break any law. They are wrong, as are your priorities. Instead of compounding your mistakes with their bad advice, your whole sailing experience would be more enjoyable and safer if you would learn some simple safe boating practices. Then you would be more likely to prevent the need for cheap radios you are not licensed or trained to use, as well as understand the fallacy of advice to believe in illegal operation as a saving grace to other inadequacies. I recommend you take some seamanship, communications and other safe boating courses offered by the United States Power Squadrons and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary via your nearest marina or boating center. Then you could be safely enjoying the water and able to help others do the same instead of learning to break the law and operating recklessly from a vessel and crew of uncertain capabilities. Like the 38' sloop we saw today - watching her "master" try to teach his only mate, a totally inexperienced girl, how to raise the mainsail while he headed them out into 10' rollers in a 25kt NE under small craft warnings this morning. I wonder if he was confident that his illegally modifed "cheap" SSB radio could have raised us. It would fit the bill. Sincerely, Jack Painter USCG Auxiliary Virginia Beach, Va |