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"Jack Painter" wrote in message news:MX_Fd.16551$B95.2258@lakeread02... "Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote "Jack Painter" wrote in message news:WeKFd.16260$B95.1392@lakeread02... . As far as bandwidth for prevailing conditions, there are quite sufficient bandwidths available in the Maritime Mobile Service. Below is a little paraphrased version of the new guard frequencies. Duplex is now history for all hailing and distress work with the USCG. What does bandwidth have to do with this. The bandwidth of an SSB signal is the same regardless of the frequency/band used. Doug, k3qt s/v CAllista Doug, It was a little Freudian slip, sorry. I was describing the more than sufficient "bands" that are available, and the context of the message surely was clear to that. I note that you nonetheless repeated pretty much the same information of my message in your answer. I'm sure glad you cleared that up before everyone thought bandwidth meant bands! G In all fairness, I looked up "bandwidth: at www.dictionary.com. To my surprise, the first definition was what you seemed to be saying. That is, the difference between the upper and lower freqs of the band. I have never heard this defintion. The only definition I have even know is that stated in references like the Handbook. As to the comments you actually added, such as 2182 khz not being reliable or used any longer, 2182 khz is most certainly used as a distress and hailing frequency to raise the USCG, where it is monitored from every USCG Group, even in places like the Mississippi River where it has completely fallen out of use due to cell phones, which are never out of coverage in that area. Using equipment with considerably longer range capabilities than USCG Groups have at their disposal, I have never heard a call go unanswered in over six months of dedicated guard on that frequency. Many MAYDAY calls were answered by several USCG Groups at once. While I would hope we can continue to improve the quality of equipment available for this work, it is in no means incapable of doing the job that is expected of it. It is not likely, in my opinion, that satellite phone links or vessel and personal EPIRB's will ever completely replace HF emergency communications. If these newer and more capable equipments do render the average yachtsman or mariner less familiar with his HF equipment and capabilities (due to infrequent usage) then that is an issue that can be addressed in boating safety and professional standards courses. It would be too bad to see such capable means of communication lost to just an aging part of the hobby field, do you agree? The means of communications is not the issue. All I can say is that in the only situation where I have ever had to resort to calling for help, there was no answer on 2182. I was eventually able to acheive very poor contact with CG on VHF. I asked if there was an HF freq that I could contact them on for more reliable comms. The answer was NO. They could not help me via HF. I was about to try to contact a ham to relay a message to CG when another boat closer to shore was able to provide a relay. I would have contacted MMSN but it was 4am and the net was not on the air. In short, the CG was not there only time I felt I needed help. I will NEVER, EVER rely on the CG via Marine SSB as a reliable means of assistance. I can contact a ham anywhere, anytime and help is then just a phone call away. If that doesn't work (which is doubtful) then the EPIRB is the solution. Jack Painter Virginia Beach, Virginia |
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