[Elecraft] KX1 strikes again

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

In addition to satellites, ships use SSB on the HF bands for long distance
communications - both voice and data - on frequencies right in between the
bands were us Hams "play" on HF. That's what replaced CW on the 600 meter
band under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) rules.

For short range communications, VHF is used.

The Safety of Life at Sea protocols never depend solely on satellite
communications. Many ships avoid satellites for routine communications to
hold costs down although passenger carrying ships are well equipped with
International Marine Satellite (INMARSAT) telephone links that allow
land-line quality phone connections. That's the function of the big "golf
ball" radomes commonly seen on ships these days. Some larger ships have
several.

The "radio room" these days is usually just a small console on the
navigating bridge. 

On American flagged ships the electronics officer carries a "GMDSS
Maintainer" license issued by the FCC. He/she is charged with keeping the
key electronics operational. Not all ships carry them. Instead they can
carry sufficient redundant equipment to ensure communications in critical
situations in spite of equipment failures.

All large ships carry someone with a "GMDSS Operator" license issued by the
FCC, sometimes several who have other bridge duties as well. The operators
know how to operate all the equipment and, like a sharp HF Ham operator,
he/she can analyze band conditions to decide which HF frequencies are best
for the needed range and propagation conditions. When a GMDSS Maintainer is
carried he/she is often a licensed GMDSS Operator as well. 

The seriousness of the responsibility for these communications is reflected
in the fact that the equipment is used ONLY for official ship
communications. Not even in the days of CW and Sparks holed up in his
private radio room was it used for anything else. Radio operators with Ham
licenses were forbidden to operate the shipboard gear on the Ham bands at
any time - even to use a backup antenna on a Ham rig. Any personal radio
transmitting equipment must be approved by the Captain, even Spark's
personal gear, and had to be 100% independent of the shipboard
communications equipment and antennas. 

That's why it's often so difficult to get permission to operate a Ham rig on
a ship - they are depending upon clear QRM-free communications on
frequencies very close to several Ham bands across the HF and VHF spectrums.


Ron AC7AC (Licensed GMDSS Maintainer and Operator). 




-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Townsend
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 10:22 PM
To: 'KW4H'; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX1 strikes again

I had heard that it was possible to get access to the radio room on certain
cruise lines. I asked one (unnamed) line what the procedure was for getting
access. They said it was verboten and seemed irritated I would even ask.
Then I checked with the Maritime Union. It seems the US flags don't have
radio officers anymore. They are electronics officers. There is VHF ship to
shore on the bridge and they use stat phones for long haul. Everything is
computerized hence the electronics officer.

It may be that ships having radio rooms are now under the purview of the
recreation director. If you know of any, please publish the names of any
radio friendly cruise lines so I can book them next time.

de Fred AE6QL

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of KW4H
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 6:59 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX1 strikes again

That's great, Monty!  My wife and I are Holland America fans, we just took a
cruise this spring on the Nieuw Amsterdam and loved it.  What did you do to
get permission to operate onboard?  I may have to try that sometime.

73,

Steve, KW4H

On Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 6:52 PM, Monty Shultes <montys at mindspring.com>wrote:

> Another year, another cruise, aboard the MS Veendam, to celebrate my 
> wife Paula's and my 50th wedding anniversary.
>
> I used my KX1 to contact EU3AR in Belarus, while off the coast of 
> Brazil, and AA3B in Pennsylvania while off the coast of Venezuela.
>
> Rainy days shortened my operating on the many sea days and river days 
> of this trip,
>
> Fantastic rig.  Highly recommend lithium AA batteries - I had three 
> sets, but only needed one.
>
> Monty K2DLJ