[Elecraft] KX1 strikes again - Cruise Ship Bootleg Operations (OT)

[Fred Townsend]

Please see comments below:

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Morrow
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 1:22 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX1 strikes again - Cruise Ship Bootleg Operations
(OT)

Ron wrote:

> ...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.

> The Safety of Life at Sea protocols never depend solely on satellite 
> communications.

Many hams, even the the days of the commercial Maritime Morse radio officer
(which ended July 12, 1999), exhibit a cavalier attitude towards SOLAS
issues.  In the Morse days, for example, it is NOT likely that most hams
would have recognized an SOS (which is sent as one character ...---..., not
three characters ... --- ..., quite radically different in sound).

Disregarding issues of ham operation upon SOLAS communications, there are
regulatory issues.  At sea, the country of the ship's registry would have
jurisdiction over any ham operations.  Are ANY cruise ships of US registry?
When in port, the host country has jurisdiction.  IIRC, back in the Morse
radio officer era, operation of the ship's Morse station was prohibited in
port.
 
I don't know how MF/HF USB use is controlled today in the GMDSS era.
Obviously use of a ship's VHF-FM is required in foreign ports for SOLAS,
piloting, and docking operations.  (The only foreign country radio operation
that I've ever done has been on VHF-FM as a USN officer of the deck coming
in and out of port.)

Do hams who operate from foreign registry ships use a call sign indicating
the country of ship's registry when at sea, and a call sign of the host
country when in port?  I'd be surprised.

I can't answer your question but I have seen US hams operate /MM when tied
to the dock.

de Fred

Many will see such issues as mere technicalities from olden days that don't
apply any more.

> 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.

Plus, many QRP rigs have marginal spurious radiation specs, a situation
aggravated by use of a DDS frequency generation scheme without PLL.

Were I ship's master, I'd be reluctant to grant permission, based on the
jurisdictional issues alone.

> Ron AC7AC (Licensed GMDSS Maintainer and Operator). 

Be honest, Ron.  :-)  I suspect your commercial radiotelegraph license is a
source of greater pride for you.  I still regret letting my second class
telegraph license expire more than 15 years ago.  Are you maintaining yours?

73,
Mike / KK5F
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html