[Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3

Wed Mar 23 12:28:33 EDT 2011

How is any of this commercial (using amateur radio to beat commercial 
wireless e-mail providers out of their fees) activity applicable to
the K3 or Elecraft.  Elecraft are *amateur* equipment not designed,
type accepted or marketed for commercial/marine use.

Take that garbage outside the amateur bands to someplace it belongs.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV

On 3/23/2011 11:31 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:
> Ah, but the K3 does a stellar job with WL2K, even with 100W set up as
> power out.  Sometimes a single transmission takes 6 or 7 seconds, and
> there are lots of repeats (a typical HF email session is 2-3 minutes).
> My understanding is that WL2K and Pactor modes are very similar in
> terms of hard-driving the PA.
>
> I actually think one could run the K3 in the  high duty cycle range
> like this, for long periods.  In MARS, we habitually run MT63 at
> 80-100W with no ill effects.  This is a very high duty cycle mode, and
> a typical transmission lasts 4 to 5 minutes (if the broadcast is
> wordy).  No problems with that either, at least in my case.
>
> And the K3 protects itself anyway.  When I first started sending HF
> traffic as a MARS member, I remember monitoring the PA TEMP closely to
> see how much of a rise would occur.  There was a bit of a blip, but
> the fans always came on and maintained the PA at<  48C.  Actually,
> this is quite cool.
>
> I think Johnny's comment about salt air and corrosion is spot on .
> There was another gentleman that had his 8 MHz IF trap cooked by a
> nearby marine band transmission.  There are clearly reasons not to
> operate the K3 as a marine band radio, legal and technical, however
> there are a number of maritime ops using the K3 in the ham bands, and
> I've met some of them.  They keep the radio covered when not in use
> (or in a cabinet), and generally care for it like they should.  Maybe
> this is a more apt use case - ham ops versus marine radio?
>
> matt W6NIA
>
> On Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:12:10 +0800 (HKT), you wrote:
>
>> Hello Gentleman,
>>
>> Perhaps, this may not be relevant.  Nowadays, HF email using PACTOR III is very
>> popular in marine time.  Most marine radio can stand for heavy duty cycle PACTOR
>> transmission.  However, ham gears are not designed for such a full duty cycle.
>>
>> So let the marine gears do the marine job.  When I use K3 for PACTOR III, I need
>> to low the power to say 30W.
>>   cheers,
>>
>>
>> Johnny VR2XMC
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> ???? Eugene Balinski<eugeneb at nni.com>
>> ???? George A. Thornton<gthornton at thorntonmostullaw.com>;
>> Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> ????? 2011/3/23 (?) 8:54:10 PM
>> ??? Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3
>>
>> George,
>>
>>    The ** best ** solution would be for her to get her ham
>> license.  In that manner, she would be able to work the
>> 14300 Maritime Mobile Service Net as well as a number of
>> other maritime nets throughout the world.  It will also
>> give her access to other hams throughout the world.  This
>> could save her life.  There are a number of weekend
>> license courses that could help her along the way.
>>
>>    I am sure that he HF radio and antenna coupler on her
>> boat will cover the complete 3 - 22 MHz band and may go to
>> 30 MHz.  It may have to be keyboard/reset enabled.  That
>> would give her easy operation.
>>
>>    Also, please DO NOT suggest that she use a ham rig for
>> her primary marine HF radio.  Most ham rigs are not set up
>> for the rigors of marine operation and with the salt air
>> and moisture, corrode very easliy.  Marine HF radio have
>> the commericial frequencies with correct T/R split already
>> in NV memories.  This is especially important for distress
>> frequencies.  These are normally a 1 button push.
>>
>>    No it is not legal for you to communicate with her via
>> HF on the marine band with out getting a commercial station
>> license for you, and having a commercially certified radio
>> at your station.
>>
>> 73
>> K1NR
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:07:39 -0700
>> "George A. Thornton"<gthornton at thorntonmostullaw.com>
>> wrote:
>>> I know someone who is about to embark on an around the
>>> world sailboat
>>> cruise.  She is not currently licensed on HAM frequencies
>>> but is going
>>> to have a marine operator license.  She is about to
>>> acquire a marine SSB
>>> radio.  Most of those radios are also capable of
>>> operation on HAM
>>> frequencies.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I was trying to figure out if it was possible to legally
>>> communicate
>>> with her using my K3 from home.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Can the K3 be modified to permit transmission on marine
>>> bands?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I want to emphasize that I am not looking for an
>>> opportunity to use the
>>> radio for any illegal purpose.  I am only interested in
>>> operating on
>>> marine frequencies for which I would have a valid
>>> license.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Beyond this, it seems there is a potential marketing
>>> opportunity for
>>> Elecraft in the marine community.  Ocean sailors use SSB
>>> and many of
>>> them also end up getting a HAM license so they can also
>>> use HAM
>>> frequencies on voyages.  The Elecraft K2 and K3 are in
>>> some ways ideal
>>> for marine use because they are small and have relatively
>>> low power
>>> consumption.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The stresses on a marine radio are huge and most of them
>>> have been made
>>> water  and shock resistant.  Also, marine radios require
>>> extreme
>>> simplicity of operation because they occasionally have to
>>> be used by an
>>> inexperienced operator during an emergency.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Maybe none of this makes practical sense.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Someone educate me, that is what this forum is about.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> de George AE7G
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>
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