[Elecraft] Cruise Lines

[Joseph Shuman]

Going on a cruise in a few months, so I emailed the cruise line about operating at sea with a KX2.  Here is the reply:  “Ham Radios, Shortwave Radios or Satellite Radios (portable or standalone) may not be brought on board as they pose a risk of interfering with onboard navigational equipment.”  OK!  The line has a right to say no. But...

I have operated my KX2 QRP 40m portable with a GPS and Laptop in the transmission RF envelope with no interference problems.  I know maritime uses mostly 156-162 MHz for ship to ship or ship to shore, some specific HF frequencies (outside of our bands) are allocated for emergency communications and satellite navigation is typically 1150-1610 MHz.  Most ships now have WiFi and rely on phone apps for on-board communication, so there are a few thousand phones on board operating in the GHz range that are no problem.  Also, as a USN Sub Service vet I learned a few things about at-sea comms 40-some years ago, and considering the improvements in our technology...

Sorry if I seem to be ranting, but opportunities to operate at sea (for a OM in Ohio) are rare and this cruise line’s position seems to me to be the easy answer: ban all Hams outright.

Keeping Watch-
shu KE8KJZ

Joe Shuman