[QCWA] Recreational marine misuse of amateur radio devices

[Sitting Bulls Uncle]

[There is a reference post restated below this one, to which I am making
comment.  The post writer makes several valid points but I will only address
the HF radio uses.]

Having been in the USCG and in the military and marine electronics
consulting business 
I must say that there is only one side to the issue of amateur radio devices
used by non radio amateurs for marine applications:  Maritime safety!

Under the terms of the international treaty regarding marine safety
regulations set by the Radio Technical Commission Maritime [RTCM] which is
directed by the USCG the simple mission is safety at sea.  The FCC is the US
representative member of the RTCM, incidentally and does not certify nor
approve of amateur radio equipment for marine use aboard recreational
vessels.  

Amateur radio service devices are simply not designed nor are they
appropriate maritime safety devices such as the channelized marine HF SSB
radios.  The reference in earlier posts was to amateur radio HF devices such
as the Icom IC706 being used my non licensed radio amateurs at sea aboard
recreational vessels in place of the authorized marine SSB radios.  

There are several reasons it is a bad idea for the recreational mariner to
make this substitution, all related to the perceived notion that amrad
equipment is less expensive than the marine SSB radios.  It is, of course
when you consider the IC706 runs about $600 and the Icom marine ssb radio is
three times that prices.  It does look attractive.  What we are really
looking at is the difference of about $900 to $1200 in life insurance, not
radios.  A disaster at sea, including the Gulf of Mexico, is a life
threatening situation, be it storms demasting a SV, a MV without an engine,
fire at sea, man overboard, et al ad nausium.  These senarios require
rescue.  Rescue comes from USCG vessels and aircraft, commercial and
military vessels at sea and international land or shore HF SSB stations. All
these rescue sources monitor, are required to monitor, certain HF SSB
frequencies.  The safety and operational channels are designated by the RTCM
and come preinstalled on all marine ssb radios.  The channels are monitored
by all interests at sea and those relevant on shore.

Amateur radio frequencies are NOT monitored.  Which non licensed seaman or
crew, if the vessel is not under command, is capable of putting an IC706 on
a 5 mHz working and rescue frequency and making an emergency call?  None!
Not only because the equipment is not easily set to frequency by the
uninformed, even with book in lap, there is no prior experience in the
drill.  Further, would the uninformed know how to tune the antenna?  Would
they be on the correct sideband?  Do they understand propogation and times
of day?  The marine sideband radios are furnished with channel
recommendations by range and time of day.  Simple:  at noon for 400 mile
range use channel 12.  Pick up mic and call for support.  

A last comment about amateur radio devices, not many will operate on marine
ssb frequencies.  The IC706 will not hit the five megahertz band at all as
delivered out of the box. You may rebut that the user may hit the 20m marine
sideband net and request support.  That is very true.  Will that work at
midnight at all ranges?  Is there a suitable alternative band or frequency?
Are they monitored even during marginal propogation times?  No.  

So, the difference in using amateur radio devices aboard a recreational
vessel at sea, and using a type accepted approved and required marine ssb
radio is significant:  Life and death at sea is the difference in the cost
difference in the price of a radio.

Finally, I will add to those making negative comments directed to the post
attached below, experience overrides opinion.  

73
DE K5SBU CRP
NNNN


=======
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 17:39:19 -0700
From: "Doug" <dmulloy at pacifier.com>
Subject: Re: [QCWA] FW: [Mobileer] Gordon West on Licensing
To: "Discussion of QCWA" <qcwa at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <001e01c5930c$cab1d5b0$6400a8c0 at ecsgia2x4n1zro>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

I work as a service tech for a marine electronics dealer.  The number of 
non-hams with an ICOM IC-706 on a boat is disgusting. Also there are the 
non-hams getting a ham ticket just so they can use email on the  WinLink 
frequencies instead of paying for the commercial SailMail.

I suspect APRS is another mode they use for tracking a boat trip by non-ham 
relatives using FindU on the web link.  I think it is about time for the 
dealers to decide they want proof of an amateur license before they sell a
ham rig.  

I used to work for a ham store 
as a service tech and the number of 2 meter and 440 MHz handhelds we sold in
case lots or more to obviously foreign nationals with no knowledge of radio 
except a list in their hand of what to buy was astounding. Most of these 
were middle eastern or south/central American. It does not take much thought

to realize ham handhelds are being used overseas as cheap throw aways for 
such things as drug smuggling and terrorism. Frankly, I am surprised 
Homeland Security has not required proof of license and detailed sales 
records of all USA radio sales.
73
Doug K7ABX



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