HF Radio.

[steverow]

Does anyone know of an HF Rig that will do both Amateur and Marine ie TX/RX 1.8 to 30MHz with no gaps. Preferably a mobile at least 100W Sideband and hopefully available secondhand...
And who sells HF marine verticals in the UK?

Steve

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[JonBrooks]

There is nothing on the market that will do this legally!

S M G bing a range of antenna's inc an HF whip

01752 241000


Hope that helps

Regards


<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[Bergman]

Modern amateur rigs are capable of receiving all frequencies between 1 and 30 MHz. In almost all cases the rig is made so that the transmitter is only capable of transmitting on amateur frequencies. This is achieved by the controlling circuitry in the synthesiser, and the rig is capable of being modified (with varying degrees of difficulty, on my rig it involves operation of 1 switch!) so that the rig can send and receive on all frequencies. Many rigs (including my elderly Yaesu) have had this mod done to use the new 5 Meg band.

Duplex channels (send on one freq and receive on a different freq) can be managed using the built in memories that most amateur rigs have built into them.

Technically its fairly straight forward.

Legally is another matter. My belief is that if one holds the appropriate license for amateur and marine use then one is not breaking the law. The sticking point may be CE certification. For amateur use such certification is unnecessary, many amateurs build their own rigs and/or use vintage and ex military equipment, all quite legally. As far as I know there is nothing in British/Euro law to say the same case does not apply to marine radio. Certainly I have seen some very elderly marine gear in useable condition that was built before CE marks were thought of.

As an afterthought how would anyone know, how could such a law be enforced?

I can't help much with specific rigs that would suit your purpose, certainly my Yaesu FT757 would but thats a bit long in tooth now. Best bet is to talk to some local radio amateurs who know more about a specific rig you may fancy. All the main manufacturers (Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood) are much the same for performance and cost so take your pick. They are all much cheaper than buying a specific marine transceiver which is perhaps why the manufacturers are none too keen on people using them like this.



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[exsparks67]

Using both system i.e. HAM and Marine service with one set is illegal but possible.
HAM sets can made to be used on the complete band from 0 - 30 Mhz. But using the set in the marine band is not permitted by your Marine provider or government license.
But why use the HF Marine band. There is hardly any coaststation in the world working on this band anymore. Ship to ship communication is possible with a HAM set although illegal and without the proper callsign you may be refused by commercial MARINE users.
There are plenty of sets available new and used on the HAM Market and there are already or can me made useable in the HAM and Marine band. Fabrics most available are ICOM KENDWOOD YEASU.
MOST IMPORTANT IS YOUR ANTENNE.

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[steverow]

Well I suppose what I should have said was that I want a HAM HF radio that will also work on 2182 in an emergency.
As for the legality, well I dont suppose that will matter too much if one has just hit a container in the middle of the celtic sea or some other emergency befalls me.
As we class B's have just been made Class A's recently I would like to run some Amateur Maritime Mobile operation, and really would like to kill two birds with one stone. It seems to me to make sense to have an emergency marine facility with any HF radio I buy. I have no intention of using it for general marine communication, as 99 percent of the time we won't be outside VHF Range.
I am always one to get as many options as I can.
Anyway It'll make a change from packet.
Thanks to all who replied, and some useful info gleaned.

Cheers

Steve.




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[stephenmartin]

Hi Steve

What aerial are/will you use whilst afloat for HF.....I am also a newly appointed A class since morse has been abandoned....

Steve Martin (G6WHH)

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[HaraldS]

From what I can tell, most HAM sets can be modified to transmitt on any frequency in the range the are built for. And for most you can find the instructions on how to do that on the internet.
I just bought a used Yeasu FT-747GX and intended to do the mod, but it was already done. I bought it as a backup for my Marine type ICOM 710-RT, which is a model from the US that can also do the amateur bands.
But the Marine models are very clumsy to use as you have to set up channels before you can even listen to a frequency.
Alternative HAM transceivers I had looked at, more modern, but also more expensive that can also be modified included the very populat ICOM -706MKII and the Kenwood TS-50.
What's legal is off-course another issue and was already pointed out.
In an emergency I certainly wouldn't mind.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.taniwani.de>http://www.taniwani.de</A>

 

[steverow]

Dunno really, almost certainly a vertical whip which I can mount on the side of the radar bar.

Shakespeare do a few models, but getting them in the UK seems to be a problem.
Hopefully I can get a sectional and removable one.

Dunno what rig yet either but I'll be looking around on the secondhand market and E bay soon.

Steve.


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