illegal SSB?

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absit_omen

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Rumour around here that marine band SSB must not be used within a three mile limit of the coast.

This is particularly the case for Spain. Can anybody confirm or deny this and give a reference?

Many thanks.
 
It seems evryone in Europe thinks SSBs ilegal at some time or another.

I was useing mine tied up on a transit key and a coast guard boat was almost next to me, when id been chatting between several other boats around the med on and off for almost an hour, one of the crew knocked on my boat to ask if i would stop as i was blocking their radio!!

The same thing happed later when i was at anchor in a large anchorage, then another boat asked if i would stop as he had a schedule to keep.

So i imagin that if the Spanish lot use their radio often they dont want other boats upsetting their radio. A long time ago in France someone was taken for a spy as he was useing his SSB !!!!!
 
Hi A-O,

I haven't heard of any formal restrictions, but we do avoid using SSB when in harbour or at anchor for precisely the reasons Trouville points out, unless it's part of a regular Net.

Some people do forget to turn down the output power of their rigs when communicating over a shorter range, and we have often had virtually everything blotted out by boats transmitting at 150+ watts from a hundred yards away.

It's just common sense really, just use enough power to hear and be heard.

Having said all that, we very rarely used our SSB in the Med. for transmitting but mostly for wefaxes/RTTY and the like so will be highly unlikely to incur the wrath of the authorities when we head that way again.

Glad to see you're still enjoying the winter in Lagos.

Cheers Jerry
 
Hi Jerry

Thanks for that. The reason I ask is that we have been running an SSB self help group for a few weeks and have an informal net just to test equipment. The aim is to keep in touch throughout the year. The first boat to leave, a dutchman, was the one who sent out the alert and I said I would try to find chapter and verse.

Had a lost evening with P & B a couple of weeks ago. 11 bottles!!
 
At least here in Italy it is actually forbidden to use R/T equipment when in port, other than for port-operations purposes (it's written on the radio licence, can hardly be more official than that!).

Reason is supposedly the risk of interference to ground-based stations.

These rules are typically local implementations of international agreements (ITU, etc) so I would not be surprised if other Countries had similar regulations in place.

The rule dates back to pre-VHF days, so it was presumably meant for hi-power MF/HF radio's, but strictly speaking it applies to all radios.
 
Gosh!I was lucky as the CG had a large gun on their bow and i was in Italy!!!!Elba to be exact in both cases!!
But then Italian are very nice people even when in uniform!

I try QRP but that time i had a new rig on board with a power supply and had the generator (petrol 1000w) running so i could put out 150w!!

Those were more or less the only times i put out so much normaly i use either 3/4w and if its difficult i generaly get out with about 60w and comperession!

On those days i was exagerating but did have a QSO with New-Zealand!! As he gave me a 5 and 6/7!! The sea dose make a good ground plane.

Now in winter the anchorages are in some places empty.
 
Marine radio regs forbid transmissions in port and harbour areas other than for port operations and nearest coast radio station for public correspondance (Now a thing of the past in the UK). Presumably this only applies in a legal sense to marine bands.
 
You forgot calling your mate on pontoon E to see what they are having for dinner, all at 25W, it is important that everyone in the sea area should know this information too.
 
Dogwatch. Sorry, don't quite see how your remarks contribute in any positive way to answering the original question. Go play with the cats in the lounge.
 
Im sure there are rules that not even the powers that be remember.Or enforce unless abused.

What i would do is when your schedule is due switch your rig on at the frequency chosen say 10 mins before then if its still clear just before the scheduals due put out a call asking if the frequencys clear,Ask 2 or 3 times with a pause between then wait say 30 seconds,
If no one comes back to you then go ahead and call your net, If someone objects during the net they call in and say so!

The marine bands are the best very uncrowded and very well possitioned for maximum range in each band.

Is it a private freinds net? or can anyone listen in and perhaps call in?? If so whats the frequency and when? Then we could tell you if we copied anything? and if so how strong the signal is/or by PM was!

Good luck with the net!

Oh and if the spanish powers that be send a gun boat over to see you let us know!!!
 
Thanks trouville, that is exactly what we do. however, the net controllers here are extremely keen to observe the letter of the law. That is why I said I would try to find the exact letter of the law.
 
Interesting post. Thanks for all the info, (see my post on radio licences) can I ask: Can email service companies such as winlink and sailmail pass mail on to any email address or can it only be passed on to other licence holders only?

Ta

JB
 
David, I don't think this is going to become a new MM Net! Just something which gives users a little more confidence in their kit. If it develops, I shall certainly let you know.
 
[ QUOTE ]
At least here in Italy it is actually forbidden to use R/T equipment when in port, other than for port-operations purposes (it's written on the radio licence, can hardly be more official than that!).

[/ QUOTE ]

In Italy its also forbidden to use several kw power with a ham radio. But there are hundreds doing it.

I guess that like here in the UK, these rules only really apply if you come to the notice of some official with a problem / agenda.

Used my SSB in Spain without a problem.
 
Not sure about the 3mile limit, never heard that. However commercial vessels are not allowed to transmit on SSB while within port limits and we yachties are governed by the same rules.
 
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