Scuttlebutt SSB radio net - Saturday

Yep, I realise that Snowleopard, it's why I mentioned earlier that I'd 'keep an ear' out for you - as I believe we're close geographically. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I very, very seldom use VHF and haven't, as yet, even bothered to renew my licence for this year, so I'll leave that suggestion if you don't mind.

If I can hear you ok, and taking Oldhand's comment in the gentle way I'm sure it's meant, I'll use a low power transmission and see how it goes. I suspect it may be difficult at such a short range though. Good idea of yours for checking HF installations! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Be interesting to hear the guys who are further away.

Cheers Jerry
 
I wouldn't worry too much about switching to low power. In the caribbean everyone blasts away on full power and the anchorages are pretty crowded. You can pick up someone 200 miles away one minute and the guy next door the next. There can be a bit of carry-over from adjacent frequencies but a separation of 3 KHz is usually enough.

Where your output power can cause problems is with our own systems - every LED on my boat flashes when I transmit. On another boat it sent the autopilot haywire.
 
I will be on the hook down in the Keys Sat pm unless the weather is just too good to miss in which case I will be out in the Gulf stream heading N. to the Cape Fear area. Have not used my rig to transmit in more than a year but it's pulling amps so I assume it works!
 
Yep understand re full power and always kept ours flat out too on long passages and in the Caribbean, BUT I only have the Ham Foundation licence at the moment so (strictly!) am limited to 10 watts. I wouldn't want Mike Martin's ex colleagues pounding on my hull in the early hours now, would I?!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And yes, we get loads of switch panel LED's flashing as well as some whimpering from our alarm system sirens every time we transmit - it's a common thing and nothing to worry about. Interestingly, it doesn't affect our ST2000 autopilot, but we had to switch the wheel steering version (ST4000?) off on a friend's boat, 'cos otherwise we surfed all over the Atlantic on transmit!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Cheers Jerry
 
Hi Jim!!

Sounds great! If we don't manage to link up, do have a fabulous and safe passage. I've always wanted to sail in the Gulf Stream (with it though!!) too.
Ah well, perhaps on our next trip!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Take care,

Kind regards, Jerry
 
I would'nt worry about that

You are not using Amateur frequency so Ham license irrelevant

Assuming you have full license for marine SSB just give it full welly.

Is it normal for leds etc to come on when xmitting - sound sort of worrying really.
 
I don't think there will be problems getting my signal withing the Tamar area as it will be on line-of-sight like VHF. The skip zone will be over the horizon. In practice I've chatted to people everywhere in the West Indies on 8MHz with no problem. Beyond 1000 miles is a problem however.

As has been said, your Ham licence is no good on marine bands (though as I understand it you must have the full ham qualification to use a mobile installation regardless of power). To avoid being swooped on by the airwave police you need the marine Long Range Certificate. Fortunately you won't be told to p*** off by sailors if you don't have the certificates, unlike the 'other' lot!
 
Blimey Snowleopard, with the weather forecast Craig Rich has just shoved out on the box (6-7 occ 8 down here) gotta feeling I'll be staying at home tomorrow!! Don't fancy swooping about on the mooring all night if that lot comes in, especially against a spring ebb! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Will review things through the day though, see what actually turns up, and listen at home on my Sangean if I don't go aboard. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck to all anyway,

Cheers Jerry
 
It says 6 poss 7 on the inshore f/c. May go windsurfing and put off the big stuff till Sunday. Talk among yourselves if I'm not there!
 
I used to have a valve linear amp. The PSU delivered 2.5kV at 1 amp. I could make a few things light up with that.

But if leds flashing on boat sounds like RF getting where it should'nt, or iffy earthing.
 
If the earthing was iffy it wouldn't be heard across an ocean. The EM radiation induces current in wires nearby. It happens on most boats.
 
Hi Bergman,

We're going 'off thread' a bit, but my installation, and many others I know of or have personally used, are the same, so it is a very common 'problem'. Mine has been like this since I installed it some years ago and has caused no difficulties whatsoever, not even an LED blowing! The earthing is perfect and the SWR is less than 1:1.5 so 'taint that!

Don't forget, we're talking about extremely low voltages here, LED's, and in my case the stern electronic siren (only 80ma when going full blast!) so it's not really surprising when one's belting out at high power. The siren is only 450mm from the backstay aerial feeder, so I fully expected some sort of RF reaction there, and it could be that this is being fed back to the sub-panel where the LED's live.

As you probably know, there have been other posts mentioning this phenomena before, but like me, no one has reported having any ensuing problems. If anyone out there does know the reason it would be interesting to know, though as I indicate, it has not affected my radios performance in any way.

Cheers Jerry
 
I too have had the problem of the odd LED lighting up on certain frequencies, mostly at the low end of the spectrum. I have been told that this is due to "stray RF" and that I have to be very careful about using it when the computer is turned on as stray RF can "fry" computers, and does on a regular basis! I have used my combo for receiving weatherfax with no problems but I am a bit nervous about using it for e-mail because of this problem. Have any of you guys who have flashing LEDs also used your rigs for transmitting e-mail?

Paul.
 
I pick up weatherfax on my laptop but it's 20ft from the antenna. The one that flashes most is the compass light - it is linked to the nav lights and the cable for those runs up inside the goalposts, parallel to the antenna and less than 6" away so I'd be very surprised if it didn't pick up some induced current.

The coax between the set and the ATU puts out very little radiation though it was enough to fry a CO detector.
 
I agree - it is a fixable issue and should not happen so should be fixed. Worst outcome probably is if it causes the auto pilot to unlock in a big following/quartering sea (wheeeee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif).

John
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top