SSB & long range radio

[Shearwater]

About ten years ago when I had my own office in the garden I fancied getting along range radio (SSB?) and chat away withsailors etc on passage in the Atlantic or Pacific and went off to ham radio classes to study for a license. I, and a few other older blokes, quickly found we needed to understand how many diodes it takes to make a transistor and how many miliamps it takes to make kilovoltwat-thingy. So, now? Has anything changed or are they still at their gate-keeping activities to keep the less nimble out of the hobby? I don't need to know about interference if I have a state of the art digital radio do I and if I really went long range sailing I'd take two radio units as they do on aeroplanes. Is it now possible to have a two way conversation, ham, without a City and Guilds in micro-electronics?

 

[searover]

yes its called a foundation licence for thick gits who cant be bothered to learn proper likefind out your local ham club they will get you through no probs,learn in morning take test in afternoon poss on asunday Cheers from someone who did take trouble well worth it....good luck

 

[Shearwater]

Sorry didn't get the drift.... are you admiting you're a thick git? Surely not?

 

[Gin]

Your question is reasonable and civil- the initial reply is neither.

I, too had the same sort of enquiry recently and happily I got a reasoned response which took into account my lack of knowledge.

There is now a Foundation Course which is designed to get you up and running with the minimum of fuss; then there is the intermediate; then the advanced (or somesuch).

There are those who are really in the know, helpful and welcoming- unlike some smartases who contribute nothing except insults!

I am at the early stages of my learning and in need of encouragement, like you.

I probably can't help you but I can give you a link to someone near me who may be able to do so, so PM me and I'll put you in contact.

 

[sr04]

Yes its true, anyone can get a license now with minimal effort, and your digital state of the art radio will be able to interfere with all your neighbours state of the art digital tv receivers, aircraft, maritime, ambulances etc etc and the chances are it will if you do not understand antennas and basic RF emissions. In fact modern all singing all dancing transceivers can cause far more spurious emissions than older sets. It doesnt really take long or need a big understanding of electronics to pass the full test nowadays and what you do learn is also useful for keeping your boats electrical/electronic equipment in good order. Give it a go - you just might enjoy it.

 

[cliff]

Perhaps this might be useful for starters /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Bajansailor]

FWIW, I did a City and Guilds evening class re ham radio theory one winter in Poole about 15 years ago and really enjoyed it - I certainly learnt a lot, and I found all the sections about antennas and propagation quite fascinating (and no, I am not an antenna anorak).
(I was also doing YM Theory and BSAC scuba diving evening classes on different evenings that winter, so I was busy with lots of homework for all of them every evening!).

I now have a full amateur radio license from Barbados, and I shall be using this with my basic ham radio and insulated backstay when I go off sailing next year.

It is well worth doing - especially as you can then get a winlink email address (if you have a pactor modem) and send / receive emails (personal only, ie non-commercial) at sea via your ham radio.

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry didn't get the drift.... are you admiting you're a thick git? Surely not?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, definitely a git! What a stupid response to a perfectly reasonable post. Hope I never 'meet' him on air.

 

[whipper_snapper]

I am sorry that you go such an unhelpful initial response.

Here is my perspective:

Radio amateurs are not the gatekeepers of long range (or HF or SSB) radio. But they are the gatekeepers of the frequencies allocated to radio amateurs and that seems very reasonable to me.

As has been said, amateur radio is not primarily intended for routine communications. There are frequencies allocated for that purpose. At sea, these are the marine HF bands. You can use these by passing the equivalent of the VHF exam – it is called the LRC for long range certificate. This is not about how to build a set but about how to use one, especially in the post GMDSS world

It is also true that qualifying to use amateur frequencies has changed dramatically in recent years. It is now a 3 stage process: foundation, intermediate, advanced. Only advanced licence holders can transmit from vessels at sea. I personally think there is little value in the foundation course, but the intermediate does give you a useful feel of using HF radio. There is a big jump to the advanced which is pretty much as demanding as it ever was except that the morse requirement has been dropped.

As others have said, for routine communications satphones are much better for most purposes. We are now at an exceptionally low solar minimum and propagation is pretty dreadful. You can not really guarantee communications at a given time to a given station over longish distances (say >1,000 miles).

 

[Birdseye]

[ QUOTE ]
I am sorry that you go such an unhelpful initial response.



[/ QUOTE ]

might get a more helpful one if he/she didnt multiple post!

 

[Shearwater]

Many thanks to all who have taken the trouble to answer. I shall ponder everything that you've said. Rgds.