Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunspot Baby  For a long while, and I think it is still the case, you didn't even need a station license to operate marine SSB in U.S. waters, it was only when you went international. |
You seem to be confused about the licensing requirements. Your information is incorrect.
If your Icom is certified for marine use, that's ok. You can use it for either marine or ham frequencies. If you want to be legal, then you do have to make a choice. Either marine SSB, which you can also use for HAM, or HAM which you cannot legally use for marine SSB. Just because "people do it" doesn't make it right. Marine SSB's are held to a much higher technical standard than HAM radio's. You could well be interfering with other's on the marine frequencies when your signal is splattering all over the place from you HAM rig. Some HAM rigs are quite stable and clean but there are no guarantees. But if your able to break one rule, then where do you draw the line? It's your choice.
Eric