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btrayfors · 19-11-2007, 14:20

Gord and Bob,

It's easy to see how someone could think this came from Icom's website. It doesn't.

Icom's website is "www.icomusa.com" icom usa

The cited website is Icom aircraft radio, icom batteries, icom vhf radio, icom 7000, icom america which is NOT Icom's site. The domain name ("www.icom-US") is owned by Sonset Marine, i.e.,

JOHN DIEL
3732 BAILEY
MARLETTE, Michigan 48453

Unless you're an IT geek, you may have missed this.

I can't find any mention of the HAM language on any true Icom website, including the home site in Japan. Nor is their mention of ham use in the current M802 brochures or manuals.

However, the language is very prevalent amongst DEALERS for Icom radios. Somewhere along the line, either some dealer stuck it in or, possibly, used Icom's language which they've since retracted.

Personally, I don't give a rat's a__ whether the FCC has "type approved" a commercial radio for HAM use. It's always been true that the licensed ham is responsible for emissions and for not causing interference.

The reverse, however, is NOT true: there are good reasons why the FCC insists on type-acceptance for radios used on one or another commercial bands, including the marine band. Though some would like to think it isn't so, marine SSB radios really ARE built to a higher standard than are ham rigs, particularly insofar as suppression of spurious emissions is concerned.

Bottom line: Most any MARINE SSB radio can be made to operate on the ham bands, and if you're a licensed ham I wouldn't have any problem with that. I don't think the FCC would, either, since they have bigger fish to fry and this is a very minor concern.

Similarly, many ham rigs can be made to operate on the marine bands, but this is ILLEGAL except in a bona fide emergency. I think there are good and valid reasons for this, but recognize that many sailors choose to use them for this purpose anyway.

And, there's always gonna be someone who "pushes the envelope" and places everyone in jeopardy. I know of one active "net control" station on a marine SSB net who insists on tuning his rig 80 cycles low in frequency. He says this makes him sound like "Darth Vader", and likes the distinction. Well, you can't do this with a marine radio so it's obvious he's using a ham rig. And, to experienced radio operators with decent ears, it just plain sounds offensive.

Bill

19-11-2007, 14:20	#62
btrayfors Senior Cruiser Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chesapeake Region Boat: 42' Bob Perry sloop, "Born Free" Posts: 1,242	Gord and Bob, It's easy to see how someone could think this came from Icom's website. It doesn't. Icom's website is "www.icomusa.com" icom usa The cited website is Icom aircraft radio, icom batteries, icom vhf radio, icom 7000, icom america which is NOT Icom's site. The domain name ("www.icom-US") is owned by Sonset Marine, i.e., JOHN DIEL 3732 BAILEY MARLETTE, Michigan 48453 Unless you're an IT geek, you may have missed this. I can't find any mention of the HAM language on any true Icom website, including the home site in Japan. Nor is their mention of ham use in the current M802 brochures or manuals. However, the language is very prevalent amongst DEALERS for Icom radios. Somewhere along the line, either some dealer stuck it in or, possibly, used Icom's language which they've since retracted. Personally, I don't give a rat's a__ whether the FCC has "type approved" a commercial radio for HAM use. It's always been true that the licensed ham is responsible for emissions and for not causing interference. The reverse, however, is NOT true: there are good reasons why the FCC insists on type-acceptance for radios used on one or another commercial bands, including the marine band. Though some would like to think it isn't so, marine SSB radios really ARE built to a higher standard than are ham rigs, particularly insofar as suppression of spurious emissions is concerned. Bottom line: Most any MARINE SSB radio can be made to operate on the ham bands, and if you're a licensed ham I wouldn't have any problem with that. I don't think the FCC would, either, since they have bigger fish to fry and this is a very minor concern. Similarly, many ham rigs can be made to operate on the marine bands, but this is ILLEGAL except in a bona fide emergency. I think there are good and valid reasons for this, but recognize that many sailors choose to use them for this purpose anyway. And, there's always gonna be someone who "pushes the envelope" and places everyone in jeopardy. I know of one active "net control" station on a marine SSB net who insists on tuning his rig 80 cycles low in frequency. He says this makes him sound like "Darth Vader", and likes the distinction. Well, you can't do this with a marine radio so it's obvious he's using a ham rig. And, to experienced radio operators with decent ears, it just plain sounds offensive. Bill Last edited by btrayfors; 19-11-2007 at 14:37.