Ham License

[Dockhead]

I'm in the process of installing an Icom M802 and have been reading everything I can get my hands on about HF radio. I'm really looking forward to learning new skills in this entirely new area.

I have never really been interested in ham radio - collecting QSOs has never seemed like a good way to spend my time, despite the appeal of playing with technological tools. But the more I read, the more fascinated I have become with digital communication over HF radio. Our options with marine SSB are pretty much limited to sail mail, but hams do pretty much what they want, and there are lots more options. I own an SCS TNC with Pactor III, but I am intrigued by Winmor and other interesting means of digital comms.

I looked through the license materials and it doesn't look daunting. I think I might just try to pass the technician license in February when I'm in Boston. I know that gives me very limited rights in the radio spectrum, but if that goes ok then I'll follow up with a general exam soon.

Anyone have any helpful hints? Recommended reading?

[Kalinka1]

I think I would just go for the General Licence. Multiple choice questions NO Morse so study the question answer books and Bob shoulod be your Uncle! It's a great helpfull world out there! good Luck

[AfterHoursNLCT]

try this: HamTestOnline - Ham Radio Exam Courses and Practice Tests

I've held a General Class license since 1984. Try out PSK31 mode. That's about all I use now...LL

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by AfterHoursNLCT

try this: HamTestOnline - Ham Radio Exam Courses and Practice Tests
...

+1 on HamTestOnline. Very well done learning system. I used it, in conjunction with ARRL books.

[Teknav]

John! Well said, but few people will appreciate or understand what you have written. I am going to leave this thread alone because few on here understand the big picture; ignorance is bliss. For my part, I published a Solutions Manual for a "Circuits Analysis" college textbook; it was used by Electrical Engineering Sophomore year undergrad students. Mauritz

[AnchorageGuy]

I would also recommend you just go for the General. But your statement of "Hams can pretty much do what they want" is far from accurate. They can do no more or less than SSB users except on different frequencies. The plus is the availability of various Ham nets depending on where you plan to sail, and the fact that The Ham community is much more active on the Ham frequencies than the SSB users outside of the scheduled nets. The availability of email and weather information via Ham frequencies is another big plus. It seems that Airmail is on the way out but RMS Express is the new replacement and is being supported, developed and is easier to use, IMO. By all means, go the small extra effort and get your General and enjoy the additions Ham operations have to offer. Chuck

[Paul Elliott]

Definitely try for the General. You get much better access to frequencies appropriate for voyaging.

The ham technology is quite interesting. WINMOR doesn't have the speed or station-availability of PACTOR, but it's getting there and the price is right.

Good luck!
Paul / wb6cxc (ham Advanced license, which they don't issue any more!)

[GrowleyMonster]

There are many digital modes available to you on Marine frequencies. There is SITOR, (A and B) RTTY, and the granddaddy of them all, CW. You would, I believe, need to get a RadioTelegraph Operator License, though. I would check on that. You can also use your HF transceiver for WEFAX. Come to think of it, a GMDSS Operator License should work, except for hand-sent Morse Telegraphy. That said, I haven't been on a ship in a very long time where any traffic was sent via CW. However, some coast stations still send traffic lists and the weather in Morse. WLO does, and their weather broadcast is excellent practice copy. That was my learning tool.

[msponer]

I've been hoping to setup a PSK31 sailors chat frequency, and then try to evolve it to a cruisers net that I don't have to wake up for -- just let my laptop check in for me and read the transcript later.

I'd also want a map of other people who've checked in, with wind roses for their weather reports, overlaid with the current forecast.

The overall vibe is you just leave your radio on, with a connected laptop or tablet, and there's an n thousand mile chat room with other cruising sailors. Add paging -- so that if someone wants to talk to us, they can type our callsign and the computer will beep.

The next step would be to try and make some kind of mesh network out of it, and to allow other connectivity to the network for satellite, cellular, or wifi sailors, though I think the third party traffic rules would mean that only folks with ham licenses could participate on these networks.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by msponer

I've been hoping to setup a PSK31 sailors chat frequency, and then try to evolve it to a cruisers net that I don't have to wake up for -- just let my laptop check in for me and read the transcript later.

I'd also want a map of other people who've checked in, with wind roses for their weather reports, overlaid with the current forecast.

The overall vibe is you just leave your radio on, with a connected laptop or tablet, and there's an n thousand mile chat room with other cruising sailors. Add paging -- so that if someone wants to talk to us, they can type our callsign and the computer will beep.

The next step would be to try and make some kind of mesh network out of it, and to allow other connectivity to the network for satellite, cellular, or wifi sailors, though I think the third party traffic rules would mean that only folks with ham licenses could participate on these networks.

Absolutely fantastic idea!

Most of what you need to say to other people can be said in 140 bytes or so at a time.

[conachair]

If you want to have a listen to what's out there around the world, this is very cool indeed

Software Defined Radio

Download & install, then click "remote via network", then in popup box click browse web and find a US station, hit start and you should be listening to a radio somewhere. Between 14.2Khz & 14.3Khz you should find some chatter.

Enjoy

BTW, what US license class do you need to get a maritime mobile call sign? UK it's advanced.

[Cheechako]

The General is the way to go. It should be a piece of cake with no morse code. Just practice the multiple choice questions over and over. When test time comes you just mark the correct answer automatically at that point!

[Dockhead]

Cool! So there are other like minded cruisers. Data rules - so much more efficient means of communication than blathering with your vocal chords. I love the definedness of CW Morse communications. I love the idea of a HF data chat. Best of all would be if there would be some means to contribute to Cruisers Forum over a HF data connection

[roverhi]

Dockhead, are you a British Citizen or US in England?? That will make a difference in the licensing and how you use your radio. If you are looking to get a US license. There are a number of test prep sites on the internet. A couple of days of concentration on taking the tests should allow you to pass both the Technician and General license exams. They have to be taken in order but can be done at the same exam session. Unfortunately, you may have to fly to the States to take the tests. Check with the ARRL on test site availablitly. I flew to the mainland and drove from San Diego to Orange County to get a test date that fit into my schedule. Made taking the test correspond to a time we were visiting our son in Carlsbad, CA. If you are looking at a British license, have no idea what the test requirements are or what test prep opportunities exist.

Depending on your location, Ham radio is a much more sociable way to use an HF radio. There are local (1,000 mile area or so) nets many places in the world and the biggies on 14.300 that monitor ocean traffic over very large areas. When we were in SoPac, there was a travelling net that followed the migration of boats from the Marquesas to points west and south. Don't know how far it continued to exist as it was honcho'd by one boat on it's way to NZ. You also might find a ham or two that has the same interests and just enjoy talking with. We struck up a friendship with a Ham operator in SoCal and kept a regular schedule just to talk about anything but radio. Ham radio QSO's are not just what kind of rig and antenna you have. Marine SSB Freq's may be completely devoid of activity in some parts of the world and have very limited traffic elsewhere.

[denverd0n]

I used the ARRL manuals, like this one...
Amazon.com: General Class License Manual (Softcover) (Arrl General Class License Manual for the Radio Amateur) (9780872598119): American Radio Relay League: Books

I would advise going for both the Tech and Gen'l tests at the same time, even though I didn't do it that way.

Good luck.