67 AMATEUR (‘HAM’) RADIO AND THE MARITIME MOBILE NETS

264. AMATEUR RADIO AT SEA

For sometimes less than half the price of SSB radio an Amateur (‘Ham’) Radio set can be purchased and Ham radios are highly popular on ocean cruising boats for very good reasons.  There are dozens of regular ‘nets’ (networks) organised each occupying a regular time and radio frequency on which a number of yachtsmen call each other.  There is, for example, the Atlantic crossing ‘net’ which is coordinated by amateur radio enthusiasts in England but to which yachts sailing in the Atlantic tune in every day.  Those on passage usually call in their position and the weather and have a chat with the co-ordinator or maybe with some friends who are also on passage.  There are many small networks such as the Caribbean Net where perhaps just a dozen Hams participate.

These marine ‘nets’ provide considerable communications power across the world and can be used for summoning help in an emergency.  The one thing about Ham radio is that there is always somebody listening out.  They may not be able to help directly, but in an emergency they could instigate help.  Ham radio does, however, have its disadvantages, as the following paragraphs will show.

Because the equipment may be home-designed and built, this must be done to a high standard to avoid causing interference to essential services (some amateur frequency bands being actually shared with the official Marine Bands) and specially licensed.  The licensee must be technically qualified to undertake this design and manufacture.  Consequently, there is a technical examination requiring a high standard in radio engineering principles and the radio regulations (details of the examination and licensing are given later).

Because Amateur Radio is a technical hobby, a person-to-person fun activity, licensed amateurs may only communicate with other licensed amateurs (who may be ashore or afloat).

Messages for third parties are strictly prohibited so Ham radio cannot be used to make cheap phone calls to your home or business and there is no connection with the official Marine SSB Bands and Services.  In distress, however, any frequency including the specified amateur frequencies may be used, and should be tried if all else fails.

265. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMATEUR. RADIO AND CB

In Britain the general public seem to be confused as to the difference (if any) between Radio Amateurs (as they are properly called) and CB (Citizens Band) operators, lumping them both together as radio ‘hams’.  Although both activities are concerned with radio communication as a personal convenience or hobby, they are quite different and although both can be useful adjuncts to professional Marine Radio, they are not alternative systems.

Citizens Band (CB) radio started in the USA as a short-range radio communications system for non-technical unqualified people on the move such as truckers, taxi drivers, farmers, etc. who were unable to use the public telephone system.  A small band of frequencies at the top end of the HF band was chosen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the radio regulatory body in the USA, and the equipment had to be professionally made to standards approved by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union).  These apart, CB radio is a free-for-all service, operators being unregistered and therefore untraceable.

In time, American CB sets were imported illegally into Britain and other European countries causing interference to established and essential services.  The number involved and the fact that most operators were mobile made prosecution difficult, so CB was legalised in Britain in 1981 and frequencies between 27.6 MHz and 27.99 MHz allotted to it with FM modulation.  In Britain, the CB Band has been rendered largely ineffectual in cities by brainless morons whose idea of pleasure is interfering with complete strangers by hurling abuse at them.  Fortunately this problem does not extend very far out to sea making CB a useful medium for boat-to-boat chatting instead of cluttering up VHF channels.  In addition, many clubs find CB ideal for controlling rescue boats.

Amateur Radio, on the other hand, is a much more serious affair.  The word ‘amateur’ is usually (but, in this case, wrongly) taken to mean unskilled, inept or incompetent.  In. this context, ‘amateur’ means the same as it does in sport, i.e., the activity is pursued as a pastime, not for financial gain, but the person involved is no less an expert.  Amateur Radio (with capital letters) is a highly technical international service recognised and regulated by the ITU and for which the operator must be technically qualified.

266. AMATEUR RADIO EQUIPMENT

Although Amateur HF SSB Radio equipment is cheaper than Marine HF SSB Radio it is not a substitute for it for the following reasons:

Amateur equipment is inhibited so that it will only transmit on the allotted Amateur bands.

The frequency accuracy and stability of most Amateur SSB sets is well below the high standards required on marine frequencies.

A proper marine call-sign will not be allotted for Amateur equipment and public (link) telephone calls cannot be made with an Amateur call-sign.

Unlike proper Marine Radio, Amateur Radio equipment is not made to go to sea.

Ideally, therefore, if both Marine Radio and Amateur Radio operation is desired, dedicated equipment for each task should be obtained. It can be seen from fig. 66-1 that the frequency allocations for Amateur Radio (shown shaded) are very close to the Marine bands and for this reason the same aerial can be used and, if both sets are from the same stable, probably the same aerial tuning unit (ATU), so saving a substantial sum.

Proper Marine HF SSB Radio is also inhibited to prevent transmission on unauthorised frequencies but this inhibition can (usually) be removed by the supplier provided that an Amateur Radio Licence can be shown.  With the transmitter section thus ‘broad-banded’ Marine transceivers will operate on most (but not all) of the long-distance Amateur bands although a little less conveniently than dedicated Amateur equipment.

If you wish to take this option, choose a Marine transceiver in which the transmit frequency is user-programmable (some are not).  For preference, the receiver section should have continuously variable tuning (some have not).  The situation is eased if Amateur operation is confined to Maritime Mobile Nets which do not operate on specific spot frequencies. A typical dedicated Amateur Radio set a Yaesu FRG-100 HF Receiver is shown in fig. 66-2.

267. QUALIFICATION FOR A RADIO AMATEUR LICENCE

There are several routes to qualification for a full Class ‘A’ Licence.  Private study is one method and for this purpose the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) publishes two inexpensive books, one of which contains sample exam question papers.  At least two British companies offer correspondence courses but the most popular method is to attend a one year’s course of evening classes at a Technical College.

In Britain, the Radio Amateur’s Examination (RAE) is usually held in May and December by the City and Guilds of London Institute at many Technical Colleges throughout the country.  It is also possible to take the RAE through the Armed Forces and special arrangements can be made for those who are blind, housebound or handicapped.

There are two written papers, both of which must be attempted at first, although a pass in either can be’ carried forward.  When both papers have been passed, application can be made for a ‘Class B’ Licence which permits operation on the short range Amateur bands above 50 MHz.  For operation on the long range HF (short wave) bands, a Morse test of 12 words per minute must be taken in addition.  In Britain, the Morse test is conducted by the RSGB.

Personal instruction in the Morse code is very difficult to arrange.  Several electronic tutors are now available for self practice and these are ideal, but self instruction is the only reliable method available.

Once qualified, a unique international personal call-sign is allocated, in contrast to professional radio stations where the ship or shore stations gets the call-sign.  To indicate operation at sea the call-sign is modified by the addition of the words ‘maritime mobile’ in the case of a voice transmission.

268. THE MARITIME MOBILE NETWORKS

Maritime networks or ‘nets’ on Amateur Radio frequencies were briefly described in the opening paragraphs of this section.  These frequencies are used to provide convenient radio ‘meeting places’ for ocean cruising mariners.  Traffic includes weather, navigational information and contacts with other boats.  Some of the net frequencies have been used to organise rescues, but Ham Radio is not a reliable emergency radio system.

Some of the Maritime Mobile Nets are listed in below.  The real workhouse frequency in the Amateur Radio bands is 14.313 MHz.  Throughout the day this 20-metre frequency is home for nets busy handling message traffic and chats between ships and yachts about boats, harbours, charts and equipment.  Sometimes traffic on this frequency is so heavy that stations calling in must be sent off frequency to exchange their messages, the 14.313 frequency being used only for making contact.

The 40-metre band (7 MHz) is also popular with cruising Hams, providing communication throughout the day up to about 500 miles.  The 30-metre band (10 MHz) yields excellent contacts by day and night between 1200 and 3000 miles but is limited to Morse Code.  The 80-metre (3.5 to 4 MHz) band is active from early evening until dawn but daytime range is severely limited.  Contacts are common up to 300 miles in the evening and may reach 2000 miles just before dawn.

269. NETS FOR MARITIME MOBILE