[CQ-Contest] Practicalities of Maritime HF Operation

[Bill Coleman]

On Mar 29, 2005, at 5:11 PM, Lyndon Nerenberg (VE6BBM) wrote:

> Let's look at the cost of adding HF to a boat. (These numbers are real
> -- I obtained all of the following prices last month at the Vancouver 
> Boat Show.) The best show price for an Icom IC-M802 with AT-140 tuner
> was CAD$3000. The rest of the year that package is around $3500. This
> gives me all the maritime MF/HF frequencies I'm licensed for. No
> amateur operation. To have the radio "opened up" to allow amateur
> operation (in reality, full access to the entire 2-30 Mhz range)
> typically costs another $500-1000. So at best I'm looking at $3500 for
> an "opened up" IC-M802 with tuner (and perhaps as much as $4500).
> Compare that to my FT-897 with AT-100 tuner and TCXO (and a bunch of
> other goodies) I bought for $1300. Add 30 minutes labour and it, too,
> has full DC-daylight coverage (including marine VHF). I just saved
> $2300.

Yes, but the amateur equipment isn't type-accepted for use on the 
maritime frequencies. You saved money by purchasing an illegal radio. 
There are many ways to "save" money by ignoring rules and regulations. 
Are you saying that boat operators gradually embrace a life of crime?

> In that context, it's very very easy to justify putting that $2300 into
> something other than the radio. Is that the right thing to do? Nope. Is
> it the practical thing to do? Yes.

Is it the illegal thing to do? Yes.

> In no way do I agree with unlicensed operations on the amateur bands.
> Nor do I approve of people using non-type accepted gear on maritime
> frequencies.

You don't? You just endorsed it. Twice!

>  I just wanted to give everyone some context to help
> explain why things are the way they are.

Because boaters are scofflaws. Got it.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901