Topband: Maritime gear programmable on ham bands?

[Merv Schweigert]

I do not know what rigs are used on the fishing boats, but I can sure 
give you
daily logs showing both american and asian fishing boats carrying on SSB
qso's on the ham bands.   Mostly on 80 and 160 meters.
It is normal operation when the fishing season is open they come on the 80
meter CW end of the band and go over charts, water temps, locations and
where to set the next lines and nets.   Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, and
a few Americans.
This morning was a good S9 pair of signals on 1819.5 SSB going over the
days fishing plans.
Of course the fish net beacons cover the 160 band.
Maybe the coast guard does not monitor these freqs so has no idea what is
there?
Its been a problem here in Hawaii for sure for years now.
>    
>> This is because the equipment they purchase, like Icom rigs, operates in Ham
>> bands. The radio buoys also are programmable to Ham bands.
>> 73 Tom
>>      
> Tom, this is news to me. Maritime equipment is manufactured to
> extremely strict type acceptance. Can you give me an example of an
> Icom MF/HF maritime rig that can be used or reprogrammed onto the ham
> bands? It seems to me that some incredible redesigning of such a radio
> would have to be done. Also, I don't see how the maritime
> channelization design could be defeated to give the frequency agility
> we enjoy in the amateur radio service (the only service to be given
> such a privilege).
>
> There are maritime channels set aside specifically for "chit-chat"
> among vessels at sea, so I see no reason for a vessel owner to go
> through the incredible effort of  getting a maritime-only rig
> operating on the ham bands. I suspect, instead, that the vessel owner
> has purchased a ham band transceiver (which is about half the price of
> a maritime transceiver).
>
> Note that maritime frequencies are channelized. See for example, our
> website: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov
>
> 73, Jeff KH6O
> Senior Chief, US Coast Guard
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