Amateur Radio on Board Scott Honaker – N7SS. Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 2 Local Communications...

Amateur Radio on BoardAmateur Radio on Board

Scott Honaker – N7SSScott Honaker – N7SS

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SSAmateur Radio on Board - N7SS 22

Local CommunicationsLocal Communications

Marine VHFMarine VHF – 25 watt power limit– 25 watt power limit• Not to be used ashoreNot to be used ashore

CBCB - - 4 watt limit / 40 channels4 watt limit / 40 channels• Overrun with illegal high power stationsOverrun with illegal high power stations

FRSFRS - - ½ watt power limit / 14 channels½ watt power limit / 14 channels• Limited range and can be very crowdedLimited range and can be very crowded

GMRSGMRS - 5 watt limit / 23 channels- 5 watt limit / 23 channels• Requires $75 licenseRequires $75 license


Long-Distance CommunicationsLong-Distance Communications

Cellular PhoneCellular Phone – ½ watt limit– ½ watt limit• Limited coverage and support outside USLimited coverage and support outside US• Roaming charges can be huge (internationally)Roaming charges can be huge (internationally)• May support dataMay support data

SatelliteSatellite – International coverage– International coverage• Expensive (large) equipment and connect chargesExpensive (large) equipment and connect charges• Allows data transmissions for additional $$$Allows data transmissions for additional $$$

Marine HF SSBMarine HF SSB – International coverage – International coverage• Requires $155 station license and $55 operator licenseRequires $155 station license and $55 operator license• Supports Sailmail at $250 per yearSupports Sailmail at $250 per year


Why Amateur Radio?Why Amateur Radio?

Reliable, versatile communicationsReliable, versatile communications Low costLow cost Several technologies of interestSeveral technologies of interest

• HF SSB – Long distance voiceHF SSB – Long distance voice• HTs - High power portable radiosHTs - High power portable radios• Autopatch – Telephone connectivityAutopatch – Telephone connectivity• IRLP/Echolink – Voice repeaters connected via IRLP/Echolink – Voice repeaters connected via

the Internetthe Internet• APRS – Amateur Position Reporting SystemAPRS – Amateur Position Reporting System• Winlink – Email via HF/VHFWinlink – Email via HF/VHF


Amateur HF SSBAmateur HF SSB

More spectrum/bands availableMore spectrum/bands available More power – 1500 watts!More power – 1500 watts! Most nets on amateur frequenciesMost nets on amateur frequencies Voice and data modesVoice and data modes


Amateur HTsAmateur HTs

Up to 7 watts availableUp to 7 watts available 100s of “channels” on several bands100s of “channels” on several bands Repeaters extend rangeRepeaters extend range Better antennas availableBetter antennas available Can be used anywhereCan be used anywhere Repeater-based netsRepeater-based nets X


Amateur AutopatchAmateur Autopatch

Adds access to phone linesAdds access to phone lines Must “subscribe” to repeaterMust “subscribe” to repeater Generally inexpensive $15-$50 Generally inexpensive $15-$50

per yearper year No business messagesNo business messages 911 available on most machines 911 available on most machines

without membershipwithout membership


IRLP / EcholinkIRLP / Echolink

Links repeaters via the InternetLinks repeaters via the Internet Allows “worldwide” coverage on VHFAllows “worldwide” coverage on VHF Thousands of nodes availableThousands of nodes available Echolink allows connecting via computer Echolink allows connecting via computer

directly – no radio requireddirectly – no radio required More information atMore information at

• http://www.echolink.org/http://www.echolink.org/• http://www.irlp.net/http://www.irlp.net/


Automatic Position Reporting Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS)System (APRS)

Beacons position every few minutesBeacons position every few minutes Allows status text (“Off to Nanaimo”)Allows status text (“Off to Nanaimo”) Supports outbound 1-liner EmailsSupports outbound 1-liner Emails NWS weather warningsNWS weather warnings Location available via radio or Internet Location available via radio or Internet

almost instantaneouslyalmost instantaneously• http://map.findu.com/http://map.findu.com/callsigncallsign


APRS ContinuedAPRS Continued

Real-time weather from local stationsReal-time weather from local stations Supported on multiple computer platformsSupported on multiple computer platforms Available via satellite/ISS and HFAvailable via satellite/ISS and HF More information atMore information at

• http://http://www.aprs.orgwww.aprs.org• http://nwaprs.infohttp://nwaprs.info


APRS Map from APRSPointAPRS Map from APRSPoint


APRS Weather on FindU.comAPRS Weather on FindU.com


Winlink 2000Winlink 2000

Designed as HF Email system for boatersDesigned as HF Email system for boaters Similar to subscription Sailmail serviceSimilar to subscription Sailmail service Longer daily transmission time-limit than Longer daily transmission time-limit than

SailmailSailmail No service fees required but no business No service fees required but no business

traffic allowedtraffic allowed Includes APRS-style position reportingIncludes APRS-style position reporting Downloadable “bulletins” with weather, Downloadable “bulletins” with weather,

news, instructions, piracy information, etc.news, instructions, piracy information, etc. Worldwide coverageWorldwide coverage


Winlink 2000 Mailbox NodesWinlink 2000 Mailbox Nodes


Winlink 2000 - ContinuedWinlink 2000 - Continued

Uses Airmail Email client software or pipe Uses Airmail Email client software or pipe messages to Outlook/Outlook Expressmessages to Outlook/Outlook Express

Can also be used with dial-up or direct Can also be used with dial-up or direct Internet connection in portInternet connection in port

Allows binary attachmentsAllows binary attachments Best performance requires SCS radio Best performance requires SCS radio

modem at nearly $1000modem at nearly $1000


Winlink StationWinlink Station


Emergency CommunicationsEmergency Communications

Aircraft Radios (121.5 MHz)Aircraft Radios (121.5 MHz)• Monitored by aircraft and satellitesMonitored by aircraft and satellites

EPIRBs (406/121.5 Mhz)EPIRBs (406/121.5 Mhz) VHF Channel 16 (Channel 70 with DSC)VHF Channel 16 (Channel 70 with DSC) HF SSB 2182kHzHF SSB 2182kHz Amateur RadioAmateur Radio

• ““Multimode” rigs – very versatileMultimode” rigs – very versatile• APRS – Emergency mode can send positionAPRS – Emergency mode can send position• Autopatch allows 911 accessAutopatch allows 911 access


How to Get LicensedHow to Get Licensed

Three license classes – Technician, Three license classes – Technician, General and Amateur ExtraGeneral and Amateur Extra

Technician license allows VHF/UHF bandsTechnician license allows VHF/UHF bands General class license required for access General class license required for access

to HF bandsto HF bands Written test required for each license classWritten test required for each license class Tests administered locally with Volunteer Tests administered locally with Volunteer

Examiners (VEs) for $14 feeExaminers (VEs) for $14 fee License valid for 10 years before renewalLicense valid for 10 years before renewal


Exam TopicsExam Topics

FCC Rules and RegulationsFCC Rules and Regulations Modulation Techniques (AM, FM, SSB, CW)Modulation Techniques (AM, FM, SSB, CW) Radio PropagationRadio Propagation Basic ElectronicsBasic Electronics Transmitter/Receiver ComponentsTransmitter/Receiver Components Repeater/Satellite OperationsRepeater/Satellite Operations RF SafetyRF Safety


Exam InfoExam Info

Published multiple choice question poolPublished multiple choice question pool• 35 of 525 questions for Technician35 of 525 questions for Technician• 35 of 438 questions for General35 of 438 questions for General• 50 of 818 questions for Extra50 of 818 questions for Extra

Technician valid until 6/30/2006Technician valid until 6/30/2006• May get a little easierMay get a little easier

General valid until 6/30/2007General valid until 6/30/2007• Will get more difficult with removal of code Will get more difficult with removal of code

requirementrequirement


Exam Preparation MaterialsExam Preparation Materials

Books from ARRL, W5YI (Gordon West), Books from ARRL, W5YI (Gordon West), even Ham Radio for Dummieseven Ham Radio for Dummies• http://www.arrl.orghttp://www.arrl.org• http://www.w5yi.orghttp://www.w5yi.org

Practice exams on http://www.qrz.comPractice exams on http://www.qrz.com Ham University software from Ham University software from

http://hamuniversity.com/http://hamuniversity.com/ Study guides and band plans on Study guides and band plans on

http://www.microhams.comhttp://www.microhams.com


Amateur Classes/TestingAmateur Classes/Testing

ARRLARRL MicrohamsMicrohams

• http://www.Microhams.comhttp://www.Microhams.com Radio Club of TacomaRadio Club of Tacoma

• http://www.w7dk.orghttp://www.w7dk.org Mount Baker Amateur Radio ClubMount Baker Amateur Radio Club

• http://www.qsl.net/k7skwhttp://www.qsl.net/k7skw Tests available somewhere every weekTests available somewhere every week

• http://www.mikeandkey.org/education.htmhttp://www.mikeandkey.org/education.htm


We’ll be listening for you…We’ll be listening for you…

Amateur Radio on Board Scott Honaker – N7SS. Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 2 Local Communications...

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