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marine frequencies and k3

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George Thornton

marine frequencies and k3

I know someone who is about to embark on an around the world sailboat
cruise. She is not currently licensed on HAM frequencies but is going
to have a marine operator license. She is about to acquire a marine SSB
radio. Most of those radios are also capable of operation on HAM
frequencies.

I was trying to figure out if it was possible to legally communicate
with her using my K3 from home.

Can the K3 be modified to permit transmission on marine bands?

I want to emphasize that I am not looking for an opportunity to use the
radio for any illegal purpose. I am only interested in operating on
marine frequencies for which I would have a valid license.

Beyond this, it seems there is a potential marketing opportunity for
Elecraft in the marine community. Ocean sailors use SSB and many of
them also end up getting a HAM license so they can also use HAM
frequencies on voyages. The Elecraft K2 and K3 are in some ways ideal
for marine use because they are small and have relatively low power
consumption.

The stresses on a marine radio are huge and most of them have been made
water and shock resistant. Also, marine radios require extreme
simplicity of operation because they occasionally have to be used by an
inexperienced operator during an emergency.

Maybe none of this makes practical sense.

Someone educate me, that is what this forum is about.

de George AE7G

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Jim Wiley-2

Re: marine frequencies and k3

Unfortunately, even if the K3 could be made to operate on marine
frequencies, unless if is type accepted by the FCC for that service, it
is still not legal to use it, whether or not you have a license. As far
as I know, the K3 could not pass the acceptance requirement in it's
present form. The primary objection would have to do with VFO frequency
control, which is not permitted on the marine bands. There may be others.

It is legal to use a marine SSB transceiver on the ham bands, where type
acceptance is not required, but the reverse is not true. Wayne or Eric
can amplify this if they wish, but that is the gist of the argument.

- Jim, KL7CC

George A. Thornton wrote:
> <snip>
>
> I was trying to figure out if it was possible to legally communicate
> with her using my K3 from home.
>
>
> <snip>
>

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Johnny Siu

Re： marine frequencies and k3

Also for practical reasons, the popular marine bands is near to the I.F. of K3.
Using K3 for marine communication seems not quite appropriate.

cheers,

Johnny VR2XMC

________________________________
寄件人﹕ Jim Wiley <[hidden email]>
收件人﹕ George A. Thornton <[hidden email]>
副本(CC) [hidden email]
傳送日期﹕ 2011/3/23 (三) 1:30:12 PM
主題： Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3

Unfortunately, even if the K3 could be made to operate on marine
frequencies, unless if is type accepted by the FCC for that service, it
is still not legal to use it, whether or not you have a license. As far
as I know, the K3 could not pass the acceptance requirement in it's
present form. The primary objection would have to do with VFO frequency
control, which is not permitted on the marine bands. There may be others.

It is legal to use a marine SSB transceiver on the ham bands, where type
acceptance is not required, but the reverse is not true. Wayne or Eric
can amplify this if they wish, but that is the gist of the argument.

- Jim, KL7CC

George A. Thornton wrote:
> <snip>
>
> I was trying to figure out if it was possible to legally communicate
> with her using my K3 from home.
>
>
> <snip>
>

______________________________________________________________
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juergen piezo

Re: Re： marine frequencies and k3

Hi Johnny

The K3 would also have unacceptable IMD or occupied bandwidth standards making its use on the marine bands unethical.

I used one of my K3's on a sailboat, guess what happened?

I was not transmitting on the marine bands but some other nearby yacht operator was checking in on a 8mhz cruising race schedule getting yacht positions. I realized this after I got home. The net was at the time I was operating on 14mhz. I know the operator who runs the net and his yacht was berthed 5 yachts down from where I was operating from.

I smelt this awful smell and shut the K3 down immediately. When I got home and investigated the smell I found that my 8mhz trap was burnt and toasted. The trap was overwhelmed by the nearby transmitter on 8mhz. The PCB tracks were not damaged but were all badly burnt or brown. I rebuilt the trap and used the K3 without it for a while. I noticed no IF break through.

I may order a new KANT PCB assembly in the future to try and restore my K3 back to its new condition.

So K3 operators beware of operating near mariners especially at night where 8 mhz might be used for such things as pactor! You may well think your K3 is possessed by the devil or has had some sort of parasitic oscillation.

73
John

--- On Tue, 3/22/11, Johnny Siu <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Johnny Siu <[hidden email]>
> Subject: [Elecraft] Re： marine frequencies and k3
> To: "Jim Wiley" <[hidden email]>, "George A. Thornton" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 10:47 PM
> Also for practical reasons, the
> popular marine bands is near to the I.F. of K3.
> Using K3 for marine communication seems not quite
> appropriate.
>
> cheers,
>
>
> Johnny VR2XMC
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> 寄件人﹕ Jim Wiley <[hidden email]>
> 收件人﹕ George A. Thornton <[hidden email]>
> 副本(CC) [hidden email]
> 傳送日期﹕ 2011/3/23 (三) 1:30:12 PM
> 主題： Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3
>
>
> Unfortunately, even if the K3 could be made to operate on
> marine
> frequencies, unless if is type accepted by the FCC for that
> service, it
> is still not legal to use it, whether or not you have a
> license. As far
> as I know, the K3 could not pass the acceptance requirement
> in it's
> present form. The primary objection would have to do with
> VFO frequency
> control, which is not permitted on the marine bands.
> There may be others.
>
>
> It is legal to use a marine SSB transceiver on the ham
> bands, where type
> acceptance is not required, but the reverse is not true.
> Wayne or Eric
> can amplify this if they wish, but that is the gist of the
> argument.
>
>
> - Jim, KL7CC
>
>
>
> George A. Thornton wrote:
> > <snip>
> >
> > I was trying to figure out if it was possible to
> legally communicate
> > with her using my K3 from home.
> >
> >
> > <snip>
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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Eugene Balinski

Re: marine frequencies and k3

In reply to this post by George Thornton

George,

The ** best ** solution would be for her to get her ham
license. In that manner, she would be able to work the
14300 Maritime Mobile Service Net as well as a number of
other maritime nets throughout the world. It will also
give her access to other hams throughout the world. This
could save her life. There are a number of weekend
license courses that could help her along the way.

I am sure that he HF radio and antenna coupler on her
boat will cover the complete 3 - 22 MHz band and may go to
30 MHz. It may have to be keyboard/reset enabled. That
would give her easy operation.

Also, please DO NOT suggest that she use a ham rig for
her primary marine HF radio. Most ham rigs are not set up
for the rigors of marine operation and with the salt air
and moisture, corrode very easliy. Marine HF radio have
the commericial frequencies with correct T/R split already
in NV memories. This is especially important for distress
frequencies. These are normally a 1 button push.

No it is not legal for you to communicate with her via
HF on the marine band with out getting a commercial station
license for you, and having a commercially certified radio
at your station.

73
K1NR

On Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:07:39 -0700
"George A. Thornton" <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> I know someone who is about to embark on an around the
> world sailboat
> cruise. She is not currently licensed on HAM frequencies
> but is going
> to have a marine operator license. She is about to
> acquire a marine SSB
> radio. Most of those radios are also capable of
> operation on HAM
> frequencies.
>
>
>
> I was trying to figure out if it was possible to legally
> communicate
> with her using my K3 from home.
>
>
>
> Can the K3 be modified to permit transmission on marine
> bands?
>
>
>
> I want to emphasize that I am not looking for an
> opportunity to use the
> radio for any illegal purpose. I am only interested in
> operating on
> marine frequencies for which I would have a valid
> license.
>
>
>
> Beyond this, it seems there is a potential marketing
> opportunity for
> Elecraft in the marine community. Ocean sailors use SSB
> and many of
> them also end up getting a HAM license so they can also
> use HAM
> frequencies on voyages. The Elecraft K2 and K3 are in
> some ways ideal
> for marine use because they are small and have relatively
> low power
> consumption.
>
>
>
> The stresses on a marine radio are huge and most of them
> have been made
> water and shock resistant. Also, marine radios require
> extreme
> simplicity of operation because they occasionally have to
> be used by an
> inexperienced operator during an emergency.
>
>
>
> Maybe none of this makes practical sense.
>
>
>
> Someone educate me, that is what this forum is about.
>
>
>
> de George AE7G
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list:
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Web mail provided by NuNet, Inc. The Premier National provider.
http://www.nni.com/
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Johnny Siu

marine frequencies and k3

Hello Gentleman,

Perhaps, this may not be relevant. Nowadays, HF email using PACTOR III is very
popular in marine time. Most marine radio can stand for heavy duty cycle PACTOR
transmission. However, ham gears are not designed for such a full duty cycle.

So let the marine gears do the marine job. When I use K3 for PACTOR III, I need
to low the power to say 30W.
cheers,

Johnny VR2XMC

________________________________
寄件人﹕ Eugene Balinski <[hidden email]>
收件人﹕ George A. Thornton <[hidden email]>;
[hidden email]
傳送日期﹕ 2011/3/23 (三) 8:54:10 PM
主題： Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3

George,

The ** best ** solution would be for her to get her ham
license. In that manner, she would be able to work the
14300 Maritime Mobile Service Net as well as a number of
other maritime nets throughout the world. It will also
give her access to other hams throughout the world. This
could save her life. There are a number of weekend
license courses that could help her along the way.

I am sure that he HF radio and antenna coupler on her
boat will cover the complete 3 - 22 MHz band and may go to
30 MHz. It may have to be keyboard/reset enabled. That
would give her easy operation.

Also, please DO NOT suggest that she use a ham rig for
her primary marine HF radio. Most ham rigs are not set up
for the rigors of marine operation and with the salt air
and moisture, corrode very easliy. Marine HF radio have
the commericial frequencies with correct T/R split already
in NV memories. This is especially important for distress
frequencies. These are normally a 1 button push.

No it is not legal for you to communicate with her via
HF on the marine band with out getting a commercial station
license for you, and having a commercially certified radio
at your station.

73
K1NR

On Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:07:39 -0700
"George A. Thornton" <[hidden email]>
wrote:

Jim Rhodes-2

Re: Re： marine frequencies and k3

In reply to this post by juergen piezo

Also marine radio is just that marine radio. If you wanted to legally talk
on the marine frequencies you would have to be "marine" in other words not a
shore station. There are restrictions (or used to be) about using marine
frequencies from a shore location if not licensed for such. And there were
restrictions on who could be licensed such as being a business that serviced
ships or owned and operated ships, etc.

Jim K0XU

On Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 3:05 AM, juergen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Johnny
>
> The K3 would also have unacceptable IMD or occupied bandwidth standards
> making its use on the marine bands unethical.
>
> I used one of my K3's on a sailboat, guess what happened?
>
> I was not transmitting on the marine bands but some other nearby yacht
> operator was checking in on a 8mhz cruising race schedule getting yacht
> positions. I realized this after I got home. The net was at the time I was
> operating on 14mhz. I know the operator who runs the net and his yacht was
> berthed 5 yachts down from where I was operating from.
>
> I smelt this awful smell and shut the K3 down immediately. When I got
> home and investigated the smell I found that my 8mhz trap was burnt and
> toasted. The trap was overwhelmed by the nearby transmitter on 8mhz. The
> PCB tracks were not damaged but were all badly burnt or brown. I rebuilt the
> trap and used the K3 without it for a while. I noticed no IF break through.
>
> I may order a new KANT PCB assembly in the future to try and restore my K3
> back to its new condition.
>
> So K3 operators beware of operating near mariners especially at night where
> 8 mhz might be used for such things as pactor! You may well think your K3 is
> possessed by the devil or has had some sort of parasitic oscillation.
>
> 73
> John
>
> --- On Tue, 3/22/11, Johnny Siu <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > From: Johnny Siu <[hidden email]>
> > Subject: [Elecraft] Re： marine frequencies and k3
> > To: "Jim Wiley" <[hidden email]>, "George A. Thornton" <
> [hidden email]>
> > Cc: [hidden email]
> > Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 10:47 PM
> > Also for practical reasons, the
> > popular marine bands is near to the I.F. of K3.
> > Using K3 for marine communication seems not quite
> > appropriate.
> >
> > cheers,
> >
> >
> > Johnny VR2XMC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > 寄件人﹕ Jim Wiley <[hidden email]>
> > 收件人﹕ George A. Thornton <[hidden email]>
> > 副本(CC) [hidden email]
> > 傳送日期﹕ 2011/3/23 (三) 1:30:12 PM
> > 主題： Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3
> >
> >
> > Unfortunately, even if the K3 could be made to operate on
> > marine
> > frequencies, unless if is type accepted by the FCC for that
> > service, it
> > is still not legal to use it, whether or not you have a
> > license. As far
> > as I know, the K3 could not pass the acceptance requirement
> > in it's
> > present form. The primary objection would have to do with
> > VFO frequency
> > control, which is not permitted on the marine bands.
> > There may be others.
> >
> >
> > It is legal to use a marine SSB transceiver on the ham
> > bands, where type
> > acceptance is not required, but the reverse is not true.
> > Wayne or Eric
> > can amplify this if they wish, but that is the gist of the
> > argument.
> >
> >
> > - Jim, KL7CC
> >
> >
> >
> > George A. Thornton wrote:
> > > <snip>
> > >
> > > I was trying to figure out if it was possible to
> > legally communicate
> > > with her using my K3 from home.
> > >
> > >
> > > <snip>
> > >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

--
Jim K0XU
______________________________________________________________
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Matt Zilmer

Re: marine frequencies and k3

In reply to this post by Johnny Siu

Ah, but the K3 does a stellar job with WL2K, even with 100W set up as
power out. Sometimes a single transmission takes 6 or 7 seconds, and
there are lots of repeats (a typical HF email session is 2-3 minutes).
My understanding is that WL2K and Pactor modes are very similar in
terms of hard-driving the PA.

I actually think one could run the K3 in the high duty cycle range
like this, for long periods. In MARS, we habitually run MT63 at
80-100W with no ill effects. This is a very high duty cycle mode, and
a typical transmission lasts 4 to 5 minutes (if the broadcast is
wordy). No problems with that either, at least in my case.

And the K3 protects itself anyway. When I first started sending HF
traffic as a MARS member, I remember monitoring the PA TEMP closely to
see how much of a rise would occur. There was a bit of a blip, but
the fans always came on and maintained the PA at < 48C. Actually,
this is quite cool.

I think Johnny's comment about salt air and corrosion is spot on .
There was another gentleman that had his 8 MHz IF trap cooked by a
nearby marine band transmission. There are clearly reasons not to
operate the K3 as a marine band radio, legal and technical, however
there are a number of maritime ops using the K3 in the ham bands, and
I've met some of them. They keep the radio covered when not in use
(or in a cabinet), and generally care for it like they should. Maybe
this is a more apt use case - ham ops versus marine radio?

matt W6NIA

On Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:12:10 +0800 (HKT), you wrote:

>Hello Gentleman,
>
>Perhaps, this may not be relevant. Nowadays, HF email using PACTOR III is very
>popular in marine time. Most marine radio can stand for heavy duty cycle PACTOR
>transmission. However, ham gears are not designed for such a full duty cycle.
>
>So let the marine gears do the marine job. When I use K3 for PACTOR III, I need
>to low the power to say 30W.
> cheers,
>
>
>Johnny VR2XMC
>
>
>
>
>________________________________
>???? Eugene Balinski <[hidden email]>
>???? George A. Thornton <[hidden email]>;
>[hidden email]
>????? 2011/3/23 (?) 8:54:10 PM
>??? Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3
>
>George,
>
> The ** best ** solution would be for her to get her ham
>license. In that manner, she would be able to work the
>14300 Maritime Mobile Service Net as well as a number of
>other maritime nets throughout the world. It will also
>give her access to other hams throughout the world. This
>could save her life. There are a number of weekend
>license courses that could help her along the way.
>
> I am sure that he HF radio and antenna coupler on her
>boat will cover the complete 3 - 22 MHz band and may go to
>30 MHz. It may have to be keyboard/reset enabled. That
>would give her easy operation.
>
> Also, please DO NOT suggest that she use a ham rig for
>her primary marine HF radio. Most ham rigs are not set up
>for the rigors of marine operation and with the salt air
>and moisture, corrode very easliy. Marine HF radio have
>the commericial frequencies with correct T/R split already
>in NV memories. This is especially important for distress
>frequencies. These are normally a 1 button push.
>
> No it is not legal for you to communicate with her via
>HF on the marine band with out getting a commercial station
>license for you, and having a commercially certified radio
>at your station.
>
>73
>K1NR
>
>
>
>
>
>On Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:07:39 -0700
>"George A. Thornton" <[hidden email]>
>wrote:
>> I know someone who is about to embark on an around the
>> world sailboat
>> cruise. She is not currently licensed on HAM frequencies
>> but is going
>> to have a marine operator license. She is about to
>> acquire a marine SSB
>> radio. Most of those radios are also capable of
>> operation on HAM
>> frequencies.
>>
>>
>>
>> I was trying to figure out if it was possible to legally
>> communicate
>> with her using my K3 from home.
>>
>>
>>
>> Can the K3 be modified to permit transmission on marine
>> bands?
>>
>>
>>
>> I want to emphasize that I am not looking for an
>> opportunity to use the
>> radio for any illegal purpose. I am only interested in
>> operating on
>> marine frequencies for which I would have a valid
>> license.
>>
>>
>>
>> Beyond this, it seems there is a potential marketing
>> opportunity for
>> Elecraft in the marine community. Ocean sailors use SSB
>> and many of
>> them also end up getting a HAM license so they can also
>> use HAM
>> frequencies on voyages. The Elecraft K2 and K3 are in
>> some ways ideal
>> for marine use because they are small and have relatively
>> low power
>> consumption.
>>
>>
>>
>> The stresses on a marine radio are huge and most of them
>> have been made
>> water and shock resistant. Also, marine radios require
>> extreme
>> simplicity of operation because they occasionally have to
>> be used by an
>> inexperienced operator during an emergency.
>>
>>
>>
>> Maybe none of this makes practical sense.
>>
>>
>>
>> Someone educate me, that is what this forum is about.
>>
>>
>>
>> de George AE7G
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list:
>> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>Web mail provided by NuNet, Inc. The Premier National provider.
>http://www.nni.com/
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: marine frequencies and k3

How is any of this commercial (using amateur radio to beat commercial
wireless e-mail providers out of their fees) activity applicable to
the K3 or Elecraft. Elecraft are *amateur* equipment not designed,
type accepted or marketed for commercial/marine use.

Take that garbage outside the amateur bands to someplace it belongs.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 3/23/2011 11:31 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:

> Ah, but the K3 does a stellar job with WL2K, even with 100W set up as
> power out. Sometimes a single transmission takes 6 or 7 seconds, and
> there are lots of repeats (a typical HF email session is 2-3 minutes).
> My understanding is that WL2K and Pactor modes are very similar in
> terms of hard-driving the PA.
>
> I actually think one could run the K3 in the high duty cycle range
> like this, for long periods. In MARS, we habitually run MT63 at
> 80-100W with no ill effects. This is a very high duty cycle mode, and
> a typical transmission lasts 4 to 5 minutes (if the broadcast is
> wordy). No problems with that either, at least in my case.
>
> And the K3 protects itself anyway. When I first started sending HF
> traffic as a MARS member, I remember monitoring the PA TEMP closely to
> see how much of a rise would occur. There was a bit of a blip, but
> the fans always came on and maintained the PA at< 48C. Actually,
> this is quite cool.
>
> I think Johnny's comment about salt air and corrosion is spot on .
> There was another gentleman that had his 8 MHz IF trap cooked by a
> nearby marine band transmission. There are clearly reasons not to
> operate the K3 as a marine band radio, legal and technical, however
> there are a number of maritime ops using the K3 in the ham bands, and
> I've met some of them. They keep the radio covered when not in use
> (or in a cabinet), and generally care for it like they should. Maybe
> this is a more apt use case - ham ops versus marine radio?
>
> matt W6NIA
>
> On Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:12:10 +0800 (HKT), you wrote:
>
>> Hello Gentleman,
>>
>> Perhaps, this may not be relevant. Nowadays, HF email using PACTOR III is very
>> popular in marine time. Most marine radio can stand for heavy duty cycle PACTOR
>> transmission. However, ham gears are not designed for such a full duty cycle.
>>
>> So let the marine gears do the marine job. When I use K3 for PACTOR III, I need
>> to low the power to say 30W.
>> cheers,
>>
>>
>> Johnny VR2XMC
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> ???? Eugene Balinski<[hidden email]>
>> ???? George A. Thornton<[hidden email]>;
>> [hidden email]
>> ????? 2011/3/23 (?) 8:54:10 PM
>> ??? Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3
>>
>> George,
>>
>> The ** best ** solution would be for her to get her ham
>> license. In that manner, she would be able to work the
>> 14300 Maritime Mobile Service Net as well as a number of
>> other maritime nets throughout the world. It will also
>> give her access to other hams throughout the world. This
>> could save her life. There are a number of weekend
>> license courses that could help her along the way.
>>
>> I am sure that he HF radio and antenna coupler on her
>> boat will cover the complete 3 - 22 MHz band and may go to
>> 30 MHz. It may have to be keyboard/reset enabled. That
>> would give her easy operation.
>>
>> Also, please DO NOT suggest that she use a ham rig for
>> her primary marine HF radio. Most ham rigs are not set up
>> for the rigors of marine operation and with the salt air
>> and moisture, corrode very easliy. Marine HF radio have
>> the commericial frequencies with correct T/R split already
>> in NV memories. This is especially important for distress
>> frequencies. These are normally a 1 button push.
>>
>> No it is not legal for you to communicate with her via
>> HF on the marine band with out getting a commercial station
>> license for you, and having a commercially certified radio
>> at your station.
>>
>> 73
>> K1NR
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:07:39 -0700
>> "George A. Thornton"<[hidden email]>
>> wrote:
>>> I know someone who is about to embark on an around the
>>> world sailboat
>>> cruise. She is not currently licensed on HAM frequencies
>>> but is going
>>> to have a marine operator license. She is about to
>>> acquire a marine SSB
>>> radio. Most of those radios are also capable of
>>> operation on HAM
>>> frequencies.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I was trying to figure out if it was possible to legally
>>> communicate
>>> with her using my K3 from home.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Can the K3 be modified to permit transmission on marine
>>> bands?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I want to emphasize that I am not looking for an
>>> opportunity to use the
>>> radio for any illegal purpose. I am only interested in
>>> operating on
>>> marine frequencies for which I would have a valid
>>> license.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Beyond this, it seems there is a potential marketing
>>> opportunity for
>>> Elecraft in the marine community. Ocean sailors use SSB
>>> and many of
>>> them also end up getting a HAM license so they can also
>>> use HAM
>>> frequencies on voyages. The Elecraft K2 and K3 are in
>>> some ways ideal
>>> for marine use because they are small and have relatively
>>> low power
>>> consumption.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The stresses on a marine radio are huge and most of them
>>> have been made
>>> water and shock resistant. Also, marine radios require
>>> extreme
>>> simplicity of operation because they occasionally have to
>>> be used by an
>>> inexperienced operator during an emergency.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Maybe none of this makes practical sense.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Someone educate me, that is what this forum is about.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> de George AE7G
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>
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>>
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> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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George Thornton

Re: marine frequencies and k3

In reply to this post by Eugene Balinski

Thanks everyone for the excellent information.

-----Original Message-----
From: Eugene Balinski [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 5:54 AM
To: George A. Thornton; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3

George,

The ** best ** solution would be for her to get her ham
license. In that manner, she would be able to work the
14300 Maritime Mobile Service Net as well as a number of
other maritime nets throughout the world. It will also
give her access to other hams throughout the world. This
could save her life. There are a number of weekend
license courses that could help her along the way.

I am sure that he HF radio and antenna coupler on her
boat will cover the complete 3 - 22 MHz band and may go to
30 MHz. It may have to be keyboard/reset enabled. That
would give her easy operation.

Also, please DO NOT suggest that she use a ham rig for
her primary marine HF radio. Most ham rigs are not set up
for the rigors of marine operation and with the salt air
and moisture, corrode very easliy. Marine HF radio have
the commericial frequencies with correct T/R split already
in NV memories. This is especially important for distress
frequencies. These are normally a 1 button push.

No it is not legal for you to communicate with her via
HF on the marine band with out getting a commercial station
license for you, and having a commercially certified radio
at your station.

73
K1NR

On Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:07:39 -0700
"George A. Thornton" <[hidden email]>
wrote:

Jim Brown-10

Re: marine frequencies and k3

In reply to this post by Johnny Siu

On 3/23/2011 7:12 AM, Johnny Siu wrote:
> When I use K3 for PACTOR III, I need
> to low the power to say 30W.

The K3 is rated for 100W in keydown modes for several minutes. In RTTY
contests where the rules require 100W max, I run it at 100W and the
temperature stays well within safe limits.

73, Jim K9YC

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