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HarlenW
USA
383 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 04 2010 : 19:13:16
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I am a licensed HAM (N0DBE) and am considering buying a 2 meter radio for use when I am in Canada to get weather and boating information from fellow HAMS on the water. I know there are HAM repeater nets there for boaters. Has anyone had experiences they can share regarding them to help me decide if it is worth it?
Thanks.
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Harlen
"Red Knot"
2006 Mainship 34 Trawler |
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seabug
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2010 : 19:56:08
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| I have a Kenwood 2 meter hand held with coverage: 144-173 megahertz. This covers ham 2 meter as well as marine VHF (and many things in between, ie. hospitals, paramedics, offices, etc). It's a great thing to have on a boat or most anywhere else. |
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Cpt. Harold
USA
488 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2010 : 21:15:51
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quote:
Originally posted by seabug
I have a Kenwood 2 meter hand held with coverage: 144-173 megahertz. This covers ham 2 meter as well as marine VHF (and many things in between, ie. hospitals, paramedics, offices, etc). It's a great thing to have on a boat or most anywhere else.
You might be careful with that since using it on the marine channels is illegal. (Not type accepted) Just saying !!!
Harlen as you know we have automatic reciprocal with Canada but can't tell you about 2M activity on your intended area. Good DX !!
73 de WP4DL
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Billylll
USA
8070 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2010 : 21:22:36
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As far as I know there are no boater specific NETS on 2 meters. I however I would take it just use the call area you are in after your call sign. For instance in my case AA2UK/Maritime Mobile in VE1 or the grid square (FM65) after maritime mobile as an example. There is no special requirement for using the radio in Canada as long as you keep your license with you. Now I have an ICOM IC7000 all mode mobile it works from 160 meters through 432/440MHz all mode. I however use a KB6Q horizontal loop antenna, 150 watt Mirage amplifier with it on 2 meter SSB. I love it especially when the band gets extended propogation on cool summer nights. There are maritime NETS on the 20 meter band for world cruisers but all are welcome. I also operate 75 meters at night and 20 meters during the day using a 23' fiberglass Marine SSB antenna and a Dynaplate (for the low bands ground) and AT-130 automatic antenna tuner for the low bands.
I have had excellent results contacting stations in Spain, Germany and various other countries with my setup on 20 meters in the early morning and late afternoon.
I can switch to 2 meter FM using a spare VHF marine antenna even though it doesn't have the best VSWR or return loss.
73 Bill AA2UK
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WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
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Billylll
USA
8070 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2010 : 21:28:23
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I stand corrected Harlan I see you said British Columbia that would be a DM grid not an FM6- grid not needed anyway unless your giving out rare water grids on 2 meters for guys chasing VUCC on that band.
Harold is correct we have reciprical agreements in place with Canada.
73 Bill the real AA2UK |
WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
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Veebyes
Bermuda
2447 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2010 : 07:14:50
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Given the terrain of the area I would think that VHF simplex or repeater coverage will be limited though I'll bet there are some mountaintop repeaters with very wide coverage. No harm in trying though. Repeater information should be easy enough to find online.
On the road with our RV I generally monitor 146.52 or perhaps program repeaters that I think I will be passing through the night before. Trying to program with the offsets, the PL tones etc. while driving is as dangerous & criminal to me as texting while driving. Much easier to do on a boat on the move.
I am heading to the Pacific NW this spring. Not going into BC but will be in the Seattle, Mt Rainier, Olympic Penninsular for about 3 weeks,
If you hear VP9KL, I'm not a pirate. |
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george smith
USA
83 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2010 : 20:58:39
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| OOOH man I was lookin for a BIG ham mmmh pork chops mmmh |
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Billylll
USA
8070 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2010 : 22:15:51
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George many amateur radio operators (Hams) take their hobby seriously. Hams even with today's communication systems are often the 1st to get the news of a disasrer, government takeovers and even invasions (Kuwait is a prime example in Desert Storm. To be honest I'd rather have a ham operator over the recruits they train to operate VHF radio at USCG Delaware Bay.
Bill AA2UK
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WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
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Veebyes
Bermuda
2447 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2010 : 08:36:03
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Easy there Billy. Lots of people think ham radio is 'just' like CB. They have no idea of how cutting edge Amateur radio is.
Guess who was running around making phone calls (without operator assistance) from their cars back in the late 70s, waaay before cell phones were thought of.
Guess who were sending wireless packets (texting) to each other around the world in the 80s.
Guess who were using VOIP long before there was Vonage or Skype.
Guess who routinely think nothing of talking to each other around the world using nothing more than a handheld radio, & do it at no charge.
It is a great hobby & especially useful to a cruising boater where a VHF limited to basically line of sight does not cut it. |
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Billylll
USA
8070 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2010 : 20:54:54
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Veebyes I am really serious about the hobby more so than even boating. I was out bat my tower remote station today I just installed a new BEKO 620 watt solid state 432MHz amplifier. Tomorrow I am rebuilding my 903MHz station I will be replacing the 903MHz transverter and installing a pair of class A 300 watt amplifiers giving me a combined total of 600 watts on that band. Next weekend the 2304MHz station gets reonfigured I run 200 watts with a Spectra class A commercial grade amplifier. I was the 1st in the US to convert one of these puppy's about 6 years ago when they started showing up on E-Bay. I'm a weak signal VHF, UHF and SHF at the tower. Once I get the station rebuilt (neglect and lightning damage) I will be operational from 6 meters through 24GHz. My tower is 300' and lighted. I have 3 side arms that rotate and FM Omni's on the top. I know there is a big time 2 meter SSB guy down in your neck of the woods all it will take is the right opening and I have a feeling I will work him. I run full legal limit 1500 watts from a home brew 8877 amplifier on 2 meters and a 32 foot 17 element horizontal Yagi at 265'.
On the boat I prefer 20 meters and 2 meter SSB or 75 meters at night. The boat station is basic but still fun and under the right conditions I can work into Europe on 20 meters.
If you Google my call you will see pictures of the station and tower from the early 2000's.
73 AA2UK
I held the UHF ARRL Contest all time single operator record score in 2003 I am not sure if it has been beat to date.
Bill |
WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
Edited by - Billylll on Mar 06 2010 20:55:18 |
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seabug
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2010 : 21:59:05
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| I too have a 150w mirage linear that I've had a long time. --very good service. On my SSB, I have a vertical all=band 23' marine antenna on my roof, but I've not been able to transmit lately. When the weather improves, I'll go on the roof and check for corrosion or possibly replace the cable. I have about 20+ frequencies programmed for ITU. Sometimes I listen to phone patches from cruise ships, or boat-to-boat. I can overhear commercial fishermen on the Carolina coasts, as well as the Gulf states. My SSB is only 100w (PEP); if I dont get the ICOM M802, I'll probably go with some kind of linear. |
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Billylll
USA
8070 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2010 : 22:31:00
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If your not able to transmit it might be a bad or corroded ground. I have had to do some serious interference resolution on my own boat due to stray RF current from the HF SSB. I use the largest Dynaplate and a wide cooper strip to run the ground from the antenna tuner to the RF grounding system with my 23 whip on the boat.
Bill |
WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
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Veebyes
Bermuda
2447 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2010 : 07:35:48
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What I lack in depth into the Amateur radio hobby I make up for in durability. My activity has been consistant since day one in the late 70s. I have always been part of the very small but active 2M group here. On any one day you might hear 6 of us.
I am part of the huge CB migration at the time. These days with the internet there is not much incentive to do the studying to get a ham license, as easy as it is now. I had to pass 13 wpm to get my basic ticket then do 500 morse contacts BEFORE I could even think about picking up a microphone. No more morse requirement here in VP9 land anymore.
I had HF onboard for a couple of seasons but our stlye of boating with the kids, swiming & always rafted up with others meant that it was seldom used. I have HF on my 5th wheel trailer but we seldom stay anywhere for more than a few days so it is hardly worth the effort & time to set it up. I'll bring it home after our NW trip this spring.
I'll use the 2M in the truck when we are on the road but only while the Admiral is driving. The coverage of some of your repeaters is amazing. I am always on the lookout for repeaters linked to IRLP so that I can harass the guys back here in Bermuda for a bit. |
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captchas
USA
2481 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2010 : 09:30:06
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You can "Google" 2 meter Repeater database, for any information needed.We have a number of boaters down here
on 2 meters,good luck & 73's
WA2HNW |
Calm Seas and Fair Winds
M/V Freedoms Choice |
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Billylll
USA
8070 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2010 : 19:09:33
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Look up WA3BXW Bill has a repeater at the top of the 300' tower in Elwood, NJ (it's actually on the Hamilton/Mullica Township line near the AC Expressway. Anyone ever driving towards AC when you are approaching the Farley rest stop look left you will see 2 300' red lamped towers at night (North). The thing talks forever in the summer. We also have a GMRS repeater licensed there.
Bill AA2UK |
WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
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seabug
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2010 : 21:48:31
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| When I'm on board around Memphis, on the Ms. or Wolf River, I talk to the Towboat Capts. on chn 68; They don't contact VHF like they used to because of (cut=throat) competitors. Most use cell ph. and use VHF for navigation. Our 2-meter freqs really get busy in ominous weather; we have a direct line to NOA Memphis Intn. Airport. Last year a tornado touched down c. 10 blocks away. I've been on the net shopping for a SSB linear amp. So far only Ameritron has shown up. I think one or both of my grounds needs to be re-established. |
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chriscraft67
USA
723 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2010 : 18:26:30
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| Just to chime in, we came back to amateur radio after about 40 years. We work some the FM 2-meter repeaters in Connecticut and Rhode Island regularly from our boat. We use a commercial Motorola VHF-FM radio that we can program to the frequencies we want. Nice way to chat with some helpful and interesting people. |
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Selby
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 21:25:57
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| KA0WXX here im Missouri. I use two meters and HF SSB on my boat. I do get a lot of noise on the dock. Any help there would be appriciated. I don,t know if it is coming from other boats or being pluged into dock AC. |
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Cpt. Harold
USA
488 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 21:48:57
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Please try to describe the noise as accurately as possible.
73 de WP4DL |
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solar
Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
668 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2010 : 06:34:58
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| The most noise generated on a boat and at docks seem to come from battery chargers. Modern chargers use switching power supplies. These chargers change the 60 hertz AC to a much higher frequency so that they can use more efficient and smaller transformers to step down the voltage. The process is called chopping or by swithching on and off and creates dirty sine waves more like square waves. Depending how sharp the square waves are they can create frequencies from DC to light creating noise that can be heard on radios that you hear as Birdies running up and down your radio frequencies. |
SOLAR |
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Billylll
USA
8070 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2010 : 07:26:54
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Solar is correct about noisy battery chargers. Try turning your own off 1st. Then try disconnecting at the dock. I have some noise on 2 meter SSB but I can work big nothern stations like Ron WZ1V in Conn. or Russ to the South K4QI in NC.
Bill AA2UK/MM |
WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
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Topic |
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2 Meter HAM in British Columbia waters