Amateur Radio on Board Scott Honaker – N7SS

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 2 Local Communications Marine VHF – 25 watt power limit Marine VHF – 25 watt power limit Not to be used ashoreNot to be used ashore CB - 4 watt limit / 40 channels CB - 4 watt limit / 40 channels Overrun with illegal high power stationsOverrun with illegal high power stations FRS - ½ watt power limit / 14 channels FRS - ½ watt power limit / 14 channels Limited range and can be very crowdedLimited range and can be very crowded GMRS - 5 watt limit / 23 channels GMRS - 5 watt limit / 23 channels Requires $75 licenseRequires $75 license

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 3 Long-Distance Communications Cellular Phone – ½ watt limit Cellular Phone – 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 Satellite – International coverage Satellite – 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 SSB – International coverage Marine HF SSB – 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

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 4 Why Amateur Radio? Reliable, versatile communications Reliable, versatile communications Low cost Low cost Several technologies of interest Several 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 the InternetIRLP/Echolink – Voice repeaters connected via the Internet APRS – Amateur Position Reporting SystemAPRS – Amateur Position Reporting System Winlink – via HF/VHFWinlink – via HF/VHF

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 5 Amateur HF SSB More spectrum/bands available More spectrum/bands available More power – 1500 watts! More power – 1500 watts! Most nets on amateur frequencies Most nets on amateur frequencies Voice and data modes Voice and data modes

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 6 Amateur HTs Up to 7 watts available Up to 7 watts available 100s of “channels” on several bands 100s of “channels” on several bands Repeaters extend range Repeaters extend range Better antennas available Better antennas available Can be used anywhere Can be used anywhere Repeater-based nets Repeater-based nets X

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 7 Amateur Autopatch Adds access to phone lines Adds access to phone lines Must “subscribe” to repeater Must “subscribe” to repeater Generally inexpensive $15-$50 per year Generally inexpensive $15-$50 per year No business messages No business messages 911 available on most machines without membership 911 available on most machines without membership

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 8 IRLP / Echolink Links repeaters via the Internet Links repeaters via the Internet Allows “worldwide” coverage on VHF Allows “worldwide” coverage on VHF Thousands of nodes available Thousands of nodes available Echolink allows connecting via computer directly – no radio required Echolink allows connecting via computer directly – no radio required More information at More information at

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 9 Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) Beacons position every few minutes Beacons position every few minutes Allows status text (“Off to Nanaimo”) Allows status text (“Off to Nanaimo”) Supports outbound 1-liner s Supports outbound 1-liner s NWS weather warnings NWS weather warnings Location available via radio or Internet almost instantaneously Location available via radio or Internet almost instantaneously

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 10 APRS Continued Real-time weather from local stations Real-time weather from local stations Supported on multiple computer platforms Supported on multiple computer platforms Available via satellite/ISS and HF Available via satellite/ISS and HF More information at More information at

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 11 APRS Map from APRSPoint

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 12 APRS Weather on FindU.com

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 13 Winlink 2000 Designed as HF system for boaters Designed as HF system for boaters Similar to subscription Sailmail service Similar to subscription Sailmail service Longer daily transmission time-limit than Sailmail Longer daily transmission time-limit than Sailmail No service fees required but no business traffic allowed No service fees required but no business traffic allowed Includes APRS-style position reporting Includes APRS-style position reporting Downloadable “bulletins” with weather, news, instructions, piracy information, etc. Downloadable “bulletins” with weather, news, instructions, piracy information, etc. Worldwide coverage Worldwide coverage

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 14 Winlink 2000 Mailbox Nodes

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 15 Winlink Continued Uses Airmail client software or pipe messages to Outlook/Outlook Express Uses Airmail client software or pipe messages to Outlook/Outlook Express Can also be used with dial-up or direct Internet connection in port Can also be used with dial-up or direct Internet connection in port Allows binary attachments Allows binary attachments Best performance requires SCS radio modem at nearly $1000 Best performance requires SCS radio modem at nearly $1000

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 16 Winlink Station

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 17 Emergency 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 2182kHz HF SSB 2182kHz Amateur Radio Amateur Radio “Multimode” rigs – very versatile“Multimode” rigs – very versatile APRS – Emergency mode can send positionAPRS – Emergency mode can send position Autopatch allows 911 accessAutopatch allows 911 access

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 18 How to Get Licensed Three license classes – Technician, General and Amateur Extra Three license classes – Technician, General and Amateur Extra Technician license allows VHF/UHF bands Technician license allows VHF/UHF bands General class license required for access to HF bands General class license required for access to HF bands Written test required for each license class Written test required for each license class Tests administered locally with Volunteer Examiners (VEs) for $14 fee Tests administered locally with Volunteer Examiners (VEs) for $14 fee License valid for 10 years before renewal License valid for 10 years before renewal

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 19 Exam Topics FCC Rules and Regulations FCC Rules and Regulations Modulation Techniques (AM, FM, SSB, CW) Modulation Techniques (AM, FM, SSB, CW) Radio Propagation Radio Propagation Basic Electronics Basic Electronics Transmitter/Receiver Components Transmitter/Receiver Components Repeater/Satellite Operations Repeater/Satellite Operations RF Safety RF Safety

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 20 Exam Info Published multiple choice question pool Published 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 6/30/2006 Technician valid until 6/30/2006 May get a little easierMay get a little easier General valid until 6/30/2007 General valid until 6/30/2007 Will get more difficult with removal of code requirementWill get more difficult with removal of code requirement

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 21 Exam Preparation Materials Books from ARRL, W5YI (Gordon West), even Ham Radio for Dummies Books from ARRL, W5YI (Gordon West), even Ham Radio for Dummies Practice exams on Practice exams on Ham University software from Ham University software from Study guides and band plans on Study guides and band plans on

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 22 Amateur Classes/Testing ARRL ARRL Microhams Microhams Radio Club of Tacoma Radio Club of Tacoma Mount Baker Amateur Radio Club Mount Baker Amateur Radio Club Tests available somewhere every week Tests available somewhere every week

Amateur Radio on Board - N7SS 23 We’ll be listening for you…