HF Radio

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The use of HF radio requires certain protocols - see the [http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html#SEC5 FCC's Website] (Which covers VHF Marine Radio as well).
The use of HF radio requires certain protocols - see the [http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html#SEC5 FCC's Website] (Which covers VHF Marine Radio as well).
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====Australia====
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In Australia you need to go through the following procedure if you have an HF radio on board:
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* Obtain an Apparatus License for your boat from [http://www.acma.gov.au/ ACMA].  The license you want is a Class B non-assigned license.  This will also give you an HF call sign (like "VXX 9999" or similar).  See [http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1287 here] for more information and links to the documents.
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* Obtain a Maritime Radio Certificate of Proficiency for yourself.  Generally the one you want is the Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) (not the MROVCP which is for VHF only).  These are issued by [http://www.amsa.gov.au/ AMSA], generally through the [http://www.amcom.amc.edu.au/index.html Australian Maritime College Office of Maritime Communications], or a TAFE college, Coastguard or Coastal Patrol course, or similar.  Also see [http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1743 here] for more information at the ACMA site.
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* Optionally, once you have these, you may want a [http://www.amsa.gov.au/search_and_rescue/Distress_and_Safety_Communications/Maritime_Mobile_Service_Identity/  Maritime Mobile Service Identity] (MMSI) for your boat.  This is really only useful if you have a DSC equipped HF radio on board.  Currently most Australian shore stations operating on VHF only do not support DSC, only the HF stations do, and so you may find that a MMSI is of limited benefit even if you have, say, a DSC equipped VHF radio.  Note that you can only get a MMSI if you have both a HF license or call sign for your boat and also a MROCP for yourself.
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* Once you have a MMSI, that can be included with your [http://www.amsa.gov.au/Shipping%5FRegistration/ Australian Ship Registration], and potentially programmed into any DSC equipped VHF or HF radios on board, as well as your (406MHz) EPIRB.
===References===
===References===

Revision as of 09:33, 26 September 2007

Contents

HF RADIO

The ICOM706 MKII G

Description

Marine radio or 'maritime mobile' is the most effective means of communication at sea - HF (High Frequency) and SSB (Single Side Band) radio frequencies are used for long range. VHF (Very High Frequency) marine channels for communication (line of site range) up to about 30 nautical miles. Marine radio nets are set up by controllers all over the world (Indian Ocean, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Pacific, etc.) to handle and co-ordinate this traffic from vessels sailing the oceans. It is important for cruising yachts to know these radio net frequencies and times so as to pass message traffic, log positions, receive weather information, etc

Procedures

The use of HF radio requires certain protocols - see the FCC's Website (Which covers VHF Marine Radio as well).

Australia

In Australia you need to go through the following procedure if you have an HF radio on board:

  • Obtain an Apparatus License for your boat from ACMA. The license you want is a Class B non-assigned license. This will also give you an HF call sign (like "VXX 9999" or similar). See here for more information and links to the documents.
  • Obtain a Maritime Radio Certificate of Proficiency for yourself. Generally the one you want is the Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) (not the MROVCP which is for VHF only). These are issued by AMSA, generally through the Australian Maritime College Office of Maritime Communications, or a TAFE college, Coastguard or Coastal Patrol course, or similar. Also see here for more information at the ACMA site.
  • Optionally, once you have these, you may want a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) for your boat. This is really only useful if you have a DSC equipped HF radio on board. Currently most Australian shore stations operating on VHF only do not support DSC, only the HF stations do, and so you may find that a MMSI is of limited benefit even if you have, say, a DSC equipped VHF radio. Note that you can only get a MMSI if you have both a HF license or call sign for your boat and also a MROCP for yourself.
  • Once you have a MMSI, that can be included with your Australian Ship Registration, and potentially programmed into any DSC equipped VHF or HF radios on board, as well as your (406MHz) EPIRB.

References

Publications, etc.

Choosing a radio

Thinking about upgrading , replacing or acquiring an HF Radio for your Cruising Boat - probably as difficult as choosing a new engine or even a new yacht. Technology in most other electronic equipment found on today's yachts has developed at a fantastic pace. The HF Radio's most obvious advance has been in its miniaturisation. It's interactivity functions for GPS systems, for emailing at sea, for weather reports and files, etc, etc.

However, on the downside - the majority of models are blessed with a multiplicity of features and functions that require at least a rocket scientist to operate, many that few cruisers will ever use. There a few HF radios in current production that meet the few basic criteria needed for the average yacht and for the average cruiser and crew.

A list of the criteria in no specific order
a) Ideal Size : no larger than 8" wide x 2 1/2" high x 6" depth.
b) Output: 10 Watts min x 150 Watts max
c) Operate even on 11 1/2 volts
d) Covering all normal amateur bands
e) Simplex and duplex enabled
f) Memory bank for min 50 frequencies
g) Interference and Noise elimination
h) Press button Antenna tuning
i) Frequency tuned at the roll of a knob
j) Mike gain control
k) Less than a $1,000 US - (if you are lucky)
l) Truly marine - the case does not rust!
Here are but a few radios that will fit easily into a cruising yacht having a small size
Icom 706 MkIIG
Icom 7000
Icom F 7000
Kenwood TS-480SAT
Kenwood TS-50
Yaesu FT-817ND
Yaesu FT-857D
Yaesu FT-897D

Richard Mogford KG6 TOJ with his presentation made on the 19th May 2005 - entitled "HF Radio at Sea"

Cruiser's Maritime Mobile Radio Nets

Amateur radio unless otherwise noted. Please listen first to note the procedures of each net.

Greenwich = Zulu = UTC
Net Name HQ Covers Frequencies Times (Zulu)
Mediteranian Maritime Mobile Net ? Med7.085Mhz 0700hrs
U.K. M/M NetU.K.UK waters, Med & Atlantic14.303 +/-QRMhz 0800hrs & 1800hrs
TransAtlantic Maritime Mobile Net ? Med, N & S Atlantic and Caribbean21.400Mhz1300hrs
German Maritime Mobile Net ? Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean, Med, (worldwide)14.313kMhz1630hrs
Mississauga Maritime Net (VE stations with relays) ? Europe, Med, Atlantic, Caribbean and Central America14.122.5 Mhz1245hrs
Mobile Maritime Net - South East Asian WatersS.E.A MobileJapan to Seychelles - Hong Kong to Northern & Western Australia. (Specifically: Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Northern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, The Andamans & Nicobars, Chagos14.323Mhz 0025hrs & Wx @ 0055hrs
South Africa Maritime Mobile NetS AfricaIndian Ocean & S Atlantic14.316Mhz & moves to 7.045Mhz @ 0630hrs1130hrs (both freqs)
Radio Peri-PeriEast AfricaIndian Ocean & S Atlantic8.101Mhz @ 0500hrs (Wx) & then 12.353hz after Wx1500hrs (both freqs)
Italian M/M Net. (Italian & English)?Wx for E & N Atlantic and S Atlantic between Africa and Brazil14.297Mhz2000hrs
'Le Reseau Du Capitaine' NetMontreal, Bi-LingualAtlantic, Caribbean & Pacific14.118Mhz0700 local & 1830loc. for Wx
Caribbean M/M NetSt CroixCaribbean7.241Mhz1100hrs
Maritime Mobile Service Net ? Atlantic, E Pacific & Gulf of Mexico14.300Mhz 1700hrs till 0200hrs
Northwest Caribbean Cruiser's Net ? Mexico to San Andres Island, Colombia8.188Mhz1400hrs
Cruiseheimer's Net ? US East coast & E Caribbean8.152Mhz 0830 EST
Herb Hilgenberg's Southboundll Net ? Wx for Atlantic & Caribbean - into Pacific later12.359Mhz (SSB)2000hrs check-in 1930
Panama Canal Connection Net ? Pacific - Mexico to Galapagos, Atlantic from Belize - Colombia ?  ?
Manana M/M Net ? US West coast to Hawaii14.340Mhz1200 PDT
PST Baja California M/M Net ? Coastal Baja & California7.238Mhz0800 PDT
MARITIME EMERGENCY NETVariousUniversal14.340Mhz0400hrs and 1800hrs
Chubasco Net ? Mexico West coast7.294Mhz1530hrs ST & 1430hrs DST
Waterway Radio & Cruising Club ?  ? 7.268Mhz0745 EST
Pacific Inter-Island Net ? Micronesia & up to Hawaii - daily roll-call14.315Mhz0800hrs
Pacific Seafarers Net ? Pacific - roll-call14.313Mhz0200hrs to 0325hrs
Pacific Maritime Mobile Service Net ? Pacific & worldwide21.412Mhz2200hrs
Roy's NetPerth, OzWx warnings & then covers boats in N & W Indian Ocean14.320Mhz1115hr
Comedy Net ? Oz - Southwest Pacific. Position reports, Wx, local inter-yacht traffic7.087Mhz2040hrs
Tony's Net N Z Positions from S Pacific & Oz region, Wx14.315Mhz2100hrs
Russell Radio (SSB) N Z Bora Bora to Australia12.359Mhz0830hrs & 1630hrs
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Additional information on the above Nets

Post more info below ....

Additions & edits for the Net's table above

Please add edits and/or additions to the Cruiser's Nets table (above) HERE. A "sysop" will edit them into the table.

Forum Discussions

Links to discussions on the CruiserLog Forum
HF Radio for cruisers.

External links

HF Radio at sea by Richard Mogford - A first class article on setting up HF on a cruising yacht.
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