31. December 2009 by admin.

I work for Sail and Motor Yachts for Communications and Computer / Networking -

I was looking for SSB Radio Frequencies to monitor for vessels and I happened across the following links in my Internet Travels:

http://www.cruiser.co.za/radionet.asp

http://windom.cybox.com/ssb.html

No doubt you could find more by searching as I did.

One long time “Net” is the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club:

http://www.waterwayradio.net

They also have a forum, which I subscribed to, and I am waiting for my access to be approved to post on there. But meanwhile (back at the ranch) I was quite capable of reading the forum. Their forum seems to be relatively new, based on the comments in some posting on there, but looks like it may turn out to be a very good forum to check out on occassion. The Waterway Radio and Cruising Club also might be a good thing for some to join. Not everyone gets on SSB Radio, and particularly on Ham Radio, as that requires a license (quite easy to get these days by the way) so that may factor into your decision wether to join their club or not. There are several more nets that you could listen to, including the one on 14.300 Mhz, and nothing prevents you from *just listening*. Some nets are on Marine SSB frequencies (most are USB rather than LSB so that differs from Ham Radio on some bands. Ham Radio tends towards LSB below 10 Mhz and USB above 10 Mhz by “Gentlemans Agreement” type of thing.

Anyway, to make a short story long, …

While on the Forum on the WaterwayRadio.net I clicked into the “Computers” section:

Board Index > Computers

There was an interesting post by Bill, Radio Amateur N4UMS, in October this year. The post told about the following link:

http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html

I thought that was worth checking out since I’m always trying to help my yachting friends and customers to have safer, and better “computing” computer experiences. That link actually has Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP covered. There are both FREE (who doesn’t like FREE?) and BUY IT NOW “DELUXE” editions available. And for that matter the DELUXE editions are only $4.50 each. For the information and knowledge presented they are quite well worth $4.50 even if you did it as a donation to them.

I downloaded both the Windows XP (for my main “working” desktop) and the Windows 7 (for my newer Dual Core PC) versions to my respective computers. The FREE version downloads will arrive on your computer as a ZIP File. I think everyone probably knows what to do with ZIP compressed archive files at this point in world history. But in case you need a refresher Windows should be able to natively handle uncompressing these things without you having to download “yet another piece of software”. But if you are interested in dedicated GOOD software for ZIP files (and such) I would recommend first something called WINRAR, and as my second choice WINZIP, both available at your favorite web browser at any time.

So what is this download anyway? Is it another “tune me up” (”yet another piece of software”)? NO it is not. The download, once you UNZIP it, is actually a PDF document. The document probably comes very close to “Everything You Want to or Need to Know about your PC” including “Care and Feeding” instructions. After browsing through both the Windows XP one, and the Windows 7 one, I am rather impressed with the “compendium” or “compilation” of information and knowledge that this gentleman has manage to convey all in single, if not many-paged, PDF documents. One each for each of the 3 prevalent Microsoft Windows Operating System Softwares in common use today.

My recommendation? Get the one for your Desktop PC, either home or on the boat. Also get the one for your Laptop PC, either home or on the boat. And get an extra one as a Holiday Gift for someone you care about (or a crew member.)

It’s rare that I wholeheartedly recommend something. But these guides I do wholeheartedly recommend for all of my sailing, motor yachting, customers and friends.

Of course like anything, use them with caution, follow any cautions within the documents. And if you have any questions, and you are a Consulting and Support Agreement Customer of mine, then you are free to ask them at any time. If you are not a C&S Agreement Customer then I also wholeheartedly recommend that you become one. It’s easy to do, and a lot less expensive than the next Computer/I.T. guy that you will find.

Happy Cruising! and Happy New Year!

—

Alan Spicer

Radio Amateur KA4UDX

GMRS

Restricted Radio Telephone

http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

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27. December 2009 by admin.

This was an interesting one, not only because it’s a nice DX (Long Distance) contact on Amateur (Ham) Radio, but also because it’s a popular Yacht Destination.

Anyway I worked a station: PJ7UT on USB (Upper Sideband) HF/SSB today. It’s a Ham Radio “Net” on there for the http://www.iparc.org/ International Police Association Radio Club. Anyway, QRZ.com gives the following information about the call sign.

PJ7UT looks like a callsign from St Maarten, Saba, St Eustatius (DXCC Entity #255).

Anyway this is somewhere on the order of 1200 miles away on a bearing of around 300 degrees from my QTH. I read somewhere online where a ham said something like: What’s neat about Amateur/Ham Radio is that it is communications that does not depend on any of the normal (expected) infrastructure of the times, namely it does not rely on Satellite, Cellular, WiFi, or any other such “controlled by others” systems in order to communicate.

The rig here is Kenwood TS-480SAT - power output was 60 watts - antenna is Hustler Trapped Vertical model # 6BTV, ground mounted.

—

73 de KA4UDX

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net - http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

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27. December 2009 by admin.

I had a problem sending emails last night. I had to get one sent that was kind of important. I use Outlook Express because, well, I’ve always used Outlook Express. It’s simple to use and does One Thing Good (a Unix ideal: Make programs small and do One Thing Good, and allow them to “connect” with other programs in case you want to do More Things Good.) that is send and receive Emails. Anyway the problem resulted in emails getting an ERROR, a Blank Error to make things more confusing, upon sending messages. The message would get stuck in the Outbox. Recipients would tell me that they not only “got the message” but “got 20 copies of it”. So the email messages were getting sent, but OE was not registering that fact correctly. So off I went to find the un-technology or aged-old-technology that causes this phenomena. Here is the transcript of an email that I wrote to a friend and customer about my trouble-with-tribbles troubles with Microsoft Outlook Express:

> Hi Alan!  No Trouble Here!! John

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Anyway I guess it’s a good time to “clean house” a bit - I had sent emails going back to the year 2005.

I’ve heard of that issue in PST mailbox files for Outlook, but not Outlook Express. But I’m sure it’s the same type of thing. And I’ve probably had this problem before … although it might be that Windows XP itself or a hard drive suffers a glitch or crash before OE gets to that point. I say that because I remember backing up OE files (and thus email) in the past … and re-importing them into a fresh Windows XP install.

Anyway, reference: http://help.wugnet.com/windows2/Blank-Error-Message-Emails-ftopict493707.html

There used to be hard drive size limitations, and no doubt file size limits in 16 bit FAT/FAT32 and NTFS as well. But I know these days I have much larger FILES such as DVD movies on NTFS in 4, 8, 54 (Blue Ray?) Gb Sizes without any problems.

See also: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/903095

I guess it’s a matter of “bandwidth” somewhere. Extra Class Ham Operators get more Bandwidth on HF. Newer compression technologies and communications transmission methods give more bandwidth for Television and Internet bandwidth situations. 64-bit IP Addressing Methods (e.g. IPv6 vs IPv4) give more bandwidth in IP Address “Space” and in Computer Operating Systems (e.g. 32-bit Windows vs 64-bit Windows.) In fact I’m running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on a computer with 6 Gb or RAM memory and it can actually use it all. In a 32-bit Operating System it can not. 64-bit Operating Systems are starting to take over. It’s at the “Tipping Point” where you won’t be able to buy a new computer with a 32-bit OS, it will come out-of-the-box with a 64-bit OS.

—
Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

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23. December 2009 by admin.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

As pertaining to WiFi Hotspot connectivity onboard marine vessels (sail and motor yachts), often you will be using an external antenna and a WiFi Sharing System (WiFi Hotspot Sharing Router)

If you are *somewhere* and you are experiencing trouble connecting, consider the following. You have a bigger antenna than most, definately bigger than laptops and pda / smartphone devices. So you can transmit farther and receiver from farther away.

But … that brings into play the possibility, for a given location, to bring in more interference - or even to be part of the interference equation YOURSELF. That doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong, and all interference is not microwave ovens or other 2.4Ghz devices outside of WiFi. Interference can be other WiFi Devices themselves. Including your own signal.

Have a look at my long standing article:

http://www.wifiyacht.net/wifi-adjacent-myth.html

And perhaps get that INSSIDER program and have a look with a laptop. See what signals are around you. Go topside or on the dock … and let that baby run. See what kind of signals are around and on what channels and how strong they are in your vicinity.

That may help you understand why you might not be able to connect in some locations. You might have to switch SSID’s (or Hotspots) that you are connecting to - and try again.

—

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.wifiyacht.net and http://www.marinetelecom.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

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22. December 2009 by admin.

I just uploaded a video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/alanspicertelecom taken today during the day (morning) while monitoring 14.300 Mhz SSB/Amateur Radio/20 Meters. This frequency is a long time radio “Net” short for Network dedicated to providing communications, including emergency and distress, for Maritime Mobile Stations of all types. You can find out more by visiting:

http://www.mmsn.org and http://14300.net (a quote from 14300.net begins below.) Note that you can listen to streaming audio of the “net” via the Internet from a link on 14300.net (just watch your bandwidth if you are a marine vessel with limits on your Internet bandwidth usage, e.g. Cellular or Satellite!)

Quote

14.300 MHz has become a very well known frequency in the Amatuer Radio world. There are three major nets in the Western Hemisphere that operate on 14.300 MHz. From early morning until late evening the frequency is busy with traffiic of one form or another. Begining at 0700 ET daily, The Intercon Net, formally know as The Intercontinental Amatuer Traffic Net, starts out the day. Intercon runs until 1200 ET before handing the frequency over to The Maritime Mobile Service Network. The MMSN, which also runs daily, operates from 1200 ET until 9 PM EST / 10 PM EDT or 0200 UTC. After The MMSN raps up The Pacific Seafarers Net begins operation at 10 PM EST / 11PM EDT or 0300 UTC and runs various lengths of time, depending on traffic load, but usually about 2 hours or less.

The Maritime Mobile Service Network The primary purpose of the net is for handling traffic from maritime mobiles and overseas deployed service personnel. MMSN also assists missionaries and persons working abroad. The MMSN has a more formal or structured format than Intercon. Since vessels at sea generally have barefoot or less rigs, running on battery power with wire or vertical antennas, their signals may be hard to copy at times. The Net Control Stations frequently ask all stations to standby while calling for maritimes only that may wish to check in. Also, offshore weather information is usually read at about 30 minutes past the hour. Ragchewing is considered a no-no during MMSN. Any station can check into the MMSN when the NCS is asking for general check-in’s. If you would like a signal report, audio report or just to say you are “riding along”, this is the time to check-in.End Quote* The rig here is a Kenwood TS-480SAT connected to a Hustler 6BTV multiband trapped vertical antenna. This is a modern H.F. High Frequency rig with a built-in antenna tuner, somewhat similar to SSB equipment found aboard Marine Vessels - such as the Icom IC-M802, the difference being that this rig *is designed* to operate primarily in the Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) Bands, whereas newer Marine SSB Radios may be designed to operate not only in the Marine SSB (MF and HF Bands) but perhaps also in the Amateur Radio / Ham Bands.

You do need an FCC License to operate on this frequency, which requires testing, however that testing has gotten actually quite a lot easier in recent years. The Morse Code requirement (CW - Continous Wave) is no longer required, the FCC Question Pools are published all over the place, and Study Material (including programs for your computer) are easy to obtain. You will need at least a General Class Amateur Radio License from the FCC (U.S.) or other equivalent license elsewhere in the world to operate on this frequency. Thats the 2nd level of licenses in the US Amateur Radio System. The Technician Class License will get you quite a few other Modes of Operation - including the popular 2-Meter VHF, 70-Centimeter UHF (along with repeater systems and clubs in just about every city and town), and more - Just not enough to get on 14.300Mhz SSB/Phone (a.k.a. Voice.) So you will probably want to work your way up to at least General Class. Have a look at: http://www.hamuniverse.com/ as well as some of the ARRL links I posted just recently when I wrote about:

http://blog.marinetelecom.net/2009/12/14/major-computer-publication-devotes-january-2010-issue-to-amateur-radio/

* Of course there’s things to do with your SSB rig onboard ship *before* (or if/until) you get your Amateur Radio License - such as Marine SSB voice communications with other marine vessels near and far, and Email Communications such as Pactor III-based Sailmail (see: http://www.sailmail.com/) - so you can certainly make use of your SSB gear right away. You also might want to make sure that you have learned about, and how to use, your GMDSS - DSC capabilities in both your SSB (MF/HF) Radio Equipment and your VHF Marine Radio Equipment. There are some books available in a series “idi-yachts” related to this kind of radio gear. I haven’t obtained any of them yet, but I have been thinking about it. You might want to think about it as well. Let me know if you do get any of those books, and how helpful they have been to you. These books are something like the “For Dummies” series of books that were published on computer topics. Despite their name, they were actually very good books - as I suspect the “IDI-YACHTS” books are as well. Remember the only dumb question is the one that you didn’t ask.

And by all means have fun! Have fun learning! Have fun using radio! And become knowledgeable and a better crew member or captain because of it.

Note: I have been a Ham Radio Operator (Amateur Radio) for over 25 years, and have operated High Powered SSB Equipment in the U.S. Navy - including operating “Military Affiliate Radio System” (MARS) as Call Sign: NNN0NAD onboard U.S.S. Recovery (ARS-43) back in the 1980’s.

—

73’s de KA4UDX

Happy Holidays!

Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.wifiyacht.net as well as the blog: http://blog.marinetelecom.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

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18. December 2009 by admin.

I got this by email from a friend…

 How many zeros in a billion?
This is too true to be funny.

The next time you hear a politician use the
word ‘billion’ in a casual manner, think about
whether you want the ‘politicians’ spending
YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it’s releases.

A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B..
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C..
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age..

D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E.
A billion dollars ago was only
8 hours and 20 minutes,
at the rate our government
is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain…
let’s take a look at New Orleans ..
It’s amazing what you can learn with some simple division.

Louisiana Senator,
Mary Landrieu (D)
is presently asking Congress for
250 BILLION DOLLARS
to rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number…
what does it mean?
A.
Well… if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans  
(every man, woman, and child)
you each get $516,528.

B..
Or… if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
New Orleans , your home gets$1,329,787.

C..
Or… if you are a family of four…
your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington , D. C

 HELLO!
Are all your calculators broken??

Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax (Fed)
Federal Unemployment Tax (FU TA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax 
State Income Tax 
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax 
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration T ax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
(And to think, we left British Rule to avoid so many taxes)

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago…
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt…
We had the largest middle class in the world…
and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?
Can you spell ‘politicians!’

And I still have to
press ‘1′
for English.

I hope this goes around the
U S A
at least 100 times

What the heck happened?????

—

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

+1 954 683 3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

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18. December 2009 by admin.

Just when you thought it was safe to watch TV…

Blu-ray Disc Group Announces Final 3D Spec

http://www.cable360.net/ct/news/thewire/Blu-ray-Disc-Group-Announces-Final-3D-Spec_39187.html

Image: The HD SMPTE color bars (16×9 aspect ratio)

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) 

With all of the changes to television recently it’s bad enough to try and keep up with it all on land, much less if you are on a yacht traveling the oceans and ports of the world. A lot of gear out there in the *Real World* is still analog. This after the transition of the US Television System from NTSC (the old long time analog TV System, you know 2-13 and 14-83 channels?) to ATSC - the new Digital TV standard that was pushed in, I think mainly to recover radio spectrum to be auctioned off for other services. Along with ATSC and Digital on Cable, and hopefully you have Digital via Satellite either on land or by sea, comes the HDTV - High Definition Television standards. The aspect ratio of older sets and programs running in the old 4:3 is now relegated to being called SDTV or Standard Definition TV. At Sea it was a bit longer coming for HDTV to become available to sail and motor vessels. At Sea you have to use an Automatic Tracking Antenna in one of those White Radome covers in orde to get Satellite TV. KVH, SEATEL, and others had a problem (like “Houston we have a problem” in Apollo 13) providing the tracking antennas and such to make this possible for ocean going vessels - with an especially interested group in the Sail and Motor Yachting Community. Finally SEATEL did it with what looks like a regular home type (land based) 5 lnb Satellite Antenna modified to go in a big Radome for use on marine vessels. This year, late, KVH came out with an HD Marine Satellite Antenna … and it seems to be quite a bit smaller than the SEATEL one.

Anyway this article wasn’t about that. Yachts have had flat panel, usually very expensive, Plasma TV’s in the 16:9 aspect ratio for quite a few years. Most of them are going to end up being throw-aways as newer, lighter, thinner LCD, Plasma, and even LED TV’s are now out on sale. There’s a big battle over megahertz again - and this time it’s not in computers … it’s in TV’s, and it’s actually Screen Refresh Rates in Hertz - not Megahertz. There’s an argument in some articles as to if having the faster screen refresh rates is really necessary - because maybe people can’t really tell the difference (?)

So now on land, and on a lot of marine vessels, TV’s have been replaced to get rid of older “Picture Tube” NTSC sets, and maybe a Plasma screen as well. But noooo that’s not good enough. Now we have to have “3D”. I heard about this through working associates and such and I thought it was going to just be something in IMAX Theaters or such… because… Do we really need another UPGRADE again so soon to Television Technology? Do we really need 3D in our homes and boats? Or is a bit of HDTV and better screens on some SDTV good enough?

Is Blu-Ray really selling soooo goood that they need to juice it up with 3D as well. And that almost makes all the Blu-Ray players, new recent LCD TV’s not good enough? I think they did, and I hope they did, make 3D backward compatible to regular LCD/HDTV equipment - because I think’s it’s going to be “awhile” before a lot of us want to upgrade yet again. Personally I’m happy with HDTV for now and I think I could go at least 10 or more years being quite happy enough with that. I mean 3D never really went over BIG in theaters anyway, right? Why do we have to have it at home (or on our boat homes) ?

Well… Let’s see what happens. After all it’s a just released specification. No doubt the manufacturers will need awhile to get up to speed on 3D as well. Meanwhile they will continue to sell HDTV/ATSC sets. 3D gear might be quite expensive coming out - they usually slam the consumers with R&D or Development costs for awhile before prices come down. But maybe 3D will help make the HDTV/ATSC prices come down as well?

—

I’ll NTS “See” (or ATS “See”) you later!

* Alan Spicer - Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

* Note: It is NOT alright to take my contact information, email address, cell phone number, etc. and use it to SPAM me via Cellular Text Messages or Email Spam Messages. Geeze! Can’t I be online without being harvested for this crap? (It SHOULD be illegal to text message a mobile phone without having a prior relationship with that person. IMHO!)

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17. December 2009 by admin.

I just saw it on Inside Edition on TV. Supposedly Tiger Woods has run out to sea onboard his yacht (one of two?), a 155 foot Christensen Motor Yacht. If you search online you can find other news or blog posts about beefed up security around the North Palm Beach, Florida Marina where the yacht was docked. Supposedly he was seeking “privacy” onboard his yacht “Privacy” during the turmoil going on in his personal/public life and marriage. Now, reportedly, he has set sail (or set motor [engines]) and gone out to sea to get away from the media, paparazzi, etc.

http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/megayachts/tiger-woods-yacht-christensen-155/

When I ruin my marriage and (almost?) my career, I always take off on my 155 foot yacht. Wow life’s rough!

Anyway as many know - I do communications and computer work for yachts like this. And if asked I’d do the same for the Tiger Woods yacht. I’m staying out of the commentary online and in the media about this stuff. What people do in their private lives is their business, and totally their problem. This is only news to me because it relates to yachting and especially yachting in the South Florida area.

—

Happy Sailing! Happy Motor Yachting!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

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14. December 2009 by admin.

ARRL Web: News: Major Computer Publication Devotes January 2010 Issue to Amateur Radio

http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2009/12/09/11239/?nc=twiar

By ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, and ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA

December 09, 2009

Emergencies may get all the attention in the press, but lately, the technological side of Amateur Radio has been showing up a lot in places that are read by the people who make next year’s trends.

Hams indeed are technical and creative people, consummate MacGyvers. In the past few months alone, George Smith, AA2EJ, won the Nobel Prize for Physics. Computerworld published John Edwards’ article titled “Want to Bone Up on Wireless Tech? Try Ham Radio.” Diana Eng, KC2UHB, has had her articles published in Make Magazine. Computer giant Hewlett-Packard published a Real Life article “Behind the Voices of Ham Radio.” Steven Sande, KC0EZH, wrote “5 Mac Applications for Ham Radio Fans” for TUAW — a Web site that calls itself “the unofficial Apple Weblog.” APRS systems were the theme of Joe Murphy’s, N4PAT, video podcast. Popular Mechanics‘ Glenn Reynolds endorsed Amateur Radio in crises, referring people to the ARRL for information.

Now 2010 is just about here. To kick off the new year, computer magazine Linux Journal has come out with an entire issue dedicated to Amateur Radio and the creative uses of open source computer programs. This 80 page issue features Tux, the Linux mascot on its cover wearing a pair of headphones, holding a microphone — and even sporting an Emergency Coordinator badge around his neck — hooked up to an HF transceiver. The issue has headlines on the cover such as “Amateur Radio and Linux — Open Source for the New Generation,” and “Get Started with Amateur Radio,” and includes articles like “When All Else Fails — Amateur Radio, the Original Open-Source Project” by David Lane, KG4GIY.

You might wonder, “What is the connection between Amateur Radio and Linux?” The editors at Linux Journal answer that question, saying that “Linux may be the only O/S out there with an AX.25 packet radio protocol driver, and it’s had it since forever. So blow the dust off your license and start reading.”

Lane — who blogs for Linux Journal on open source issues — told the ARRL that the same day he posted “Open Source Ham — Is That Like Free Range Chicken?“on his blog, he was chatting on Internet Relay Chat (IRC) with Linux Journal publisher Carlie Fairchild: “She said they were thinking of doing an Amateur Radio-focused issue — what did I think? I said something to the effect of ‘Did you see my post this morning?’”

Shortly thereafter, Lane posted on the ARRL’s PR e-mail reflector to see if there was any interest in such an issue. “I was buried in positive responses,” he said. “This was near the end of October and any articles we were going to run with had to be in hand the first week of November. But the Amateur Radio community came through — I forget now how many articles we received, but it was enough that we had some options, eventually choosing three articles to run in the issue. Within two weeks, we put a magazine together with a focus on Amateur Radio!”

Lane said that there is now a “virtual ham shack” on the Linux Journal Web site, as well as a forum where radio amateurs can get together and discuss the “hot topics” of Amateur Radio. “The folks at the Journal have tasked me with keeping the focus on them and keeping them ‘lively,’ so any help is appreciated,” Lane told the ARRL. “In recognition of Linux Journal’s efforts, I have awarded them the Prince William County (Virginia) ARES^®/RACES Challenge Coin. This recognition is a way of rewarding members of Prince William County ARES^®/RACES who have gone above and beyond the call of duty or for those that have aided the cause of Amateur Radio.” Lane is the Emergency Coordinator for Prince William County.

Linux Journal can be found on newsstands now. While some articles in the issue can be read online by the general public, most are available only to subscribers.

Allen Pitts, W1AGP, is the ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager. S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, is the ARRL News Editor. They can be reached via e-mail

—

Alan Spicer - Radio Amateur KA4UDX (25+ years)

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

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11. December 2009 by admin.

We’ve also got an app for Marine Cellular Voice and 3G Internet. Yachts have for quite a few years been using cellular technology to give them that “Landline” feel onboard the boat. Very often you will find PBX (Private Branch Exchange) office-type professional Telephone Extension Systems installed onboard. There will be telephone extensions in many key areas onboard the vessel, much like you would see in an office environment. This is a necessity for the business of running the boat, so the Owner, Engineer, Captain, Mates, Stewardess, and often even Guests can make use of telephone voice services while traveling. This is just good sense as this type of communications is very much needed.

These PBX systems can take what’s called CO, or Central Office inputs. These inputs allow landline-style “Telephone Service” to be jacked into the system. In a office that’s just a Telephone Line (POTS as they call it, Plain Old Telephone Service) coming in from shore. But more and more often that POTs line doesn’t come from shore at all. It comes from Cellular and Satellite Systems, even VOIP (Voice over IP) in many cases. Those services plug in the same way that the landline connction did. They do require a special box that provides the “Dial Tone” and telephone services. In many voip services this box is called an “ATA” or Analog Telephone Adaptor device. And even if they aren’t called that in the Cellular or Satellite device, that’s essentially what type of device it is. It converts one type of service into another, in this case to comply with the old Analog POTS Telephone Specifications. You know RJ-11 plug, dial tone when you pick up the phone, and dialing that just works…

Ericsson W35:

http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W35/

is just such a BOX. It is a worlwide phone and Internet gizmo though. It’s quad band and an quite a contender for the traveling yacht. It’s GSM - UMTS - HSPA, which is enough buzz words in one sentence to make even some IT or Communications guys quiver. But it’s the technology used by AT&T (who bought Cingular), T-Mobile, and the like. It’s also more of a world standard than anything else out there.

All it takes is a Sim Card and Service with a provider. It can take sim cards from anywhere in the world. It can work on any cellular provider (in GSM - UMTS - HSPA - WCDMA) in the world.

And you know what? It doesn’t cost much. $473.00 out of the gate for the unit, an MCX to N-Female dongle for your possibly existing LMR-400 cable and Cellular Antenna. That ships one to anywhere in the US and Canada.

It makes a network, in case you didn’t have one, and you were worried about that. It plugs in standard CAT5 Fast Ethernet (LAN - Local Area Network) to an existing, or it can make it’s own NEW network. We integrate them all the time with existing onboard network - and make them play nice with other existing Marine Internet Systems.

Contact information:

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

P.S. Order now as ordering (as posted earlier on here) will shut down over the Christmas and New Years holidays. That’s a whole week. But if you act now…

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