Why Amateur Radio on a Marine Telecom Blog?

Noone has asked me this question, but they might think that way… (”Abigail:You know, people don’t talk that way anymore. Ben:I know. But they think that way.” — National Treasure, the movie.)

Why Amateur Radio on a Marine Telecom Blog?

Well #1 - Because I can … it’s my blog and it’s about communications … and, well it’s my blog.

#2 - It’s about Communications. If you know the electronics and theory of radio … then you know it wether it’s amateur radio or marine radio, or satellite - cellular or other radio. It’s all radio. It’s all wireless.

#3 - Amateur Radio provides a good service … including Emergency Services when the power is down and/or when other communications infrastructures are down, such as in disasters like Hurricanes, Earthquakes, and more.

What is the purpose of Amateur Radio?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio

Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called “hams,” use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public services, recreation and self-training.[1]

Amateur radio operators enjoy personal (and often worldwide) wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications if necessary, while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. An estimated two million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.[2]

The term “amateur” reflects the principle that amateur radio and its skilled operators are committed to helping communities without financial compensation; whereas commercial radio operates for profit.

#4 - Knowledge of World Geography and Understanding and Relations with Persons of non-US residence. Alan Spicer Marine Telecom deals with marine vessels and other marine related entities not only in the United States but around the world. In order to communication with, and provide products to, marine vessels and marine entities - around the world. Requires a pretty good understanding of world geography. Now grant it I served 4 years United States Navy back in the late 1970’s to early 1980’s, and have traveled the Mediterranean (as far east as Golcuk / Istanbul, Turkey) and the Caribbean Seas, but still… I require refreshing of my knowledge of world geography. And Amateur Radio provides an excellent means of doing so. Amateur Radio coupled with Google Earth is an excellent way to boost your knowledge of world geography. Where a country or island is … how far is that from here? Do they have an airport nearby? Does Fedex and UPS go there?

* * * * So there you have it. 4 very good reasons why I use Amateur / Ham Radio, and why you see it on this blog. There is also the hope that it will encourage others to try Amateur Radio. There are a lot more things to do in Amateur Radio than there used to be. It used to be pretty much only Morse Code and SSB Phone radio on the HF bands. Then came 2 Meters VHF, and 70 centimeters UHF. Followed by 220Mhz and several Gigahertz bands. Amateur Radio Repeater Systems that allow mobile radios and hand held HT or walkie talkies to communicate over wide areas with minimal power and minimal cost to an individual. Repeater systems that often rival Police and Public Service communications in their coverage and capabilities. Not only that but the gained knowledge of how such professional communications in VHF, UHF, and Gigahertz bands works. Satellite Communications, Digital Modes Communications, even Television Transmissions … all happen on the Ham Radio Bands. And getting a license is now Easier Than it has Ever Been.

http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio-1

The word “Amateur” is often defines as “lacking professional skill and ease in a particular pursuit”. However, the true meaning of this word is, “not paid” and as one learns of the many facets of the hobby, they will find that radio amateurs are really radio “experts”. 

http://wedothatradio.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/what-is-ham-radio/

* * * * Oh I get a bonus reason, #5

#5 - Amateur Radio took Communications to sea (marine) originally!

Why Do They Call Themselves “Hams”?
“Ham: a poor operator. A ‘plug.’”
That’s the definition of the word given in G. M. Dodge’s “The Telegraph Instructor” even before there was radio. The definition has never changed in wire telegraphy. The first wireless operators were landline telegraphers who left their offices to go to sea or to man the coastal stations. They brought with them their language and much of the tradition of their older profession. In those early days, every station occupied the same wavelength-or, more accurately perhaps, every station occupied the whole spectrum with its broad spark signal. Government stations, ships, coastal stations and the increasingly numerous amateur operators all competed for time and signal supremacy in each other’s receivers. Many of the amateur stations were very powerful. Two amateurs, working each other across town, could effectively jam all the other operations in the area. Frustrated commercial operators would refer to the ham radio interference by calling them “hams.” Amateurs, possibly unfamiliar with the real meaning of the term, picked it up and applied it to themselves in true “Yankee Doodle” fashion and wore it with pride. As the years advanced, the original meaning has completely disappeared.

And another bonus one … #6

#6 - Amateur Radio, according to the Linux Journal, is the Original Open Source. And Alan Spicer likes Open Source (and Close Source as well, depending on our needs. We’re not beating up Microsoft here…) because it allows amazing “Outside of the Box” things to be done with various wireless systems. In around 2005 / 2006 Alan Spicer built a Marine WiFi System from Off-the-shelf hardware and using after-market Linux modifications (SVEASOFT, DD-WRT) of Operating Software. Some of those systems are still in use onboard yachts today. Alan Spicer continues to investigate and develop products using Open Source. Alan Spicer loves Amateur Radio because “Ham Radio” operators like technical investigation, they like to build stuff, they like to know how stuff works. And knowing how stuff works often results in us influencing how products work for the better. You know “The Good Stuff”, “Better Stuff”, like Snapple says.

http://www.linuxjournal.com/ham

“What most people tend not to think about is the open-source nature of Amateur Radio. While operators most often are seen working in emergency situations, many of the modern conveniences we have today—cell phones, satellites, wireless devices—were developed and tested by radio amateurs.”

* When you are on a sailing yacht, a motor yacht, a marine vessel, a boat … trying to communicate … nay, needing to communicate … you are in a unique mobile platform. You can’t depend on the same landline infrastructure that persons on land can. You can however use some of the communications structures, wether free, or for hire, that are wireless … be that via satellite or via wireless WiFi or via Cellular or other 3G (and now 4G) services.

—

73 de KA4UDX,

Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

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

communications @ marinetelecom.net

+1 954-683-3426

This entry was posted on 18. June 2010 at 01:07 and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.