webcraft
regular
Reged: 08/07/2001
Posts: 4204
Loc: al shop for local people
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(not yacht.com or yachtcom.com)
- Nick
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Boatman
regular
Reged: 18/06/2001
Posts: 351
Loc: Where I am
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The Unit I have is a CE approved M710 with ATU130e, which certainly didn't cost me ?4000 I can remember exactly but I think it was more like ?2000. To say that it is the only unit with CE approval must not be correct since prior to the GMDSS edition it was selling in Europe with CE approval so old units must have complied. Cetainly the open channel issue would cause a prob for approval.
However afterwards is another issue!!!!!
As for Ships licence etc you don't need one for a HAM radio. <G> Maybe this is the way around it all Joking aside a ships licence is a must, and cetainly there is quite alot of difference between the HAM Radios and the 710 I am not sure which I prefer certainly they both have different uses.
As for AT130 not as good as a yeasu one I have but certainly not bad and the construction is fairly solid.
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Englander
regular
Reged: 07/09/2001
Posts: 14874
Loc: Barcelona/Bollyolics
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Where in the UK can I find out about this Yaesu FT 100? If its better and cheaper and lighter, then its for me! The tuner seems to be better aswell. Thanks. Colin.
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Roberto
regular
Reged: 20/07/2001
Posts: 1150
Loc: miquélic - Lorient
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I bought a radio in the UK from abroad at
www.wsplc.co.uk
delivered in two days...
They have the FT100 listed at 900ish gbp.
If you are interested in HF only, why not consider an Icom 718: even cheaper (£650), sturdy, light, it hasn't got 2m nor 70cm bands but you would hardly use them at sea anyway..
If you look at owners' reviews at www.eham.net you find it is one of the best radios for what it is supposed to do: entry level radio, easy to use, practical without all the ham bells and whistles still absolutely efficient. With a double vfo you can also simulate marine channels comms. BTW many marine stations do not even ask your callsign, you can often simply tell the name of the boat, not for public correspondence but if you just need a met forecast or other general infos..
Roberto
M0ITA
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Englander
regular
Reged: 07/09/2001
Posts: 14874
Loc: Barcelona/Bollyolics
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Had a look at the Yaesu, but its not a marine set, I think I will go for the Icom 710, its desiged fopr the job and will hopefully be easier for a numbskull like me to operate. I amy be wrong of course!
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**DONOTDELETE**
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I would recomend a ham set and try and get your ham licence = not for the radio procedures but the free e-mail via the winlink system. It has worldwide coverage and is only restricted in that you must be a ham and not conduct commerce over it. We spent the last year going to russia and back and spent over $1500US on e-mail via mobile and internet cafes in the year - hence the recommendation for the ham licence. It is a much better option - all you need is a ham licence, ssb and modem.
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HaraldS
regular
Reged: 22/11/2001
Posts: 574
Loc: sailing, currently Thailand
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Here is possibly another useful link:
http://www.kielradio.de/GB/Start_GB.htm
As was pointed out, you can have e-mail service via the HAM networks and for free. The above is a comercial one providing e-mail services, plus weather and position reproting for a anual fee of Euro 300 ex-vat.
The modems are the same as used on the HAM nets. They sell the latest types which are supposed to do 2400 Bd. I plan to give this a try for this year and see how well it works. Will let you all know.
They also sell complete kits with transceiver. They choices they offer is the Australian Barret, the Icom 710 and a Sailor. The cheapest is the Barret. Interestingly I haven't seen that one mentioned anywhere here.
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Boatman
regular
Reged: 18/06/2001
Posts: 351
Loc: Where I am
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Colin,
I understand the keep it simple issue and as a pure marine SSB radio the Icom is great as I said before, but given all the other possibilities I still think you should consider a HAM option. The real difference as has been noted is that the marine radios work on channels while the HAM radios work with frequencies, but all the frequencies can be stored in memory channels (back to channels again). I would agree that the Icom is initially easier to use but the Yaesu FT100 is certainly not difficult. If I had to choose between the two, I think I would go for the Yaesu, only because of size and mounting possibilities but my boat is smaller than yours.
BUT, before you go for a radio have you thought about what you are going to use as a ground plane and what about the antenna configuration. These two items are the most important part of any installation and the more time and effort expended on getting them right the better your radio will work. For Info, there is a great section on all these SSB topics on the US Icom web site which is worth downloading and printing (Sorry can?t remember the URL).
Anyway hope I haven?t caused too much confusion or debate and happy hunting.
Peter
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Englander
regular
Reged: 07/09/2001
Posts: 14874
Loc: Barcelona/Bollyolics
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Peter, Any amount of info is always welcome! I will still consider the HAM option, as you say I can program the most useful "channels" anyway. One of the other things I liked about the ICOM, was it's ability to be tuned by a computer for weatherfax operation, switching on at the correct time to receive them. But no matter I'll see whats what. I am aware of the antenna thing I have already downloaded the relevant stuff from ICOM. I was either going to use an existing triatic stay, or one of the backstays and put norseman insulators top and bottom, this is probably the way I will go, as I can mount the ATU in the lazarette and only have a short run from it to the backstay. Thanks again for all your info. By the way, I'm also considering satcom, the inmarsat "C" system from thrane and thrane, they have a new one, non solas, alll built into the small antenna, which would also fulfill my needs in some part, but not of course the ship to ship requirement! One of the main things I need is E mail coms anywhere, so I may have to rethink some of this and go to thuriya/globalstar or something. I will continue to gather what info I can get, it of course also needs to be as cheap as possible!
Colin.
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Boatman
regular
Reged: 18/06/2001
Posts: 351
Loc: Where I am
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Colin
You can program and tune most HAM radios for weatherfax etc with a computer there are tons of programs available for virtually all makes. As for most used channels, the FT100 has 300 or is it 500 memory channels which is more than enough, I know not the 1600 the Icom has but I never use half of them anyway, but I have to say I tend to use frequencies more often.
Backstay with norseman insulators is the way to go, they are great bits of kit, remember the antenna must be at least 23feet long for the HF bands. The other issue is that the active part of the antenna should not be something people grab hold of, if touched while in use (Transmiting) it burns like a microwave from the inside out and bloody hell does it hurt.
You haven't mentioned ground plane which is probably the most difficult part to get right but once correctly installed and after your first transatlantic transmision gives you the greatest buzz.
Interesting that you are looking at sat comms, I was/am looking at Iridium but am not sure coverage seems good but like all systems is a bi...ch to setup and the data transfer is v.slow but HAM bands not really better.
Keep me posted on which way you go and if you need any help please feel free to ask me if I can provide it will do so, although Portugal is right next to Spain where my current boat is I am a bit far away.
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