| Jay,
I no longer have an antenna up but I do want to second your remark
about a ham radio being high on the must have list. When I was overseas
I helped track several maritime mobiles across the ocean in case they
got into trouble. We had a regular QSO (conversation) scheduled twice
a week. If they didn't show up at the designated time and missed their
alternates, their last known position recorded position was forwarded
to the coast guard.
It's also a wonderful way to contact loved ones when one of the crew
starts getting homesick and the nearest phone is a 15 day sail away!
This saved one of my trips!
Robert
WB7VVV (ex KG6JBT)
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| Robert, I agree we in the Cabo San Lucas in December of 82 when
the storm destroyed 28 boats. The ham radio was inuse 24 hours
a day with traffic to the States. In Feb or March of 83 we tuned
to 14.3113 (the Maritime Net) to call home and there wasd an emergency
going on - Mcbride sailing The City Of Dundee in the BOC had gone
aground in the Faulklin (?) Islands we could not hear him but could
follow everything thru the net controller. They were trying to
reach someone in England to call the British Navy to get a ship
in the area to answer his call for help. We herd operators in Hawii
Washington D.C., Flordia and even from the city of Dundee. Finally
we herd from "HER Majesty War Ship - Penelope" who shome how had
been allerted and was going to the rescue. Since Mcbride had a
ham radio and was using 14.314 the War Ship came to that frenquency.
It was interesting but Penelope had a 3 hour eta so we didn't stay
up. Another ham in the anchorage did however.
We spent a year in the South Pacific in 85-86 and used different
nets while underway to check in and be kept accounted for as well
as making phone call 3-4 times a week.
I wish people were more aware of the benifits.
I'm just installing a Kenwood 440s to replace my ICOM 720i.
my wife is a general - KB6ARL.
73s
Jay
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