Hi Doug,

Yes I'm aware that a licensed Amateur Radio operator can build and modify
equipment with the proper class license. We rely on your expertise and
abilities in communication emergencies. I am the Emergency Readiness
Coordinator for the USCG Auxiliary Division 5, Port of Hampton Roads, Va,
and we utilize all available agencies and volunteers in an emergency. What
is bad practice though, is to encourage anyone to modify communications
equipment which as you know, is permitted only under very limited
circumstances and could not therefore be acceptable for general use in
emergency communications. If you can't do it legally, can't test it, can't
tune it, and can't practice with it, you shouldn't have been encouraged to
consider such equipment as part of your planning for emergencies.
Responsible sailors can easily get a license for SSB marine operations and
learn how to contact the USCG and other monitoring agencies, including
commercial and volunteer watchstanders on authorized SSB marine bands. I
work in this field for USCG HF communications, and we are happy to provide
assistance to boaters in this matter.

Best regards,

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Va


"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
Fortunately, ham radio is not under the same rules as marine
SSB when it comes to modifications. Type accepted marine gear cannot
be modified but ham gear can. I can build my own rig if I want to
and I am not violating any law unless have emmisions that are in
violation to those specified (freq, spurious radiation, harmonics, etc).
In other words, I can't violate the law unless I transmit.
If you look closer at the rules, all rules are suspended in an emergency.
So transmitting on a modified rig is not illegal in an emergency.

As far as having a cheap rig on board, that is a personal choice. I have
cruised with many that don't have an SSB.

Doug (That is my real name)
s/v Callista

"Jack Painter" wrote in message
news:fgCnc.34527$pJ1.28623@lakeread02...
Gee, how do you really feel about it? Nice language. Those of us whose
parents were married don't talk that way. And we don't hide behind phony
internet ID's.

Anyone thinking about unauthorized mods to a SSB radio can write me and
I
will be glad to find a local representative in your area where you can
have
the law explained to you in person.

"master" try to teach his only mate, a totally inexperienced girl,
how
to
raise the mainsail while he headed them out into 10' rollers in a
25kt
NE

That's poor judgement, and good sailors have no problem understanding
this.

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, VA

"santacruz" wrote in message
...
I'm not normally rude to ****heads like you - but you're not answering
his question. You must be another ****ing Bush Republican.

It is perfectly legal to modify ham radios so they can transmit on
marine SSB freq's in an emergency.

Go ask your Mother - she'll confirm this.

BTW - 25 knots and 10 ft seas in a 38' boat is just exciting sailing.
We get that frequently between Long Beach and Catalina - and it's
great fast sailing.




On Sun, 9 May 2004 01:13:45 -0400, "Jack Painter"
wrote:

"Eric" wrote in message
. com...
I am looking for an inexpensive tranceiver for my sailboat.I am
rapidly running out of money and need a cheap reliable rig.I have
just
insulated my backstay(37 feet).aAny ideas? Thanks,Eric.

Eric,

Your somewhat typical request elcited somewhat typical replies so
far.

Maybe it's helpful to you to get an answer to that question, but I
think
you're attitude is likely to cost someone's life, probably your own.
If
you
really think getting a "cheap reliable rig" as you are now "rapidly
running
out of money" is the acceptable order of things before an offshore
excursion, you are an accident waiting to happen. Well meaning but
improper
advice from the group comes complete with telling you it's easy to
break
the
law, and encouraging you to do so. These legal eagles really believe
that
so
long as you later have an emergency (assured in your case Eric), you
didn't
break any law. They are wrong, as are your priorities. Instead of
compounding your mistakes with their bad advice, your whole sailing
experience would be more enjoyable and safer if you would learn some
simple
safe boating practices. Then you would be more likely to prevent the
need
for cheap radios you are not licensed or trained to use, as well as
understand the fallacy of advice to believe in illegal operation as a
saving
grace to other inadequacies.

I recommend you take some seamanship, communications and other safe
boating
courses offered by the United States Power Squadrons and United
States
Coast
Guard Auxiliary via your nearest marina or boating center. Then you
could
be
safely enjoying the water and able to help others do the same instead
of
learning to break the law and operating recklessly from a vessel and
crew
of
uncertain capabilities. Like the 38' sloop we saw today - watching
her
"master" try to teach his only mate, a totally inexperienced girl,
how
to
raise the mainsail while he headed them out into 10' rollers in a
25kt
NE
under small craft warnings this morning. I wonder if he was confident
that
his illegally modifed "cheap" SSB radio could have raised us. It
would
fit
the bill.

Sincerely,

Jack Painter
USCG Auxiliary
Virginia Beach, Va