Great Lakes Marine/Maritime Mobile Net. (Ham HF SSB)
Frequencies: 08:00 EST and 21:00 EST: 3.930 Mhz first, and then 7.263 Mhz LSB.
We also monitor WA9ORC 2M Chicagoland repeater on 146.760 (PL 107.2). One of the antennas is on top of the AON Building.
We also have Skype for worldwide HF phone patches and Echolink for full coverage 2M comms. In addition we are fully conversant with WINMOR HF email, and can enter position reports into the Winlink 2000 system.

The Great Lakes Marine Mobile Net was established to provide mariners on the Great Lakes with yet another means of casual communications to land.

During recent offshore and cross lake sailing races, we found that not even VHF or boosted 3G could span the communications distance to land from the middle of these lakes. Some remote coves are also out of VHF and cell phone range.

Our free and voluntary HF service will close the gap for those mariners with a Ham Radio license. These services include weather information, marina information, position reporting, phone patches, email forwarding, medical services and emergency response.

Remember: In an EMERGENCY, no license is required to transmit.

See us on the web: www.sailblogs.com/member/glmmnet/

Thanks for the information. Gives me something to think about as the Admiral and I take to cruising the Great Lakes. Maybe SSB isn't just for world cruisers.

Hmm, I've been wanting to ever since they dropped the moris code requirement, but this is the clincher; I'm going to have to get my ham licence now!

- Removed accidental doubble post -

Hi Paul,

Ebay has inexpensive good SSB's.
Also antenna tuners.

No Morse code is required for the license anymore.
Just 36 multiplre choice questions. Pass 24 and you are a Ham.

Hear you shortly, or email me.
Email: kc9sgv AT gmail dott com

Bernie.

Hey Bernie,

I too have been thinking about Ham for our boat. This network sounds like a great idea.

I think I'll get started. I hope you don't mind questions because I think I'll have a few.

1. What type of prep work do you recommend? What courses and/or books? I'm a private learner in that I get more out of reading as compared to going to a classroom and sitting through lectures.

2. How does the test take place? A sit down at a designated facility? On-line?

3. Anything an operator needs to learn outside the basic course/test information so that I don't do anything "stupid" to wreak havoc on the system?

4. What type of hardware is reasonable for start-up?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Al

I second Al's questions. How do I get started? Any info on information, texts, equipment, etc. .

Thanks.

Hi guys,
1. At the library or on-line find “The ARRL Technician Class License Manual” and the “ARRL General Class License Manual”. (Level 1 and level 2.) Study the questions and answers in the back, and refer to the text if you must….=)
2. Google a sit down test (called a VE Session) at a designated facility, about once a week near your neighbourhood. Do level 1 (VHF) and level 2 (HF) in one sitting. Easy, about 20 minutes at a time, $14 per day sitting. If you fail, pay another $14 for the next test right there and then.
3. Any Ham will gladly teach you, also see YouTube tutorials.
4. Practice at home first. A car battery, charger, MFJ HF manual antenna tuner, G5RV antenna in inverted V configuration in the trees, ground rod, solid state Hf transceiver (Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood) – ie no vacuum tubes. See Ebay for everything. (You can always upgrade to new stuff later, but with these you will be able to talk to the Caribbean etc. from home and from the boat.

Bernie
KC9SGV
Chicago.

Also see:

ARRL for VE sessions and Ham Fests (Ham flea markets) in your area. These are great, and you will meet lots of knowledgeable guys.

QRZ.com for more Ham info.

Eham.net for product reviews.

Hi All,

See these YouTube videos of simple Ham radio setups and transmissions.
The first guy uses a Yaesu FT840 radio and a G5RV inverted V dipole antenna and a MFJ manual antenna tuner.
Inexpensive older stuff that works.



This next guy uses the same setup, but with a vertical antenna and an endfed longwire antenna for different bands. Basic stuff that works.



73's (Cheers),
Bernie
KC9SGV
Chicago