2013 AMSAT Space Symposium Marriott Hobby Airport Hotel, Houston, Texas Operating on Satellites from Cruise Ships Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises

Transcription

1 2013 AMSAT Space Symposium Marriott Hobby Airport Hotel, Houston, Texas Operating on Satellites from Cruise Ships Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises by Allen F. Mattis, N5AFV November 1-4, 2013

2 Introduction Establishing My Credentials Regulations for Maritime Amateur Radio Operation Obtaining Permission to Operate on a Ship Amateur Radio Licensing on Foreign Flagged Vessels Conclusions Presentation Outline Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises

3 N5AFV Satellite Operation Operated from 170 Grid Squares While on cruises operated on satellites from 21 DXCC entities on 3 continents Operated a total of 93 days on 9 cruises Made 1,629 contacts while on from cruises Activated 146 wet grid squares

4 Caribbean DXCC Entities Activated by N5AFV Dominica J7

5 Operating on Satellites from Cruise Ships Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises Regulations for Maritime Amateur Radio Operation

6 Requirements for Maritime Amateur Radio Operation Stations aboard ships in international waters ARRL website states: When an FCC licensed amateur is operating an amateur rig aboard a US-registered vessel in international waters, he or she must follow Part 97 of the FCC rules, particularly Section If the ship is of foreign registry, (he or she) must obtain a reciprocal operating authorization for the country of registry in addition to being in compliance with Section

7 Part 97 of the FCC Rules is Very Clear Stations aboard ships or aircraft Stations aboard ships or aircraft (a) The installation and operation of an amateur station on a ship or aircraft must be approved by the master of the ship or pilot in command of the aircraft. (b) The station must be separate from and independent of all other radio apparatus installed on the ship or aircraft, except a common antenna may be shared with a voluntary ship radio installation. The station's transmissions must not cause interference to any other apparatus installed on the ship or aircraft.

8 Licensing Requirements Maritime Amateur Radio Operation In international waters the operator is required to have an amateur radio license from the country in which the vessel is flagged In the territorial waters of a nation it is necessary to have an amateur radio license from that nation

9 Two Primary Requirements Maritime Amateur Radio Operation Permission to operate must be obtained from the captain of the ship Proper amateur radio licensing must be obtained for operation on the ship

10 Suspected Terrorists On Cruise Ship Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises QST July 2005

11 Operating on Satellites from Cruise Ships Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises Obtaining Permission to Operate on a Ship

12 Obtaining Permission to Operate Required by Section of FCC Rules Captain usually delegates approval authority to Communications Officer Due to security concerns, not usually possible to meet in person with Communications Officer Written requests to operate amateur radio are turned in at the Purser s Desk and forwarded to Communications Officer A carefully worded written request prepared in advance increases the likelihood of receiving permission to operate

13 Obtaining Permission To Operate Required by Section of FCC Rules The Communications Officer is usually in charge of computers and computer network on ship as well as radio equipment Communications Officer may have an IT background instead of a radio background When requesting permission to operate it is desirable to address any negative perceptions regarding amateur radio that Communications Officer may have

14 Written Request to Operate Obtaining Permission to Operate on the Ship I request permission to operate a small low-power handheld amateur radio on board during the cruise I state that my radio is very similar to Family Radio Service (FRS) radios used by many passengers, but operates on the 145 MHz VHF and 435 MHz UHF amateur radio bands I tell them I typically operate for very short periods of time, usually 10 to 15 minutes three or four times a day

15 Written Request to Operate Obtaining Permission to Operate on the Ship I tell them that I use a small headset with a microphone when I operate the radio so that I do not disturb other people I end by stating that I have operated this equipment on cruises in the past and that it did not cause any problems I do not tell them that I operate through a satellite or give any details they do not need to know If it is a cruise line I have sailed on in the past I name the ships that I have operated on

16 Response to the Written Request Obtaining Permission to Operate on the Ship Princess Cruises: Usually receive written approval delivered to stateroom or verbal approval by telephone within 12 hours Carnival Cruise Lines: No response usually received to requests to operate; most operators assume they are allowed to operate if communications officer hasn t notified them that it is not permitted Royal Caribbean International: Request returned the next day by ship s mail with no comments on it, because there was no comment forbidding operation, I assumed operation was permitted

17 Response to the Written Request Obtaining Permission to Operate on the Ship Celebrity Cruise line reportedly has a policy of not allowing passengers to operate two-way radio on their ships, my travel agent was told by Celebrity that any amateur radio equipment found on board one of their ships would be confiscated Princess Cruises, the Holland America Line and the Norwegian Cruise Line have been amateur radio friendly cruise lines Approval may be given to operate amateur radio on a cruise ship, but with restrictions such as no transmitting during critical periods when the ship is entering or leaving a harbor, or docking, or going through the Panama Canal

18 Operating on Satellites from Cruise Ships Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises Amateur Radio Licensing on Foreign Flagged Vessels

19 Amateur Radio Licensing on Foreign Flagged Vessels Three routes to licensing for US radio amateurs Three Licensing Options: European CEPT agreement International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) Other reciprocal licensing agreements Information is on the ARRL web site ( It is important to apply for any needed amateur radio licenses at least three months before the cruise

20 CEPT European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administration CEPT agreement gives US radio amateurs operating privileges in most European nations Need proof of US citizenship, original FCC amateur radio license (Technician or higher), and copy of FCC public notice Amateur Service Operation in CEPT Countries which is available on the ARRL web page When operating under CEPT authority, license holder uses their national call sign preceded by the call sign prefix of the country in which he or she is operating

21 International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) Agreement includes eleven countries in North and South America IARP issued to US amateur radio operators by ARRL and costs $10 per year Application form available on the ARRL web page Need to provide passport photo and copy of FCC license (Technician or higher) Processing reportedly may take several months when ARRL has backlog of applications

22 International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) License holders use their national call sign either preceded by or followed by the call sign prefix of the station location Geographical location given at least once during each intercommunication

23 Other Reciprocal Licensing Agreements U.S. licensed radio amateurs obtain a foreign amateur radio license without taking an examination Reciprocal licenses make it possible to operate while ships are docked in foreign ports or while onshore in ports of call In some nations reciprocal operators use their home call sign appended with the foreign radio prefix (N5AFV/C6A, N5AFV/VP9 and VP2V/N5AFV) Some reciprocal licenses issue a foreign call sign such as Dominica (V79AFM), Cayman Islands (ZF2FA) and Belize (V31FV) One downside of reciprocal licensing is that most of the permits cost $20 to $25 a year

24 Reciprocal License for N5AFV/VP9 Bermuda Four-month license is available by mail at no cost Information available on ARRL web site License Has Name of Ship

25 Key Points for Licensing Maritime Amateur Radio Operation The most important license to obtain is the one that allows you to operate on the ship You may also want to acquire a license to operate from some of the ports of call if your schedule permits It is important to apply for any needed amateur radio licenses at least three months before the cruise

26 Operating on Satellites from Cruise Ships Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises Operating Equipment

27 Using an Arrow Antenna Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises Equipment spread out on the table of the veranda in preparation to work a satellite pass from a cruise ship Equipment - Icom W32A HT Arrow Antenna with Duplexer MFJ-288 Headset Voice-Activated Tape Recorder GPS Unit I no longer use an Arrow Antenna on Cruises

28 N5AFV Equipment of Choice Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises Premier (Pryme) AL db (2m) / 5.6 db (70cm) 9 1/2 inches long collapsed 33 inches long extended Cost $30 MFJ-288I Headset Cost $25.95 Icom W32A HT (Any full dual-band HT will work)

29 Operating Onshore in Ports-of-Call KP4/N5AFV Operating from San Juan, Puerto Rico I have made 9,410 satellite contacts with my W32A and an AL800 antenna I/N5AFV Operating along Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

30 Operating from the Ship in Territorial Waters N5AFV/C6A in the Bahamas (Photograph by Jerry Berlin AI4IX) VP2V/N5AFV in Tortola, British Virgin Islands

31 W3PM Operating Satellites with a FT-817 FT-817 Allows Operation on Linear Satellites Home brew 2-element quad for receive and 19-inch whip for transmit Gene Marcus, W3PM, operating maritime mobile aboard the Queen Elizabeth II, July, 2002 (Photos provided by W3PM)

32 Operating on Satellites from Cruise Ships Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises Conclusions

33 Conclusions Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises Successful amateur radio satellite operation from a cruise ship requires proper advance planning and preparation A carefully worded written request prepared in advance increases the likelihood of receiving permission to operate Licensing usually takes at least several months If these steps are followed, operating the satellites from a cruise ship can be very successful

34 2013 AMSAT Space Symposium Marriott Hobby Airport Hotel, Houston, Texas Backup Slides

35 Jamaica Reciprocal License Application (ARRL Web Page) Application information on ARRL web page incorrect Letter returned six weeks after mailing with notations No such box number and Return for better address Not enough time remaining before cruise to re-apply, even if I could track down the correct address

36 Operating on Satellites from Cruise Ships Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises My Most Exciting Satellite Contact

37 G\N5AFV Contact with CO8LY 23-Oct-01 O210 utc UO-14 CO8LY G/N5AFV FL20 FK29 I could see the mountains of eastern Cuba while we made the contact

38 Summary of N5AFV Cruise Operations Lessons Learned on Nine Cruises

39 Reciprocal License for N5AFV/C6A The Bahamas Information available on ARRL web site, submit copies of US amateur radio license and proof of US citizenship Annual $25 licensing fee, will accept US Postal Service Money Order Must identify as N5AFV/C6A

40 Reciprocal License for ZF2FA Cayman Islands License fee $25 per year, will accept cashier s check from US bank ARRL web site has details, payment is to be made to ICTA instead of Cayman Islands Government Submit copies of US amateur radio license and US passport identification page Import fee $10 if bring amateur radio equipment into country, not usually collected if you walk off ship with HT

41 Reciprocal License for V31FV Belize Submit copies of US amateur radio license and US passport identification page, license fee $20 per year, will accept US Postal Service money orders Received hand-written receipt but no call sign six months after applying, received Radio Amateur Certificate after sending letter inquiring about call sign ARRL web site has details Did not receive license in time to operate from Belize

42 Reciprocal License for N5AFV/VP9 Bermuda Four-month license is available by mail at no cost Submit copy of US amateur radio license and address you will be staying at in Bermuda Must identify as N5AFV/VP9 Information available on ARRL web site

43 QSL Cards from N5AFV Maritime Mobile Operation October, January, 2005

44 QSL Cards from N5AFV Maritime Mobile Operation October, January, 2005

45 QSL Cards from N5AFV Maritime Mobile Operation October, January, 2005

46 Central States VHF Society Reverse VUCC

47 November 4, First Pacific to Atlantic Ship-to-Ship OSCAR Contact Andy MacAllister, W5ACM/C6A, in Atlantic making contact with Allen Mattis, N45AFV/VP9, in Pacific