Chip wrote: > While a ship's master may choose to prohibit your use of a QRP rig > on board,
He *definitely* has that authority. In fact, what is very questionable is his authority to *allow* ham operation. It doesn't matter that QRP is to be used. > the likelihood of it actually interfering with any ongoing communication > at any given moment is exceedingly low to nonexistent, IMHO. And you have the engineering studies to substantiate that in court? The same argument can be applied to in-flight cell phone use. > If you are operating amateur maritime mobile (i.e. in international waters) > I don't think there is a requirement to identify yourself with anything > other than your amateur call sign. That is incorrect, as nice as it seems it would be were it true. The FCC has absolutely NO authority or influence on a foreign flag vessel at sea. Your US call has no standing. The country of ship's registry has jurisdiction on the high seas. If you are operating on a foreign flag vessel with a US call, you quite simply are bootlegging, even if you have the master's permission, unless you can take advantage of some of the relaxed CEPT reciprocal licensing requirements, and identify if you were in the country of ship's registry as required under CEPT. Even those QCWA cruises should (but I guessing do not) follow this. The ship's master has no *authority* to allow any deviation in this area. And, as I mentioned above, should any adverse consequence result from the ham station operation, a master would have no defense for allowing an activity for which he really has no authority to permit, but all authority and responsibility to prohibit. It is also not legal to operate as maritime mobile while *in* a foreign port. In port, the host country's rules for radio operation apply even while on board a ship of another country's registry. In any event, this is taking the list off topic. However, it appears that there is some interest in using Elecraft rigs in operations that are technically bootleg, and worst case harmful to SOLAS considerations. I only suggest that those considering use of their Elecraft rigs at sea investigate how to do that legally. It is, after all, only a hobby and there's nothing *bad* about not being able to ham during a cruise. Were it me, I'd forget at-sea operation, but arrange for bona fide operating authority in the ports of call for the cruise and have some sort of portable kit like a K1 or KX1 to exploit that authority. 73, Mike / KK5F ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
