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PACKETEERING @KWARC |
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PACKETEERING @KWARC |
 It
was bound to happen eventually! Our get together the day after the monthly KWARC meeting
finally fell on the second Tuesday of the month, and we found ourselves displaced by
another group. Interestingly enough it was a local sailing group. We ended up in the
cramped, but nicely furnished foyer. The long narrow room was somewhat reminiscent of the
confines of the 36 foot sail boat in which our guest speaker Dave VA3MRJ Johnson and his
wife Brenda spent a year on their cruise to the Bahamas during 1997-98.A flow of questions welled forth even before Dave could launch into his adventures. Some of the topics covered were :- Antennas: a length of wire hoisted to the masthead, independent of the back stay. ( Insulated backstays are prone to fail at the insulators), -Tuners: the SGC coupler was preferred due to its computability with any brand of HF rig (Couplers can function effectively with limited length antennas). A PK-232/MBX HF Terminal Node Controller with Pactor, a Kenwood TS50 radio, and a reliable packet Bulletin Board System that would serve throughout the voyage. The use of Marine radio services has proliferated in recent years and commercial services are readily available but very expensive. The Amateur service, however, is alive and well and heavily relied upon. Dave related several amusing anecdotes on the idiosyncrasies of the better servers. The major packet BBS for the Intra Coastal Waterway, and extending into the Bahamas was located in Florida. So popular and busy was it that only those with "the fastest draw" were able to secure a clear access. Dave soon learned the art of the quick key. A regular schedule of contact with friends in K-W, and elsewhere was maintained. This BBS is in constant 24 hour use! Most of us have heard of the Canadian ham weather diviner Herb Hildengard. His prime users are international sailors on the high seas. But he would offer his voice services to any sailor in the Atlantic - provided that they were on station when he made contact. He plots daily progress for vessels at sea and provides customized weather updates. Herb operates out of Burlington Ontario! The use of HF and marine SSB radio is becoming very common on sailboats cruising to The Islands. Unfortunately many have the equipment installed just before the trip, and have little knowledge of operating technicalities. Most are not licensed "Amateur Operators". Dave stated that there were usually licenced Ham operators around willing to help them out. VHF Amateur activity was noticeably lacking enroute ... a disappointment. However there were daily marine VHF nets and swap shops in the anchorages, especially @ Georgtown , a major destination at Great Exuma island. Several hundred boats congregate here annually in several very secure basins. The crews of the expatriate sailboats form strong bonds of association during their extended trips to and from the Bahamas and radio plays a key part in maintaining these relationships long after the cruise is just a memory.
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