Cruising Wiki Page: HF Radio

[Lighthouse]

This is the discussion topic for the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki page: <A HREF=http://www.cruiserlog.com/wiki/index.php?title=HF_Radio>HF Radio</A>. Add what you can to assist all the other cruisers around the world that are following in your wake.

GRAB A PAGE AND BUILD IT!

[Auspicious]

This wiki page needs a lot of work, too much for me to do. All the radios listed, and the one photograph are ham radios. There is no discussion of the implication of using ham radios not type certified for marine SSB use under the laws of the major maritime countries. The matrix of nets is missing a lot of information that could be filled in with a few hours on Google. The selection criteria are lacking: 10 watts is not adequate for an ocean-going boat; cites push-button antenna tuning with no criteria for or adequate mention of a tuner; knob-tuning is important for ham radio use but not relevant for channelized marine SSB; cost is a personal criterion, not a global one; "truly marine" conflicts with list of radios; and no mention of the requirement for a maximum T/R switching speed to support e-mail as a criterion. Wireless wifi external link is not relevant to HF Radio.

Sorry for the list, but the page does need a lot of work.

sail fast, dave

[Lighthouse]

Hi Dave

It is a page in "development" and requires further contributions from someone like yourself to make it really useful for cruisers.

Please find some time to help the page grow into a good reference section. The Cruising Wiki grows from multiple contributions from cruisers all around the world - for the benefit of all.

[Auspicious]

The following is a to-do list. I'll attempt to work this off over time. Comments are welcome.

Add section describing marine SSB v. ham radio

Add list of type-certified marine SSB radios

Replace photo with photos of marine SSB radios from multiple manufacturers

Add very brief, human-readable description of modulation types w/ description of why sailors care

Add section on interference from and with other boat systems

Describe type-certification -- get help describing issues with US, UK, AU, NZ, EU requirements

Add section on licensing -- make this international also

Add section on ham radio and how it is different

Check referenced radio e-mail page and deconflict subject and content

Update and populate matrix of nets (note to self - pull from auspicious bills; talk to hfradio.com)

Update criteria (include tuner issues, T/R timing, ham v. marine)

[Lighthouse]

Additional sections have been added - add more or move as needed.