I can only recommend a full-keel boat :-)

Gil.

I have an old ALINCO (Japanese domestic version of the DR-605) that has significantly worse VHF reception than my Yaesu FT-857.

I'm trying to get a band pass filter to test the ALINCO; however, until then is there a way to recognize by the signal differences whether it's a problem with the ALINCO's receive module or just poor filtering?

73
JS6UEY

I like the TX-500 a lot, but I'm just not crazy about the connectors they choose to use. I guess they are necessary to have the IP-67 certification for water ingress. The idle receive current is one of the best out there.

Joel
N6ALT

Gil, I really enjoyed your maritime videos. I'm looking for a Compac 19 or something similar to trailer. Looking forward to getting on the water. Your videos are an inspiration!

Hello everyone :-)

Back to normal, almost, with a sailboat in port! Just to conclude, I found operating maritime mobile very difficult, and commercial radios completely inadequate for the marine environment, no surprise there... You simply can't have a radio in the cockpit, period. Either it will get sprayed with saltwater or be washed overboard, and the little RG-316 antenna cable isn't going to prevent that. You may fish it back but it will likely never work again. My Yaesu VX6 did well though, to monitor marine channel 16.
My solution will be to install a PRC-320 inside the cabin for voice comms and a 30m QCX for CW with extended key and headset cables to the cockpit. I will place those radios at mid-level in the cabin between bilge and roof. You always have to think of what would happen if the boat was, however briefly, upside-down. I also need to think of a means to receive messages while under-way, which may involve a Raspberry Pi and JS8Call, maybe Winlink.

I do not know if my salted Minion SDR will work again, and I better hurry troubleshooting it before more damage occurs...

Boat-wise, I have a long list of modifications and safety equipment to add. I just installed two new batteries... Solar panels will follow. I am looking at Solbian but it's very expensive; not this year probably. Right now I am setting it up for safe coastal cruising, with the objective of upgrading to an ocean-crossing vessel as time progresses. There is a lot of cosmetic work to do, inside and out.

Now let's resume our regular program ;-)

Gil.

This radio is no longer vaporware!!! The Discovery TX-500 is now on sale at  Ham Radio Outlet. There is already a review up on .

There is a way of using encryption over radio. As long as you are open about what you are using to encrypt and how it is done, then others can use it.

For instance, in the file below you have the Enigma file to be used on a Pringles can. It is available on the internet and as long as you have the start, what reflectors you are using and in which order you are using them in, there is no problem. It may take time for them to decode but you are not hiding the way it is done nor are you making any other and hiding the key.

For instance:

Rotors 1,2,4,5 are used and reflector 1/B. You can put 1245:1/B as your set. Placing the input and output would be a slight problem but you can use the alphabetical ring set so A can be N at the set and keep it there. So you are saying at the beginning 1245:1/B [A.N] So moving all to N the letter A starts at N but finishes up at another letter once the line is followed.

It is a good encryption method but you do have the main body there so you are stating that your rotors, reflectors and settings are known. Yes it will take people time to decode it but you are complying in a way with what you are needing to do with your licence.

Thanks!
Gil.

Thanks guys :-)

Gil.

watching I Survived now. nice video. I'm looking for a trailer sailor now, maybe a com-pac or catalina.

following seas!