Bjarne Hansen & Barb Peck Freya

HF Radio, 2013

HF Reception at Sea● Receivers

● SW Radios, Dedicated Receivers● Where to buy● Powering your radio● Tuning: what's this USB, LSB stuff?

● Antennas● Make your own● Antenna Tuners

● Weather FAX● Images available● Station Selection● Schedules

● Computers● Laptops● Marinized PCs

● Weather FAX Software● Exercise in Using

● Special Stuff● Software Defined Radios (SDR)● Software and Hardware of interest to Cruiser

Bjarne Hansen, S/V Freya , VA7ZIG

HF Radio, 2013

● How to use HAM radio● Getting a HAM license● Info on Cruisers' Nets● Make you an Electrical

Engineer

What this seminar is NOT:

● Hunter-Vogel 30' full keel

● No Fridge, No Radar, No Watermaker

● Ham/Marine SSB receive only

● Two Solar panels

● Dive Gear

FREYA

2004 - 2006 16 919 NM

HF Radio, 2013

Why have an HF RADIO on board?● Weather FAXes● High-seas Weather Forecasts (voice)● Accurate Time

● Celestial Navigation● International News Broadcasts

● Current Events● Sports● Political Situations

● Cruisers' Nets● “Lurking” on your friends and others

HF Radio, 2013

Shortwave Receiver Laptop

Earphone Out to

Microphone In

Antenna

Typical HF Radio Setup

Optional

HF Radio, 2013

Receivers● Shortwave Bands (at least 3 to 30 MHz)● SSB (single side band) tuning● Battery-powered, or low-voltage DC input● Headphone output

nice to have...

● External Antenna input● Station Memory● Backlit screen● Alarm Wake-up

HF Radio, 2013

Sony ICF-SW7600GR

Amazon$165

4x AA or12V -> 6V adapter

wake-up timer

one Amazon reviewer reported it better than a Grundig YB400

Good discussion of various radios by sailors:http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/weather-fax-si-tex-nav-fax-200-stand-alone-68317.html

Receivers

HF Radio, 2013

Grundig G3

Radioworld.ca$100

4x AA batteries,or use adapter

wake-up timerAircraft bandBuilt-in battery charger

Receivers

HF Radio, 2013

DEGEN DE1103

eBay$50

had a good review compared to SCI-TEX Nav-Fax 200 (which costs $500)

Receivers

HF Radio, 2013

also check out SANGEAN models (the one we tried the night of the seminar seemed to perform well.)

A good website to read reviews of various receivers is:http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/8

!NEW! info added since seminar

HF Radio, 2013

Receivers – Basic Use● Attach an Antenna

● Whip is OK, long-wire better (more on this later)● Select mode: FM / AM / SSB

● FM = commercial broadcast band (the-Q, KISM)● AM = most international broadcast voice stations● SSB = data, aircraft, station-station voice

● Select a Frequency● http://support.radioshack.com/support_tutorials/communications/swave-5a.htm

● Lower (< 12 MHz) at night, higher during the day● Fine tune for best reception, least interference

● If receiving data, connect radio to computer (more later)● Other controls

● Wide / Narrow filter● DX / Local attenuation● Low / High tone

HF Radio, 2013

Antennas● Tuned

● Need a different size for each frequency band

● Can be very directional and efficient

HF Radio, 2013

Antennas● Long Wire

● Can cover multiple bands● Convenient to string up from masthead● Peaks and troughs in the reception are

affected by length and nearby metal.● Avoid runs parallel to metal (e.g. mast)● Common lengths with good frequency

response in ham bands are: 29 35.5 41 58 feet. (There is so much influence by surroundings, that this should not be taken as your final answer. Try it.)

HF Radio, 2013

Antennas - Construction●

Backstay

Backstay Insulator

Backstay Insulator

inexpensive expensive

Safety Note:

If you will be Transmitting, keep Antenna away from people

HF Radio, 2013

An Antenna Tuner matches the impedance of the radio to the antenna.● much like the gears on a bicycle: your

legs work best at a medium speed

An antenna tuner reduces the energy reflected back at the radio / antenna connection.

This is essential when Transmitting – reflecting back 30% of 150 Watts can damage the radio and be a hazard to people.

Increased reflection doesn't cause any damage or hazards when receiving. The only downside is a loss of signal strength, but it isn't worth the effort and cost to get an antenna tuner for a receive-only installation.

Antenna Tuners

HF Radio, 2013

Weather FAX

HF Radio, 2013

Shortwave ReceiverLaptop with Weatherfax software

Earphone Out to

Microphone In

Antenna

Weather FAX

HF Radio, 2013

Weather FAX – types of weather chartsSurface Analysis

Current and FutureUpper Air (500 mB)Current and Future

Sea Surface Temperature

Wind & Wave Height

Warning AreasPhotos

Visible and IR

Significant Clouds

Weather FAX – Surface Analysis

Weather FAX – Surface Analysis (tropical)

HF Radio, 2013

Weather FAX – Upper Air (500 mB) Forecast

Weather FAX – Surface Analysis (forecast)

HF Radio, 2013

Weather FAX – Wave Period / Direction fcst

HF Radio, 2013

Weather FAX – Wind / Wave Forecast

HF Radio, 2013

Weather FAX – Sea State

Weather FAX – Warning Areas

HF Radio, 2013

Weather FAX – Sea Surface Temperatures

HF Radio, 2013

Weather FAX – Significant Cloud Features

HF Radio, 2013

Shortwave ReceiverLaptop with Weatherfax software

Earphone Out to

Microphone In

Antenna

Weather FAXNote: check radiomanual for the correct phonoplug size. Also - most shortwavebroadcasts are MONO, so a stereoplug is not essential.

HF Radio, 2013

Software(Windows)

SeaTTY http://www.dxsoft.com/en/products/seatty/ $49 Windows program to receive weather reports, navigational warnings and weather charts transmitted in RTTY, NAVTEX and HF-FAX (WEFAX) modes on longwave and shortwave bands. It can decode GMDSS DSC (HF and VHF) messages.

JWX http://arachnoid.com/JWX/index.html $free A program to receive WeFAX. Java-based, so it will run on Windows and Linux operating systems. Website has a good technical description of WeFAX.

QSSTV http://users.telenet.be/on4qz/ $free Qt-based program to transmit and receive SSTV (slow scan TV) and WeFAX. Needs compiling to install. Tested – seemed that WeFAX portion was unreliable.

JVComm http://www.jvcomm.de/index_e.html $85 Windows program to receive WeFAX and many other types of HAM data transmissions. Good quality, stable.

Airmail's Weather Fax. http://siriuscyber.net/wxfax/ and http://www.siriuscyber.net/ham/

$free for hams and SailMail subscribers. Windows only. WeFAX capability is available as a standalone program called GetFax, or you can just install the whole Airmail program.

Weather Fax 2000 http://store.xaxero.com/cubecart/index.php $89. Windows, Mac OSX, Linux. Can buy Weather Fax 2000 with hardware demodulator for $199, or get software only, which uses soundcard or Pactor modem. Has 30-day trial on software-only version.

HF Radio, 2013

JWX http://arachnoid.com/JWX/index.html $free A program to receive WeFAX. Java-based, so it will run on Windows and Linux operating systems, and some Mac systems (if Java hasn't been disabled by the OS). Website has a good technical description of WeFAX.

QSSTV http://users.telenet.be/on4qz/ $free Qt-based program to transmit and receive SSTV (slow scan TV) and WeFAX. Needs compiling to install. Tested – seemed that WeFAX portion was unreliable.

MultiMode http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/multimode/fax.html $89 Macintosh OSX. Website includes good technical description of WeFAX.

Weather Fax 2000 http://store.xaxero.com/cubecart/index.php $89. Windows, Mac OSX, Linux. Can buy Weather Fax 2000 with hardware demodulator for $199, or get software only, which uses soundcard or Pactor modem. Has 30-day trial on software-only version.

Software(Mac OSX)

HF Radio, 2013

Apps for Apple

WeatherFAX Iphones & iPads.

Uses the microphone to receive audio from your radio (just place the iPhone next to the speaker or headphone)

Don't know how image quality is affected when underway...it can be very noisy when the wind is up.

Software(Mac OSX)

HF Radio, 2013

JWX http://arachnoid.com/JWX/index.html $free A program to receive WeFAX. Java-based, so it will run on Windows and Linux operating systems, and some Mac systems (if Java hasn't been disabled by the OS). Website has a good technical description of WeFAX.

QSSTV http://users.telenet.be/on4qz/ $free Qt-based program to transmit and receive SSTV (slow scan TV) and WeFAX. Needs compiling to install. Tested – seemed that WeFAX portion was unreliable.

Weather Fax 2000 http://store.xaxero.com/cubecart/index.php $89. Windows, Mac OSX, Linux. Can buy Weather Fax 2000 with hardware demodulator for $199, or get software only, which uses soundcard or Pactor modem. Has 30-day trial on software-only version.

Software(Linux)

HF Radio, 2013

Software References

http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Software/Weather_and_FAX/ ● Amateur radio Resources – a listing of WeFAX programs from various sources.

http://yachtpals.com/how-to/weatherfax ● Description of how to prepare cable to connect receiver to computer. The yachtpals.com website is a wealth of other boating info too!

http://www.morganscloud.com/2011/10/27/weather-fax-for-boats/ ● Article about a cruiser's experience with WeatherFax 2000.

HF Radio, 2013

Tuning Exercise

HF Radio, 2013

Tuning Exercise

Good audio level. The tuning was varied between the white-on-black section, the gray-gray section, and thepreferred black-on-white section.

HF Radio, 2013

Tuning Exercise

Good audio level, good fine-tuning of SSB frequency

HF Radio, 2013

Tuning Exercise

HF Radio, 2013

Tuning Exercise

HF Radio, 2013

Worldwide listing:www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/rfax.pdf

Local Pacific stations (frequencies in kHz):

KVM70 (Hawaii)9982.5  (0519Z ­ 1556Z)11090   (all)16135   (1719Z ­ 0356Z)

ZKLF (New Zealand)3247.4  (0945Z ­ 1700Z)5807    (all)9459    (all)13550.5 (all)16340.1 (2145Z ­ 0500Z)

NMC (Pt Reyes, CA)4346    (0140Z ­ 1608Z)8682    (all)12786   (all)17151.2 (all)22527   (1840Z ­ 2356Z)

NOJ (Kodiak, AK)2054    (all)4298    (all)8459    (all)12412.5 (all)

WeatherFAX Schedules

HF Radio, 2013

Typical Schedule

WeatherFAX Schedules

HF Radio, 2013

Best Frequencies

● They vary throughout the day & night. Try higher frequencies during daylight, lower frequencies at night.

● Program frequencies into radio's memory so you can quickly scroll through list.

● Try a station from the same area in the same band: e.g. WWV / WWVH on 5, 10, and 15 MHz. WWVH (Hawaii) is the female voice; WWV (Colorado) is the male voice.

● Use a propagation program, like the one built into Winlink / Sailmail.

● Usually what worked yesterday will work today around the same time

WeatherFAX Schedules

HF Radio, 2013

External● Lightning and other Atmospheric noise● Nearby boats● Cities● Aurora

Internal● Power Bricks● Charge Controllers● Alternators● Some LED lights, especially with dimmers

Radio Interference

HF Radio, 2013

What will you use it for?● email● composing letters, website blogs● watching movies● weatherfax reception● photo storage and editing● chart plotting, route planning● tracking finances, running boat-based business

How Geeky Are You?● do you want Windows, or do you prefer Linux or Mac

OS?● are you comfortable configuring software?● are you comfortable making cables and adapters?

How much money and power do you have?

Computers

HF Radio, 2013

Marine

Digital YachtaQua50$550

12V @ 1A

2x NMEA01834x USBEthernet12 GB SSD (solid-state drive)

Ubuntu with OpenCPN

Computers

HF Radio, 2013

Marine

Digital YachtaQua200$1000

12V @ 1.5A

2x NMEA01834x USBVGA, HDMI12 GB SSD (solid-state drive)audio

Windows

Computers

HF Radio, 2013

Marine

Stealth.comWPC-525F$1700

12V @ 1.2AIP67 waterproof

1x RS-2324x USB2x EthernetVGA128 GB SSDno audio

Windows (+$200) or Linux

Computers

HF Radio, 2013

Laptops

Lots of choices.

Save $ and power by not getting the latest/greatest.

online, retail, used$200 and up

3x USB1x EthernetVGA, HDMIWiFi

Computers

HF Radio, 2013

+ -

12 V

120 V

18 V

Each conversion between differentvoltages is perhaps 85% efficient.

Avoid converting your 12 VDC 115 VAC 18 VDC For each Amp your laptop draws, your battery needs to supply at least 1.3 Amps

X

Computers

Saving Power – Avoid Conversions!

HF Radio, 2013

Furuno FAX-408

$2500 newused: check eBay

Paper refills $20

Dedicated Receivers/Printers

Other Interesting Stuff...

HF Radio, 2013

Dedicated Receivers/Printers

Furuno FAX-30

$1000 newused: check eBay

No paperConnects to PC or Furuno NavNet display via ethernet cable

Other Interesting Stuff...

HF Radio, 2013

Dedicated Receivers/PrintersXaXero WeatherFAX 2000

$200

$99 if used with Pactor Modem

Demodulates the audio in hardware (no sound input on PC needed)

Sends data to PC using USB

can auto-tune some Ham/SSB radios

Other Interesting Stuff...

HF Radio, 2013

Dedicated Receivers/PrintersXaXero SkyEye

$2000

Windows/Mac/Linux

Tunes actual NOAA weather satellite transmissions, demodulates, and sends sat photo to PC.

Free to receive – no subscription needed.

Other Interesting Stuff...

HF Radio, 2013

Dedicated Receivers/PrintersXaXero SkyEye – How does it work?

NOAA GOES satellites transmit data on 1691 and 1685.7 MHz. The NOAA polar orbiters use frequencies in the 137-138 and 1698-1707 MHz bands.

Software provides: ● Vessel position● GRIB overlay (needs

GRIB file)● Satellite tracking● Lat/long and coastline

overlay● Image enhancement

Other Interesting Stuff...

HF Radio, 2013

Software Defined Radio

Other Interesting Stuff...

http://www.oz9aec.net/index.php/gnu-radio/gnu-radio-blog/477-noaa-apt-reception-with-gqrx-and-rtlsdrhttp://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr Info on the rtlsdrhttp://noaasis.noaa.gov/NOAASIS/ml/satservices.html Info on satellite services

What is it?

A Digital TV Receiving Dongle, which has been re-programmed to tune anywhere between approx 30 MHz to 2200 MHz. The raw signals are sent to the PC via USB, and software on the PC demodulates the desired signal. The wide frequency range allows reception of many satellite, aircraft, and ship (VHF) transmissions. All you add is an antenna.

HF Radio, 2013

Apps for Apple

iStuff generally doesn't have the usual electrical connectors useful for marine use, sporting instead a proprietary docking connector. However, there are some workable, even clever, solutions.

The docking connector does include two pins for serial communications, and with a cable and level converter (Redpark RS-232 from Get-console.com), can be connected to RS-232 ports. Software to take advantage of the serial port may require that your iDevice be jailbroken. Google can tell you more...

The Wi-Fi interface is another way of getting around the lack of physical connectors.

Other Interesting Stuff...

HF Radio, 2013

AIS to smartphone / pad via WiFi

Many AIS apps for portable devices. Note that for AIS operation in areas without cell coverage, you must have an AIS receiver.

Here's a receiver that sends the AIS data to your portable device via WiFi.

Digital YachtZDIGIAIS$470

Other Interesting Stuff...

HF Radio, 2013

Apps for Apple

A Shortwave station schedule

Other Interesting Stuff...

HF Radio, 2013

Apps for Apple

Charting

Overall good, butnot all areas covered, Battery drain high,Chart inaccuracies

Read reviews in App Store...

Other Interesting Stuff...

Water and Electricity Do Mix

Thanks !