Amateur radio /Ham radio

[othena]

Can anyone please advise if Amateur radio /Ham radio is allowed on Cunard,

as I have been through the T,s & C,s and there does not seem to be any Information

 

Other parts of Carnival grouop are quite reseptive as to where and when you can operate

 

Any help /contact details within Cunard would be most helpful

 

Many thanks

[BlueRiband]

From ask.cunard.com

 

Can I use a HAM/CB and short wave radio on board? We would ask that HAM or CB radios are not used on board in case of interference with our own satellite and radio communications which are essential for safe operation of the ship.

 

In addition to this, extended aerial equipment may prove to be hazardous to other guests. Should you wish to bring such equipment, this must be stored in your stateroom and only used when taken ashore.

[Jim Avery]

QE2's early days were more "Ham friendly" as they had a Radio Room where you went to send cables and they had radio group meetings on crossings. One of the Senior Officers was the Chief Radio Officer. In later years, the Radio Room became a suite. :D

[chengkp75]

Can anyone please advise if Amateur radio /Ham radio is allowed on Cunard,

as I have been through the T,s & C,s and there does not seem to be any Information

 

Other parts of Carnival grouop are quite reseptive as to where and when you can operate

 

Any help /contact details within Cunard would be most helpful

 

Many thanks

 

Really? You've been given permission to operate onboard a Carnival group ship? Do you receive the permits for each country you are visiting? At sea, you would be operating under the ship's Radiotelegraphy License, and I would think they would be hesitant to allow that. I thought I'd seen this asked before under some other Carnival brands, and that it wasn't allowed. Could be wrong.

[Salacia]

Can anyone please advise if Amateur radio /Ham radio is allowed on Cunard,

as I have been through the T,s & C,s and there does not seem to be any Information

 

Other parts of Carnival grouop are quite reseptive as to where and when you can operate

 

Any help /contact details within Cunard would be most helpful

 

Many thanks

 

Hi othena. I don't know what the rules are, but I can tell you that on one of the QM2 cruise we experienced years ago, the passenger in the balcony next to ours operated some kind of ham radio. Before sunrise, he was out on his balcony with his equipment...static mostly, and also loud voices. Definitely annoying - but did it also pose a threat? I don't know. But those transmissions/broadcasts did not go on for more than a couple of days, thankfully.

 

Just out of curiosity, why would you want to operate a ham radio on board? Thanks, S.

[pepperrn]

Hi othena. I don't know what the rules are, but I can tell you that on one of the QM2 cruise we experienced years ago, the passenger in the balcony next to ours operated some kind of ham radio. Before sunrise, he was out on his balcony with his equipment...static mostly, and also loud voices. Definitely annoying - ... .

A few years ago there was a lady on board QM2 (WB TA) whom I could hear on her balcony (from my balcony) shouting into what was obviously (from the static noise) some sort of radio, not a 'phone. I guessed she went out there thinking that she'd get better reception.

I then occasionally spotted her around the ship (recognised the voice, once heard, never forgotten :eek:) shouting into a small "walkie-talkie" type radio thing. I (and everyone else within 100 ft) couldn't help but overhear that she was obviously trying to locate her husband on board "which bar did you say you were in?" etc. (She was one of the most unpleasant people I've ever seen on any ship, as evidenced by her rude behaviour to other passengers in the Golden Lion trivia quizzes, which became "the talk" of the trivia regulars. But that's a different story)

 

Just out of curiosity, why would you want to operate a ham radio on board? Thanks, S.

I was wondering that... :confused: Edited March 21, 2015 by pepperrn

[othena]

A few years ago there was a lady on board QM2 (WB TA) whom I could hear on her balcony (from my balcony) shouting into what was obviously (from the static noise) some sort of radio, not a 'phone. I guessed she went out there thinking that she'd get better reception.

I then occasionally spotted her around the ship (recognised the voice, once heard, never forgotten :eek:) shouting into a small "walkie-talkie" type radio thing. I (and everyone else within 100 ft) couldn't help but overhear that she was obviously trying to locate her husband on board "which bar did you say you were in?" etc. (She was one of the most unpleasant people I've ever seen on any ship, as evidenced by her rude behaviour to other passengers in the Golden Lion trivia quizzes, which became "the talk" of the trivia regulars. But that's a different story)

 

I was wondering that... :confused:

 

It was only a question ,if no one has any input not a problem..!

 

But maybe all cellphones and I-pad,s could be left in cabins as well (who wants to hear little johnny has just been sick over the cat !!)as you are walking round the deck, or them going off in the bar or dineing room ,as well as being slapped by the I-pad / I-phone warriors as they extend there arms in unison to get the last video shot ....Duuuuh

 

will we see selfi sticks banned I hope so ...:cool::cool::cool:

Edited March 21, 2015 by othena

[pepperrn]

It was only a question ,if no one has any input not a problem..! But maybe all cellphones and I-pad,s could be left in cabins as well (who wants to hear little johnny has just been sick over the cat !!)as you are walking round the deck, or them going off in the bar or dineing room as well as being slapped by the I-pad / I-phone warriors as they extend there arms in unison to get the last video shot ....Duuuuh will we see selfi sticks banned I hope so ...:cool::cool::cool:

Hi othena,

 

I agree with you. As with any behaviour on board a ship, even in one's cabin (noise from loud TV) (or indeed in a public place/space on land) it should be all about respect and consideration for your fellow passengers.

One of my pet hates... inconsiderate people on trains or in restaurants etc who are wedded to their mobile 'phones and want the world to hear (one half of) their conversations :mad:

 

Best wishes :) .

Edited March 21, 2015 by pepperrn

[Jim Avery]

A few years ago there was a lady on board QM2 (WB TA) whom I could hear on her balcony (from my balcony) shouting into what was obviously (from the static noise) some sort of radio, not a 'phone. I guessed she went out there thinking that she'd get better reception.

I then occasionally spotted her around the ship (recognised the voice, once heard, never forgotten :eek:) shouting into a small "walkie-talkie" type radio thing. I (and everyone else within 100 ft) couldn't help but overhear that she was obviously trying to locate her husband on board "which bar did you say you were in?" etc. (She was one of the most unpleasant people I've ever seen on any ship, as evidenced by her rude behaviour to other passengers in the Golden Lion trivia quizzes, which became "the talk" of the trivia regulars. But that's a different story)

 

I was wondering that... :confused:

I too was wondering why you need to go to that trouble and for what? A merit badge? Similar to a thread on Princess where someone asked about bringing fishing gear so he could fish off his balcony. Apparently a real question....:eek::eek::D

[outlawuk]

This is a long reply.

I've been a radio amateur for many years: for the technical experimentation aspect along with the fun of communicating, TOTALLY 'off-grid', with others. Amateur radio is indirectly regulated globally by the UN as an international radio 'service' and as with residents of every other country, I had to take exams to qualify for my licence. It was much harder from a technical point of view to qualify for an amateur licence than even a full HF long-range maritime licence (I'm not talking about Merchant Navy radio officers: wholly different category. If there are any left that is). I had to study for two written exams together with a trip to a coastal radio station (North Forland) to demonstrate that I could send and receive morse code at 12 words per minute without a single character error. Learning morse took me 7 months. So those who confuse amateur radio with CB do the former a disservice, not that I'd denegrate CB for those who enjoy it. Over time the morse code requirement has been removed and there are also lower introductory levels of licence available with much simpler training, but those licence holders cannot operate from a ship/vessel outside of national waters or from other countries. If you are interested in radio, for communication or for experimentation, the most basic level of licence training can now be completed in one full weekend. Have a look are http://www.rsgb.org.uk

Maritime Mobile operation has been recognised as a part of the amateur radio 'service' for time immemorial and such operation does NOT come under the remit of the ships radio licence. The amateur uses their own licence, as of right, as authorised (indirectly) by UN mandate. However... fast forward to the current real world... operation from a vessel is allowed subject to being given WRITTEN permission by the Captain/Master of the vessel. This is where it goes wrong because although you might see the Captain of Hotel Services easily, he or she is not the same thing. Not Cunard, not call centre, not Hotel Services. But get the Captains signature and there is no restriction (until he/she tells you to stop!). Sadly, 'health n safety' and corporate policy probably play a part now so for practical purposes it is not easy to get the necessary written permission. It can happen. If you know the captain, friend of a friend etc, but to most the Captain is inaccessible. In fact only the holders of the most advanced (full) licence are permitted maritime mobile operation so the majority, who now hold basic licences, are excluded. There are still good reasons to travel with amateur transmitting equipment however if one has a full licence, which is because many countries have a policy of reciprocal licencing. For example, throughout the whole of the EU region, USA/Canada, Australia/NZ plus many more countries, one can simply bring the equipment and operate it without further ado: indeed I can, and I do. Even taking the gear on airlines with never yet a single problem. That's quite a privilege in this spied-upon world. Radio amateurs would only be using specific authorised bands of frequencies and these would be most unlikely to cause any interference to ships equipment. In fact the study of interference plays a significant part of the amateurs training.

CB is wholly different. The EU has now approved and harmonised unlicenced operation on the same set of channels on the 27Mhz band as does USA/Canada but only equipment that is stamped with the relevant approval can be used. Amateurs don't have any of these restrictions: they can operate commercial or home-made or military transceivers so long as they only use the approved frequency bands. Amateurs have access to many bands right through from VLF(recently added)/LF/MF/HF(aka 'Short Wave')/VHF/UHF/microwaves.

If you heard someone on-board talking into a walkie-talkie it is almost certain that this was NOT amateur radio or CB. It is most unlikely that any amateur would risk the loss of their licence. Cunard has a policy of allowing walkie-talkies (but not amateur radio). Thank you Cunard for that, well done, how enlightened, but why not allow amateur radio walkie-talkies at least subject to Captains written approval? Perhaps permit amateur passengers to enclose their licence in an envelope with pre-written approval waiting to be signed stating something like '2m Band only, to cease transmission upon verbal demand of any ships officer'?

What you've probably seen passengers using is this... The entire EU region has adopted the system known as PMR446 which (mostly as there is a new digital mode extension rarely heard) is a set of 8, UHF, numbered, unlicenced (ie: free unrestricted access) channels operated from transceivers that would be recognised by many as being 'walkie-talkies'. They are low power devices and unlikely to interfere with anything. The USA has a similar system called 'Family Radio Service' (FRS) which uses very similar frequencies. They are not the same though and an FRS radio is not legal within the EU and a PMR446 radio is not legal is USA. I will be corrected if I am wrong, but outside territorial waters there are no restrictions so effectively PMR446 can be used on any vessel within EU waters, or on land within the EU, without any restriction whatsoever. Once the vessel leaves waters of any other country PMR446 could still be used. Where you could not use it is inside territorial waters of a non-EU country. The same principles apply as regards USA Family Radio Service radios. OK inside USA and their waters and ok outside USA but NOT within waters or land of any other country. Sorry, it's all rather detailed.

The summary of this is that PMR446 and Family Radio Service radios can be used in international waters and in their respective home areas and it is a credit to Cunard that they place no restrictions on their use. Indeed I took PMR446 radios on my recent QM2 trip and used them to communicate both with my partner on board and to a friend ashore as we were leaving Southampton. There are many non-legal radios out there that look like PMR446 and I'd suggest you buy from a proper UK based supplier (Maplin or the specialists Nevada come to mind). If you are from the USA, I understand that FRS radios can be bought in bubble-pack packaging from supermarkets.

PMR446 I found to work tolerably well given the low power output. They worked fine out deck from one end of ship to another, and mostly from inside the ship if on the same deck. It's a LOT cheaper than sending a text over the $$$ ships mobile phone system! The signal does not travel easily through metal so up/down inside the ship isn't much good. Where PMR446 are handy is to take ashore within the EU to avoid roaming phone charges while keeping tabs on friends etc as you explore. That said, PMR446 and FRS are not CB. They share the characteristic of being licence free but are used for different purposes. CB tends to be used to contact strangers who might be on channel available for a chat, whereas PMR446/FRS tend to be used within groups of friends/family by people who know each other, though the channels are available to all and here in the UK, PMR446 is sometimes used on channel 8 (with CTCSS tone turned off) to make contacts with strangers who might be listening. Indeed this could be a good way for youngsters on-board to make new friends and develop an interest in radio.

[outlawuk]

"...fishing from the balcony". That made me smile. Perhaps not appropriate from a cruise ship. But of the amateur radio question generally. Why not? It's a technical hobby. It's interesting to those into it. It's relevant to disaster preparation or resilience. One of the sadnesses of the modern world is that many people no longer have hobbies. They 'consume', but they don't have hobbies. Hobbies can lead to bigger things. Surrey Satellite (or similar name) who are a major supplier of space vehicles for the ESA was developed out of work done by radio amateurs to design, build and get launched their own amateur radio satellites. Indeed there are numerous amateur radio satellites, free for amateurs to use, and a whole UK based industry was created from these people and their enthusiasm partnering with academia and then obtaining funding. It's part of the UK Knowledge Economy. I think hobbies are generally good and to be encouraged. Technical hobbies especially so :)

[pepperrn]

"...fishing from the balcony". That made me smile. Perhaps not appropriate from a cruise ship. But of the amateur radio question generally. Why not? It's a technical hobby. It's interesting to those into it. ... I think hobbies are generally good and to be encouraged. Technical hobbies especially so :)

Thank you outlawuk,

 

I have to agree with you, as long as any hobby doesn't interfere with the operation or safety of the vessel, or inconvenience or interfere with other passengers.

Hobbies are, on the whole, great. Some strike others as wacky or pointless (I have never seen the appeal of train-spotting for example), others can be amazingly educational and lead to international fame in specialist fields.

 

However, in these security conscious times I am concerned that an innocent and perfectly legal hobby in one part of the world, could cause the person concerned great legal trouble in another part (think plane-spotting).

And some evil persons, with sinister intent, could use the cover of an innocuous hobby to further their own barbarous plans, with innocent passengers as victims.

 

I had realised that the "walkie-talkie" that I observed being used wasn't "amateur radio" but merely a short-range communication device. However I posted my recollection of that crossing because it was a good example of selfish behaviour by a particularly noisy passenger.

 

Best wishes :)

Edited March 21, 2015 by pepperrn

[Jim Avery]

Thank you outlawuk,

 

I have to agree with you, as long as any hobby doesn't interfere with the operation or safety of the vessel, or inconvenience or interfere with other passengers.

Hobbies are, on the whole, great. Some strike others as wacky or pointless (I have never seen the point of train-spotting for example), others can be amazingly educational and lead to international fame in specialist fields.

 

However, in these security conscious times I am concerned that an innocent and perfectly legal hobby in one part of the world, could cause the person concerned great legal trouble in another part (think plane-spotting).

And some evil persons, with sinister intent, could use the cover of an innocuous hobby to further their own barbarous plans, with innocent passengers as victims.

 

I had realised that the "walkie-talkie" that I observed being used wasn't "amateur radio" but merely a short-range communication device. However I posted my recollection of that crossing because it was a good example of selfish behaviour by a particularly noisy passenger.

 

Best wishes :)

 

I have to stand up for Train Spotting.......Many of the best Train Spotting locations are in the gardens of Pubs. I rest my case.:D:D:D

[pepperrn]

I have to stand up for Train Spotting.......Many of the best Train Spotting locations are in the gardens of Pubs. I rest my case.:D:D:D

I have to bow to your superior knowledge :)

(although, I am quite the connoisseur of pub gardens in the UK, I know of many (but strangely, remember few ;) ))

 

All best wishes to you :)

Edited March 21, 2015 by pepperrn

[DaddyWarbucks]

Really? You've been given permission to operate onboard a Carnival group ship? Do you receive the permits for each country you are visiting? At sea, you would be operating under the ship's Radiotelegraphy License, and I would think they would be hesitant to allow that. I thought I'd seen this asked before under some other Carnival brands, and that it wasn't allowed. Could be wrong.

 

Yes, I operated in the QE2. First, I needed an English license, the QE2 being an English flagged ship. This was not difficult to obtain. The radio room had a transceiver, and most important. the ship had a decent dipole antenna. I made many contacts using their equipment.

 

Today of course, there is no radio room. The Carnivalization of Cunard makes it unlikely for them to provide any service that does not produce revenue.

 

K0AY

[Jim Avery]

I have to bow to your superior knowledge :)

(although, I am quite the connoisseur of pub gardens in the UK, I know of many (but strangely, remember few ;) ))

 

All best wishes to you :)

 

And to you. A great way to spend an afternoon/evening in the Spring and Summer. :D:D

[Merry Maid]

Today of course, there is no radio room. The Carnivalization of Cunard makes it unlikely for them to provide any service that does not produce revenue.

 

K0AY

 

It used to take 2 years at nautical college to be come a MN radio officer. Mainly because you had to be able to fix the equipment as well as operate it. Latterly anyone capable of picking up a telephone handset can communicate with anywhere in the world. That's why ships don't have radio rooms any more. The money made from passenger communication was infinitesimal in the grand scheme of things.

MM

[moldgirl]

:):cool::cool::cool:

Edited April 23, 2015 by ophthalmology

[Jim Avery]

It used to take 2 years at nautical college to be come a MN radio officer. Mainly because you had to be able to fix the equipment as well as operate it. Latterly anyone capable of picking up a telephone handset can communicate with anywhere in the world. That's why ships don't have radio rooms any more. The money made from passenger communication was infinitesimal in the grand scheme of things.

MM

 

The QE2 Radio Room was the "Computer Center" of its day. Maybe in the future when all our portable devices are directly satellite linked, the current Computer Centers will be turned into an additional bar.:D

[DDBINK1]

The QE2 Radio Room was the "Computer Center" of its day. Maybe in the future when all our portable devices are directly satellite linked, the current Computer Centers will be turned into an additional bar.:D

 

Now you are talking !!!! Never enough bars.

 

Sounds like the radio operators are quite passionate and it takes some doing to get the license. Admirable in my opinion.

[outlawuk]

"Maybe in the future when all our portable devices are directly satellite linked..."

 

Speak for yourself! All my portable devices ARE satellite-linked ;-)

Good point though.