The HAM license only permits you to use certain frequencies. The Marine SSB is limited to a different spectrum. And it is a different license. You just send money for the SSB license, but the HAM license still requires you do a bit of study now that they eliminated the code requirement.

On minor problem is forgetting which frequency you are on and giving your HAM< call on SSB or visa versa. Kinda incriminating.

We haven't been anywhere on Scotty Ann that anyone cared. We didn't even go for a reciprocal license, which you have to do some places.

But in the US there are the HAM police. Seriously, there are these idiots running around with directional antennas on the car hunting down offenders for the FCC (and to make certain parts of themselves bigger). So I wouldn't be surprised if someone actually reported you.

That said, the HAMs refuse to talk to you without an emergency if you can't give a call signal. And they check you out. Every time we get onto a different net I notice several hits on my or Moe's call sign on the FCC or ARRL site.

I even had some nerd start accusing me of using a pirated call because mine starts with KL, which is reserved for AK (or used to be) and I was talking to them near Madagascar. I finally told the goofball to listen a bit more closely when I identified me. I included "MM" or "Mike Mike" at the end to indicate Maritime Mobile. Then he starts asking if I am really at sea or at a harbor somewhere. I finally told him I was about 400 miles offshore and told him to go eat his own bloody dummy load. Geez!

I heard later that this exchanges was monitored by a lot of So. African HAM and the guy is known for being an ass. I'm told they were all laughing their bums off.

Doesn't getting started in radio just get you excited?

BTW - by convention all (I think) Marine SSB is on upper side band. The Hams use Lower side band up to 10MHz and then switch to upper sideband.

Ok lets see if I can remember.

WCM7505 and KL0WP (Me) and KL0WO (Moe). Cool, I remembered. I also just remembered that my license lapses next year some time I think.

Enough. I was bored. I miss Scotty Ann.