Trials and tribulations of weather

Down here in Mexico, we don't have all the luxuries of life in the US. Luxuries like continuous NOAA weather forecasts and updates at the push of a button on your VHF. Ohhh, that was the life when we had such easy access to weather. Instead, we rely on HAM and SSB nets with amateur forecasters on most days (that is, when they're not hungover and miss the net). With our Single-Side-Band (SSB) radio and a station license (simple to get via signing up at the FCC website), we've always been able to check in and participate in the SSB nets. But the HAM nets are a different story. You can listen all you want, but you can't talk unless you're HAM certified. To be certified, you need to take (and pass) a test. Now, this isn't something we felt we absolutely needed to do, but I thought we'd learn a bit more about radio etiquette and technical details by studying for said test. Plus I happen to have a bit of free time at the moment. So I signed up.

I spent a few hours studying for the test (aided by the fact that you can download the entire question pool AND the right answers off the web). There are 3 levels of HAM licenses: Technician, General and Extra. I went for the lowest of the low and just studied for my Technician test. I paid my $14, got my question sheet and started filling in circles with a #2 pencil. What I didn't know, was that once I passed that first test, the other tests were free to take. Not having studied, I was convinced by the proctor that I might as well give it a try since it was free. Sure. Monetarily free but it drove my self esteem right down the window when I found out I only got 10 right out of 50 questions. I feel vindicated by showing you, dear readers, some example questions:

Why should core saturation of a conventional impedance matching transformer be avoided?
A. Harmonics and distortion could result
B. Magnetic flux would increase with frequency
C. RF susceptance would increase
D. Temporary changes of the core permeability could result

Sure sure, of course it's because of the harmonics and distortion that you should avoid the core saturation of a conventional impedance matching transformer. WTF??? I understand the words but I have no idea what they mean when you put them together.

Another example for your viewing pleasure:

Which of the following is a reason for using an inductively coupled matching network between the transmitter and parallel conductor feed line feeding an antenna?
A. To increase the radiation resistance
B. To reduce spurious emissions
C. To match the unbalanced transmitter output to the balanced parallel conductor feed line
D. To reduce the feed-point impedance of the antenna

Yes, you ALWAYS match the unbalanced transmitter output to the balanced parallel conductor feed line when you use an inductively coupled matching network between the transmitter and parallel conductor feed line feeding an antenna. Duh.

So here's the lesson. If you plan to take the easy test, at least read through the General study guide's right answers so you've got 1/2 a chance. Or answer all (b) and you'll do better than I did.

Speaking of weather (this was my best segue - no making fun), we had a bit of wind in La Paz when we were anchored out and Jason noticed an errant dinghy floating in the channel. Hm. Maybe our chance for a new outboard*? So we made a call on the radio, but knowing whoever just lost a dinghy had no way to retrieve it, Jason set out for the rescue. He easily got to the dinghy and started towing it back to Hello World when our outboard ran out of gas. Oops. As I watched from the cockpit, he got out the oars and started rowing upwind in 20 knots. So naturally, I got out the camera. This was going to be good. After about 5 minutes of this, he was making no progress and fortunately, our friends on s/v Bliss came in for the rescue of the rescue. Quite the spectacle as the dinghy train arrived at Hello World!

* The dinghy and outboard were later claimed, so we've still got our trusty Yamaha


The dinghy parade