I am a ham radio operator (KF4DBI) and have had to deal with real world submarine radio communications issues. You would still need a floating antenna with a VLF radio due to the great length of the radio wave (even with a ¼-wave antenna) plus just one nick in the antenna will short out the antenna resulting in a blown radio.
R/Jay
Respectfully,
Jay K. Jeffries
Andros Is., Bahamas
Vive vt vivas
— Live that you may live
From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of Max Elliott
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 14:45
I passed the concerns on to my HAM friend and he's going to bring it up to his club and see what they have to say. I'm no expert, but I'll forward anything they have to say.
Give them a week or so, and I'll update this thread then.On Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 5:48 AM, Jay K. Jeffries <bottomgun@mindspring.com> wrote:
R/Jay
Respectfully,
Jay K. Jeffries
Andros Is., Bahamas
Vive vt vivas
— Live that you may live
From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of Rick and Marcia
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 07:29Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] radio link
Hi, Max - sorry for the late response, I've been overseas.
Thanks for the great info. Now to decide whether VLF would be easier to implement than a hard-wire to the float. Guess the ham guys will fill me in there. I know that VLF carries less information - or is that ULF . . .
Cheers and thanks again :-)
Rick
----- Original Message -----
From: Max Elliott
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 7:04 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] radio link
Rick,
My HAM friends tell me you are looking for a Very Low Frequency (VLF 3KHz - 30KHz) set up like the military uses, and the good news is that you can DIY one fairly easily. (So they said.). I believe that this frequency gets some 20 meters of penetration, but that's just a ballpark rumor I have.
I haven't built one, but I'm connected to some hams in Napa and Washington state and would be happy to get you some contact information if you're interested in talking to them. They will have the math at their fingertips to tell you what your power and range requirements will work out to. They'd also know how to avoid stepping on any legal and military toes.
http://www.radio-flier.com/diy_corner.html - you'll find VLF for an example receiver. I would advise google/shopping around for more information.
I'd bet the HAMming community would be happy to help someone building a PSUB. It just seems like the hard-science, unique kind of projects they enjoy.
--Max Elliott
On Sat, Mar 8, 2008 at 6:29 PM, Rick and Marcia <empiricus@telus.net> wrote:
Has anyone figured out how to establish a radio/video link with a surface vessel?
My somewhat non-tech mind is thinking of a hard-wired connection with the antenna attached to a diver's float.
How far from the transmitter can you run an antenna?
I have offers from the Canadian Coast Guard to act as standby divers but I'd like to give them a play-by-play on her maiden voyage.
Rick Lucertini
Vancouver, Canada