FCC hf fishing boat freqs

[NC4RR]

Has anyone found a fcc datebase that list fishing boat companies that use hf? Looking eastern NC

[Don_Burke]

KFN867

WHU880

WQHK520

Try feeding these callsigns into the FCC search engine

License Search - Advanced License Search

I found these with a geosearch of the MC service with a frequency range of 0.1 to 30 MHz.

[ka3jjz]

I'm surprised there were any entries there. You may hear them on the HF marine channels, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they went out of band. Foreign fishing fleets are famous for this. Often they use illegally modified ham gear, which won't last anyway in a salt air environment. I've heard this myself, many times.

Of course, how accurate these listings are is quite another matter. Here is the official USCG listing of the HF marine frequencies

73 Mike

[kb2vxa]

"Often they use illegally modified ham gear..."

What makes you think they'd bother when on a marine HF rig all they have to do is dial up the frequency? That's what makes these rugged, reliable (and expensive) rigs popular with hams who can afford them. For the not so well off yacht boy there is Icom.
IC-M700PRO SSB Radio Telephone - Features - Icom America

[ka3jjz]

My point about using illegally modified ham gear applies to foreign fishing fleets, who have been known to buy ham rigs in the Far East grey markets and modifying them. I would bet it would be cheaper than buying a good marine transceiver, though I freely admit I haven't priced one of these lately. It was widely discussed in the old WUN before their latest incarnation as the UDXF, and also discussed a bit at the various Winterfest meetings, when the subject comes up. This has been known fact for ages. 73 Mike