Jimbo695
Member
Just got back. Great ship; forget the scanning. Brought the 436. Except for the usual VHF marine frequencies that are a little active when approaching or leaving a port, all communication is via new Motorola handhelds (MOTO TRBO?) that can't be decoded (supervisors seem to have them), or else by a Nextel-like phone device carried by every staffer (made by NEC) that I presume works on digital microwave frequencies. As far as HF, at a technical presentation the captain explained that all ship to shore is now via satellite microwave and HF is reserved solely for redundancy in the event of an emergency. Bottom line - once out of port forget it, unless intercepting the occasional FRS / GMRS is your thing.
My impression is that the newer ships all are being "upgraded" to these secure systems and the older ships slowly are being converted. As is sadly the case in other contexts, this scanning arena is quickly drying up.
My impression is that the newer ships all are being "upgraded" to these secure systems and the older ships slowly are being converted. As is sadly the case in other contexts, this scanning arena is quickly drying up.