RFinder B1+ Operation Aboard The Carnival Celebration Cruise Ship

[JASII]

My wife and I, as well as two other couples in our family, will be sailing on the Carnival Celebration cruise ship in February 2023. I am considering bringing an RFinder B1+ along for the trip. Carnival allows "Ham radios/amateur radio equipment", so I am good there. I would use DMRoIP through the ship's wifi for operation aboard ship. Our ports of call are Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), Saint Martin/Saint Maarten and San Juan (Puerto Rico). Since Puerto Rico is a United States Territory, that really leaves the Dominican Republic and Saint Maarten.

It looks to me like I would a reciprocal permit to operate (transmit) in the Dominican Republic . Has anybody here ever gotten a reciprocal permit from Dominican Republic? It looks like Saint Martin/Saint Maarten are under CEPT, so it will be much easier there. The vessel is registered in Panama, so I would need a permit from there to transmit aboard the vessel.

Dominican Republic (HI)
The contact email for the IARU National Society is hi8rcd@iaru-r2.org Informational links for the national regulator will be found at Enlaces de Interes (Note: the site is in Spanish)

The US does have a bilateral reciprocal agreement with the Dominican Republic.
Licensing information is found at: Solicitud y Renovacion de Licencias

Panama (HP)
While Panama is party to the IARP, visiting amateur are still required to notify the Ministry of Government and Justice of the date, place and duration of the foreign amateur operator in the Republic Panama. The documents listed above should be delivered to the Department of Communications of the Ministry of Government and Justice (Ministerio de Gobierno y Justicia /Medios de Comunicación Social), located at the former Howard Air Force Base, Building 703, 2nd floor. Telephone: 512-2165 Working hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Monday through Friday. (When submitting the documents make sure that you leave your telephone or address so that you may be contacted).

The other issue for me is I only speak English and it like the Dominican Republic is primarily Dominican Spanish. It looks like there may be a little bit more English spoken in Saint Martin/Saint Maarten. I have been in Puerto Rico before and it was mainly Spanish, but there may be a little bit of English. Somehow, I think operating via DMRoIP through the ship's wifi might work the best for me!

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=1202

Maritime Mobile Operation in International Waters

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

www.arrl.org

Reciprocal Permit

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

www.arrl.org

Listado General de Repetidores – Radio Club Dominicano

radioclubdominicano.org.do

CEPT

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

www.arrl.org

CARNIVAL CELEBRATION Current Location

CARNIVAL CELEBRATION (Carnival Cruise Line) current ship position tracker and cruise itinerary with port details. CHECK ON MAP...

www.cruisemapper.com

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

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Hi JAS

You pose an interesting subject.

If I understand it correctly, what you are proposing to do is operate a remote station over an internet connection ? The only thing wireless you will have is over the ship's satellite system ?

Seems to me that you would not be required to have any licenses since you will not be actually operating a radio transmitter in these countries.... it would be a remote control-via-IP and you would only be using another licensed station - like a phone patch-
How you identify (Callsign) is a good question since if as I understand it, this will be more like a telephone call from a foreign location, not an actual transmitting station.

Probably I am not seeing the complete picture here--- but it intrigues me .

(For what its worth, I have held licenses in several central and south American countries. Getting them varied from very easy to classical PIA's....and speaking Spanish is a really big plus )
I wish you good luck !

Lauri





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[JASII]

Hi Lauri,

Thank you for the reply. Yes, through the ship's wifi, which does come from satellite. I might be tempted to try RF when on shore or in port, but I will see how all of this goes.

I number of years ago I brought a portable transceiver along. While in port and waiting to disembark, I put out my callsign on an island repeater. The island was primarily French speaking, so maybe Martinique. Anyway, a local amateur not only replied, in English, he met me at the port and gave me a ride into town!