Who has taken sdr dongle on a cruise ship? Receive anything?

[k5ziv]

Going on the Harmony of the seas on Sunday, Taking a sdr dongle and pc with me. Has anyone else taking a sdr on board?
Also taking Baofeng uhf and maybe my Uniden sds100
k5ziv
wrpu444

 

[w2lie]

I've taken an SDR a time or two and will be taking one as my primary receiver on the next. Some cruise lines have added two way radios to their restriction list and I don't want to take any chances on having a handheld scanner being confiscated upon check in. SDR Dongles are bit more covert in my opinion.

I've mostly used SDR++ and SDRTrunk as my primary software since I'm a Mac user. Plenty to hear usually while in port. Talk groups were encrypted on the last two Disney Cruises I've been on but I could see plenty of activity. FRS radios were in use by the staff in the buffet.

 

[dave3825]

I have in the past taken scanners and dongles and when out in the middle of nowhere, pretty much just cruise radios. Some other marine traffic can be heard as well as any air traffic. In port, all kinds of stuff to listen to. Went NY to FL then Bahamas. 10 miles of Port Canaveral I stated picking up a good amount of FL public safety. Now a days, dongle only as don't want to take any chances.

 

[RaleighGuy]

FRS radios were in use by the staff in the buffet.

Now a days, dongle only as don't want to take any chances.

So you knew what foods to avoid While I have not been on a cruise, I wondered if the metal of the ship interferes with reception and agree with you both, dongles are less obvious than a scanner, which from posts I've read here, have had mixed results about bringing on the ship.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

@Computrguy's filled us in on his cruise ship findings on numerous threads...​

 

[w2lie]

The ship makes it difficult to hear much from your stateroom. Even with a balcony room I had issues hearing NY Harbor or our captain transmitting. It was a different story the minute I went outside to the balcony.

 

[ecps92]

The ship makes it difficult to hear much from your stateroom. Even with a balcony room I had issues hearing NY Harbor or our captain transmitting. It was a different story the minute I went outside to the balcony.

Odd, guess it might depend on the floor/deck, but I've never had a Reception issue, just goes to YMMV and the antenna/set-up

 

[k5ziv]

Reading on the Prohibited page it says no ham radio but you can have walkie talkies, how will they know? Doesn't mention anything about scanners not allowed.

I didn't want to take my yaesu portables with me so i bought 2 boafeng Bf-T1 uhf radios and see how they do.
Next question if they do confiscate your radio do you get it back after the cruise???

k5ziv

 

[RaleighGuy]

Reading on the Prohibited page it says no ham radio but you can have walkie talkies, how will they know? Doesn't mention anything about scanners not allowed.

I didn't want to take my yaesu portables with me so i bought 2 boafeng Bf-T1 uhf radios and see how they do.
Next question if they do confiscate your radio do you get it back after the cruise???

k5ziv

So, can the Boafengs be programmed with ham frequencies? Or are they FCC rated for FRS only? That is probably the determining factor. They might not confiscate them, only make you return them to your car or leave them with someone, wait no where to leave them, well guess it's lose them or cancel the trip. Before you risk walking the gray areas consider what they could (didn't say would) do. Enjoy your cruise and wife, give the radios a break.

 

[ecps92]

Reading on the Prohibited page it says no ham radio but you can have walkie talkies, how will they know? Doesn't mention anything about scanners not allowed.

I didn't want to take my yaesu portables with me so i bought 2 boafeng Bf-T1 uhf radios and see how they do.
Next question if they do confiscate your radio do you get it back after the cruise???

k5ziv

The Amateur (ham) radio prohibition stems from hanging HF Antenna's off the Balcony

Radio confiscation may/does vary by Cruiseport Security/Cruise Line Security and Local LE

Generally your electronic items will be confiscated, but returned at the end of the Cruise - Past personal experience.

 

[k5ziv]

On board with 2 Baoefengs uhf and a sdr dongle and Yaesu ft-70d

k5ziv

 

[rf_patriot200]

I'd bring my Unlocked 10 watt ... And a survival raft lol!

 

[K5MPH]

Have a safe trip Michael and wife........

 

[k5ziv]

Summing up my fist cruise with the Harmony of the Seas.

Most of the staff use NEC seems like Wi-Fi phones,
The lifeguards use dmr because i couldn't find any analog communications.
Didn't hear much frs/gmrs activity but there was some. Been in all the gift shops and no one sells frs/gmrs bubble pack radios.
The main dining rooms do use frs but I could not hear them from the 14th floor they were on the lower decks. I didn't sit close to listen.
Like everyone said its hard to hear anything but its been fun trying.
Will take more cruises in the future but will bring a better antenna for the sdr and a scanner.

I did notice that in Roatan and costa maya the taxi drivers seem to use cb radios to communicate, Every Taxi had a k40 or Wilson cb antenna on the hood. Not sure why not the roof. Cozumel I picked up a lot of gmrs frs activity, I dont know Spanish but it seemed to be all the vendors in town. I saw some of the portables the vendors used but not sure what brand they were but they did have the antenna in the center of the radio instead of to the left or right side.

73's All
k5ziv
wrpu444

 

[kb5udf]

Hmm…Only brand a know that has antenna in center of radio is Hytera. But perhaps the rr community knows of others.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Hmm…Only brand a know that has antenna in center of radio is Hytera. But perhaps the rr community knows of others.

Early Rfinder and Pofun android radios do.