Waterway Net Web Site

The Waterway Radio and Cruising Club is an association of amateur radio operators who also share an interest in recreational boating.

The Waterway Net, which is sponsored by the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club, meets on the air every morning of the year for about an hour starting at 0745 ET on a frequency of 7.268 MHz LSB. The main purpose of the Waterway Net is to encourage amateur radio communications to and from boats with an emphasis on safety and weather information. Position Reports help keep live-aboards and cruising boats in touch with families and friends and Float Plans provide a strong measure of safety for off-shore passage makers.

Begun in the early sixties, the Waterway Net is one of the oldest, continuously operating nets in amateur radio. Today the WRCC has around eight hundred dues paying members and anyone holding an Amateur Radio License of any class is eligible to join. Membership in the WRCC is not a prerequisite for participation in the Waterway Net, but a general class or higher license is required.

The Waterway Net is a controlled net. It is recommended that one listen for a while to learn the Net Procedures, but anyone with a general class license or above is invited to check in at the appropriate time or to join in on the special interest nets that often follow.

In an emergency, FCC rules permit anyone, licensed or not, to use any frequency to summon help. All boaters with high frequency SSB radios aboard should know that the 20 meter amateur frequency of 14.300 MHz is active for about eighteen hours a day and is always available for emergency assistance.

Announcements

SEE NEWS & EVENTS PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

Jeanie's Delivery Updates: During her recent 14 day, 1700 mile boat delivery, Jeanie, N4WFM sent daily updates to several members by email. These updates were so interesting that we thought others might want to read them, so they are available HERE. The download (approx. 3 meg) is a Microsoft Word document. The updates are illustrated with some very nice photos taken on the trip down the Mississippi, the Tenn-Tom, across the Gulf and down the west coast of Florida, through the Caloosahatchee Waterway to Ft. Lauderdale.

  WRCC Election Results Are In! The following are the new WRCC Officers for 2009.

Commodore:       Bill Boyle, N4UMS

Vice Commodore:     Peter Colket, K3PKC

Rear Commodore:     Tom Finta, K8TF

Thanks to all of those who voted. I understand that the voting was very close. I personally, would like to thank those who voted for me for Commodore. I'm honored and am looking forward to serving the club for the coming year. - Bill, N4UMS, Webmaster

Jean, KC4BGQ SK: Just heard the very sad news that Jean Freeman, KC4BGQ became a silent key Friday, Nov. 21. Jean was the club's Sunshine Lady for several years, helping spread joy and hope to members who were injured or had health problems. She also helped to set up and serve at our annual picnics. Her husband Phil, K2HRZ, also very active for years on the Net, passed away just a couple of years ago. Services for Jean will be Monday, Dec. 8 @ 1100ET at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 638 South Patrick Dr., Satellite Beach, FL.

Reminder: The 2008 WRCC picnic will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7th in Wickham Park, Melbourne, FL. Note: the picnic site is in the park proper, not in the pavillion that we have used in the past few years. More info HERE.

Notice: Paul, KM4MA, reports that the Brevard County chapter of ABATE, Florida, a motorcycle organization, will be conducting a "Toy Run" on the 7th and will be passing by the entrance to Wickham Part beginning about 12:30 ET. Paul says this run could cause the blockage of the Park's entrance for up to an hour! Please try to arrive no later than 12:00 - 12:15.
Jimmy Cornell to be Keynote Speaker at the SSCA Melbourne Gam December 5-7, 2008: More info can be found on our News & Events page.

Things are looking up! (Solar-wise): Nov. 7, 2008: "After two-plus years of few sunspots, even fewer solar flares, and a generally eerie calm, the sun is finally showing signs of life." Check this site for more info.

"Site Search" Added: I've just added a Site Search button on the navigation bar on the upper left of this page. Try it out! Just type any key word(s), etc., in the small window above the button, press "Enter" (or click on the button). Another window will open, showing every occurrence of your search that appears on our web site. This should make it very easy to find any subject, article, etc. - Bill, N4UMS.

New HF Digital Protocol Coming!: WINMOR, an HF digital protocol designed for use with the Winlink 2000 network, will be unveiled at the upcoming ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference in Chicago, September 26-28.
According to developer Rick Muething, KN6KB, WINMOR will effectively eliminate the need for external PACTOR hardware. "This new protocol is implemented through a Windows application that uses a computer sound card for all the analog-to-digital conversion. It provides error-free ARQ transfers within 200, 500 or 2000 Hz bandwidths," Muething said. For more info, check HERE.

Lake Okeechobee Water Levels have increased!
On August 29, 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a statement that all restrictions on the Okeechobee Waterway have been lifted.

Okeechobee Water Levels. (Army Corps of Engineers)
For more info on the lake, locks and bridges on the Okeechobee Waterway, check HERE.
Switlik Life Raft Recall: Marti, KF4TRG sends notice that the Switlik Parachute company has a recall for it's marine life rafts. For more information, visit this website.

Chesapeake Rendezvous Photos: Buddy, K4BD sent along these photos he took at the recent (June 19) get-together at the Solomons. Click HERE to open new page to view Buddy's photos. Identity captions are on this page. Sorry for the inconvenience! If you're using a browser with 'tabs', just load the name page on a separate tab.
MORE PHOTOS! - Just received more photos taken by Bill, WA6CCA at the same get-together. Click HERE to see Bill's photos.

Club Articles in Print: Dave, N4NVI, our Weather Coordinator, has had articles accepted for publication in Southwinds and Carolina Currents magazines. Be on the lookout for them. They are both weather related and should promote more interest in our club.

New National Harbor Complex, Wash., DC: Bill, WA6CCA sent photos he recently took at the National Harbor complex located just south of the new Wilson Bridge, Washington, DC. Bill included a chart with the track noted along the bottom, as well as the old route used to enter what's called, Smoots Cove. Bill says he used to anchor overnight there...for many years. This includes a Conference Center, a Westin Hotel, condos, marina, etc. "I didn't see anything less than 9' on the way in or out. They're planning to dredge it even deeper to accommodate megayachts." The bridge in the pictures is the Wilson Bridge, which now has more than an 80' clearance. "Sorry to see the old anchorage all but gone, but it might be fun to anchor there after it opens and buy a hamburger!" Grand opening is scheduled for this Spring. (Click on photo to see others.)

Amended Bahamas Fishing Regulations: Tom, KE3JO emailed a copy of the amended regulations to this website. A pdf copy of the new regulations can be downloaded from the News & Events page and HERE.

WRCC Recruitment Flyer: Download this flyer (right), print it out, and post it at your nearest marina, marine supply store (West Marine, Boat U.S., etc.,) even Radio Shack. You could also use it as a handout at your local ham radio club. The Waterway Radio & Cruising Club is conducting a recruitment campaign for new members and this flyer is just another way to get the word out. With the recent dropping of the morse code requirement, more and more boaters will be getting their licenses; we need to let them know what services the Club provides. You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print this flyer. Download pdf flyer (236kb).

Join the fun! The Waterway Radio & Cruising Club is holding a membership recruitment campaign. If you, or someone you know, would like to become a member, please go to the Club Info page and download a membership form. Only requirement is that you hold a valid amateur radio operator's license. Of course, to participate on the Net, you must have a General class or above, license. Owning a boat is not required; only the love of boating. Waterway Net members are known for their love of the water, boating and ham radio. For the cruising boater, the Net is also a great way of keeping in touch with other boaters while offering a safer transit, through our daily weather reporting and position reports. Also, every fall, we hold a combination picnic/flea market in Melbourne, FL.

Maine in the fall: Jay, AE4MZ, has some beautiful photos from his recent Maine trip. This one is sunset over Eggemoggin Reach from Wooden Boat School anchorage. Check them all out on his web site.

Fly your WRCC Burgees! WRCC members should fly the club's burgees whenever possible. This lets other members know if you're in their anchorage, marina, etc. Flying the burgee also is a means of showing others that you are a member of a very special group of boaters/ham radio operators.
If you don't have one of our heavy-duty burgees, now is the time to purchase one!

Check out club merchandise on our WRCC Store page.

Notes from the Webmaster - N4UMS
Members: Your input is necessary to keep our web site current and interesting - please feel free to send news items, articles for the Technical Corner, corrections, updates, suggestions, problems and complaints to the
73, Bill - N4UMS