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You need General to operate HF

Specifically if you want to operate HF phone or in digital modes (CW is allowed in >15m band for techs along with some limited hf phone and digital modes in 10m). Also you can operate marine SSB (which is hf phone) outside of a HAM general license as long as you operate on designated marine SSB channels.

I am not sure it's fair to use services like that for these purposes. Even if you have a permit/license for these services, they aren't for general telecommunications such as thirdparty messages between distant land stations, whether or not a marine or aero station is involved in relaying them.

I suspect that this operation will be using phone and digital modes. CW and 10m are rather small, but interesting and valuable, niches. For this case, CW will be slow and 10m will be unreliable.

Generally, it is easier to join the party by learning to pass the General exam, than waiting for a 10m opening or learning telegraph code :)

How actually likely is anyone going to be able to track down a weak handheld signal that only TXs once every so often, though?

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