Robin
Well-Known Member
:encouragement::highly_amused::highly_amused::highly_amused::biggrin-new:
An infuriating national obsession- radio checks
- Thread starter GrahamD
- Start date
:encouragement::highly_amused::highly_amused::highly_amused::biggrin-new:
RichardS
N/A
In fact, one could check the entire engine daily using the same principle. :encouragement:
Richard
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Mind you, there are annoying things that happen on VHF on the other side of the Channel. One is the French Vessel Traffic Service calling up all the ships entering the NE lane of the Casquets TSS for their "compulsory report".
The other is the DSC alarm going off whenever CROSS Corsen or CROSS Jobourg want to be sure that you are listening to whatever they are about to say. (To cancel the DSC alarm I have to pop below to the chart table, and the alarm always seems to go off just as I enter a harbour and can't communicate with the crew because of the earpiercing screech going off). On my last trip I kept hearing announcements beginning "Maid Erolay" followed by a description (in French) of her latest dangerous exploits - MOB, aground, engine failure etc. Took a while before the penny dropped and I realised it was Mayday Relay.
I can understand the CG calling ships for vessel reports because that is a commercial use & probably necessary.
However, I agree with you that the French use of the DSC alert is a real pain especially, as you say, when one is trying to enter Ramsgate or the like. I also wonder why they often start some non urgent announcements with a Pan Pan.
Perhaps it is because they are distressed that we do not give a rats a.. what they want to prattle on about.
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Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Why not just let the kids play their flute on the air waves for a while & wait for someone to tell them to shut the F up
That normally works:encouragement:
pmagowan
Well-Known Member
It seems to me that, in the Solent, if you get into trouble a) someone has already seen you, taken a photo and posted it on Instagram or b) you can politely ask the skipper of the nearest boat to give you a hand without the need to raise your voice. If that doesn’t work just walk across the other boats to the shore making sure to go in front of the mast and tread quietly!
prv
Well-Known Member
No need - there's already a channel where you won't disturb other vessels, manned by human operators all round the English and Welsh coast from the Humber to Blackpoole eager to help out, and an explicit invitation to do radio checks.
And yet hardly anyone seems to use it.
Pete
dunedin
Well-Known Member
:encouragement:
Skylark
Well-Known Member
Ah! Sounds like you’ve left your home waters and tried to anchor in Osborne Bay on a Summer weekend!
I’ve just had a two week cruise through your home waters towards Lough Foyle. A truly wonderful experience. We never heard anyone asking CG for a radio check. Plenty of opportunity each day to use the radio for its intended purpose to call Harbour Radio or Marinas. We were called by a Derdger to be given some information, he’d used our AIS signature, we were also called by an Irish flagged sail training vessel for their training purposes. Very different waters compared to Lake Solent and long may that continue.
bobgarrett
Well-Known Member
I had thought that those doing radio checks in the Solent were about to undertake long passages from say Gosport to Cowes. Yet sitting in Cherbourg I have heard two boats which had just left call Solent Coastguard for a radio check! Understandably they got no reply but they did not return thinking their radio was dead, so why did they bother!
Cockaigne
Well-Known Member
During the four years I have kept my boat in Brittany I have never heard anyone call for a "radio check". I always have my VHF on Ch 16 and it is very pleasant to be able sail for hours without the incessant babble you get in the Solent.
rotrax
Well-Known Member
rotrax
Well-Known Member
As we are about to come alongside or enter a tricky harbour, First Mate-who is always on the helm while I look after fenders and lines-switches to another channel so she can concentrate.
When we enter Portsmouth Harbour we have Solent CG and QHM on dual watch, so its very busy without any DSC alerts. She finds it best if they are off!
Totally agree with Davidjackson re Irish waters. Anywhere west of lands end is very quiet by comparison to the English side of the Channel.
Robin
Well-Known Member
When we were doing regular milk runs we often called in from outside Cherbourg to report or cancel a passage report as it was a very useful radio check at long range without specifically saying so publicly. Most times were successful but if there was a lot of local traffic on the UK side understandably a long range call could easily be missed. If unable to report safe arrival we called CROSSMA Joburg who would pass our info on (often via VHF)
Giblets
Well-Known Member
:encouragement:
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
It does seem infuriating. Having made a ferry run past Solent to get my newer boat nearer home I was astonished at the number of radio checks. if I can hear a good signal then unless my transmit button has failed (which I can test by calling up my handheld from main set) then my radio will be fine. Similarly if I hear nothing and see nothing on AIS for many hours my aerial connection might be rubbish and I need a check. And as for folks jabbering on channel 16 when they should switch to other channels !!!
thank god its quitter and more sane down the west Country
thank god its quitter and more sane down the west Country
Praxinoscope
Well-Known Member
In 50. years of sailing I have only called up C.G. for radio checks 6 times, each time has been after fitting new radio, aerial or both. Otherwise at the start of the season I listen out for tha C.G. weather report which confirms clear receiving. A quick call to our harbourmaster confirms transmission. After this I can always test transmission and receive with my h/held.
Poey50
Well-Known Member
The last two summers we've been glad to get across the Channel away from the tedious Solent radio checks. Last winter I upraded to a Metz aerial and we've had replies to radio check requests from Solent Coastguard all along the North Britanny Coast. Thanks a bunch Salty John ...
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
The sooner we get back to proper signalling with semaphore flags the better I cant be doing with all this new fangled noisy nonsense you think people would know better than to disturb my peace and quiet hooligans the lot of them. Bah.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
Many are not following approved protocol. Pointless checks to CG even when CG are incident working (and why not to ch 65?). Endless chatter on Ch16 when users should switch to private channel. Its so bad that if we are coming into mooring, anchorage or harbour on Southcoast, the Navigator turns off radio so she can hear my comments on closing distances etc
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
I used check our VHF on handheld, with an SSB is you can only check it by calling a coastguard.