Anyone Else Having Problems Receiving Brixham MSI on VHF

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adko

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There are new arrangements for Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts (weather etc) on VHF in Brixham and Falmouth sea areas. From my experiences over the last two weekends, the new system doesn't seem to be working that well. Problems include:
- no announcement on Ch 16 (even allowing for casualty working which often delays broadcasts). Whether the MSI's were broadcast or working channels just or missed completely I have no idea.
- when they are broadcast, signal strength is weaker and fewer aerials/channels are used.
- the very useful next 24 hours and 3 day outlook parts are not routinely broadcast.
- Falmouth and Brixham now separate - with the old system if you missed Brixham you could normally pick up the Falmouth in an hour or two (or vice versa) , now you must wait three hours.

Judging from the calls to HMCG on 16 last weekend, I'm not the only one experiencing problems. Even Brixham CG seemed confused about times!

Seems like the service has been degraded. Any similar experiences or explanations?
 
Not had any problems at our end of the area, the announcements are certainly there and the follow up MSI broadcast is not really that different to previous if anything it seems to come through louder than before. we have been changed to a different channel at this end are you selecting the right channel for your area?
 
Thanks Scillypete. I'm reasured that the new system is working as its supposed to elsewhere.

Regarding frequency selection, I sail out of Plymouth and coverage in the estuaries can be a bit hit and miss but flipping between 10, 23, 84 and 86 generally does the job. The biggest problem is not picking up the broadcast notification on 16 in the first place, despite hearing other 16 traffic loud and clear.

The only rational explanation I can think of is cancellation due to casualty working, which is often a problem at weekends (more of a problem for the casualties though!)
 
yes, I noticed the same weekend before last. I was lambasted by SWMBO for not having fielded the MSI. I put it down to my negligence as I was pretty sure of the medium term weather forecast and we were not going any where of great concern.

Maybe there is a point there: very weak and crackly on channel 16 when I finally did hear it. But by that time we were up the Tamar.
 
In Poole, which is under the Portland CG's control, I received the initial announcement on CH 16 from Solent CG rather than the expected one from Portland CG. Changed over to the stipulated channel (Ch 86) and during the broadcast, when Solent CG had a break, I could hear Portland broadcasting what appeared to be the same messages but at a different point in the forecast.

When Solent ended the forecasts from N. Foreland down to Lands End, Portland were still broadcasting, but with what seemed to be Nav warnings relevant for the area......... most of which I'd missed because of the Solent transmissions, which hadn't carried the info at all.

Bloody stooooooooopid! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

P'raps if I hadn't changed channel after the Solent announcement, Portland might have suggested a different one....... or maybe not!
 
I agree Plymouth sound and up the rivers there has always been a hit and miss affair with reception and that may be your biggest problem.

I was surprised at the weekend to hear Falmouth tell someone to wait to send their routine message because of casualty working (fair enough) and then within a minute or two up came the announcement for the MSI on CH16.
 
Without wanting to get flamed but... everyone is aware that the MSI broadcasts have changed format this year aren't they?
 
Exactly the same problem in Fowey this weekend with mixed reception of both Brixham and Falmouth broadcasts on ch86 (Rame Head and Scilly?? transmitters). Mind you reception in Fowey was never that good.

Surely with the demise of coast radio stations, there are more than three channels that CG could use for these transmissions thus reducing the chance of an out of sync echo?

Tony
 
Yes - I've found reception poor in Plymouth/Fowey/ Falmouth areas this year for CG MSI broadcasts. It would help if they were clearer about which channel covers which area.
 
I've not had a problem with reception - here on the west coast of Scotland - but certainly miss the three day outlook. Presumably the Met office want you to pay to ring them for it, but I have to say it was useful for forward planning and will be missed.

Cheers
Patrick
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. My conclusion is that, even when one filters out the dodgy reception issues, there may be a problem here. I'l drop a note to HMCG to see if they are aware of it and will post the outcome on this forum.
 
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