Can not hear ultra close stations on VHF radio

[l1ght_blue]

So, as the title suggests, we are not hearing some stations that are very close to the boat (causing issues)

(I am going to be very specific here) On approach to Grimsby (where the highlighted cross is on the chart, intending to follow the purple line) we were calling Fish Dock Island on Ch74, hearing other traffic do the same but not hearing any response (though he was able to hear us as we use a mobile phone to ring the lock office). We only just had enough water in the tide to get over the cill so the boat was about 5m down from the top of the sheet pilings but i hardly see that making much of a difference.

We have a fixed ray73 radio, fully set up with the MMSI number entered, squelch set to 3/10 and power set to 25w, we also have an icom handheld VHF which was fortunatly able to pick up the signal from the lock keeper. However, the following morning top side of the lock, we were able to hear the lock keeper on the Ray73 with no changes to settings

anyone had similar experience or a possible fix?.

 

[st599]

How high is the antenna? Was it above the lock side?

Have you checked the antenna and feeder? Could be a dodgy connection, cable or antenna.

 

[Plum]

So, as the title suggests, we are not hearing some stations that are very close to the boat (causing issues)

(I am going to be very specific here) On approach to Grimsby (where the highlighted cross is on the chart, intending to follow the purple line) we were calling Fish Dock Island on Ch74, hearing other traffic do the same but not hearing any response (though he was able to hear us as we use a mobile phone to ring the lock office). We only just had enough water in the tide to get over the cill so the boat was about 5m down from the top of the sheet pilings but i hardly see that making much of a difference.

We have a fixed ray73 radio, fully set up with the MMSI number entered, squelch set to 3/10 and power set to 25w, we also have an icom handheld VHF which was fortunatly able to pick up the signal from the lock keeper. However, the following morning top side of the lock, we were able to hear the lock keeper on the Ray73 with no changes to settings

anyone had similar experience or a possible fix?.

I once had a problem with receiving on vhf and the other station reported later that they could hear me transmitting. With the help of Standard Horizon discovered it was a usb phone charger plugged into a 12v cigar lighter socket!

 

[ylop]

squelch set to 3/10

I’ve never used a Raymarine radio but my intuition is that is quite high?

 

[vyv_cox]

As Plum says, charging another device on USB can create strange problems with VHF reception. While charging we could hear and transmit on 16 but various other channels, apparently at random, were unobtainable.

 

[MM5AHO]

I’ve never used a Raymarine radio but my intuition is that is quite high?

Squelch setting will depend on may things, but generally should be as low as comfortable. Turn right back to zero, then advance until the hissing just goes away.

 

[seeSimon]

In my experience, some early/old school type LED light fitting cause "interference " issues with VHF.

On my current boat, the earlier LED cabin lights totally block reception of VHF entertainment broadcasts on the "car stereo", or on a portable VHF receiver when nearby.
No idea why?

 

[wonkywinch]

In my experience, some early/old school type LED light fitting cause "interference " issues with VHF.

On my current boat, the earlier LED cabin lights totally block reception of VHF entertainment broadcasts on the "car stereo", or on a portable VHF receiver when nearby.
No idea why?

Put ferrite beads on the LED power cables, as close to the luminaire as possible to minimise the cable run acting as an antenna. Description of the RFI issue here - How To Fix Radio Interference From LED Headlights

Also on the radio power lead to stop any RFI entering the set via the power cable.

 

[l1ght_blue]

How high is the antenna? Was it above the lock side?

Have you checked the antenna and feeder? Could be a dodgy connection, cable or antenna.

we were low side of the lock with (roughly) 2m antenna on a beam about 2.5m above waterline, the tips were probably 2m bellow the concrete walls a good 150-200m away from the lock/walls

 

[toothless]

Do you have an emergency antenna/separate antenna for AIS? If so,hook that up to your vhf and see how it is. I had similar symptoms to you and it was the vhf cable - it had corroded away over who knows how many years and was barely working at all.

You can get a marine electrician to test your cable and antenna in situ. That's the proper way