Channel 16

[billyfish]

I heard the coastguard tell us all NOT to make calls for radio checks on channel 16, but to call coastwatch on 67. I was about to answer, well done, or something like that but was beaten to it by .........yep you guessed it ...solent coastguard radio check please ???

 

[Plum]

I heard the coastguard tell us all NOT to make calls for radio checks on channel 16, but to call coastwatch on 67. I was about to answer, well done, or something like that but was beaten to it by .........yep you guessed it ...solent coastguard radio check please ???

LoL ? may I suggest you edit the Coastwatch channel to 65. Thanks

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[billyfish]

Its 65 not 67. I always use 80 and talk to marinas

 

[Commercial Dave]

Yes NCI on channel 65 are literally there to answer radio checks, most of them now can do AIS checks and even tell you if you're giving a good radar cross section.

 

[MADRIGAL]

I heard the coastguard tell us all NOT to make calls for radio checks on channel 16, but to call coastwatch on 67. I was about to answer, well done, or something like that but was beaten to it by .........yep you guessed it ...solent coastguard radio check please ???

It's the same the whole world over, it seems. I hear Canadian Coast Guard Radio telling vessels all the time to call them on one their working channels (85, in my cruising area) if they want a radio check.

 

[Refueler]

And of course 'dear ol USA' who love Ch 22A .... which very few non US boats have ...

 

[franksingleton]

Why not use your handheld VHF to check both without worrying anyone else? If no handheld, call a marina or a friend. The French are particularly bad. If I had a penny for every, “Fort et clair”, I have heard over the years, I would be a rich Man.

 

[Daverw]

Are radio instals really that bad that they need constant testing? Not sure that testing using nearby hand held is good though, boat next to me was doing this then found that his main antenna was actually unplugged and it still worked via hand held, not sure how long he’d been doing this.

he then added that it was always a bit quite when he was out on the river but never thought much of it.

 

[Refueler]

Are radio instals really that bad that they need constant testing? Not sure that testing using nearby hand held is good though, boat next to me was doing this then found that his main antenna was actually unplugged and it still worked via hand held, not sure how long he’d been doing this.

he then added that it was always a bit quite when he was out on the river but never thought much of it.

Exactly ......

 

[billyfish]

If you use marinas you know how far away they are . With the coastguard , I guess, they have aerials all over the place

 

[dslittle]

Why not use your handheld VHF to check both without worrying anyone else? If no handheld, call a marina or a friend. The French are particularly bad. If I had a penny for every, “Fort et clair”, I have heard over the years, I would be a rich Man.

My experience is totally the opposite, in that I have rarely (never…) heard the French ask for a radio check but purely for a Marina berth (or of course the occasional Pan Pan/Mayday).

On the other hand, coming back to the UK and sailing the Solent for a couple of months this season made me realise how dangerous it is in the Solent as there are so many dodgy radios there that need to be checked with Solent Coastguard!!!

 

[bedouin]

Are radio instals really that bad that they need constant testing? Not sure that testing using nearby hand held is good though, boat next to me was doing this then found that his main antenna was actually unplugged and it still worked via hand held, not sure how long he’d been doing this.

he then added that it was always a bit quite when he was out on the river but never thought much of it.

I think you've just answered your own question.

It seems a sensible precaution to test your radio once or twice a season - and that probably needs to be with a station a few miles away.

I regularly use the DSC test on mine - at least shows the basic transmit is working and hopefully the receiver is far enough away. Perhaps I should combine that with a voice test to the HH to ensure the microphone is working too.

 

[bedouin]

My experience is totally the opposite, in that I have rarely (never…) heard the French ask for a radio check but purely for a Marina berth (or of course the occasional Pan Pan/Mayday).

On the other hand, coming back to the UK and sailing the Solent for a couple of months this season made me realise how dangerous it is in the Solent as there are so many dodgy radios there that need to be checked with Solent Coastguard!!!

Where are you thinking of in France that has the same density of boats in VHF range as the Solent?

Let's say there are 40,000 boats in the Solent - if each only made on check per year between april and sep that would be 200 checks a day.

 

[franksingleton]

Are radio instals really that bad that they need constant testing? Not sure that testing using nearby hand held is good though, boat next to me was doing this then found that his main antenna was actually unplugged and it still worked via hand held, not sure how long he’d been doing this.

he then added that it was always a bit quite when he was out on the river but never thought much of it.

But, if I am receiving signals from distant transmitters, my aerial is obviously OK. At least I know that both are transmitting.

 

[franksingleton]

My experience is totally the opposite, in that I have rarely (never…) heard the French ask for a radio check but purely for a Marina berth (or of course the occasional Pan Pan/Mayday).

On the other hand, coming back to the UK and sailing the Solent for a couple of months this season made me realise how dangerous it is in the Solent as there are so many dodgy radios there that need to be checked with Solent Coastguard!!!

Since returning from the Med in 2013, our sailing has mainly been the Channel Isles down to the Ile d’Oleron. This year, we only got as far as Piriac, Le Palais. The number of French yachts calling for radio checks is even worse than we remember in the Solent in the 90s. The perfunctory responses from CROSS. Stations speaks for itself. I have to wonder how many ask for a check every time they go to sea.
I remember in the Solent , hearing people on VHF discussing where eat that night and then the same people calling for a radio check the following day. Plus ca changes c’est la meme chose!

 

[awol]

Let's say there are 40,000 boats in the Solent - if each only made on check per year between april and sep that would be 200 checks a day.

If we say an average of 400 berths per marina that would require 100 marinas - are there really that many?

 

[sailaboutvic]

Why not use your handheld VHF to check both without worrying anyone else? If no handheld, call a marina or a friend. The French are particularly bad. If I had a penny for every, “Fort et clair”, I have heard over the years, I would be a rich Man.

And there me thinking you was a very rich man

 

[Refueler]

If we say an average of 400 berths per marina that would require 100 marinas - are there really that many?

I read an article saying over 30,000 boats in the Solent region .... I assume it includes small as well ....

As to marinas ........... I would suggest that there are probably MORE boats not in marinas than are ...

 

[ylop]

Why not use your handheld VHF to check both without worrying anyone else? If no handheld, call a marina or a friend.

Its quite possible to get a transmission from h/h to fixed (and vice versa) without the antennae actually being connected - its tells you nothing about your ability to call the mast you really want to talk to if the proverbial is hitting the fan. Marina may be better - but is presumably very close, and the quality of the feedback is often somewhat less useful than you'd get from HMCG or NCI ("weak and broken / loud and clear etc".). In my experience silence doesn't necessarily mean a problem either - even if you are calling for a berth! In many cases if you know a friend is available and listening to your chosen channel they are no better test than a Marina office you can see or your own handheld.

Some of it will be habit. Some will be genuine concern something is broken. Some will be that is what they hear others doing - so think they should too. On the other hand if all those calls actually have turned the radio on to 16 and broadcast at least we know there is plenty of help around if needed. I worry that there are lots of people who leave the radio off until THEY need it.

FWIW I've never made a radio check to the CG. On a couple of occasions when I thought it would be nice to be certain it works I was making bigger passages and so thought it prudent to pass them my passage plan which defacto confirmed comms were working well. However if you are lucky enough to have a local NCI station then talking to them is a good idea anyway - assuming you like the idea of their service, the more they do the easier to get funding, volunteers etc.

 

[bedouin]

If we say an average of 400 berths per marina that would require 100 marinas - are there really that many?

The 40000 number is widely quoted - I must admit I haven't counted them all myself. Chichester Harbour alone is said to have 10,000