Correct Radio procedure

[sonic]

Just back from a few days sailing on the Firth of Clyde and totally p****d off with the number of people who do not know how to use the VHF radio fitted to their boats. The poor staff at Clyde Coastguard must be fed up with the number of people who misuse Chan 16.for their chit chat and then the CG only give a short verbal warning.
The amount of air time wasted by people asking for radio checks on 16 means that one day someone who needs help will be overcalled and not heard.
Sorry but this is just my moan as I was getting fed up to listening to "Clyde Coastguard radio check please" on my VHF. I would have loved to tell the inconsiderate radio users just where to go with their " Rodger Over and Out"

Cheers and Good Sailing

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[nicho]

Don't know how many boats there are in the Clyde, but there are probably 20/50 times more in the Solent. Multiply your frustration by that amount, and you'll get some idea of the problem for Solent CG!! It's an old problem - they try to educate users from time to time, but it seems to no avail.

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[wishbone]

I put it down to them watching too much TV, the amount of times I hear the radio operators on various programmes saying "over and out " I could gringe!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Wishbone
Rolling, rolling, rolling keep them doggies moving!
Where’s me chuck wagon gone?

 

[nonchalant]

It does make me wonder (a) whether the training for VHF operators licences lays enough stress on this point and (b) how many of these people actually hold VHF operator licences at all. Perhaps a few more checks by the coastguard on people who ask for radio checks would be a deterrent - a simple question back to them such as "what's the number and date of issue of your SRC, sir" or "what's your callsign"?

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[Rigger]

I actually did the VHF operators course yesterday although I have to admit I have been usingthe VHF for 20yrs.(not entirely illegally,as SWMBO has an operators license,and is usually with me) I also hope I have used it responsiblly over that time.What surprised me yesterday was that the instructor implied that the local Holyhead CG have a "use us or lose us "attitude and actually welcome calls for radio checks,passage plans for trips round the bay,and requests for weather forecasts within minutes of a routine broadcast.I must admit I found this surprising to say the least. One other point which was raised was that the CG will start to make enquiries re boats that have logged a passage pln with them ,but fail to confirm arrival. I did not think this was the case,the passage plan simply acting to give them info should a third party contact re non arrival etc. Can anyone clarify this?

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[mirabriani]

When I did my course we were all told quite clearly not to answer "over and out"
Guess what? I was the only one who said it! Must be subliminal!
Briani

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[cliff]

As far as I am aware HMCG do not follow up on passage plans unless a third party reports them overdue. Clyde CG certainly welcome passage plans and one always receives a very pleasant "thank you" when (if) you report in after arrival.

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[Moose]

You may find this old thread interesting <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=385281&page=&view=&sb=&o=&part=all&vc=1>http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=385281&page=&view=&sb=&o=&part=all&vc=1</A>

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[Oldhand]

I fear the only solution to this is the withdrawal of ship's radio licences for all vessels not fitted with VHF DSC. DSC is the only answer for freeing up channel 16 for its primary safety purpose.

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[Talulah]

I have DSC and I hate it. The number of times the alarm goes off only to finf it's an all ships message that is totally irrelevant.

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[Moose]

You clearly haven't used it for calling another vessel, it comes into its own then.
How do you know the all ships message is irrelevant until you hear it?

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[halcyon]

Passing question, when you press your emergancy buttonon you VHF DSC as the water is rising in the cabin, how do you know it's working correctly ??
With the old channel 16 vhf system you could call someone for a radio check, do we just assume the new system is working.

Brian

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[Moose]

The VHF DSC sets are meant to test themselves everytime they are turned on.
Mine also has a self test function where I can either send an internal test message which loops the signal back through the transmitter to the reciever modem thinghy. I can also send an external test message which sends a message out of one aerial and back through the other.

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[starboard]

May cause you and even Clyde a bit of NOZ but at the end of the day its the best piece of safety equipment anybody can use...if you can at least tell someone your in trouble thats half the battle as far as the C/G Lifeboats are concerned...knock it all you will but please don't deter people from using the radio....even heard you yesterday but didnt respond as C/G were casualty working!!!

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[ubuysa]

Visited Weymouth CG station last year and whilst there asked them about their attitude to "radio checks". They said they didn't mind at all, as long as it was no more than once per day. What really hacked them off (aparently) were those people who call for a radio check when they first leave the marina and then call again after they've been anchored up for lunch!

Tony C.

<hr width=100% size=1>There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[halcyon]

Many thanks, it was just a passing thought the other day, new thought, how does it cover a weak transmission signal, or this the aerial to aerial test?
Last question, is two aerials required ?, and are they both on top of the mast ?.
This winters job is to fit DSC, but we have to have mast down this week next week to fit new VHF aerial, if we need two for DSC we can fit one at the same time, or are they not common ?

Brian

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[TrueBlue]

I did my training a couple of years ago, and was distressed that mostly what the instructor focussed on was how to use the DSC equipment. He was silent when questioned about correct verbal procedure.

Having benn trained by Signals I was somewhat nonplussed. I also found the booklet issued by the the RCA of little use (took me a long time to work out what see-cur-i-tay was supposed to mean).

A certain amount of formality is essential if efficient use of the airwaves is to be made.


BTW "Over and out" goes back to WWII films and "immaginative" script writers.

I personally get more fun out of trying to get it right than just blasting away.

<hr width=100% size=1>Stop what you're doing and wait my signal

 

[Oldhand]

Whether your DSC distress message is sucessfully transmitted or not you still have channel 16 to use in the normal way. In fact, once you have made your DSC distress broadcast, any responses will be on channel 16 just as if you made a verbal "Mayday". My argument is that if all non-distress calling traffic is diverted to DSC from channel 16, the use of 16 for emergency traffic, whether initiated by DSC or not, is likely to be much improved over the situation currently experienced in popular pleasure boating waters.

I think the concern on the reliability of DSC is misplaced. DSC is the addition of of relativel simple digital electronics to the transceiver. The DSC part of the system is likely to have much higher reliability than some other parts of the system, such as the tranceiver/antenna installation itself and the transmitter power output stage. Therefore if the transciever operates OK with voice input/output, it is very highly likely to operate with digital input/output. Just think about the reliablilty of other digital electronics such as your relatively complex PC. I'll bet the MTBF (mean time between failures) on a PC is much higher than a liesure market VHF transceiver.

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[Cantata]

We were pondering this yesterday on the Thames Estuary, listening to all the same sort of old rubbish. Although we are violently anti unnecessary legislation, we did ponder the possibility of not allowing purchase of a marine VHF unless the purchaser can produce a license to show the retailer.

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[Nick_Pam]

An interesting debate that went on for a very long time in the Radio Amateur world....
The challenge there was that if you couldn't get a radio until you were licenced, and you didn't know if you wanted to be licenced until you had listened for a while and couldn't buy a "receive only" radio......a very vicious circle.
Also, in the maritime world, in an emergency, where there is danger or risk to life and limb, anyone is allowed to use a marine VHF radio, whether licenced or not (taken from the booklet accompanying my shiop licence which just arrived last week)
Hmmm.........
Nick

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