I confess - we made a radio check...

beancounter

beancounter

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...mea culpa, mea culpa.

SWMBO is a worrier. She could worry for England. When we were leaving Bradwell on our cruise-ette a week or so ago, she decided that we needed to check the radio. "But" says I "we've been in communication with the lock in Ipswich and 2 marinas since then - not to mention picking up the Coastguard weather reports..." I received The Look...

What was I to do? How could I show my face on Scuttlebutt again if I made a radio check? I would suffer withering scorn from those to whom R/Cs are a curse (Robin and Guapa - were your ears burning?)

So, in a Cunning Plan worthy of Baldrick ( /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif), I filed a traffic report with the coastguard for our passage. Communication was loud & clear. The Fretful One at the helm was appeased....

Then, b*gg*r me if I couldn't raise the coastguard later to close off the TR. They could barely hear me on full power. We suffered intermittent reception/transmission for the rest of the trip. ( the plug & socket at the foot of the mast is my prime suspect). To her credit, SWMBO only exuded a slight air of "I told you so".

When SWMBO requested another check a few days later, I said "You do it - I don't want to be excommunicated from the ybw fora..."

So forgive us - for we have sinned... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Your post only reinforces the futility of radio checks.

With respect to your wife, her logic is flawed. The only way a radio check can be of use is if you hold a permanent call with the CG. Like an MOT is not an assurance to the condition of a car, it can only give confidence for the time of test.

These people who radio check on every trip are wrong, in every aspect. Sorry.

I did a radio check this year, about midnight after I had had the mast on and off. This will be the last one until the next time I have the mast stepped, but not necessarily with the CG. If I hear someone I know I will call them instead. I always wait until the day sailors go home and the airwaves are clear. Yes I am brilliant!
 
DW, it was intended as a bit of a light-hearted post, given the emotion that the subject usually raises on here. I basically agree with you. FWIW, we've not done one before, and wouldn't expect to do it again - as I said in the post, by calling up the lock gates every time we set out, that is an instant check.

However, it was interesting that having made the effort to transmit over a longer distance, we began to be aware of problems. Although the set was receiving and transmitting, there is obviously a problem elsewhere in the system affecting signal strength - I'm guessing either the thru -deck connection (which I'll replace this weekend) or the arial/cable.

Out /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
And your experience shows the futility of checking with your marina office or lock when you are in the vicinity of them. Far better to check with a friend when they are 10-15 miles away (you need a friend first though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif) as this tests the transmission power of both yours and your friends set (we talk via mobiles and whilst there we call on 72 or 77).
 
You are forgiven

Ears weren't burning - boat's been laid up this past week (back in the water today) so your timing was perfect! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Off to Normandy next week (17 days), so feel free to get all your checks in then. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I'll quite happily do a radio check with you ... but it'd be blumin long distance ... and don't call me John ..! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
oops sorry, I did not read it as that. I thort you were suggesting that she was right, god forbid /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Me too

I made a radio check last week too. I had partial radio failure, I could transmit but not receive sufficiently well to understand the replies. I requested a radio check as I was coming in, but the reply was barely readable, so I had to make my final approach on light signals. Air Traffic Control handled it very well... whoops, hang on, wrong forum.

I shall now make a boaty radio check post on a helicopter forum to balance it out. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Re: You are forgiven

Saw Guapa up on the hard when we were at Burnham a week or so ago - glad she's going back in the water & enjoy your trip.

[ QUOTE ]
so feel free to get all your checks in then. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope - any discussion of radio checks is now verboten. I hereby solemnly swear never to mention the subject again... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
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