Marine VHF procedure - why ?

[Zing]

How can a frequency be limited in bandwidth?

I meant this kind of bandwidth:
Bandwidth (computing) - Wikipedia

To appreciate the problem:

 

[Zing]

They're 50 kHz apart ...

It’s actually recently changed to 8.33 spacing FWIW.

 

[LadyInBed]

This is repetition:

‘Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard this is Yacht Zing, Yacht Zing, Yacht Zing

Three repetitions are only used in emergency calls such as Mayday and Pan. Two repetitions are the norm to initiate a non emergency call.

 

[rotrax]

Breaker, Breaker, 14 for a copy, c'mon........................................

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yes the channels, which are identified by nominal frequencies, are closely spaced; but exactly why does that mean people need to speak incredibly fast, even at a small airfield? Speaking more slowly won't make you more likely to interfere with a neighbouring frequency...

It allows other people more time to use the same channels.

 

[mattonthesea]

Over at the end of a sentence means I have finished talking and expect a reply. Out means I've finished speaking and don't expect a reply. If we did not use these key words a radio message would sound like an interview on the Today programme (BBC Radio 4) where the interviewer continually interrupts the interviewee.

You missed 'Over and Out' which is most rude: I have finished speaking and expect a reply but I'm not going to listen to you!

I bet the habit accompanies the ARC to Antigua

Ten years ago, in Bequia, Port Elizabeth, a whole bunch of charter boats turned up flying defaced blue dusters. Channel 68, the hailing channel over there - they use it for commercial ends too - was overrun by plummy voices discussing sailing plans and other generalities. Despite various interruptions to tell them to switch channel from several sources they continued for some 20 minutes. I really did expect them to start radio checks as well, just to add to the collective British embarrassment.

 

[penfold]

Ten years ago, in Bequia, Port Elizabeth, a whole bunch of charter boats turned up flying defaced blue dusters. Channel 68, the hailing channel over there - they use it for commercial ends too - was overrun by plummy voices discussing sailing plans and other generalities. Despite various interruptions to tell them to switch channel from several sources they continued for some 20 minutes. I really did expect them to start radio checks as well, just to add to the collective British embarrassment.

Did no-one adopt the usual scorched earth procedure of selecting 25W, taping down the ptt and playing some terrible pop music whenever a bore starts droning on?

 

[penberth3]

Breaker, Breaker, 14 for a copy, c'mon........................................

Keep the shiny side up, 10-10 till I see you again!

 

[Sandy]

You missed 'Over and Out' which is most rude: I have finished speaking and expect a reply but I'm not going to listen to you!

I think we all know "over and out" is will cost you several rounds in the bar when you get back.

 

[Sandy]

Aviation call is:
’Heathrow Approach, Zing’

Agreed, but going back to a point made earlier every use of RT has slightly different working practices. Aircraft are at a huge advantage, they are high up, have few obstructions between ground and aircraft. On the other hand a boat antenna is, for example, 15 meters from sea level and moving in three dimensions trying to hit an antenna that might be obscured by a headland. A few weeks ago a merchant ship was in Plymouth Sound trying to hail Falmouth CG, everybody in the Sound could hear him but Falmouth CG could not, the antenna is at Rame Head!

We just need to accept that the working environment is different and over time working language has evolved, although at times I struggle with pilot lingo as much as I do Plymouth fishermen.

 

[DJE]

I meant this kind of bandwidth:
Bandwidth (computing) - Wikipedia

To appreciate the problem:

But this might be overdoing it?

 

[awol]

Yet again "Broadsword calling Danny Boy" was on the telly recently! I took a greater interest than usual yesterday listening to Clyde Estuary Control - "over" was used by them and most vessels, even the very local ones, on almost every transmission. "Out" was less frequent. "Copy That" was v. common and thankfully "Rogering" seems to have fallen into disuse.

 

[Stemar]

It makes sense to name a region when calling the CG, although we all know it is now a callcentre in Fareham.

I would call 'Dover Coastguard' if I was near Dover, so the callcentre knew I was there, and not off Beachy Head or Brightlingsea. Also, other vessels would know roughly where I was, and either prick up their ears, or ignore the call.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yet again "Broadsword calling Danny Boy" was on the telly recently! I took a greater interest than usual yesterday listening to Clyde Estuary Control - "over" was used by them and most vessels, even the very local ones, on almost every transmission. "Out" was less frequent. "Copy That" was v. common and thankfully "Rogering" seems to have fallen into disuse.

I've never understood why some sailors twitch so much at the idea of "roger".

 

[Never Grumble]

I've never understood why some sailors twitch so much at the idea of "roger".

I like a good Roger Out

 

[RobbieW]

I've never understood why some sailors twitch so much at the idea of "roger".

...its all to do with the cabin boy

 

[laika]

...its all to do with the cabin boy

Whilst that aspect is clearly urban legend, I've just realised that "Tom" can be used as a verb too...

 

[Gary Fox]

I have often heard people say, 'all copied' and I have used it myself a couple of times. (Pro-words, correct or not, are contagious.)
Critics might carp that it's not really logical to say 'all copied': How can I be sure I did actually hear everything?
But it really just means, 'message received and understood' or 'OK, mate that's fine'.

You can get too rigidly anal about all this stuff...

 

[Gary Fox]

Yet again "Broadsword calling Danny Boy" was on the telly recently! I took a greater interest than usual yesterday listening to Clyde Estuary Control - "over" was used by them and most vessels, even the very local ones, on almost every transmission. "Out" was less frequent. "Copy That" was v. common and thankfully "Rogering" seems to have fallen into disuse.

'Roger' has drifted away from radio and you often hear it spoken, especially in emphasis, eg, 'roger that!' meaning, how very true.
Another fishing boat snippet I heard, I think it was in Whitby, 'yeah roger-todge matey'

 

[awol]

You can get too rigidly anal about all this stuff...

Isn't that when "Rogering" becomes appropriate?