Maritime Safety Info. V.H.F. Broadcasts

[peasea]

This year I have been unable to receive these broadcasts for weather forecasts, nav. hazards , gunfax and subfax whilst in the the harbours or at sea along the South Devon coast and parts of South Cornwall. I can receive the originating pre broadcast announcement on Ch16 but not the broadcasts. Other transmissions on Ch67 etc. are loud and clear and my radio performance is O.K.
I am told by H.M.Coastguard that the problem arises that the
"authorities" whoever they are, have rationalised on the aerials being used to transmit the MSInfo and many of the local aerials still available are not being used. It is said that because so many sources of info. are available that it can be got elsewhere.In other words we have to leave harbour to sail to an area where the broadcasts can be heard so you can then find out if you will be safe or we can use our mobiles in harbour and pay to receive the info. from one of the weather services. This goes against the grain, since all the info. has been assembled at taxpayers expense and can be made available to us by flick of a switch.
I am lead to believe other people hare having similar problems and are putting to sea with insufficient info -- Dangerous

 

[Skyva_2]

Re: Maritime Safety Info. V.H.F. Broadcasts - Brixham

You are not alone, I have noticed it too, and so have others, but you seem to have the official pathetic 'explanation' - see here:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?C...rue#Post1513889

 

[Malcb]

I recently did a trip from the Solent to Falmouth and back, and didn't experience any problems with picking up weather info etc. Usually it was on Ch 84 (I think), but it varied according to the area that I was in dependant on whether it was Falmouth, Brixham, Portland or Solent CG who were transmitting.

I do use Navtex for most purposes, and if I'm within Mobile phone range, I use my Palm via the mobile to get an up to date inshore forecast.

 

[hlb]

Thats the whole point. You may or may not get it, dependant on where you are. But mostly you wont get an anouncement from Brixham on 16, less you happen to be insight of Prawl Point, which mostly you wont be. Especially if in any Harbour.

The other problem has been going on for years. I posted on it, maybe three/four years ago and many agreed. You go to the advised chanel and nothing happens.

If it helps. Brixham weather is on 23 (in Brixham area) at 7.10 and then every three hours. But it's not in the almanac. Theres also something complicated, about. Some times Brixham does it and some times Falmouth.

It's not that big a problem in reality, as Portland can be heard from most anyplace.

Just makes Brixham a bit pointless.

Anyway. The coast guards at Brixham are pissed off about being told from on high, to turn all there ariels off, except prawl point, for the anouncement of the weather forcast and would welcome the problem being published in the boating press.

 

[peasea]

If you are in a harbour, Salcombe for instance, and want to write a Passage Plan, as we are required to, the information should be freely available. In some harbours you cannot get a signal on a mobile phone even if you opted to go that route and buy a forecast which may or may not include Nav. warnings etc.

 

[hlb]

As finally admitted to me in Brixham. The Prawl Point ariel. in theory, covers the whole area. But they admit, in practice, it does not. I was even blamed for not having a high enough ariel at on point. Though yacht with one on there mast, were complaining by the minute. They said they were in the unfortunate position of geology. So whilest transmisions worked from Portland, theres did not.

The bunkum is, they have been told to turn other ariels off.

 

[onenyala]

The logic behind the which aerials and channels are to be used is a mystery although all is clearly indicated in the PBO almanac. Whilst in Salcombe recently waiting for a weather window to come through I could receive all of their correspondence on Ch16 but could not receive the forecast on the appropriate channel designated for the forecast.
I contacted Brixham on Ch 16 for routine traffic and then switched to the working channel. My request for the inshore forecast was answered promptly and courteously.
Why dont they send it as a matter of routine. I believe it is a pre-recorded message anyway. It would then save their time replying to individual requests for the forecast.