MCA Safety (weather) broadcasts

[bonny]

We do quite a bit of cruisng, various areas.
Don't get me wrong, I thing the MCA do a great job and provide valuable information and service.

One thing we have problems with is choosing the correct channel to receive the safety information (weather) broadcasts.
We hear on 16 a number of broadcasts stating location x channel y, each broadcast from these different locations, some of which you were not familiar with (could be miles away).

Not surprisingly, some of these messages on 16 are clearer than others.
Selecting the correct channel for the following message can be a problem, particularly if the message is a bit delayed.
The nearest location is not always the best and many times I have found myself switching around each channel for many minutes only to find that the message has not yet started, is not receivable or not even broadcast on some channels.

I remember years ago (when in the North West, (Holyhead & Liverpool CG) would state the channel to switch to when transmitting on 16 for that area.
All you needed to do was switch to the channel which came through the clearest on 16. This could be a bit confusing as you would hear different channels to switch to.

What I believe would work better is for the CG to transmit on 16 from each Antenna (as they currently do) but state the location and channel for that antenna rather that a list. All we would have to do then is switch to the channel we hear the clearest (it would also take up less 16 transmission time).

 

[sailorman]

We do quite a bit of cruisng, various areas.
Don't get me wrong, I thing the MCA do a great job and provide valuable information and service.

One thing we have problems with is choosing the correct channel to receive the safety information (weather) broadcasts.
We hear on 16 a number of broadcasts stating location x channel y, each broadcast from these different locations, some of which you were not familiar with (could be miles away).

Not surprisingly, some of these messages on 16 are clearer than others.
Selecting the correct channel for the following message can be a problem, particularly if the message is a bit delayed.
The nearest location is not always the best and many times I have found myself switching around each channel for many minutes only to find that the message has not yet started, is not receivable or not even broadcast on some channels.

I remember years ago (when in the North West, (Holyhead & Liverpool CG) would state the channel to switch to when transmitting on 16 for that area.
All you needed to do was switch to the channel which came through the clearest on 16. This could be a bit confusing as you would hear different channels to switch to.

What I believe would work better is for the CG to transmit on 16 from each Antenna (as they currently do) but state the location and channel for that antenna rather that a list. All we would have to do then is switch to the channel we hear the clearest (it would also take up less 16 transmission time).

you are told which Ch for which area on the Ch 16 announcement

 

[bonny]

you are told which Ch for which area on the Ch 16 announcement

Yes, I know, but only by location and the nearest is not always the clearest (could be obscured by a headland) It would help if the location of the current broadcast was given on 16 so that the clearest can be selected.

 

[NormanS]

Scan the channels that are suggested, and see which one the set picks up best.

 

[sailorman]

Scan the channels that are suggested, and see which one the set picks up best.

Surely thats too easy a solution

 

[bonny]

Surely thats too easy a solution

Did say that in my original post!

 

[Bilgediver]

Yes, I know, but only by location and the nearest is not always the clearest (could be obscured by a headland) It would help if the location of the current broadcast was given on 16 so that the clearest can be selected.

Perhaps you do not realise that the all ships broadcast on channel 16 is simultaneously broadcast through more than one transmitter. During this broadcast you will be told which slave transmitters will transmit on which frequency for their respective area. You then should tune to and sit on the frequency advised. It is however not unusual for Mr MCA to have finger trouble and sometimes NOT transmit on one or more frequencies. If you are sure the transmission was not made on the advised frequency then just call the coastguard and advise him... He might even thank you.

The slave systems are operated over BT phone lines and it seems that the coastguard is not always aware that a transmission was not made at a particular area.
This will be more so now that the coastguard have even bigger areas and more slave transmitters.

 

[VicMallows]

Scan the channels that are suggested, and see which one the set picks up best.

Manually? the problem is that the transmission may not start for MANY minutes. Are you suggesting sitting by the radio constantly changing channel?

Maybe some sets can be set to automatically scan up to 4 or 5 channels - but setting that up must be a pain in itself.

Yes, the only straightforward answer is to already know which channel is likely to be best in your area!

 

[Pye_End]

What I believe would work better is for the CG to transmit on 16 from each Antenna (as they currently do) but state the location and channel for that antenna rather that a list. All we would have to do then is switch to the channel we hear the clearest (it would also take up less 16 transmission time).

Would have thought this would end up with rather more 16 time - ie they would have to transmit the message to change on 16 as many times as they have antennas.

Once you get an idea where they transmit from you get used to the way they do it.

 

[NormanS]

Manually? the problem is that the transmission may not start for MANY minutes. Are you suggesting sitting by the radio constantly changing channel?

Maybe some sets can be set to automatically scan up to 4 or 5 channels - but setting that up must be a pain in itself.

Yes, the only straightforward answer is to already know which channel is likely to be best in your area!

No, I don't mean manually. I actually have two VHFs, and the one that is normally in use, (a twenty year old "Standard") is extremely easy to set up to scan any channels you care to select.

In our neck of the woods the CG don't give any indication of the site of aerials, but you may get up to four different transmissions on Ch16, announcing which working channels that they are going to use for the forecast. You just make sure that you have at least these channels programmed in the "Scan". That's surely not too difficult.

If it's too difficult, get Navtex. Then you don't have wait and listen at particular broadcast times.

 

[jerrytug]

The times and the aerials are in Reeds Almanac,to help choose,they will also be published on the MCA website or HMCG,shouldn't be too hard to find. They often miss one,who knows why,but if you inform them then they will tell you what you want anyway! Very helpful in my experience Jerry