Open transmissions (open mic) on 16

[bonny]

It is surprising how many instances of open mic transmissions are going on on ch16, particularly along the south coast. I guess in some circumstances it is accidental, particularly when you can hear background conversations, but I also suspect foul play, deliberate jamming by numpties. I think most modern radios automatically cut out after about 2 minutes (my set does and it's a 2005 model).
What does surprise me is the coastguard response, "There is an open transmission on ch16, will all vessels please check their radios to ensure that their mic is not keyed!".
Most radios work in simplex mode meaning they can't receive if they are transmitting, and ch16 is a simplex channel anyway. Even if the culprit vessel had a second radio on 16 it would be swamped by it's own transmission and would not hear the coastguard request.
I understand that the coastguard must be seen to try to do something, but they have a number of ariels and I believe they can DF to pinpoint the transmission within a few miles. I have great admiration for the job they do but I can't help but think there is some lack of basic radio understanding bordering on incompetence to request vessels to check their radios.
I have on one occasion found a culprit vessel by hearing a very clear, hence local, transmission with background conversation. I sounded my foghorn, and heard it a second or two later on the radio, deducing the target vessel to be less than a mile away (sound travels about 5 secs per mile). I spotted a likely suspect and moved towards them and informed them, they were apologetic and thanked me.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I understand that the coastguard must be seen to try to do something, but they have a number of ariels and I believe they can DF to pinpoint the transmission within a few miles.

I believe their DF capability is now gone.

 

[Mark-1]

It is surprising how many instances of open mic transmissions are going on on ch16

Although it did create an amusing accidental pun when the QE was heading into Portsmouth on Saturday morning and a pleasure boat called the CG for a radio check. CG responded 'Loud and clear, but be advised there's a carrier in your area'.

I find your theory about it being deliberate interesting.

I sounded my foghorn, and heard it a second or two later on the radio, deducing the target vessel to be less than a mile away (sound travels about 5 secs per mile). I spotted a likely suspect and moved towards them and informed them

Nice one.

 

[Heckler]

Although it did create an amusing accidental pun when the QE was heading into Portsmouth on Saturday morning and a pleasure boat called the CG for a radio check. CG responded 'Loud and clear, but be advised there's a carrier in your area'.

I find your theory about it being deliberate interesting.



Nice one.

I liked that as well!

 

[prv]

I believe they can DF to pinpoint the transmission within a few miles.

As Jumbleduck says, the Coastguard have lost their DF capability. Quite a while back the MCA decided that it was unnecessary; they didn't actively remove it but stated that if any kit failed it would not be replaced. Then the station amalgamation a few years ago will have necessitated a new radio system (may be the same actual transmitters, but the backhaul and control system is almost certainly new) and based on the MCA policy I assume that will not have incorporated DF facilities.

The RNLI maintain DF capability and I have heard the old Solent Coastguard ask a passing lifeboat on a delivery passage for help to find an open mic before.

The most imaginative example I've heard about (on the East Coast, I believe, so not first-hand) was when the transmitting boat had a broadcast radio on in the background; a well-known Radio Two presenter was clearly audible over the VHF alongside conversation and noises from a boat. The coastguard phoned the BBC and asked them to make an announcement on the programme - a few minutes later said announcement was heard on the VHF and shortly afterwards the rogue transmission ceased

Pete

 

[Dan Tribe]

I've noticed that some of these open mike incidents seem to be caused by handhelds stuffed int pockets.

 

[johnalison]

I heard from someone who cruised in the Med that they were never able to receive VHF weather forecasts and warnings in English in Italian waters because it was a local sport to jam it after the transmission in Italian had finished.

When my radio was brand-new, my PTT button jammed when I first used it, though I noticed this straight away, so it can happen, but never again since to me fortunately.

 

[macd]

I've noticed that some of these open mike incidents seem to be caused by handhelds stuffed int pockets.

...or into winch-handle holders. This happened to friends on passage from Ardfern to the Isle of Man. Much of the Irish Sea was privy to a flaming marital row which endured for most of the passage. They are no longer transmitting to each other.

 

[chanelyacht]

As Jumbleduck says, the Coastguard have lost their DF capability. Quite a while back the MCA decided that it was unnecessary; they didn't actively remove it but stated that if any kit failed it would not be replaced. Then the station amalgamation a few years ago will have necessitated a new radio system (may be the same actual transmitters, but the backhaul and control system is almost certainly new) and based on the MCA policy I assume that will not have incorporated DF facilities.

The RNLI maintain DF capability and I have heard the old Solent Coastguard ask a passing lifeboat on a delivery passage for help to find an open mic before.

The last DF capability went in around 2010. In the upside down world of MCA management, the logic was that it wasn't used in many SAR incidents where an asset was launched, so it wasn't worth having. The fact that they were given documented evidence of hundreds of occasions when it's use early on prevented a SAR asset having to be launched, of course, didn't count.

Much of the aerial infrastructure is still there, but the backend capability in ICCS has gone. It wouldn't be that difficult to reinstall, as it is a software function, and there was talk of reinstalling it following the demise of Brixham / Portland / Solent, mainly to hide the fact that none of the new people knew where anywhere was. But that didn't happen.

Lifeboats or, even more madly, MCA helicopters are often tasked for carriers.

 

[Mark-1]

The last DF capability went in around 2010. In the upside down world of MCA management, the logic was that it wasn't used in many SAR incidents where an asset was launched, so it wasn't worth having. The fact that they were given documented evidence of hundreds of occasions when it's use early on prevented a SAR asset having to be launched, of course, didn't count.

Much of the aerial infrastructure is still there, but the backend capability in ICCS has gone. It wouldn't be that difficult to reinstall, as it is a software function, and there was talk of reinstalling it following the demise of Brixham / Portland / Solent, mainly to hide the fact that none of the new people knew where anywhere was. But that didn't happen.

Lifeboats or, even more madly, MCA helicopters are often tasked for carriers.

Thanks, interesting.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I've noticed that some of these open mike incidents seem to be caused by handhelds stuffed int pockets.

Or not, as the case may be! ISTR an interesting and long-drawn-out saga some years ago when a little boy got hold of his father’s hand-held VHF (at home - his father being off at sea?) and had a whale of a time on Ch16 – including a strategic retreat to the lavatory, the door to which he locked.

If I am not dreaming it, and said father is reading this, my apologies for raising the matter. But serious though it was, it did have its amusing moments too.