Radio call signs

[Boo2]

I was idley browsing the web the other day and I came across the statment

To call another station it is not necessary to use call signs (WXN0123) anymore. You can call by boat name. Example “Dixie Dreamer…… Dixie Dreamer, this is Homeless”.

on this website : http://www.riverlakes.com/marine_radio_protocol.htm.

It's true we didn't use call signs on the RYA radio course and I just wondered what the reason was for their desuetude ?

Boo2

 

[Boo2]

While I'm here...

On the same site it says :

10. You may make telephone calls from your boat via your VHF radio. Switch to channel 26 and call for the “Marine Operator”. The charges can be billed to your home number, telephone credit card, or you may call “collect”. A nominal cost for this service in addition to the long-distance call from Window Rock, AZ will be reflected on your telephone bill.

11. “Homeless” may be reached by telephone from anywhere in the world. Your caller needs to dial an AT&T operator (102-880), ask for “Special Routes”, then ask for the “Window Rock, AZ Inward Operator: 520-058-121”. When connected, the caller must give the boat name “Homeless” to the operator to hail. The marine operator will then call “Homeless” on channel 16 and direct you to follow her to channel 26 for the incoming phone call.

Can anyone tell me whether similar facilities are available in the UK ?

Boo2

 

[sailorman]

available via Coastal Radio Stn
but then i didnt do the course

On the same site it says :


Can anyone tell me whether similar facilities are available in the UK ?

Boo2

 

[prv]

available via Coastal Radio Stn

Err, but we haven't had any of them for donkeys' years, have we?

Pete

 

[Lucky Duck]

The coast radio stations were discontinued by BT around 1998 IIRC, one of my pilot guides suggests that this facility still exists in the Channel Islands but I don't know if that is still the case.

 

[FishyInverness]

When I did the course, they did mentione the possibility of making telephone calls via VHF, my rusty brain has forgotten most of what was discussed, but as I remember the instructor talked it down and said that no-one really uses it anymore...

 

[prv]

The coast radio stations were discontinued by BT around 1998 IIRC

I'm surprised it was that late, to be honest

I read mentions of them in old sailing books etc and think of them as something from before my time, like Consol and RDF

Pete

 

[sailorman]

dunno
i remember GB14

the Belgians still use them ( i think)

Err, but we haven't had any of them for donkeys' years, have we?

Pete

 

[prv]

When I did the course, they did mentione the possibility of making telephone calls via VHF, my rusty brain has forgotten most of what was discussed, but as I remember the instructor talked it down and said that no-one really uses it anymore...

Well, they definitely don't if the stations have been discontinued

I too have read that Jersey still does it. I have a vague recollection that Jersey has a single station that serves as CRS, Coastguard, and met office - I guess it's easier to keep providing a service if it's just one of a list rather than a dedicated site you have to keep funding despite little use.

Pete

 

[thalassa]

the Belgians still use them ( i think)

Haven't heard it the last twenty years...

 

[Bilgediver]

I was idley browsing the web the other day and I came across the statement
on this website : http://www.riverlakes.com/marine_radio_protocol.htm.

It's true we didn't use call signs on the RYA radio course and I just wondered what the reason was for their desuetude ?

Boo2

You are reading a USA website rules and procedures so these are relating to practices and facilities in the USA . In
the UK you may use either ship call sign or the name when calling other vessels. Some commercial vessels
seem to respond more readily to a call using call signs than when hailed by a yacht using its name!

The radio link referred to here would appear to be a lake side facility at USA boat hire facility and is similar to
facilities that used to exist here in the UK when we had coast radio stations. You could call the coast
station and then using a duplex frequency usually in the 22/28 channel range be linked to the land line
phone system and your required number . In latter days you could make a YTD call which allowed for
the call to be charged to your home number. Before that you needed an accounting authority and calls
were charged in Gold Francs.... Showing my age .. You could call the coast stations using VHF or SSB
and the main station for ships using SSB was Portishead Radio in Somerset. There still seems to be an
antenna farm up in the hills but heaven knows who is using it????

These services declined when Sat comms took over for long distance and mobile phones for coastal
traffic. There are very few SSB coastal stations left in the world now hence the many debates regarding
the value of SSB for long distance sailing. Some private companies and Ham organisations now provide an SSB
service for e-mail such as Airmail,Seamail, Winlink etc etc but voice calls may now be difficicult to place
in many countries using a radio link to landline.

 

[sailorman]

What is your possissi

Haven't heard it the last twenty years...

 

[Stork_III]

What is your possissi

Is that Walloon?

 

[thalassa]

What is your 'positie'

Most of the time, I sail on the Westerschelde, the waterway that leads to Antwerp. The use of VHF is mandatory at all times (provided you have one..) and the transmission traffic is very busy. Often quite diifficult to find a slot inbetween calls. My actual position is in 'location', but I live in Antwerp.
[/troll on]P.S. not responsible for any r*d diesel rules...[/troll off]

 

[KellysEye]

I've never heard anyone using a call sign, only the owner knows what it is, we know other boats by their names. The only time I was asked for a call sign was when I asked for a SSB radio check from Thames coastguard.

 

[alan_d]

I've never heard anyone using a call sign, only the owner knows what it is, we know other boats by their names.

I have heard the Coastguard ask for a callsign; it is unique and is probably the quickest way for them to distinguish your boat from others with the same name.

 

[Ariadne]

I've used my call sign many times, but then I remember when the UK had coast stations and we could make link calls!

Many, many countries still have coast stations for this purpose and for safety at sea, but the UK decided we didn't need them any more. Although at the time Goonhilly Down had the best tracking station on world, but as in everything the UK Gov' do - we gave it up to anybody else who wanted it.

Try looking through the ALRS 281(1) & (2) lists of global Maritime Radio Stations to know what your government gave away and reneged on any responsibility!

Also look at the way they want to handle the Coast Guard and anything to do with maritime security - FFS the UK doesn't even have a Navy worth speaking about anymore...

 

[William_H]

In Oz the licensing authority went for what is called a class licence. So one licence fits all pleasure boats so no call sign or need to buy a licence. Hence the only call sign you have is your boat name. However the local Volunteer Sea Search and Rescue organisation do issue a call sign (number) to memebers which you can use to call them. This will immediately bring up all your details if calling for help or just a SAR watch.
No way of connecting to telephone via VHF however it may still be possible via HF SSB to the official coastal radio station using DSC. However now with only 2 stations for the entire continent (both at last 500 miles from closest sea) I wouldn't count on it.
good luck olewill

 

[Alpha22]

I remember someone doing it when I was a young Sea Scout back in the early 80's. VHF to telephone.

You would think with modern technology and DCS radios that it would be a simple exercise to 'link' the radio to a phone mast and then into the phone network. But I guess that would only offer limited range, probably not much more than you would get with a mobile when coastal..... I guess the other problem would be funding it...

 

[Retired in Crete]

The UK coastguard will make telephone calls on your behalf if it is in the interests of safety.

When I sailed S/Handed in the UK I always advised SWMBO that if I had not phoned her by 8 pm to alert the authorities. Once I ran aground and was waiting for the tide to refloat me. I called the Thames Coastguard as I knew that I would not be back by the deadline and did not want them to start a search. The nice man phoned my home and put SWMBO,s mind at rest and also saved a false alarm.

They did not charge me for the call they made and thanked me for asking them to do it.

John