Radio check over

[Dockhead]

In my experience a radio check is vital; a radio is a piece of junk unless working. When you are faced with trying to keep somebody alive you need to to know it is working. I'd never want to stand up in front of a Corner and say "We did not check the radio and when we hit the PTT button it was dead"; in the past hearing the clipped tones of 22 Sqn RAF, knowing they were inbound and knew where we and the casualty were, was a wonderful feeling.

OK there may be better ways of doing it, but at least you know that the CG can/could hear you. Can you suggest a better way?

Absolutely right. Regular radio checks are vital. It is definitely not true that it "either works or it doesn't". One of the most common failures is a bad contact in an antenna connection where the radio apparently works, but your signal is gradually degraded. You won't know about it without checking with someone how you're heard. The Coast Guard are the best people to do it with because (a) that's who you will really be wanting to hear you if the fit hits the shan; and (b) they are professionals and will give you substantive feedback on your signal.

That being said, you should never do it on 16 when there's an alternate channel. If you call Solent Coast Guard, for example, on non-urgent matters, you are required to use 67, not 16. And still better -- call them using a routine DSC call. That's what I do. Their MMSI is 002320011 and I have it in my radio's memory. Much more efficient, and checks your DSC functions at the same time.

 

[capt_courageous]

This Wazzer. Mobile phone check please.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Absolutely right. Regular radio checks are vital.

How often - monthly? weekly? daily? hourly?

 

[Bru]

Heard on Sunday as we returned to Tollebury

"Thames Coastguard this is yacht Something radio check please"
"Yacht something this is Thames Coastguard you are loud and clear on our Bradwell aerial" (2 - 3 Miles away)

30 Seconds later

"Yacht someone else this is yacht Something are you receiving?"
"Yacht Something this is Someone Else go channel 08"

Makes my head ache.

Ian

That one made I shake my head too

Has to be said that it seems as if what I've decided to call Solent Disease has made it's way to the Thames Estuary. I've heard more radio check calls in one weekend than I heard all year last year

 

[Seashoreman]

I tried calling a couple of boats after leaving my mooring early Friday morning, nothing. So further down the river I requested 'anyone on the Ore give me a radio check'. got an immediate response from Thames CG telling me I was loud and clear for which I thanked him and quickly got off air. I must admit to surprise as this was on a HH 5W handheld and Thames are approx. 20 miles away at Walton. ( He seemed keen and willing to respond, perhaps they do tire of these checks but local Lifeboat crew have always advised to test once in a while).
I know this is not proper procedure but I felt I needed to know radio was functioning as I rarely transmit and had a 5 hour trip single-handed crossing a busy shipping lane and I can barely hear fixed set above engine and other noises.

 

[prv]

I must admit to surprise as this was on a HH 5W handheld and Thames are approx. 20 miles away at Walton.

They have multiple remote antenna sites as well as the one where the guys are actually sat.

Pete

 

[bedouin]

If you really must then Ch67 or try your own marina on Ch80 or a neighbour on their yacht

That is very bad advice. Checking with HH, a nearby boat or the local marina can't tell you if the VHF is working properly. If you want to test the VHF it has to be to make a call to a station 10+ miles away

 

[Dockhead]

How often - monthly? weekly? daily? hourly?

That's up to you to decide. How confident are you in your radio? Is it new? Old? Are you sailing somewhere where the radio is more crucially important, or are you just pottering around in the Solent?

For whatever little it's worth, I do a radio check whenever I feel like it -- usually every time I leave on a major trip, and if I haven't been out on a major trip in a month or so, then I do it anyway.

I also like to do radio checks from distance to see how far the coverage is. Since my new antenna/cable installation from last year, I get good reports from across the Channel. Last September got a "weak but readable" from Solent Coastguard from just outside Cherbourg -- using 1 watt transmit power.

But my practice may not be typical -- I like radios and like to play with them. I am a licensed amateur radio operator and play with HF radio as well. I have an ICom M801E on board which can be used on both marine SSB and amateur HF bands.

 

[Dockhead]

Marinas are limited to 1 watt by law, and usually have very poor installations, and keep very spotty radio watches. You cannot usually raise them from any distance.

The Coast Guard is the party of choice to call for a radio check. Just use their alternate, non-urgent channel -- they're very happy to help, especially if you are considerate enough not to clog up 16 with routine traffic.

Talking to other boats on the radio is a good way to keep in practice, however. Why not? If you use DSC to call them, then you won't burden 16 with your initial hail. There's amazingly little traffic on the working channels in UK waters.

 

[savageseadog]

Marinas are limited to 1 watt by law, and usually have very poor installations, and keep very spotty radio watches. You cannot usually raise them from any distance.

The Coast Guard is the party of choice to call for a radio check. Just use their alternate, non-urgent channel -- they're very happy to help, especially if you are considerate enough not to clog up 16 with routine traffic.

Talking to other boats on the radio is a good way to keep in practice, however. Why not? If you use DSC to call them, then you won't burden 16 with your initial hail. There's amazingly little traffic on the working channels in UK waters.

What makes you think you are entitled to waste the taxpayers money on these pointless calls? All they do is reinforce the idea that yachtsmen are idiots that should be subject to more regulation.

 

[maby]

If you're testing the vswr of the antenna, why would you have anything other than a very short flylead between the meter and the antenna?

Surely people don't attach it at the radio end of the coax? That wouldn't tell you anything useful and may give a false sense of security.

Of course it gives you useful information - more useful than putting the meter at the antenna end - a poor VSWR can be caused by a variety of problems between the plug that goes into the back of the radio and the tip of the antenna at the far end. You check at the radio end first - it the SWR is poor there, you then use a process of elimination to identify the cause.

 

[maby]

I always use the DSC test function - which, due to a firmware bug, has the additional benefit of putting me on channel zero able to listen in to lifeboat and SAR helicopter traffic. It appears to be fully functional and capable of transmitting but I have resisted the temptation to call up the lifeboat and have a chat!

 

[SimonFa]

Most calls to the CG for a radio check are pointless as the caller tends to be too close to the nearest aerial. If you are in the Solent or Weymouth Bay, for example then unless you have a dead short in your antenna system they'll pick you and you'll hear the response. As someone else said, you need to get 12 miles, or more, off shore.

Another way to test your antenna system if you don't want to buy or faff about with a VSWR meter is to tune to another aerial for the weather forecast. I sometimes tune to the Solent if I'm out towards St Aldans Head rather than Portland. I also make a note when I hear the next CG clearly eg if going to the Solent when do I clearly hear their traffic. It doesn't check my power output but gives a more confidence in the feeder and antenna system.

Another problem with all these radio checks on CH16 or the CG working channels is that you can easily be jamming someone else that you can't hear. If you must go straight to a working channel listen out for couple of minutes to ensure there isn't a conversation in place. That's the reason why they tell you to wait for their call when you ask or are told to go to a working channel.

 

[Hypocacculus]

I'd be privately agreeing with all those who say radio checks are unnecessary - right up until a couple of months ago when our very expensive and relatively new Icom radio failed. It all looked fine but we didn't notice how silent the world was being until we tried to hail another boat. It turned out to be an obscure fault with the electronics (repaired with grace and speed by Icom for free so they are still in my good books) that allowed us to transmit but not receive. Once bitten, twice shy. We now normally do a radiocheck with our marina on channel 80. It gives the bored guy in the office something to do.

I understand all the arguments that say just because our radio is working now, it might not in 5 seconds time, but what is more likely - that your radio gives up the ghost during that winter rotting on a damp mooring being cr*pped on by seagulls, or in the short time after you ascertained it was functional? I can just visualise the joy of the petrified family after the skipper (dad, forever after doomed to singlehanding) failed to ascertain whether the radio was functional before setting off for his first sail of the season which ends unfortunately after suffering prop wrap off Hurst Castle in a running tide and flat calm when he was unable to request a tow...

OK, so nothing is likely to happen but wow, all those haters out there need to drink less coffee.

 

[SimonFa]

Another thought, why do people make a radio check before they go out or as they are starting, will they cancel their trip if it fails. Best to do it when you get back from a previous trip so time to get any problems fixed before setting off again.

 

[pvb]

So the latest "advice" is that it's pointless doing a radio check unless you're 10-12 miles away from the receiving aerial. That means about 90% of leisure boaters will never be able to do a radio check.

Most of the people doing radio checks are wasting their time anyway, as they're probably unlikely to go anywhere out of mobile phone coverage.

 

[Hypocacculus]

So the latest "advice" is that it's pointless doing a radio check unless you're 10-12 miles away from the receiving aerial. That means about 90% of leisure boaters will never be able to do a radio check.

Most of the people doing radio checks are wasting their time anyway, as they're probably unlikely to go anywhere out of mobile phone coverage.

True. But the advice from on high is to use VHF and not to rely on phones, is it not? Arguably, being able to broadcast for help to anyone that can hear you, and more to the point is on hand to help could be considered an advantage? Not to mention a DSC squirt if things are really going down. I don't own a smart phone but does a touch screen work if you are wet? Just things to think about - and stuff I didn't really take seriously until we got our own boat and realised the buck might stop with me.

 

[chanelyacht]

If the Coastguard had an issue with radio checks we'd surely have heard about it by now

Well, it isn't an issue for me providing it doesn't interrupt any priority traffic we're working.

The only debate IMO is whether the conversation should be on Ch.16 or a working channel and my impression is that if the CG wanted radio checks to be on 67 they'd surely say so

Only Solent CG maintain a listening watch (currently) on Ch67, so calling an other MRCC on it wouldn't work.

Ch16 is the distress, safety and calling channel. If someone considers a radio check to be a safety check, then Ch16 is the place for it.

I never understand why the people who find it so annoying are never the ones having to answer them!

 

[chanelyacht]

Another problem with all these radio checks on CH16 or the CG working channels is that you can easily be jamming someone else that you can't hear. If you must go straight to a working channel listen out for couple of minutes to ensure there isn't a conversation in place. That's the reason why they tell you to wait for their call when you ask or are told to go to a working channel.

No it's not, it's because the working channels aren't selected and open on the aerials until we do so. Only Ch16 is open constantly.

 

[prv]

I never understand why the people who find it so annoying are never the ones having to answer them!

I guess if it's your job to answer them, they're just a normal part of your day. Whereas if they're nothing to do with you, but you have to listen to them anyway, they're an annoying interruption.

Pete