Radio check over

[Dockhead]

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.

If you're one of the guys at the Coast Guard who answer our sometimes stupid radio calls, I'd like to take this opportunity to tip my virtual hat to you.

I'm a transplanted Yank sailing in your waters for these last five years. Your unfailing helpfulness and courtesy, and your aplomb in the face of foolishness has often amazed me. A real class act. I sometimes leave my radio on even when I don't need it because it is such a pleasure to listen to your conversations. Makes a very sad contrast to the radio personality of the Coast Guard of certain other countries, who will go nameless here

In general, the extremely high quality of the Coast Guard and rescue services in this country is one of the many, many attractions of sailing in your waters, and not the least of them.

 

[Cantata]

What a very nice man. Thank you, you can come again!

 

[chanelyacht]

If you're one of the guys at the Coast Guard who answer our sometimes stupid radio calls, I'd like to take this opportunity to tip my virtual hat to you.

I'm a transplanted Yank sailing in your waters for these last five years. Your unfailing helpfulness and courtesy, and your aplomb in the face of foolishness has often amazed me. A real class act. I sometimes leave my radio on even when I don't need it because it is such a pleasure to listen to your conversations. Makes a very sad contrast to the radio personality of the Coast Guard of certain other countries, who will go nameless here

In general, the extremely high quality of the Coast Guard and rescue services in this country is one of the many, many attractions of sailing in your waters, and not the least of them.

I may print that out and take it into work! We're feeling a bit of an endangered species these days...

I'll return the compliment though - in general, the pleasure of talking to, and being able to assist, the vast majority of sea users who are appreciative and resourceful is one of the upsides of the job.

Next time you're back home, bring us back some of their kit though

 

[capnsensible]

Nicely said. I don't think boat users of the UK realise how lucky they are having a reliable and efficient Coastguard and RNLI.

Most of the rest of the world, yer on yer own, Jack.

Yet, as usual, you get the whingy whiners 'oh it soo irritates Me'.

Boogaloo.......

 

[Robin]

Nicely said. I don't think boat users of the UK realise how lucky they are having a reliable and efficient Coastguard and RNLI.

Most of the rest of the world, yer on yer own, Jack.

Yet, as usual, you get the whingy whiners 'oh it soo irritates Me'.

Boogaloo.......

Got that well right!!

 

[Jim@sea]

Bear with me. Around 1964 I had a 16ft Marina GT (Cabin Cruiser) and was intending to go from Holyhead to Ireland and came up with the idea of fitting an Ex-Military Radio for an emergency and fitted a WW2 Tank Radio called a 19 Set. After fitting a long aerial we took the boat to Holyhead and decided to do a radio check.
As we did not know if it would work I set the dial to a marine frequency and transmitted as follows. " This is radio Israel coming to you on 1500 meters, but to to you 1300 already"
An Irish voice replied "Who the bloody hell is that"

 

[savageseadog]

Bear with me. Around 1964 I had a 16ft Marina GT (Cabin Cruiser) and was intending to go from Holyhead to Ireland and came up with the idea of fitting an Ex-Military Radio for an emergency and fitted a WW2 Tank Radio called a 19 Set. After fitting a long aerial we took the boat to Holyhead and decided to do a radio check.
As we did not know if it would work I set the dial to a marine frequency and transmitted as follows. " This is radio Israel coming to you on 1500 meters, but to to you 1300 already"
An Irish voice replied "Who the bloody hell is that"

The 19 set was shortwave (I had one once) so could have gone a long way.

 

[maby]

The 19 set was shortwave (I had one once) so could have gone a long way.

I managed to convince my father to help me carry one home on the train from one of the surplace electronic shops in Tottenham Court Road when I was a young teenager. It had obviously seen service - it had a bullet hole in the case.

 

[nigelmercier]

From stinkie forum: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?400334-vhf

 

[fisherman]

The USS Stark came round Land's End one morning and called the CG with a medevac problem, within less than an hour the casualty was sitting up in bed in Truro, the stunned voice of the CO congratulating the CG was memorable, CG reply: "Think nothing of it sir, we do this all the time"

 

[TiggerToo]

I may print that out and take it into work! We're feeling a bit of an endangered species these days...

Hello CY: I am sure most of us would add a big, bold "+1" to that.... print it, laminate it, and have a look every time you are feeling blue... And keep up the good service.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Hello CY: I am sure most of us would add a big, bold "+1" to that.... print it, laminate it, and have a look every time you are feeling blue... And keep up the good service.

+100 on that!

 

[cliffdale]

It was bound to happen. Falmouth Coastguard announced on ch16, just before the navigation warning, that radio checks should not carried out on 16 but to use a marina channel or a working channel .

 

[TiggerToo]

.... or a working channel .

... like Ch 67?

 

[cliffdale]

... like Ch 67?

Not 67. The coastguard said to arrange with someone a ship to ship test on a working channel.

After Falmouth CG requested not to use 16 for radio checks, there must have been 5 or 6 radio checks to the CG with in the last 3 hours. CG happily obliged and confirmed the radios are still working.

 

[TiggerToo]

Not 67. The coastguard said to arrange with someone a ship to ship test on a working channel.

After Falmouth CG requested not to use 16 for radio checks, there must have been 5 or 6 radio checks to the CG with in the last 3 hours. CG happily obliged and confirmed the radios are still working.

Funny that: how do you "arrange" a check if you radio is not working? It does not make sense.

 

[freespiritdavid]

Buy a hand held and send the galley slave off in the dinghy to do the shopping. Whilst on her way do a radio check.
We knew the coast guard would be watered down ( not blaming them ) its the d*cks holding the purse strings............. government

 

[Mark-1]

We knew the coast guard would be watered down ( not blaming them ) its the d*cks holding the purse strings............. government

If cost is the issue just hand some or all of the Radio Check workload over to Coast Watch who are already in place over much of the UK and probably chomping at the bit to do it for free:

www.nci.org.uk

 

[DaveS]

If cost is the issue just hand some or all of the Radio Check workload over to Coast Watch who are already in place over much of the UK and probably chomping at the bit to do it for free:

www.nci.org.uk

Fine as far as it goes, but clicking on that part of the UK which has the majority of the coastline reveals the message:

Scotland - NCI does not currently operate any lookout stations in Scotland, and is not affiliated to any organisation with similar name or purpose in Scotland.

 

[Mark-1]

If cost is the issue just hand some or all of the Radio Check workload over to Coast Watch who are already in place over much of the UK and probably chomping at the bit to do it for free

NCI does not currently operate any lookout stations in Scotland, and is not affiliated to any organisation with similar name or purpose in Scotland.

Hence 'some'.