Radio Checks - at last!

[Stemar]

But how do you account for the disproportionately high number of radio checks requested by Solent boaters?

Do you think that people in other areas are unduly careless about safety?

Higher proportion of charter boats with a fresh skipper every few days?

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I recently posted on another thread that we don't seem to do radio checks in Ireland, certainly

Are you sure your radio is working correctly?

I recently posted on another thread that I had never heard a radio check request in 20-odd years of sailing in Irish waters. Imagine my surprise yesterday, while sailing off Malahide, that I heard on the VHF the words; "Dublin Coastguard (x2), radio check please". In mitigation of my certitude that such a thing was not done by Irish boaters I can report that the caller actually had a UK (Scottish) accent!

 

[rotrax]

Yesterday off Portavogie we heard what I imagine was a Radio Station - Mourne Radio - calling Belfast Coastguard for a radio check. I have just Googled it to find it is a part-time Scots-Ulster station.

Compared to the South Coast of England radio traffic at sea in Ireland is sparse.

 

[xyachtdave]

Just...

 

[xyachtdave]

...Checking...

 

[xyachtdave]

...My YBW account works.

 

[boomerangben]

What happens when one of these radio checkers find that their radio doesn’t work? Do they turn tail and go home or do they continue? If they do continue, they clearly don’t see the radio as a “must have” so is the radio check actually achieving anything? If you don’t need a radio to leave your berth (ie don’t have to speak to port control) what is the radio for? Ok call for assistance, but perhaps an Epirb or PLB would be better since VHF reception is notoriously fickle around the coast. If you want to chat to friends, then use them for the radio check.

 

[savageseadog]

I heard a Radio check from a boat called "Sexy Sam" a few days ago in Liverpool Bay. I've been told that a certain sailing school on the Menai Strait teaches pupils that a Radio check should always be asked for. Radio checks used to be unknown up here but the practice now seems to be becoming more common.

 

[creeks]

I heard a Radio check from a boat called "Sexy Sam" a few days ago in Liverpool Bay. I've been told that a certain sailing school on the Menai Strait teaches pupils that a Radio check should always be asked for. Radio checks used to be unknown up here but the practice now seems to be becoming more common.

Unless my memory is failing me which is quite possibIe I'm sure I remember in the mid 1960's my then girlfriend's father calling up Valley Radio for a weather report/radio check from his motor cruiser moored in Conwy harbour every time he went aboard. In the two years or so I knew them I think he left the mooring once, and then only went as far as the Perch, for those that know Conwy.
So the phenomenon of unnecessary radio checks isn't altogether new up there, just that more people have radios probably!

 

[westhinder]

You could hear Solent CG from the Orwell?

We now regularly hear Solent Coastguard off the Belgian coast, which is new. I have been wondering whether they also transmit on the aerials of Dover Coastguard. Dover Coastguard and since the reorganisation Humber Coastguard have always been loud and clear in our waters

 

[john_morris_uk]

For perhaps the second time in forty plus years I asked for a radio check this afternoon. To be fair, we’ve got a new radio and I was up the mast replacing the aerial this morning before resoldering the PL259 plug on the end that goes to the splitter and AIS. (The old V-tronix I fitted 18 years ago was a victim of last winter’s storms.) The radio check was on low power but as we’re in Haslar Marina atm I admitted to the man at Coast Watch that it wasn’t much of a test even on low power. I can probably see their antenna from the boat.

 

[Stemar]

For perhaps the second time in forty plus years I asked for a radio check this afternoon. To be fair, we’ve got a new radio and I was up the mast replacing the aerial this morning before resoldering the PL259 plug on the end that goes to the splitter and AIS. (The old V-tronix I fitted 18 years ago was a victim of last winter’s storms.) The radio check was on low power but as we’re in Haslar Marina atm I admitted to the man at Coast Watch that it wasn’t much of a test even on low power. I can probably see their antenna from the boat.

But at least you know it transmits.

 

[graham]

The radio behaviour that annoys me is when two boats cruising in company call each other 20 times a day making initial contact on 16 every time.

 

[john_morris_uk]

But at least you know it transmits.

Indeed. (Although I’d checked power was coming out using a VSWR meter. I now also know there’s modulation on the signal.

The radio behaviour that annoys me is when two boats cruising in company call each other 20 times a day making initial contact on 16 every time.

Indeed. They need to be introduced to DSC…. It’s brilliant for calling friends/known vessels.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Yesterday off Portavogie we heard what I imagine was a Radio Station - Mourne Radio - calling Belfast Coastguard for a radio check. I have just Googled it to find it is a part-time Scots-Ulster station.

Compared to the South Coast of England radio traffic at sea in Ireland is sparse.

"Ulster Scots". It's very similar to Scots, which is the dialect used in the "Thae Broons" and "Oor Wullie" comic strips in the Sunday Post, back umbers of which used to be given to me by the old Scottish lady who lived next door when I was child.
I've never been able to take Ulster Scots seriously as a second official language in Northern Ireland

 

[laika]

For perhaps the second time in forty plus years I asked for a radio check this afternoon.

A couple of months back I called gosport NCI from premier for a radio check to check the new antenna and newly soldered plug. I was just despairing that I’d made another mistake or maybe the radio had an issue when I got a response from calshot.

 

[SaltIre]

Just...

...Checking...

...My YBW account works.

Your message was breaking up but received.

 

[Mark-1]

There's no need for human involvement, needs to be automated on a dedicated channel. Record the received transmission and play it back on the same channel for the sender to hear. If zoom can do it the CG can.

 

[capnsensible]

Your message was breaking up but received.

You are weak and distorted........but your radio signal is loud and clear.

 

[savageseadog]

It's perfectly possible to do a basic Radio check after carrying out work by using a handheld. I favours setting up a test with the help of a friendly Yacht or Marina.

In any case, what do you do if you get no response?