Radio Checks

Tidnock

Tidnock

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338
Location
Me Cheshire, Boat North Wales
www.howardplant.co.uk
I am just in the process of turning my new (to me) boat from a lakes boat to sea. Inbetween this evenings showers I have fitted the antenna for the VHF, this reminded me of something. Last time I had a boat (2004) there where very regular calls from various boats to the coast guard for "radio checks" do you think the Coast Guard welcome them or should you find another manner to test your radio
 
I am just in the process of turning my new (to me) boat from a lakes boat to sea. Inbetween this evenings showers I have fitted the antenna for the VHF, this reminded me of something. Last time I had a boat (2004) there where very regular calls from various boats to the coast guard for "radio checks" do you think the Coast Guard welcome them or should you find another manner to test your radio
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IMHO the CG find them an irritation, as I think does everyone else. But you obviously need to know if your equipment is working, so when I want to do a radio check I call some friends, they reply, so VHF working!!

OK, just reading this reply again... I suppose I would put a proviso, if you don't know anyone you call the CG for a radio check!! But just do it once a season, not every time you use your boat. If you keep your equipment in good order VHF's don't suddenly stop transmitting....
 
I m never clear why so many people think, it was working last time I switched it on, but might not be now..
Do they test their tv every time they walk past it?
 
If I call the CG I usually try and think of something interesting to say.

I once said the dog had wrecked the radio snd did it work now that I'd stuck it back together. They seemed to find that quite amusing. :grin:
 
If you are going somewhere, simply give them your passage plan, numbers on board, ETA etc.

I tend to be happy if I hear I/C transmissions, & assume transmit will work if I happen to want it. But then I haven't needed to call for help in 35 years despite a range of problems, none has felt fatal, tho' many have been worrying! Perhaps I am just lucky.
 
Hello Tidnock - welcome to the YBW forum.

Calling the CG just for a radio check is irritating in the extreme for the CG and others maintaining a "listening watch". Why it is done is beyond me. I thing it arrived with CB radio in the late 70's and should be outlawed as such. I can see a time in the future when they dedicate a special marine channel solely to this practice on the Solent, it is getting that bad!

Getting back to the question, you don't need to 'use' your radio until you put to sea and it would be far better to call the CG on 16 and say some along the lines of the following:

"Liverpool CG, Good Morning, this is 'Raider III' 2 miles out of Liverpool, on passage Belfast, over".

In this way, you are passing useful information, the CG know who you are and where you are heading and you get a radio check all at the same time. [grin]

I am sure you can tailor your "message" to suit? [wink]
 
Do they test their tv every time they walk past it?
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Absolutely!! never know why soooo many people ask for a radio check, it drives me bonkers!

...the Sunday before last there was a Mayday on 16 in the Solent area, Seelonce Mayday was called by Solent CG, but would it stop people calling up each other..??. NO it wouldn't!! CG called Seelonce Mayday probably 10 times in the space of 30 minutes, about 2 minutes after each announcement some berk would come on and either ask for a radio check or some other nonsense, Solent CG got rather upset in the end... I must say , apart from the fact there was a Mayday going on, the VHF kept me amused for sometime that day!
 
As a matter of interest what interest do the CG have in our movements (e-borders aside) ?

My reading of the CG66 scheme is that they only want to know if your designated contact tells them you are overdue. I assume from this they are not interested in being proactive in noting passage movements. This is not a criticism just an observation regarding my interpretation of their operating procedures.

I would be delighted to be able to have them 'looking over my shoulder' on long passages but have never thought that they are particularly interested (a la CG66).

Am I wrong ?

Tom
 
Absolutely none !, all this radioing a passage plan etc is a waste of time because unless someone reports you overdue they won't bother looking for you. I discovered this a few years ago when sailing from Liverpool to Dublin , radioed Liverpool CG with usual guff, arrived six hours later in Dublin and forgot to call up Dublin , so hastely phoned them thinking at least there would be some concern being as it was now hours later only to be told , oh er, right o, didn't know you were due / over due !

best plan is call someone reliable when you leave give them the details of your passage and then give them a call when you have arrived, They are the only ones looking out for you, as far as I am aware the GC66 thing is just to identify your vessel and its type, equipment on board etc etc, nothing to do with assisting then tracking you down or noting your departure or arrival.
 
Thanks Nautical,

That's what I thought. The CG66 does include contact details for a third party, and as you say, they are the ones who should raise the alarm with the CG if you don't confirm arrival.

I suppose the system works, after a fashion, as long as I remember to tell my contact that I am going out in the first place !!!

I doubt if the CG have the resources to track and check every small craft passage anyway.

Tom
 
Calling the CG just for a radio check is irritating in the extreme for the CG and others maintaining a "listening watch". Why it is done is beyond me.
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I assume you've never had a duff set/installation then ...
Believe me it is pretty vital to know it works when you need it.

We had an issue with our Rib VHF (used as a patrol boat) and when I couldn't raise the club on M (probably weren't listening) I did a check with CG - the first check they received but we didn't get their reply. As it was a patrol boat which is there for emergencies I had a fiddle then repeated the check - yes they sounded annoyed, but the radio is FA good if I can't hear their instructions - after all, if I had an injured sailor in the boat how would I know what CG wanted me to do with them?

The patrol boat does have a check every time it goes afloat - with the club base station ...
Our own boat will have a check once a season or significant change - we try to check with a friend, but not always possible ...
 
I thought radio checks should be done on Ch 67
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Radio checks with Solent can be done on 67, but other CGs it is generally 16. If you're checking with a marina or other party then use a working channel.
 
what puzzles me is that a large percentage of replies from CG are to the effect of, No, cant hear you properly.
So what does that boater then do.. head back to his mooring?
Hmm, doubt it. So why bother asking in the first place :p
 
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