Radio Checks

[xstucker]

As someone who gained their Restricted Certificate of Competence in VHF a while ago (1993 to be precise), I have read with interest some of the posts about Radio Checks, and I completely agree that we should not be 'tying up' the Coastguard with Checks. However, the recommendation as far as I can see, is to check radio with other yachts or marinas. I can cretainly agree with calling the person monitoring my own marina radio as that could be expected as part of the service. However, I am not clear on how one should use other yachts. For example, I was out at the Nab at 11:00 on Saturday and called another yacht I was supposed to be RVing with. No reply after a number of attempts could mean that my equipment was faulty. Without using the Coastguard (who kindly accept Radio Checks on 67), how should I have Radio Checked with another yacht? An "All Stations" call would be wrong and also solicit potentially massive response. I have also never been taught the call of "Hey, you over there with the storm jib up, Radio Check please, over". Any thoughts?


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[duncan]

I call the last vessel I heard calling for a radio check - I know I can recieve him so he should be able to receive me and he's on teh same channel and near his radio!
Downside as has often been muted is that I am not really testing the efficiency of my equipement - he might be close and I am transmitting on 25w so am I getting the range I may need from my equipement? Other downside is you are useing 16 rather than maybe 80 but at least you aren't requiring use of a CG or causing them to transmit their response on 16 (which everyone hears 'cos of the power!)
Upside is he may well think "that's a good idea" and do his radio checks that way in the future. If one other boat hears and also does this ........

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[waterboy]

I don't do it often but I had the same problem, no one seemed to hear me - is someone telling me something?. I called my home marina on the mobile and then while the line was open, told them what I was doing and gave them a call on the VHF. I heard myself loud and clear.

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[Oldhand]

Sounds like this could produce a "pyramid" of radio checks (top to bottom) so eventually no one could actually use the VHF for their intended purpose as the airwaves would be totally blocked by radio checks...

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[BrendanS]

Why?

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Lizzie_B]

sailing on the Great Lakes all august I noticed the way they do it there is that a boat gives it's name and transmits the words 'radio check.' usually one or two vessels respond by reporting the signal quality and their position so you know how far away they are, e.g. 'radio check loud and clear 2miles east of Milwaukee'. Whether this would work for a crowded area like the Solent on a summer saturday I don't know, but it did get very crowded there at weekends and still worked OK. I guess there actually aren't that many people near their radio and knowing their position at any given time and once two people have responded nobody else bothers, but how do you start a system like that?

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[BigLes]

I fitted a new VHF at the weekend. Firstly I did a radio check at low power with our local marina, which all worked OK. I then switched to high power and called the Coastguard on 16, who instructed me to go to channel 67 where I requested the radio check. He confirmed I was loud and clear and was very curteous.

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[duncan]

as Brendan says 'why?'

if we move them to baot to boat you will reduce the traffic for most listeners as they won't continually hear the one sided radio check responses from the CG transmitters.

I am certainly not advocating increased RCs and can only remember making 2 this season - once because I wasn't receiving anything when I thought I would have done (to CG) and another (as above) following some wiring changes.

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[squidge]

Y not radio check to a yacht club, marina or crew member in the tender with a handheld? If you HAVE to check that you radio is working Y bother the CG.

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[markdj]

What about using your own handheld, and check you are transmitting and receiving on both?




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[duncan]

firstly I am suggesting a method that avoids the CG in normal conditions
secondly the response was even more specifically in response to a post about marina's not responding ie not being a reliable check of whether you are transmitting or not and potentially leading you to question it to the extent of checking with the CG........
I have only made 2 radio checks to the CG in the last 6 years that I can recal - and both of these were in poor weather and mid winter. One (above) after a wireing change and the other on fitting a new radio Feb 2002.

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[Budgie]

From this summer's cruising:

You don't hear ch 16 radio checks in Scotland.
You don't hear ch 16 radio checks in Ireland.
You don't hear ch 16 radio checks in western England.
You don't hear ch 16 radio checks in Channel Islands.
You don't hear ch 16 radio checks in France.

Ch 16 radio checks seem to start around Falmouth and increase in intensity the closer one gets to the Solent.

It could just be considered a harmless but annoying fad EXCEPT that the continual chatter discourages one from keeping a listening watch on 16.

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[duncan]

wouldn't disagree with anything you say

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[ShipsWoofy]

You forgot the town in North Wales which seems annexed to the Solent.

It is pretty bad here. I acshully did a radio check a few weeks ago, hangs head, I had just fitted the new radio, I carried it out at around 2200 on low power when the radio was otherwise silent.

The last radio check I did prior to that was in 2002 when the mast was restepped after a few years. The next will be years off now.

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