radio checks

steve28

steve28

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2003
Messages
1,480
Location
Cornwall
www.falmouthgypsy.com
This isnt really a question just an observation,

I noticed in the first few weeks of being afloat and monitoring ch16 that Falmouth Coast guard are gently reminding boaters to contact them for radio checks using ch67 in future and not to call on ch16

it seems a standard reply after giving the result of the check and i wondered if this is being used elsewhere.

i will add that in june, july and august they were doing checks all day and even when they were working situations.

Dont bite my head off, i know what you lot are like when vhf is the subject.

steve
 
I seem to remember hearing this at the start of last season from Solent CG, but it didn't last. If they do it often enough the message will get through eventually. Maybe when they get really busy, later in the summer, its just quicker to answer the check and get rid of the caller.
 
Yes Solent CG are doing the same again this year, they started doing it last year but it didn't last. Portland CG have been answering them on 16 with no additional comments, but their working channel is 73 these days. It seems as bad as always, our set usually gets switched off PDQ opnce they start (it seems like it is catching!) but I've been trying to get it to listen to the new GPS for it's DSC Lat/Long and have had it on for long periods and multiple radio checks.

It always amazes me how much more reliable French VHF sets must be since you rarely hear radio checks over there, at least not on Ch16!
 
Solent CG have been asking yotties to contact them direct on 67 for years. I didn't know it had spread further.

Can someone who's done the course recently remind me of the rules about radio checks on DSC pls?
 
For any one further north wondering about this, Clyde Coastguard appear happy to respond to requests for radio checks on Ch 16. But then everything, including the airwaves, is less congested up here!
 
Is it necessary to trouble the CG for a radio check when perhaps a check with a friend's boat, a marina radio or a club radio would do as well? The CG are always polite but they must curse us yachties at times.

I would suggest that if you know anyone going out at the same time as you, arrange a time with them before troubling the CG.:)

Perhaps try it on Low Power as if it works then it should on High power.
 
Last Summer Solent coastguard were refusing to give Radio Checks, at all, no matter which channels you called upon, at busy periods. Telling callers to use their Club or Marina instead.

Common sense realy but you can't Educate Pork as they say.

Martin /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I was told recently (by a coastguard I think) that there are no rules, other than standard Ch16 rules about max transmission and repeat times, and that theoretically a radio check is a legitimate use of the channel, but in reality once a season is deemed sufficient, and even then the best radio check is to call your marina or a friend on the relevant working channel....... Meanwhile... back in the real world....
 
Indeed, a check to a Marina is probably better ..... The CG antenna/equipment is so good they will pick up almost anything. If you can't raise a marina five miles away (assuming they're listening...try when someone else has just finished) you may well have a problem. Slight problem on Ch80, being duplex, is that you can't hear if the channel is free before transmitting, but this applies generally on duplex channels. (well, you can, if you can switch your set to 'US' rather than 'International'....but only do it to check someone else is not using the channel; switch back to international, or you will never hear the marina!

Vic
 
I did my short range certificate (incl. DSC) last November. Nothing special about radio checks. The advice was call the marina or another boat and don't bother the coastguard.
I suppose if you know the MMSI of another boat or shore station you can do a radio check without anyone else hearing you. But that would really wind people up; having their incoming call alarm go off just for a radio check.
I think the DSC specifiers missed a great opportunity for a fully automated digital radio check which the set could send whenever you switched it on. This could be confirmed by an automated receiver at a shore station without bothering any human operators. Still there are lots of other things wrong with the DSC specs as discussed at length on this forum.
 
in feb/march solent cg were not answering some radio check requests on ch16 ... each weather forecast from them is prefaced by request to use ch67 for routine traffic
 
With marine technology there is a need to define a standard that works using the technology available at the time. There is then a period for consultation, then the standard has to be published, then the manufacturers produce the kit, then the shipowners have to be given a period of grace to fit it. By the time it's ready to be implemented it's way out of date. By the time the kit becomes available at a reasonable price to yotties it's positively prehistoric.

DSC is bad, but look at Inmarsat - Sat C is not much faster than semaphore but it'll be years before a replacement comes along.
 
[ QUOTE ]
It always amazes me how much more reliable French VHF sets must be since you rarely hear radio checks over there, at least not on Ch16!

[/ QUOTE ]
They check them low power with a marina on the marina's channel. I've never understood why people don't do that here... harbourmaster, marina. If it works low power on 68, 37 or 80 it's likely to be working full power on 16!
 
I must say we did all chuckle at the Sat C "system terminal" on the Long Range Course:- written in DOS, all roundabout drop down DOS "Windows" 'orrible and it's out there being used!!!

Bit of a worry really..

Ian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top