Radio Checks

aluijten

aluijten

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 Oct 2004
Messages
1,158
Location
Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Visit site
I have been sailing the south coast of the UK for the past few weeks and there was one thing that puzzeled me a bit as a first timer. What is it with all those radio check's on the VHF. Is this required or is the quality of UK VHF installations very poor?

Please enlighten me a bit as I don't think we have this habit in Holland.

Arno
 
As the VHF is one of the few bits of Safety equipment that can be checked ppl seem to have got into the habit of "checking" them everytime they go out, even if nothing has changed in the installation since last weekend (the last time they went out!)
Then, once one has got away with a check everyone else thinks, wayhay - free VHF checks ... lets get one in now ... its been at least 30 minutes since our last - rather like beer/wine/spirit consumption really ....
 
I think it's a peculiarly UK habit - it seems that everyone expects their VHF to have died since last used. It really annoys the Coastguard when people call them on Ch16 and I suspect they are a bit fed up with those people who do it on Ch67 (for the South Coast).

Why people find it necessary so often is a mystery to me. I wonder whether they also inflate their life jackets every time they go out.

Jonathan
 
Solent and Portland coastguard usually advise anyone who calls for a RC on 16 to use 67 in future. Funnily enough, I was pleasantly surprised yesterday with how few there were.

I also heard Portland CG post a message on behalf of the MCA regarding the use of GDMSS as from next year.
 
Surely this is a Solent Area habit. It happens down here in the West only occasionally until the Solent gangs arrive in July and August when the airwaves are full of check requests. Thank goodness they will be going home again soon and we can have a bit of peace and quiet.
 
On my Flotilla training course many years ago we were actively encouraged by the ( fast-track ) Yachtmaster Instructor to perform a Radio Check before putting to sea. I wonder whether the UKSA is training its instructors this way ?

My Day Skipper instructor, an extremely professional and experienced chap, suggested that once per season was more than adequate and suggested checking with the marina office instead of CG.
 
existentialism at work

remember this one : je pense, donc je suis, I think, therefore I am
maybe the average Solentee does not have what it takes to think, so as an alternative they have to perform a radio check to convince themselves of their existence : somebody answers my radio check, therefore I am /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: existentialism at work

Ah - you BELIEVE someone answers your radio check ... but if it is just a figment of your deranged imagination then perhaps your are not? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
They are a pest. I`ve recently had 6 weeks cruising the Brittanny coast and never heard any one asking for a radio check. Bit worrying that - began to think my vhf was faulty, but no! Back in range of Solent coastguard and there there were again, one bloody request for "Radio Check Please" after another, all day long. I suspect that people don`t really need these radio checks, they just hope their friends will hear them on the air and call them up. Sad.
 
I'll own up ... I did a radio check on Saturday .... anyone listening in on Chl 72 mid afternoon would've heard me call up a mate who was in the marina we were heading towards .... called up on mobile first, checked the (new installed) vhf once ready ... worked fine - a better check for me as I know the distance between stations - confirmed his worked too ... that will do for me now - until we get hit by lightning again ... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Hi
I don't think it annoys the CG, I think they are more than happy touse it as an excuse expand their empire at our expense.
Please stop doing it everybody.
 
I was skipper on a Sunsail 37 company charter a while back and their instructions told you to a radio check with Solent Coastguard. I did not of course and I hope they have amended the instructions as they are a real nuisance. I do not hear them anywhere else except Solent. On my boat I have a Power/SWR meter and use it as a check on Tx, Rx is obvious from those I hear.
 
I'm sure it doesn't annoy the CG but forget any ideas about 'their empire spreading'! They don't get the dosh to do the job properly now. I am a CG on the coast (i.e. not full time) and I see the struggling that goes on to get funding.
 
If the Coastguard needs money why don`t they charge for radio checks? Every time anyone asks for a "Radio Check Please" they should be asked for their credit card number and debited £5. Anyone refusing should not be answered again and those daft enough to give card details over the air would provide extra wonga for the Coastguard service.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top