Radio puzzle?

mikefleetwood

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Musketeer is fitted with a Standard Horizon GX1100E VHF. Mylor Harbour (where we currently are) and Helford Water taxi (where our long-term mooring is) both use channel 37 for calling - but my radio has no channels between 28 and 60. Am I misunderstanding something (very likely!)?
Thanks.
 
Musketeer is fitted with a Standard Horizon GX1100E VHF. Mylor Harbour (where we currently are) and Helford Water taxi (where our long-term mooring is) both use channel 37 for calling - but my radio has no channels between 28 and 60. Am I misunderstanding something (very likely!)?
Thanks.
On some VHFs channel 37 is shown as M1 or N1. However channel 37 (simplex channel) is unique to the UK so you may need to switch channel sets to UK or maybe EU (check the manual on what keys to press to do this). Also, if your vhf was imported into the UK after initial purchase it may never have been programmed with channel 37 and you will have to then get a dealer to reprogram it.
 
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On some VHFs channel 37 is shown as M1 or N1. However channel 37 (simplex channel) is unique to the UK so you may need to switch channel sets to UK or maybe EU (check the manual on what keys to press to do this). Also, if your vhf was imported into the UK after initial purchase it may never have been programmed with channel 37 and you will have to then get a dealer to reprogram it.
some SH sets also call it p1 - if it’s there is will be between 88 and 1 when scrolling through the channels.
 
From what I can see, reading the manual, the Standard Horizon GX1100E can be set for USA, Canada or International channel allocations. However, it doesn't list any of the channel options mentioned by posters above. With some variations between the regions it covers channels 1-28 and 60-88 with no mention of P1, M1 or N1.
It came with the boat and I have no information on where it was purchased.
I guess I might have to add a new radio to my shopping list.
 
Why not buy a handheld VHF? I never use the main VHF as it is down below, but a handheld can be used on deck to contact a harbour master or marina. It can even be taken ashore to call a water taxi, but should never be used ashore for anything else.
 
Why not buy a handheld VHF? I never use the main VHF as it is down below, but a handheld can be used on deck to contact a harbour master or marina. It can even be taken ashore to call a water taxi, but should never be used ashore for anything else.
Another option is a RAM in the cockpit. Makes life so much simpler especially if you are single handed.
 
Why not buy a handheld VHF? I never use the main VHF as it is down below, but a handheld can be used on deck to contact a harbour master or marina. It can even be taken ashore to call a water taxi, but should never be used ashore for anything else.
Yes, that makes sense.
Although - when we went out on Friday, my buddy ("Fisherman" of this forum) brought his handheld with him and that didn't have ch37 either!
 
I just looked at the cheapest handheld sold by Marine Superstore, the Cobra HH150 for £75.

Includes marina channels M1 and M2

M1 is CH37A (not 37).

Cobra HH150 Handheld VHF Floating

Icom also make a comment on their site :

On our more recent radios, channel 37a will display as channel 1037. This is due to the reallocation and expansion of some VHF simplex channels, don't worry it works in exactly the same way as before.

What are Marine Channels M, M1 & M2? - Marine Radio FAQ's
 
They shouldn't be using CH8.

Ch6, Ch8, Ch72 and Ch77 are designated intership channels. Once initial contact has been made all further transmissions should be made on one of these channels.

If the Water Taxi is a boat and the radio is installed on the boat and not as a shore station - then what is problem ? Any Intership Ch is allowed ...
 
Like the OP, we don't have ch 37 enabled. But unlike the OP I've never wanted to get the Icom programmed to receive it since I don't really approve of a channel which is only available to British boats.

In the Fal and the Helford we get a lot of French, Belgian, Dutch and German visitors, all very welcome and, besides, it's only fair as plenty of British boats go to France, Belgium or Holland. To render our visitors unable to call for local water taxis would be wrong. I wrote to the RCYC to that effect because their launch used to listen only on ch 37, and they amended it to also listen to Ch 80, which Mylor WT also used to use (and the marina still does). However I gather that ch 80 gets a lot of traffic and is not really ideal as it's both duplex and is used in France for some MRCC S&R traffic (and French CG stations are clearly audible in the Fal) so Mylor water taxi have sensibly chosen 8 in preference.

But have you tried calling the Helford water taxi on ch 80?
 
The EU is moving to VDES which increases the number of channels and creates some digital links for things like weather and chart updates. The UK is behind in implementing it.

Marinas in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany have moved to 31 and they use ATIS, both of which requires a Notice of Variation from Ofcom and can then be programmed.
 
Like the OP, we don't have ch 37 enabled. But unlike the OP I've never wanted to get the Icom programmed to receive it since I don't really approve of a channel which is only available to British boats.
That seems a wierd comment. Our club uses M1 & M2 for race control & safety RIB communications . It is shared with other clubs in the area. Why would visiting yachtsmen not involved in our dinghy race control need to use those channels? We certainly would not want some foreign interloper blathering over the start of a race or safety boat communication.
 
That seems a wierd comment. Our club uses M1 & M2 for race control & safety RIB communications . It is shared with other clubs in the area. Why would visiting yachtsmen not involved in our dinghy race control need to use those channels? We certainly would not want some foreign interloper blathering over the start of a race or safety boat communication.
But I as a non racing British yachtsman looking for a water taxi I could come and intrude in your discussion - it’s not clear to me this is more likely from a foreign boat! The point jdc made - which was something I had never considered before, was foreign visitors may be excluded from certain channels because their radios would never have had them - and thus unable to avail themselves of the services. I suspect in most areas where water taxis exist mobile phone coverage is now good enough to make Ch37a largely superfluous for marina/watertaxi use.
 
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