Radio

[The Q]

I live within sight of the sand dunes on the coast of Norfolk.. don't expect your mobile phones to work round here. Same will apply to many places round the UK, once you get away from the populated south coast.

 

[samfieldhouse]

Always monitor the VTS channels in our area, Ramsgate/Dover or Medway / London VTS.
Make a point of finding out which channels are likely to be worth monitoring when away from home including CH16 and CH 67.

This. Sailing out of Southampton, monitoring Ch12 means I have a more relaxing trip because I know exactly what all the traffic is doing and where it is.

 

[capnsensible]

seems unlikely, cap'n... loads of people do fine without (in parts of the country where not having some basic ability to pick up VTS isn't a problem)... and so few people die boating that you're statistically unlikely to notice.

I noticed when a friend of mine did.

I wonder how many people have been saved by making a Mayday call who might otherwise become a statistic?

 

[wonkywinch]

This. Sailing out of Southampton, monitoring Ch12 means I have a more relaxing trip because I know exactly what all the traffic is doing and where it is.

I also sail around the Solent and monitor CH12 but it doesn't give me the same level of situational awareness as you. I reckon less than 5% of vessels in the Solent need to speak to Southampton VTS. Then there is KHM on CH11.

As for radio vs mobile, if you've got a masthead antenna then range is a lot further than a handheld mobile/VHF due to the 1.23x sq rt of the height.

 

[Refueler]

I also sail around the Solent and monitor CH12 but it doesn't give me the same level of situational awareness as you. I reckon less than 5% of vessels in the Solent need to speak to Southampton VTS. Then there is KHM on CH11.

As for radio vs mobile, if you've got a masthead antenna then range is a lot further than a handheld mobile/VHF due to the 1.23x sq rt of the height.

Had to stop and think then ... KHM ???

Then realised QHM is now KHM !!

 

[capnsensible]

I also sail around the Solent and monitor CH12 but it doesn't give me the same level of situational awareness as you. I reckon less than 5% of vessels in the Solent need to speak to Southampton VTS. Then there is KHM on CH11.

As for radio vs mobile, if you've got a masthead antenna then range is a lot further than a handheld mobile/VHF due to the 1.23x sq rt of the height.

I heard a vessel report on Soto VTS once. Absolutely true.

'Southampton VTS ,etc, this is the Matthew departing Southampton for the Solent, over'.

'Roger Matthew, what type of vessel are you, over'.

'We are a 16th century replica carvel, over'.

'.............. ah. Roger......Matthew.......out'.

 

[boomerangben]

VHF is another part of the tool box. I carry a hand held in a 20’ boat. Have to be a bit careful on conserving batteries if away for a few days but needed for talking to the port authority

 

[Refueler]

VHF is another part of the tool box. I carry a hand held in a 20’ boat. Have to be a bit careful on conserving batteries if away for a few days but needed for talking to the port authority

The easiest way to sort a HH is to get a DC to DC adaptor so its plugged in while not in use ...

I use old LiPo's that are OK for light duty - but no longer good for high amp demand in models. When they can no longer do this - time for the bin !!

 

[diverd]

I really cannot understand why someone would not have a working VHF radio of some form on their boat. I always thought it was standard kit that everyone has and everyone uses. Both my boats have a fixed and handheld VHF and if for some reason i did not have one working on board i would not be leaving the marina. A mobile is useful but its totally unsuitable for all situations at sea. I would very much doubt if any of the services used in emergencise have my mobile number, probably less than 5% of folks in my marina have it, none of the local commercial traffic, all of them have spoken to me on VHF in the last year. I guess if you are in a river or loch then it may not be used much, but in the sea, i just dont understand why you would not have one. I was equally shocked how few folks have a VHF license. Folks talk about what great boat handlers / navigators and so on that they are, have boats worth tens of thousands of pounds and more, yet dont have what should really be the basics in hand.

 

[johnalison]

I really cannot understand why someone would not have a working VHF radio of some form on their boat. I always thought it was standard kit that everyone has and everyone uses. Both my boats have a fixed and handheld VHF and if for some reason i did not have one working on board i would not be leaving the marina. A mobile is useful but its totally unsuitable for all situations at sea. I would very much doubt if any of the services used in emergencise have my mobile number, probably less than 5% of folks in my marina have it, none of the local commercial traffic, all of them have spoken to me on VHF in the last year. I guess if you are in a river or loch then it may not be used much, but in the sea, i just dont understand why you would not have one. I was equally shocked how few folks have a VHF license. Folks talk about what great boat handlers / navigators and so on that they are, have boats worth tens of thousands of pounds and more, yet dont have what should really be the basics in hand.

I have never encountered anyone that I was aware didn't have a licence but I imagine there are some, though whether they amount to a significant problem would for me depend on whatever the statistics say. Although virtually everyone these days does have a radio, this has really only been the case for about thirty years, and to be unable to understand the desire to go to sea with or without a licence is perhaps the privilege of youth.

I would not encourage anyone to go offshore without the usual equipment, but there might be no limit to what might be considered essential. There are some who think it irresponsible to sail without a liferaft, and one could make similar arguments for radar or AIS, but to me, although there are obvious risks I don't perceive the sea as uniquely hazardous and the fates out to get me. My own list of the equipment needed to avoid censure would be restricted to: a sound craft, lifejackets, means of navigation, and sufficient food/water/clothing for the proposed or likely passage.

 

[diverd]

My first boat, probably 40 years ago now would not have has a radio, and i dont remember now which was my first boat to have one, they would have been impossibly expensive for me back then. Of course this discussion would never have happened back then, as there were no mobile phones and safety kit was likely to be a couple of flares and a life jacket. Fast forward to today and a radio costs less than a fill of fuel and i would think nearly every open sea boat of say 25 foot plus would have some form of radio. A mobile phone is great, mine is probably rarely more than 4 meters from me, but in no way could it be a substute for a VHF radio.
There was a recent discussion on here, where i was really surprised how many folks justified not having a license for their radio. In summer at my marina there was a lot of discussion about VHF licences, as one chap had made a right mess of a message to the harbour control, he almost caused an accident and was had the marina manager waiting for him when he came in - for a bit of councelling. A course was advertised on the notice board and if i remember rightly only about 25% of us had a license when we asked about. The course did not go ahead in the end, due to lack of interest, as usual time and money were the barriers. So i expect its still the case that the majority of folks in our marina dont have a license. Interestingly most of us who did have the licence did it decades ago, and only half a dozen had done it in recent times, perhaps the last 5 years.

 

[Alicatt]

In 1972 many harbours had a system of cones, diamonds & balls on masts to confuse you. One set to tell you what the weather was not going to do & one set to tell you if it was unsafe to be anywhere near the entrance. But it did not matter because you could not see them beyond 75 yds anyway.

So you could get by without a VHF.

I recollect Ostend had one set at the end of the piers & one set inside the harbour. It seemed that the 2 operators often had different ideas as to when the entrance should/shouldnot be opened & it was not unusual for a small boat to be met with a ferry coming out at 8 kts as they were going in
Much hooter blowing would ensue

They had the cones and balls for the harbour hoisted on the tower at the end of my road in Wick at the entrance to the estuary of the Wick River back in the 1970s and 80s

 

[Alicatt]

Where I am any boat 7.5m or longer is required to carry VHF, if you are in coastal waters then you have to carry 2 VHF.
Some locks on the canals or entrances from the sea to the harbours/inland waterways require you to call by VHF to get the lock keeper to let you through, some, where manned locally, you can call by telephone and they will cycle the lock/bridge for you.

 

[Refueler]

I really cannot understand why someone would not have a working VHF radio of some form on their boat. I always thought it was standard kit that everyone has and everyone uses. Both my boats have a fixed and handheld VHF and if for some reason i did not have one working on board i would not be leaving the marina. A mobile is useful but its totally unsuitable for all situations at sea. I would very much doubt if any of the services used in emergencise have my mobile number, probably less than 5% of folks in my marina have it, none of the local commercial traffic, all of them have spoken to me on VHF in the last year. I guess if you are in a river or loch then it may not be used much, but in the sea, i just dont understand why you would not have one. I was equally shocked how few folks have a VHF license. Folks talk about what great boat handlers / navigators and so on that they are, have boats worth tens of thousands of pounds and more, yet dont have what should really be the basics in hand.

Welcome to todays society of "its not my problem" - you should be holding my hand.

 

[Refueler]

I have never encountered anyone that I was aware didn't have a licence but I imagine there are some, though whether they amount to a significant problem would for me depend on whatever the statistics say. Although virtually everyone these days does have a radio, this has really only been the case for about thirty years, and to be unable to understand the desire to go to sea with or without a licence is perhaps the privilege of youth.

I would not encourage anyone to go offshore without the usual equipment, but there might be no limit to what might be considered essential. There are some who think it irresponsible to sail without a liferaft, and one could make similar arguments for radar or AIS, but to me, although there are obvious risks I don't perceive the sea as uniquely hazardous and the fates out to get me. My own list of the equipment needed to avoid censure would be restricted to: a sound craft, lifejackets, means of navigation, and sufficient food/water/clothing for the proposed or likely passage.

So you are not of the 'nanny hand holding brigade' !! Expecting others to look after you.

Sadly - one of the reasons laws / rules / guidelines come about is because of the lesser beings in our midst .... Political Correctness prevents me from using usual terminology ...

 

[oldharry]

Its surprising how often CG incident reports comment that the casualties mobile phone batteries were failing thus complicating SAR operations. CG can also often pinpoint a casualty's location by VHF RDF.

 

[johnalison]

So you are not of the 'nanny hand holding brigade' !! Expecting others to look after you.

Sadly - one of the reasons laws / rules / guidelines come about is because of the lesser beings in our midst .... Political Correctness prevents me from using usual terminology ...

On the contrary, I am an utter wimp. However, I do feel that others should develop self-reliance and a positive attitude (while still taking what most of us would consider sensible precautions).

 

[Daydream believer]

My own list of the equipment needed to avoid censure would be restricted to: a sound craft, lifejackets, means of navigation, and sufficient food/water/clothing for the proposed or likely passage.

So in going to the Netherlands- which I believe that you have done, fairly recently- you would not consider a VHF an essential means of communication, with locks, bridges & ports of entry etc.?

 

[Refueler]

Its surprising how often CG incident reports comment that the casualties mobile phone batteries were failing thus complicating SAR operations. CG can also often pinpoint a casualty's location by VHF RDF.

Sorry but that doesn't make sense .... can you expand on that please.
(well actually it does - but it makes a mockery of the whole affair... IMHO)

 

[Alicatt]

So in going to the Netherlands- which I believe that you have done, fairly recently- you would not consider a VHF an essential means of communication, with locks, bridges & ports of entry etc.?

It is required if your boat is more than 7.5m and you want to use the locks, marinas etc.
It also has to comply with the VDES regulations coming into force next Monday, with ATIS enabled and GMDSS disabled once you are on the inland waterways.