Stop Radio Checks

[dunedin]

I usually single hand. Having a RAM by the wheel takes all the pressure of when taking to VTS or a lock.

When single handing I prefer a handheld VHF clipped to the Lifejacket. If I fall in tying on the fenders outside the harbour (when caught by an unexpected wash from the pilot boat?) I might be able to radio for assistance. Or if further away make funeral arrangements.

 

[Sandy]

When single handing I prefer a handheld VHF clipped to the Lifejacket. If I fall in tying on the fenders outside the harbour (when caught by an unexpected wash from the pilot boat?) I might be able to radio for assistance. Or if further away make funeral arrangements.

Rather than a hand held I use a PLB3, as it copes with a low Glasgow Coma Score, shouts on AIS to the local boats and advised the CG that I might need a hospital bed should I go for an unplanned swim.

 

[Bristolfashion]

Rather than a hand held I use a PLB3, as it copes with a low Glasgow Coma Score, shouts on AIS to the local boats and advised the CG that I might need a hospital bed should I go for an unplanned swim.

I have a plb AND DSC capable handheld - I don't mind the thought of drowning, but the futile bobbing around, helpless, before succumbing scares me!

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Handhelds are great, and we always carry one on long journeys to shore, and like others i tuck it into my sailing jacket.

Best use ever was approaching a lock when main electrics failed. Engine diesel kept going, but no main vhf. Happily had handheld to talk to lockkeep, then set off down the avon in falling light keeping in contact via handheld with other vessels behind me in falling dusk till we sort of rammed our mooring buoy and turned off engine. It would have been a nightmare and dangerous without backup

 

[dunedin]

Rather than a hand held I use a PLB3, as it copes with a low Glasgow Coma Score, shouts on AIS to the local boats and advised the CG that I might need a hospital bed should I go for an unplanned swim.

I also have an AIS device in the liferaft, and carry a PLB if further away.
But if other boats around a portable VHF is much more likely to get assistance quickly. Even the chandler who sold me the PLB happily said that in a MOB situation it “helps find the body”!
Also not sure how effective the AIS device is other than to any crew left on the mothership (its prime intention). It should call the mothership via DSC. Whether other boats have devices capable or seeing an AIS MOB alert, and whether they respond without a Mayday alert, remains to be seen.

 

[Boathook]

Would not have a tent if you paid me. Silly things. .
My friends have one on their 40 ft Jeneau & I struggle to get below.
Cannot use the winches on the cabin top either.
I was on an identical boat to mine ( new to a friend) when they tried to winch the jib up they had to fold the tent down.
As for VHF on a backet. I certainly do not want things swinging in the hatchway where I still could not see or reach from the helm. I do not want wires hanging in front of the doors & a bracket is not practical anyway.
Hatch garage is full & a bracket would be in the way
An extension handset is not an option as there is no safe place to fit it.

There is always space for a command mic imho. You just need to get someone else on board (who goes sailing) and listen to their views on locations, etc. Gives a totally different perspective on things.

 

[Daydream believer]

There is always space for a command mic imho. You just need to get someone else on board (who goes sailing) and listen to their views on locations, etc. Gives a totally different perspective on things.

Actually I have already done that with a couple of people. They agree that a mike floating about on a wire would be a nuisance & I should stick with the handheld on deck, only going below for emergencies.

 

[fisherman]

For radio checks I used to click on the local radio station, Lands end, I think it was ch 84, to see if the carrier wave would come back. Now, how about the CG or someone enterprising or the local sailing clubs install a similar system just for checks.

 

[mm42]

Sandy - they saw you coming?

I think my radio ideal might be the set inside, just a command mike in the cockpit. Unfortunately those sets tend to be the fancy ones with ghastly alarms and fiddly interfaces. My compromise is to leave the main set below turned off and just use a handheld in the cockpit. The coastguard stations are so high-up and powerful that handheld is good for them a long way off, but it doesn't receive traffic from far away that I don't need to think about. I am considering dumping the fixed VHF completely.usual,

Just for interest, CG station aerials are indeed usually very high up, but they still only transmit on 25W, just like the majority of fixed sets. I did some work inside an ops centre and asked them, assuming they were blasting out loads of watts but no, just very good aerials well sited.

 

[justanothersailboat]

Just for interest, CG station aerials are indeed usually very high up, but they still only transmit on 25W, just like the majority of fixed sets.

That is interesting, thanks. They can reach, and hear, a long way though. Excellent antennas must count for a lot.

 

[fisherman]

I often hear Ushant here on the Lizard, on my Slimjim, and once heard Dover CG on my boat in Helford. High pressure conditions in both cases.

 

[justanothersailboat]

Atmospheric ducting. It's pretty weird. Heard boats in the Solent while on the Medway occasionally but your experience of Dover to Helford is more impressive.

Some people who teach radio classes deny that ducting exists...

 

[Daydream believer]

I was taken ill late one night in heavy weather. At least 20 miles from Aberdeen. I tried my hand held, as I was too ill to get below to the main set. The CG got me loud & clear. The life boat had to channel my signal via the CG though, even when only about 3-4 miles away.
I have contacted Dover CG a couple of times, (fog updates) when just off Cap Griz Nez, with my hand held & had no problem whatsoever.
Another time, when 2-3 miles off N foreland (where one assumes that they have an arial high up) I had to resort to the main VHF.
In the Blackwater, I regularly pick up Humber VTS & Ostend Radio at certain times of the day

 

[ears media]

The thing with radio checks is that the responses are rarely honest. The request for a radio check, could generate a response that says signal strength noisy, but fully readable - that's useful. Loud and clear isn't that helpful, especially when all you can hear is wind noise, or somebody holding the mic way too far away, but the worst reports make no mention of terrible alternator whine, or strange distortion, or warbling sounds - or simply such low volume that any small amount of noise on the signal would mean it couldn't be heard? Very often the responses are simply wrong - and as such, very unhelpful. When you tell somebody there is a terrible hum, they often say "Nobody has mentioned it before".

To be honest, asking a question you actually don't need an answer to may be less annoying. Call up a port control and ask them for an air gap under their bridge, or ask them what time the next XYZ is - brings back a quick and simple answer, you say thank you - out. Radio checked!

 

[capnsensible]

'You are weak and distorted. Radio is OK though......'

 

[ylop]

The thing with radio checks is that the responses are rarely honest. The request for a radio check, could generate a response that says signal strength noisy, but fully readable - that's useful. Loud and clear isn't that helpful, especially when all you can hear is wind noise, or somebody holding the mic way too far away, but the worst reports make no mention of terrible alternator whine, or strange distortion, or warbling sounds - or simply such low volume that any small amount of noise on the signal would mean it couldn't be heard? Very often the responses are simply wrong - and as such, very unhelpful. When you tell somebody there is a terrible hum, they often say "Nobody has mentioned it before".

To be honest, asking a question you actually don't need an answer to may be less annoying. Call up a port control and ask them for an air gap under their bridge, or ask them what time the next XYZ is - brings back a quick and simple answer, you say thank you - out. Radio checked!

I've never noticed CG giving poor responses - i've heard people clearly then CG have responded Loud and Clear, but I've also heard them say weak but clear or weak and broken, barely inaudible and something to the effect of strong signal but a lot of wind noise etc. Perhaps that's why people are using the CG - if the alternatives don't give meaningful responses?

 

[ears media]

Coastguard tend to be a bit variable - Most I agree are useful, but sometimes the operator clearly misses the wind noise and says weak - and worse, sometimes misunderstands the local strong accent - which admittedly, can be a bit, er, odd.

 

[SaltyC]

Coastguard tend to be a bit variable - Most I agree are useful, but sometimes the operator clearly misses the wind noise and says weak - and worse, sometimes misunderstands the local strong accent - which admittedly, can be a bit, er, odd.

Is that the Coastguards accent or the requestor?? Belfast and Holyhead are both excellent!!

We (I) can have problems dealing with strong accents ( Welsh and Irish), my hearing, no problem, I think they are great BUT can be difficult to hear clearly - as was the previous Scouse! All adds to the fun of sailing.

 

[Roberto]

We (I) can have problems dealing with strong accents

Imagine a non native English speaker

 

[ears media]

The Geordie accent is very understandable, but the local accent here combined with our strange way of phrasing things sometimes makes strangers think. Like "you-a-gornahead" could be a request to go first, or a question asking IF you are going ahead of me, or even a statement that you went. There's also the habit of using reporting points that only the oldies know - and Google doesn't. So a proper chart, for instance shows a point called Jackamans Groyne - which is sort of visible if you knew there was one there in the past, but there's not really much of it visible now. On the radio check front, though, the coastguard tone of voice often suggests they'd rather the user had called somebody else - which with them covering such large areas is understandable. We have a lot of training carried out by the local college and have a number of Indian students each year - so now we have such a variety of accents. Clearly though, before people venture to sea, it's important to check radios actually receive and transmit properly. My office is about a mile from the sea - and sometimes boats near me call the bridge and get no reply - they're struggling to get under a mile, and that's not good - so radio checks do serve a useful purpose, but are often just a bit cringy