ogod
New Member
Thought I might fire up the never-used-before VHF in my boat. Are there any channels on the Thames I could/should use?
Testing VHF
- Thread starter ogod
- Start date
Reptile Smile
Well-Known Member
You have a licence, I presume?
maby
Well-Known Member
That's rather a big assumption - in order to have a licence, one has to attend the course and pass the exam - which should be enough to answer the question without asking it!
Momac
Well-Known Member
PeterBoater
Well-Known Member
Beware the date on this. The 2017 version is newly available.
Mirror Painter
Well-Known Member
Assuming you don't have a license but would still like to test your marine VHF radio, there is no reason why you shouldn't turn it on and listen to it. You are allowed to use the transmitter of it under the supervision of a license holder. I is one 
but unless you are at the very upper Thames I can't help. If you are at the very upper Thames you don't need to use it anyway.
Where is your boat and where might it go? The answers to those questions will help people here advise if you should want to get a license or not.
but unless you are at the very upper Thames I can't help. If you are at the very upper Thames you don't need to use it anyway. Where is your boat and where might it go? The answers to those questions will help people here advise if you should want to get a license or not.
Lon nan Gruagach
Well-Known Member
First off: If your aerial isnt just right (or nearly so) you might blow up your transmitter.
Next up: test the aerial with a SWR meter, some designs protect the transmitter from bad faults.
Third: Ahh, but to test the aerial I have to fire up the transmitter... and here is the answer to your question... some frequencies (channels) are set aside for very local communications and so the VHF set will use a lower power for these channels. Find a mate (licence holder) to listen on a channel you have decided to test on.
Last, and probably first: There is no harm in just switching it on and listening, you might discern local chat channels this way too.
Next up: test the aerial with a SWR meter, some designs protect the transmitter from bad faults.
Third: Ahh, but to test the aerial I have to fire up the transmitter... and here is the answer to your question... some frequencies (channels) are set aside for very local communications and so the VHF set will use a lower power for these channels. Find a mate (licence holder) to listen on a channel you have decided to test on.
Last, and probably first: There is no harm in just switching it on and listening, you might discern local chat channels this way too.
rosssavage
Well-Known Member
Depending on where you are, monitor channel 14 - this is London VTS and is active every day.
Channel 16 is the emergency channel - this is usually quiet.
Channel 6 is the ship to ship channel used by most boaters on the upper thames - almost certainly no good at this time of year though, cos no one is out and about!
As mentioned thoroughly above - careful with transmitting!!
Channel 16 is the emergency channel - this is usually quiet.
Channel 6 is the ship to ship channel used by most boaters on the upper thames - almost certainly no good at this time of year though, cos no one is out and about!
As mentioned thoroughly above - careful with transmitting!!
oldgit
Well-Known Member
All reputable marine VHF radios are pretty bomb proof.Provided you do have some sort of servicable marine VHF aerial connected you are highly unlikely to do any damage to the TX output of your radio.
Very briefly pushing the tx button on your mike for few seconds should NOT result in destruction.
Find somebody else in your marina/boatyard or bit of the river bank who has got a VHF and both go to Ch 8 or any ship to ship channel of your choice.
NOT 16/14 etc which are port safety working channels or 80 or M ie, marina channels,cos you wont be able to talk anywho due to techy stuff.
A brief call such as "MV. Trotman this is test call are you receiving" ???...Over . Should do the trick.
Be aware that your transmissions,depending on terrain ,could be going anywhere between 1 and 25 kilometers.
Best not to diss the boater next door over the air.Save that for FaecesBook or Twatter.
Very briefly pushing the tx button on your mike for few seconds should NOT result in destruction.
Find somebody else in your marina/boatyard or bit of the river bank who has got a VHF and both go to Ch 8 or any ship to ship channel of your choice.
NOT 16/14 etc which are port safety working channels or 80 or M ie, marina channels,cos you wont be able to talk anywho due to techy stuff.
A brief call such as "MV. Trotman this is test call are you receiving" ???...Over . Should do the trick.
Be aware that your transmissions,depending on terrain ,could be going anywhere between 1 and 25 kilometers.
Best not to diss the boater next door over the air.Save that for FaecesBook or Twatter.
Last edited:
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
I use a handheld or other Club boat (Warn via phone!) to check VHF functions.
Takes a few seconds.
While I don't personally care if you're licenced or not, it's worthwhile making sure you are fully aware of all the practical sides of the rules, regs and etiquette side of things. I used VHF unlicensed for a few years, but in a more professional manner than many licenced and experienced operators who chat rubbish for much of the time (Especially on the Port of London!!)
All fully legal now, which is really the best option all round though. The VHF course is good fun and well worthwhile. However, if you use your VHF once a year I can understand why you would just want to 'switch and go' Better to have one for emergency than not at all. :encouragement:
Takes a few seconds.
While I don't personally care if you're licenced or not, it's worthwhile making sure you are fully aware of all the practical sides of the rules, regs and etiquette side of things. I used VHF unlicensed for a few years, but in a more professional manner than many licenced and experienced operators who chat rubbish for much of the time (Especially on the Port of London!!)
All fully legal now, which is really the best option all round though. The VHF course is good fun and well worthwhile. However, if you use your VHF once a year I can understand why you would just want to 'switch and go' Better to have one for emergency than not at all. :encouragement:
ogod
New Member
Ta for all that guys/gals. I thought I had posted this reply a day or so ago but clearly had not. Here's hoping success this time.
I have had my RYA VHF certificate for several years on a sailing boat but have just got a licence from Ofcom and a MMSI for my first motor boat. I'm not on the Thames tidal so'll I have a little play around on Ch 8 - on the low power setting presumably and see what happens. Many thanks again y'all.
I have had my RYA VHF certificate for several years on a sailing boat but have just got a licence from Ofcom and a MMSI for my first motor boat. I'm not on the Thames tidal so'll I have a little play around on Ch 8 - on the low power setting presumably and see what happens. Many thanks again y'all.
mlines
Well-Known Member
It will be as dead as a dodo this time of year (its really quiet in peak season as radios are not really a Thames thing). You are best to arrange a contact otherwise you will end up talking to yourself.
rustic
Member
I bought a cheap programmable transceiver so I could listen in to marine channels. Handy near Gt.Yarmouth and Lowestoft on the Broads, to listen in. I bought this as a prerequisite to taking the radio operators licence, but to be fair, not much radio traffic to be interesting enough. So shelved that idea. Now we are on the Thames, is there an advantage in having a suitable marine band radio, and a passing the test of course, we have not been out on the Thames, only been on it 3 weeks lol, and are based near Oxford.
PMR Channel 4 was used as a forum based ship to ship communication on the Broads, but we picked up more garden nurseries moving trees and shrubs lol.
Regards,
Richard
PMR Channel 4 was used as a forum based ship to ship communication on the Broads, but we picked up more garden nurseries moving trees and shrubs lol.
Regards,
Richard
mlines
Well-Known Member
Organised groups use radio for ship-to-ship but apart from that there is no real use of radio on the non-tidal Thames. Main communication is via abusive shouting and waving of arms.
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
VHF on the non tidal Thames is about as useful as an inflatable anchor, some clubs like to play occasionally but its just for fun.
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
I concur. It's useful when in a Club with lots of Boats, or even a few friends.
Chris is right, it's probably as much to play with the VHF (Good practise too!) as a text or group Facebook message would work equally well, but it's of no practical purpose otherwise.
We leave ours on Ch10 (Club preferred) in case we get contacted by a moored friend we may have missed, and can also monitor Rowing Clubs verbal traffic too, which is pointless but satisfying in a voyeuristic kind of way :encouragement:
Otherwise use it to hang your hat on...
Chris is right, it's probably as much to play with the VHF (Good practise too!) as a text or group Facebook message would work equally well, but it's of no practical purpose otherwise.
We leave ours on Ch10 (Club preferred) in case we get contacted by a moored friend we may have missed, and can also monitor Rowing Clubs verbal traffic too, which is pointless but satisfying in a voyeuristic kind of way :encouragement:
Otherwise use it to hang your hat on...
rustic
Member
I had my apprentiship on the Broads for that training, so I see my self as fully qualified in that area lol.
Thanks to all for responding, much appreciated, I will keep an ear out for any interesting transmissions.
Best regards,
RIchard
elton
Well-Known Member
You should hear enough on Channel 16 to convince you the receiver is working properly. You'll hear HM Coastguard at various times around ten to the hour, stating that a weather forecast is imminent, and telling you to switch to 23, 84 or 86, dependent on your location. If that's loud and clear you can try a test hail on Channel 16, and hopefully you'll get an acknowledgement, even if it's the Coastguard. Just tell them you're testing, and just do it once.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...achment_data/file/514637/MSI_Leaflet_2015.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...achment_data/file/514637/MSI_Leaflet_2015.pdf
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
Not in Oxford :ambivalence:
