Using our VHF's

Mashby

Mashby

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Hi all,

I had thought driving home tonight stuck on the M25.
Perhaps this already exists and I don't know about it.

What if we used one of the unused VHF channels as
our intership non tidal Thames Frequency. (could be exclusive to YBW
forumites?)

We could call going out of Marina or Berth with our intention
just see if anyone is around and wish to join us or just say hello.

I though it seemed quite a good idea, one to use our VHF's as being non
tidal lets be honest they don't do alot, and two it would be quite a good way to catch up with each other on our boats.

If you think its a bad idea please let me know and I will crall back under my stone.

Cheers
Matt
 
O Yes Please.

"If you think its a bad idea please let me know and I will crall back under my stone"

Blimming good idea. Gives you a fighting chance to find out and understand what the hell that Sealine on sterndrives grinding his bowthruster into oblivion in front of you is doing.

Plus you can announce in a loud voice(making sure you will not get the blame )

"AHEM....To the white gin palace/Stevens/Pedro .. Are you aware there is a SPEED limit of 8kms on this river Sir !"
 
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oldgit said:
"AHEM....To the white gin palace/Stevens/Pedro .. Are you aware there is a SPEED limit of 8kms on this river Sir !"
Click to expand...

Your specific mention of particular brands as opposed to the (slightly) derogatory undertones of the term 'gin palaces' leads me to suggest that you should take care not to indulge in what may well be classed as riverborne racism.

It is, of course, the sort of behaviour we might expect of elderly Princess owners (the boats and the owners) used to bottom hugging and top scraping little trips they have the temerity to call 'voyages' - must have something to do with the muddy little backwater you normally inhabit - you really should try and get out more...........
 
byron said:
You get caught doing it and they have a space reserved for you at Execution Dock, Wapping.
Click to expand...

Ooops! I misunderstood, SORRY! I somehow got the impression you were suggesting using Marine VHF fitted to cars. . . sort of a CB.

There is nothing to stop you using a ship-to-ship channel to arrange matters such as berths or warn of holdups on the river. Indeed even for a natter with another vessel.
 
I notice the demise of Brooms has resulted in a downgrading from 'Gin Palace' to 'Boat' by the look of things...

I quite like the look of those Pedro's and Stevens, but it's the owners that put me off..... :)

Bray use Ch10 for non tidal use, always nice to say hello to a Brayite in view....
 
Mashby said:
Hi all,
What if we used one of the unused VHF channels as
our intership non tidal Thames Frequency.
Click to expand...

I am not sure what you mean by an "unused channel". Most people seem to use the standard ship to ship channels, 6 and 8, when upriver. Given the limited range of VHF, especially upriver, there is no need for a separate channel.

Our club always uses channel 6 unless there is too much radio traffic there in which case we switch to channel 8.

Channel 16 is virtualy unused upriver so it should not cause any problems if this is used for initial contact before switching to another channel.
 
Grrr

It is, of course, the sort of behaviour we might expect of elderly Princess owners.
Oi .....we is only 59 and a bit,thank you very much !
 
I put our VHF into scan mode so I can hear everyone! Very sneaky, sneaky :)

Saw Lady Gay go past today, it was not quite dark enough for the spot light on the burgee to take effect so I will let him off for not spotting us...
 
byron said:
Ooops! I misunderstood, SORRY! I somehow got the impression you were suggesting using Marine VHF fitted to cars. . . sort of a CB.

There is nothing to stop you using a ship-to-ship channel to arrange matters such as berths or warn of holdups on the river. Indeed even for a natter with another vessel.
Click to expand...

Nothing except that (and please correct me if I am wrong here) the vhf rules expressly forbid a broadcast message i.e. one without a specific recipient, with the exception of pan pan, maydays etc.

Not that it really matters as "proper" vhf rules do not seem to apply on the non tidal thames.
 
DogsBody said:
Nothing except that (and please correct me if I am wrong here) the vhf rules expressly forbid a broadcast message i.e. one without a specific recipient, with the exception of pan pan, maydays etc.

Not that it really matters as "proper" vhf rules do not seem to apply on the non tidal thames.
Click to expand...

Rules are universal although I agree radio procedures on the Thames are sometimes abysmal.

It is quite acceptable to call "any vessel in vicinity of" or some-such. Ergo if you were at Sonning and wanted to contact anyone at Marsh for a sitrep on queueing or a broken lock you would use that procedure.
There are of course many other situations where you would be quite legally calling an unspecified station.
 
If I have it on in the non-tidal bit I'm usually on 72 as that's the MTYC normal channel for chit chat. I rather like the idea of seeing if there are any forumites in the area.

Knowing that the queue was like at Boveney before leaving a comfortable mooring has much appeal.
 
DogsBody said:
Nothing except that (and please correct me if I am wrong here) the vhf rules expressly forbid a broadcast message i.e. one without a specific recipient, with the exception of pan pan, maydays etc.

Not that it really matters as "proper" vhf rules do not seem to apply on the non tidal thames.
Click to expand...

Unless of course you have one of those new fangled DSC radios and you simply invoke a DSC "Group Call". All you have to do is get a group together and apply for a free group MMSI. The other advantage of these newer radios is that they seem to have got rid of the valve warm up time ;)

Martin
 
Dave_Seager said:
I am not sure what you mean by an "unused channel". Most people seem to use the standard ship to ship channels, 6 and 8, when upriver. Given the limited range of VHF, especially upriver, there is no need for a separate channel.

Our club always uses channel 6 unless there is too much radio traffic there in which case we switch to channel 8.

Channel 16 is virtualy unused upriver so it should not cause any problems if this is used for initial contact before switching to another channel.
Click to expand...

I sometimes flick through the channels when pottering on the boat in the marina (Harleyford), just to see who's out there and there is usually nothing. Three weeks ago I picked up on C14 London VTS talking to a yacht approaching the Barrier:eek:

A bit spooky with line of sight out of the window and the Twilight zone theme tune ringing in my ears. Could be VTS has a massive transmitter but also after a bit of research, could have been troposheric ducting which can happen in front of an approaching cold front and the weather was a bit strange around then with fronts bouncing down the South Coast. So if C16 used, as Dave suggests, normal rules should still apply about switching to another channel. Will certainly be listening in to 6, 8 and 10 in the future, although monitoring one would be easier.:)
 
>>>
I sometimes flick through the channels when pottering on the boat in the marina (Harleyford), just to see who's out there and there is usually nothing. Three weeks ago I picked up on C14 London VTS talking to a yacht approaching the Barrier
>>>
Skip was in! Plus they have a tall mast and high powered tx setup. Would be unsurprised to discover they have repeaters too, after all, in theory you and they should be able to communicate as soon as you are on the tidal bit.

I'd forgotten the group MMSI code, perhaps that's the way forward, to have a Thames forum one?
 
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