VHF Ch 80 question

[Leighb]

I understand that 80 is duplex with yachts transmitting on157.025 and receiving on 161.625 with the shore stations reversed. Can anyone explain how I heard a Dutchman calling Heybridge Basin on 80? It would appear that he was Tx on 161.625 which I could hear but as far as I can see only base stations Tx on that frequency. The US system Tx and Rx on 157.025 so even if he had that set up I should not have been able to hear him.

 

[jbweston]

I understand that 80 is duplex with yachts transmitting on157.025 and receiving on 161.625 with the shore stations reversed. Can anyone explain how I heard a Dutchman calling Heybridge Basin on 80? It would appear that he was Tx on 161.625 which I could hear but as far as I can see only base stations Tx on that frequency. The US system Tx and Rx on 157.025 so even if he had that set up I should not have been able to hear him.

This might not apply to you because you might be more careful than I am sometimes. If you set up a channel (in this case 80) on dual watch and the other guy is calling on 16 unless he actually says he's on 16 it's easy to mistake the channel he's calling on. In this case it might sound as if he's calling on ch 80 but in fact it's your dual watch giving you his call on ch 16 instead.

Another possibilty is that his set was working on European inland waterway channels and one of those has the vessel transmitting on what we call the shore side of ch 80. But I don't have a list of inland waterway frequencies to hand so that's just a stab in the dark.

 

[Stork_III]

You can hear ships broadcasting on 80 if your set is on INT 80A but shouldn't hear the response.

 

[Leighb]

I was definitely not on dual watch 16 but I guess he might have been on US 80 but I don't understand how I could hear that on my set as he would be transmitting on 157 and I would only receive on 161

 

[Lucky Duck]

Just possibly a feature/fault with the VHF, on my old Simrad unit you could here both sides of the conversation if the calling boat was very close or you could here broadcasts on other channels when passing powerful transmitters such as the CG ones just East of Dover.

 

[prv]

You can hear ships broadcasting on 80 if your set is on INT 80A

Presumably that just means "the ship side of (the duplex channel) 80", though, and isn't something you can set on a normal leisure marine VHF.

I suppose the Dutchman might have been transmitting on something with more manual control of the frequencies, like a big old Sailor set where you move physical links around to configure the channels or one of those versatile Baufeng budget handhelds, but programmed incorrectly. Doesn't seem very likely though.

Pete

 

[Stork_III]

Presumably that just means "the ship side of (the duplex channel) 80", though, and isn't something you can set on a normal leisure marine VHF.

I suppose the Dutchman might have been transmitting on something with more manual control of the frequencies, like a big old Sailor set where you move physical links around to configure the channels or one of those versatile Baufeng budget handhelds, but programmed incorrectly. Doesn't seem very likely though.

Pete

Most normal lesure marine VHF can be set to 80A, on the International channel set. I sometimes set my main set to 80A, the handheld to 80, when calling lock at Shotley, so I can keep a check on the mobos,who often call up when they are still outside Harwich harbour, not at the entrance posts as they are supposed to.

 

[pvb]

Tsk, mobos, huh?

 

[prv]

Most normal lesure marine VHF can be set to 80A, on the International channel set.

Intriguing - what radio do you have, and how do you select that? I've never come across such an option.

It would be useful in the Solent, where you have a dozen marinas all on ch80 and yachts broadcasting at 25 watts stomping all over each other because they can't hear whether the channel's in use.

Pete

 

[Leighb]

I cannot understand the references to INT 80A. According the VHF Marine Channel Chart Ch 80 (Duplex) is part of the International set which is used on the UK and Europe.
Ch 80A (Simplex on 157.025) is only available if you switch to the US or Canadian frequencies.

I have checked that my VHF had not somehow got switched to US which would have explained me hearing the Dutchman, but it was not.

Also to answer another suggestion we were at least 4 miles away at the time.

It still remains a mystery.

 

[PhillM]

I cannot understand the references to INT 80A. According the VHF Marine Channel Chart Ch 80 (Duplex) is part of the International set which is used on the UK and Europe.
Ch 80A (Simplex on 157.025) is only available if you switch to the US or Canadian frequencies.

I have checked that my VHF had not somehow got switched to US which would have explained me hearing the Dutchman, but it was not.

Also to answer another suggestion we were at least 4 miles away at the time.

It still remains a mystery.

I had similar problem with ch80. I could hear marinas but they couldn't hear me, but I could hear other boats calling them.

I called M-Tek and was told the radio was failing and beyond economical repair. As they are quite cheap and I wanted an excuse to move to one with AIS receive, I binned it and bought a new one. Problem solved

 

[VicS]

I cannot understand the references to INT 80A. According the VHF Marine Channel Chart Ch 80 (Duplex) is part of the International set which is used on the UK and Europe.
Ch 80A (Simplex on 157.025) is only available if you switch to the US or Canadian frequencies.

I have checked that my VHF had not somehow got switched to US which would have explained me hearing the Dutchman, but it was not.

Also to answer another suggestion we were at least 4 miles away at the time.

It still remains a mystery.

Any chance that Heybridge were re transmitting the call on 161.625.

The old coast radio stations used to do that so you could often/usually hear both sides of a conversation.

 

[Leighb]

That seems unlikely. They only use a handheld. I sincerely hope my VHF is not failing it is only 3 weeks old!!!

 

[PhillM]

That seems unlikely. They only use a handheld. I sincerely hope my VHF is not failing it is only 3 weeks old!!!

Might be worth taking it back and asking them to test it ? I would certainly call the manufacturer for their opinion. At least it's still in warranty.

 

[Leighb]

On passage today it was clear that my set is operating normally on 80. So still a puzzle.

 

[Stork_III]

Intriguing - what radio do you have, and how do you select that? I've never come across such an option.

It would be useful in the Solent, where you have a dozen marinas all on ch80 and yachts broadcasting at 25 watts stomping all over each other because they can't hear whether the channel's in use.

Pete

Sorry, I meant US channel set.