VHF Channel 0

[Juan Twothree]

As we know, chan0 then chan16 have the priority "perches" on the CG masts, If I had a life-threatening emergency, and could only reach them on chan0 I wouldn't hesitate to try, with their permission of course.

Don't know if it's the same everywhere, but my local CG radio mast has Ch16 at the top, and all the others, including Ch0, lower down.

Years ago our MRCC told us that if ever we're struggling to contact them from the lifeboat on Ch0, then to use 16, due to the extra aerial height.

 

[Stork_III]

He specifically mentioned 'life threatening situations'. I believe that anybody can transmit on any frequency in these circumstances, whether licensed or not.

It is illegal to have ch0 without authorisation, which unless he is CG, RNLI or other related body he won't have. In an emergency broadcasting on CH0 may be allowed, but having it in the first case is still illegal.

 

[dulcibella]

I have to listen to Ch 0 on a regular basis - believe me, its entertainment value is over-rated (once you have got bored with the territorial disagreements between MCA and the RNLI) and the utility to the yachtsman of tapping into it is, as its name suggest, zero.

 

[chanelyacht]

Don't know if it's the same everywhere, but my local CG radio mast has Ch16 at the top, and all the others, including Ch0, lower down.

Years ago our MRCC told us that if ever we're struggling to contact them from the lifeboat on Ch0, then to use 16, due to the extra aerial height.

Yep.

Order of receivers on most multi-channel aerials -

Ch70 DSC
Ch16
Ch0
X (can be anything)
AIS

Although that doesn't really apply any more, as we can switch any aerial to any frequency, unlike the old days when the Ch16 aerial was linked to a Ch16 desk.