VHF Channel Usage

[makingplansfor]

I arm the kids with the hand held vhf radio when they are using the tender to ensure we can keep in touch. Clearly I want to avoid channel 16 so set up ch 76 in the misapprehension that this was one of the ship to ship working channels. I later checked and found that 76 is not used. Does unused mean that it is ok to use it for a purpose such as that described above??

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Letting the kids use the handheld isn't strictly kosher. Have you looked at something like this?

 

[Barry Jones]

No, Ch77 is for intership use.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

If it's for chit chat, then no.
Otherwise 77.

 

[makingplansfor]

Understand all the replies and strictly speaking I am know this is not right, however, not bothering others (although they would not use it for general chit chat) seems sensible - who is to know?!?!

 

[Doug_Stormforce]

06, 08, 72 & 77

 

[prv]

Does bring up something I've wondered about occasionally. I know those are the normal four channels for ship to ship traffic, but what's the status of most of the rest? I understand many were once for "public correspondence" phone patches, but that's long gone so what now?

Obviously there are various local specifics like Soton VTS on 12, Portsmouth QHM on 11, etc. Safety-of-navigation on 13, CG routine channels (eg Solent's 67). But it doesn't seem like this kind of thing would fill the whole spectrum. Take channel 23 that the CG do their weather etc broadcasts on - is it reserved for that use and unused most of the time? What about (to pick one at random) channel 26? Used for anything?

If I have routine traffic for another boat and the normal 4 channels are busy, can I (strictly speaking, not concerned about a practical pragmatic approach) pick one elsewhere?

Pete

 

[VicS]

You'd have to pick a single frequency ( simplex) channel.
26, picked at random, is no good because it is a two frequency ( duplex) ship to shore channel and neither the HH nor the fixed radio will transmit on the shore station frequency.

There is list of frquencies used around the solent.HERE

.

 

[William_H]

Channels

Here in West Oz the channel usage is much the same as the Solent however channels 21,22,80,82 are all duplex channels used for VHF repeater work. In other words used just like ch 16 except in remote places.
olewill

 

[Csail]

I arm the kids with the hand held vhf radio when they are using the tender to ensure we can keep in touch. Clearly I want to avoid channel 16 so set up ch 76 in the misapprehension that this was one of the ship to ship working channels. I later checked and found that 76 is not used. Does unused mean that it is ok to use it for a purpose such as that described above??

My 6 yr old takes the motarola uhf with 10 mile range and they are great.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I arm the kids with the hand held vhf radio when they are using the tender to ensure we can keep in touch. Clearly I want to avoid channel 16 so set up ch 76 in the misapprehension that this was one of the ship to ship working channels. I later checked and found that 76 is not used. Does unused mean that it is ok to use it for a purpose such as that described above??

Sounds like you don't have the short range radio licence. If you took it, you'd know the answer to your own question, and you'd be legal.

 

[mlines]

I would probably use 15 or 17 - "on board" working - its a low power (1 watt) simplex channel. Whilst I fully understand the regulations etc. the fact that it is "on-board" really would imply that one end of the link is usually licenced and in control and the other end is a wandering crewman.

 

[ianfr]

Hi

I sometimes drop SWMBO and dog off by dinghy, for walkies while I remain on anchor watch . She takes the handheld, usually on low power on 72 or 77 and uses the call sign "Apogee mobile" when she wants picking up.

If there is any chatter going on, she knows to switch to 77 or wait.

Regards

Ian

 

[Bilgediver]

Understand all the replies and strictly speaking I am know this is not right, however, not bothering others (although they would not use it for general chit chat) seems sensible - who is to know?!?!

I wouold suggest that even if not wanting to take the VHF right now you buy the RYA books and Gen. up on the subject as otherwise you might come to grief with the Authorities for transmitting ad lib on some other channels like 13 or 70 or your local VTS channels.

Ther are many unused channels however many of them are Duplex which means they are useless to you or someone in a tender.

The best solution if the tender is within a mile or so and also legal is to use the wee portables for sale in most electronic shops for which no licence is required. You can also use these beteen the Bridge and Foredeck

 

[rob2]

I know it sound like a grumpy reaction, but... marine VHF is not for "chit chat" at all - on ANY channel. Over my sailing life we've gone from around a dozen channels to only four, so it has become even more important to outlaw incorrect use of VHF. I have even heard someone's wife calling on the handheld from the supermarket to see what the crew fancied for tea!

The only down side to using the legal handhelds which are readily available is that they are not waterproof, but as said they are very useful both on board and ashore.

Rob.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I know it sound like a grumpy reaction, but... marine VHF is not for "chit chat" at all - on ANY channel.

Tell that to fishermen!

Over my sailing life we've gone from around a dozen channels to only four, so it has become even more important to outlaw incorrect use of VHF. I have even heard someone's wife calling on the handheld from the supermarket to see what the crew fancied for tea!

Annoys the hell out of me too, esp as in almost all the circs where this happens, a mobile phone would be better, and more secure.

The only down side to using the legal handhelds which are readily available is that they are not waterproof, but as said they are very useful both on board and ashore.

I guess they'd fit in a waterproof pouch, such as you'd use for phone.

Rob.

TK

 

[chanelyacht]

Understand all the replies and strictly speaking I am know this is not right, however, not bothering others (although they would not use it for general chit chat) seems sensible - who is to know?!?!

"Unused" marine channels merely mean that those channels aren't available for public use - they may well be, and often are, allocated to other users within the spectrum (although this is decreasing with the move to digital / airwave). Some of the 156 frequencies feature in the national SAR framework for land use (odd though it sounds).

If it's not an intership, ship/shore or public correspondence channel, it isn't yours to use