VHF Channels in Holland - 31a ?

[DipperToo]

I hope someone can help - I read somewhere recently that in Holland some
marinas operate on channels that are blocked on UK sets - was it CH31a which
is used by the UK search & rescue services?

If I remember correctly, it was mentioned in one of the UK sailing magazines
that some Dutch marinas ( or lock gates) only use this channel and that
maube one should buy a low cost handset in Holland for cruising there?

Many thanks,

Stewart

 

[sailorman]

some marinas ( very few ) use channels we dont have access to but its not worth the bother or expence to get another vhf set.
spend the cash on a meal or a few beers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[david_bagshaw]

I would agree with that

we have the missing channels, never used them1!!

 

[Cotillion]

At Breskens you berth at the visitors pontoon then call up the HM on a dedicated phone on the pontoon that is permanently set on ch. 31. Maybe those marinas that use this channel have a similar set up??

Kim

 

[aluijten]

It is actually a bit more complicated.
For the German, Belgian and Dutch inland waters, you need to have a VHF with the so-called Brussels Channel settings. It means you will have a slightly different set of channels, as also will not be able to send at 25 Watt, only at 1 Watt. Also a thing called ATIS should be installed, it's acronym for Automatic Transmitter Identifier System. It sends your callsign digitally after you release the PTT button.
Dutch people are obliged to use such a set on the inland waters. You can buy dual mode sets that can switch between inland a sea setting.
For you UK folks, I would say, forget about it, you hardly make use of VHF in inland waters anyway. Use a mobile phone and the almanac to lookup the phone numbers, I'd say.

Arno

 

[JonBrooks]

Ch31a is the an International Private channel.
Here in the UK it is used by the RNLI as their private channel.

You are correct that it is blocked on UK sets.
In the same way that you won't find M1 and M2 (37a and P4) on sets other than UK ones.
We are the only country to use them as marina channels.

There have been a number of letters and e-mail's flying between users, RNLI and Ofcom regarding this.

As with all private channels you must have authorisation, in writting, before any dealer will programme it into your radio.
The RNLI will not give this to just anyone, normally only RNLI crew and or staff.

The suggestion from someone at RNLI is to buy a radio in Holland!!

ATIS can be selected on most UK radio's.
We have set it up on ours for people who need it.
You will need to get an ATIS number though.

Regards

 

[DipperToo]

Thanks to all for the replies.

Looks like the best option is to use a mobile phone and reference the almanac. Buying a local PAYG SIM card was suggested to me as the best method of keeping call costs down when abroad.

Stewart

 

[pheran]

Local PAYG SIM card certainly is your best bet - if nothing else it avoids you having to pay for incoming calls as you would on a UK card. We bought a Vodafone NL card for 24 euros and got a 5 euro calling credit at the time. A couple of weeks later we got a text saying we had been awarded a further 20 euros credit as a promotional exercise. Sweet!

 

[Stork_III]

True but you can't get it. Not a problem a sthey always seem to have an intercom (CH 31a) thing on the visitor berth to call the Havenmeister, not yet been turned away.

 

[davidfox]

Dont bother, all bridges and locks have normal VHF channels or just mooch around, did plenty in last 2 weeks and only spoke to 3 in all that time.