calloo
New member
I am aware that there has to be VHF radio discipline, but is there a generally accepted inter ship chat VHF channel used by pleasure craft?
VHF chat
- Thread starter calloo
- Start date
duncan
Active member
depends on location and the nature of the chat - for example around Poole and the Solent the charter fishing and small boats all use 06.
without doubt the best thing to do (after not chatting of course) is to use one of the designated intership channels on low power if you can get away with it.
without doubt the best thing to do (after not chatting of course) is to use one of the designated intership channels on low power if you can get away with it.
NevisTheCat
New member
Well, based on what I hear on the Solent the designated channel for discussing your favourite brand of gin, where to get a pink and blue rugby shirt and how did little Johnny get on at his first rugger match is Ch 16.
Of course, all that comes after a radio check and passage plan from Gosport to Cowes ;o)
Of course, all that comes after a radio check and passage plan from Gosport to Cowes ;o)
paulskent
New member
I have noticed that when someone calls Holyhead coastguard to give details of proposed passage plan that they are moved onto channel 84 as the working channel. When the scanner then moves me onto 84 I can only hear the Coastguard side of the conversation. I don't think 84 is a duplex channel and I don't think any of us have radio's capable of duplex calls so why is this ??
Gunfleet
New member
You are out of radio range of the boat but not the coastguard ariel. VHF is more or less line of sight.
ShipsWoofy
New member
84 is duplex hence you do hear only the shore side.
It makes for some quite interesting games on board, guess the conversation from the answer, a bit like jeopardy
It makes for some quite interesting games on board, guess the conversation from the answer, a bit like jeopardy
Mike_Martin
New member
84 is a duplex channel, the ship transmits on 157.225 MHz and the Coast transmits on 161.825 MHz hence you can't hear the other vessel.
Your radio is programmed to know which channels are simplex or duplex use. This is part of the Type Approval (SORRY R&TTE) process.
Mike
Your radio is programmed to know which channels are simplex or duplex use. This is part of the Type Approval (SORRY R&TTE) process.
Mike
paulskent
New member
Well I didn't think it was the signal strength issue because I coud hear the initial channel 16 call from both sides.. The Duplex thing makes much more sense. Thanks..
You learn something new everyday..
You learn something new everyday..
Oldhand
New member
Surely you learned about this when you took you operator's license exam?...
calloo
New member
Thanks for that supercillious contribution 'cocky old hand'. One of the advantages of forums like this is that a person can learn things on the fringes of official courses and professional wisdom. Surely you can appreciate that!
fireball
New member
without being supercillious ... as I can't remember if a channel is simplex or duplex ... the display on our VHF does show "DUP" if it is duplex ... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif nice handy reminder!
Joe_Cole
New member
Strictly speaking I don't think that any channel should be used for "chat". VHF should only be used for essential communications.
Oldhand
New member
Yes this forum is a great place for seeking advice.
However I remain very concerned that some questions placed in the forum should have been covered in the formal training that should have taken place to meet compulsory requirements, i.e the radio operators certificate. If the training material was inadequate, questions should have been asked at the time of training such that any certificate of competance issued properly indicated an adequate level of competance had been obtained. Your question casts doubt on that being the true in your case.
I therefore suggest you re-think why you had to ask your question in the first place and if it is due to shortfall in your training for your license then the matter should be taken up with your training source.
Much use of marine VHF communications by pleasure boat users leaves a great deal to be desired and does nothing for their reputation in the professional seafaring world which has to use the same facilities. I strongly feel that in general our act needs to be improved and yes, my response doesn't account for you trying to do this in this forum and was intended to be "tongue in cheek". That said, there is far too much "chat" between pleasure craft (and fishing boats for that matter) which has no relation to marine activity and would be better conducted privately on moblie 'phones.
Maybe I'm old fashioned but I first took my marine operators exam before marine VHF communications became common and the exam was conducted onboard one's craft one to one with a DoT examiner and one had demonstrate one's competance in a real world environment. I found the RYA's DSC update requirement rather lightweight by comaprison.
However I remain very concerned that some questions placed in the forum should have been covered in the formal training that should have taken place to meet compulsory requirements, i.e the radio operators certificate. If the training material was inadequate, questions should have been asked at the time of training such that any certificate of competance issued properly indicated an adequate level of competance had been obtained. Your question casts doubt on that being the true in your case.
I therefore suggest you re-think why you had to ask your question in the first place and if it is due to shortfall in your training for your license then the matter should be taken up with your training source.
Much use of marine VHF communications by pleasure boat users leaves a great deal to be desired and does nothing for their reputation in the professional seafaring world which has to use the same facilities. I strongly feel that in general our act needs to be improved and yes, my response doesn't account for you trying to do this in this forum and was intended to be "tongue in cheek". That said, there is far too much "chat" between pleasure craft (and fishing boats for that matter) which has no relation to marine activity and would be better conducted privately on moblie 'phones.
Maybe I'm old fashioned but I first took my marine operators exam before marine VHF communications became common and the exam was conducted onboard one's craft one to one with a DoT examiner and one had demonstrate one's competance in a real world environment. I found the RYA's DSC update requirement rather lightweight by comaprison.
duncan
Active member
without disagreeing with anything you say I believe there is another issue here - that being that the lack of practice of using VHF amongst leisure craft.
in the strictest interpretation many people could take thier course and get their licence but not actually transmit (select channel other than passively to recieve safety information etc) on their VHF set for many years. The quantity and quality of the training become pretty irrelevant if 10 years pass before you need to use it.
It could well be argued that a reduction in the training, such that you learn only 3 or 4 key things, could be of benefit - but I wouldn't actually argue that right now. My personal experience is that the balance between what and why has been reasonably good for the audience to date.
in the strictest interpretation many people could take thier course and get their licence but not actually transmit (select channel other than passively to recieve safety information etc) on their VHF set for many years. The quantity and quality of the training become pretty irrelevant if 10 years pass before you need to use it.
It could well be argued that a reduction in the training, such that you learn only 3 or 4 key things, could be of benefit - but I wouldn't actually argue that right now. My personal experience is that the balance between what and why has been reasonably good for the audience to date.
Joe_Cole
New member
In many ways you are right but, in fairness to Calloo, you go on a course to learn the right way of doing things. If the course is inadequate you may well not know what you haven't been taught. (I hope that makes sense!)
I fully agree about the "chat". Nothing wrong with a quick call to arrange a rendevous, but a long discussion about the menu for the evening meal is out of order.
I fully agree about the "chat". Nothing wrong with a quick call to arrange a rendevous, but a long discussion about the menu for the evening meal is out of order.
Steve Clayton
New member
From what I can see Calloo asked
"is there a generally accepted inter ship chat VHF channel used by pleasure craft?"
and Oldhand replied
"I ...suggest you re-think why you had to ask your question in the first place and if it is due to shortfall in your training for your license then the matter should be taken up with your training source."
Response is a bit OTT in my opinion /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I'd be put off asking further questions if this is a typical response
"is there a generally accepted inter ship chat VHF channel used by pleasure craft?"
and Oldhand replied
"I ...suggest you re-think why you had to ask your question in the first place and if it is due to shortfall in your training for your license then the matter should be taken up with your training source."
Response is a bit OTT in my opinion /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I'd be put off asking further questions if this is a typical response
fireball
New member
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/publication/ra_info/ra264/ra264.htm
"Ideally, inter-ship communications should be restricted to Channels 6, 8, 72 and 77" ...
In addition - I believe we are now being encouraged to use 15 and 17 on 1w when possible ...
"Ideally, inter-ship communications should be restricted to Channels 6, 8, 72 and 77" ...
In addition - I believe we are now being encouraged to use 15 and 17 on 1w when possible ...
Benbow
New member
It was probably the use of the word 'chat' that raised hackles. We don't chat on VHF, we exchange important safety information /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Had the question been "is there a generally accepted inter ship communications VHF channel used by pleasure craft?"
I imagine there would have been many sage responses along the lines "XYSC members usually use 72, or 69 if the fisherman are yacking on too much"
Had the question been "is there a generally accepted inter ship communications VHF channel used by pleasure craft?"
I imagine there would have been many sage responses along the lines "XYSC members usually use 72, or 69 if the fisherman are yacking on too much"
Steve Clayton
New member
Re: VHF communications
[ QUOTE ]
We don't chat on VHF, we exchange important safety information
[/ QUOTE ].
The RA definition states that discussions on these other channels should be kept to the business of the vessels concerned.
RA could be seen to be sitting on the fence as to what constitutes "business" (but obviously including safety messages, etc) by not giving clear guidelines (Now time for Mike Martin to clarify)
Agree the use of the word "chat" may have been ill-considered but the response , as was, was still unwarranted (IMHO)
[ QUOTE ]
We don't chat on VHF, we exchange important safety information
[/ QUOTE ].
The RA definition states that discussions on these other channels should be kept to the business of the vessels concerned.
RA could be seen to be sitting on the fence as to what constitutes "business" (but obviously including safety messages, etc) by not giving clear guidelines (Now time for Mike Martin to clarify)
Agree the use of the word "chat" may have been ill-considered but the response , as was, was still unwarranted (IMHO)
Oldhand
New member
You got it!
