VHF---new frequencies?

[cjepearson]

I own an Aqua-Marine 5600 VHF. It is decidedly ancient, and does not have the Marina channels M1 and M2. In particular I now need Ch 37. Does anyone know if you can reprogramme these sets, or can you add a new module(?), or do I need to buy a new set. I prefer to sail on the KISS system if possible. Any advice, or free radios much appreciated.

 

[snowleopard]

I thought my Icom didn't have M and M2. It turned out they were there but showed as '37A' and 'P4'.

If they aren't there under another name the only way you'll get them is if the manufacturers will upgrade the software - definitely not a DIY job!

 

[janie]

Have you checked at the end of your range, ie after the 80's? Both our ancient radios have/had Ch37, and only the newer American one doesn't.

 

[hightech]

Non UK purchased sets tend to not have the marina channels as they are pretty much peculiar channels to the UK.

Most sets can be reprogrammed to give pretty much any channel the user wants including the marina ones.

And now comes the rub. Under type approval rules, the radio has to have all the appropriate labels and approvals etc to be "legal" to use ANY channel. SO, although your radio can be made to work any channel, it may make the set illegal!

Also it is both the user and the person adding the extra channel(s) that are legally responsible to ensure that the user has the"right" to have any specific channel, otherwise under the telecoms act both can be done for illegally listening or using a channel and for programming it to the set on the first place.

Also, if the set is a "foreign" one i.e. not a UK, then lots of the channnels you have may be different to the UK ones like having low power permanenly selected for instance.

SO before you go off blasting your dulcit tones over the airwaves, check you are legal and also that the channel you think you are using is really one that others can hear!

PM me if you want any advice, as I deal with these problems on a daily basis.

 

[pappaecho]

I find Hightech's reply very frustrating. We joined the EU narly 40 years ago. If I have a VHF set in a European boat in British waters and reprogram to get the marina channels I have not committed an offence.
If I do that with a US/European set, on a British boat then I do. This is crazy . It is high time that such rules/laws must apply either to all or to none in the EU

 

[Heckler]

exactly
boat owner from states comes to europe, vhf slightly different or as is the case with most radios sold in the states they come with the option to change to eec options, they are illegal. what a load of cobblers, and looking at the comics this month quite obvious one of our friendly dealers has sent of a press release to them trying to scare us into not buying american imports.
again cobblers, do they think we are stupid or do they think that cause the government trys to scare us with spin that it works??
stu

 

[JonBrooks]

M1 and M2 are UK only channels.
They are infact private channel and not part of the standard listing.
Many counties hae 1 or 2 channels strange to them.

The prime example of this is in Holland they use CH31a as a marina ch.
Here in the UK it is the private channel of the RNLI!!

NON UK sets will not have M1 and M2.


US set are not legal to be fitted to an EU vessel.
They are not approved and not CE marked.

As far as DSC goes, in the US they have there own standard, SC101.
This is not the same as class D here.

It is not "COBBLER" but the law.

£5000 and confiscation of your radio, possibly your boat and a stretch in HMP is far from Cobblers me thinks!!

We don't make the rules we just have to make kit to meet them and advise you of them for your own sake.

Regards

 

[Juggler7823]

The 5600 was supplied by several distributors under their own name. I had one for several years. I seem to remember that it had a M button (for M1) and you used ch 80 on the rotating channel selector for M2.
Is yours different? It will be time to change to a DSC set soon.

 

[snowleopard]

[ QUOTE ]
We don't make the rules we just have to make kit to meet them and advise you of them for your own sake.

[/ QUOTE ]

Brave man to stick your head above the parapet! While we've got you here, can you give us a definitive answer on if/when you will be producing an EU-legal SSB? There are plenty of folk around here who are keen to know and to date all we have is rumour.

 

[JonBrooks]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Brave man to stick your head above the parapet! While we've got you here, can you give us a definitive answer on if/when you will be producing an EU-legal SSB? There are plenty of folk around here who are keen to know and to date all we have is rumour.

[/ QUOTE ]

Brave or stupid? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Am always here and have been for a while now!
Have I really gone unoticed?

The facts are that we have been told that there will be an EU SSB by the end of this year.

Regards

 

[Mike_Martin]

[ QUOTE ]
Also it is both the user and the person adding the extra channel(s) that are legally responsible to ensure that the user has the"right" to have any specific channel, otherwise under the telecoms act both can be done for illegally listening or using a channel and for programming it to the set on the first place.


[/ QUOTE ]

Wireless Telegraphy Act as amended by the Communications Act.

Mike

 

[VicMallows]

cjepearson,

To try to answer your specific question, I think the set you refer to is one of the early breed of synthisized radios (rather than the previous generation which used individual crystals for each channel). Certainly it is of the same aproximate vintage as my Sealine (Demek) ie, mid 1980s.

In the case of the sealine, it is certainly possible to configure the (4) 'private' channels to any channels you wish, simplex or duplex. However, this involves calculating the necessary multipliers to the base synthesiser frequency, and then soldering/removing diodes internally. This is a technical comment...obviously you must only install channels you are licensed to use.

In more recent sets the channels are programmed into an PROM, and for compliance reasons can not (should not) be user changed.

Vic