vhf radio check

[McNab]

installed my nasa dsc radio, but the boats in the drive, the drive is in central west yorkshire. 60 miles from the coast

16 for a radio check?

No-ones out there or my ant connections are suspect.

Comments?
Should I buy a handheld just to make sure it's working?

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[StugeronSteve]

You really should not make land based calls, but if you dial up the British Waterways locks channel (80?) you might get a response.

<hr width=100% size=1>Semper Bufo

 

[philip_stevens]

Marine VHF (as with all VHF) is line of sight, and I think you are really stretching things a bit expecting to get 60 miles - and ashore-and-inshore. At sea you might be lucky to get 20 to 30 miles, and that is with the antenna being able to "see" the shore station or another boat.

If you try it when there is very high pressure or dense fog, you may get a reply. The transmission can be "ducted" in these conditions, and can get over land masses. From West Cornwall, I have heard a calls from Rosslare and Brest-Le-Conquet in high pressure/fog conditions, and spoken to Fowey Pilots "over the land" during thick fog.

Yes, try it with a handheld - for "test purposes" only. As the previous post says, it is not really legal to use it ashore.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[Mike_Martin]

Just to amplify a point nearly made in the other posts! Unless you are a Maritime Radio Supplier covered by the licence of the same name, it is illegal for you to use your maritime transmission equipment (even for testing purposes) ashore.

The best way to test would be to call in an installer or send it away to a dealer.

Mike



<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[nickjaxe]

Maybe in the true sense of the law you should not do it, but when working on my vhf at home I have asked the CG for a radio check told them were I am but made sure it was not at a busy time and they have not had a problem in fact they have been very helpful.

Nick.

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[bruce]

get an antenna meter, either ham/2meter or a cb antenna meter. either will show whethere radio is transmitting and condition of radio, coax and antenna condition. a cb meter will not read 'swr' at 1:1 in vhf, but the prized 1:1 is translated to 3:1 in vhf . also a dummy load and 10 watt fluorescent light bulb can be used by holding the two together, rf will/should light the tube, same can be done at the antenna whild keying mike

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[Mike_Martin]

Now you see from your perspective that would seem sensible and not too much to ask.

However, now try looking at it from my perspective, imagine if every "trailer sailor" (don't forget that there are a lot of them) hears that such a thing is at least partially acceptable and then they were all to start checking their radios prior to scooting off down the motorway. This is how we have to think about things.

This is exactly one of the kind of possible situations that the rules are there to prevent.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[nickjaxe]

Hi mike I know were you are coming from, but I did not really mean just to check the radio is working every time you were going out to play as this would cause mayhem, but maybe after some major work such as fitting a new antenna, but if it is frowned upon that much then I would just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope it works when I come to use it, thanks for your info mike.

Nick.

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[snowleopard]

why?

if one can hear nothing at all on vhf inland, what would it be interfering with and what is the point of banning its use? sounds like regulation for its own sake!

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[Mike_Martin]

Re: why?

Well of course, it would, wouldn't it?

Because what's the harm? Except that this is a particular sector where everyone involved is not a radio professional like most other services and the birth of Urban Legend within the sector is phenomenal.

I spent several years when I started this job being told by earnest users "that a hand-held radio doesn't need a licence because it's (wait for it ) hand-held?? followed closely by "If the radio is only carried for emergencies you don't need a licence!". This, by the by, was pretty much the defence applied by the man last year using marine hand-helds to operate his South coast caravan site. Who was prosecuted because of interference caused to a nearby MRCC.

It would not be too long before "it's OK to use Marine radio ashore because there are no boats there" surfaced. Then the cabbies would think that it's all well and good to use because it's got Hi power. Then HMCG would never be able to hear anyone afloat because of all the VHF antennas mounted on roofs in-shore getting better propogation to its antennas.

Sounds scary but actually just like the situation in the Windies and certain other US controlled areas.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[bruce]

if there is such a problem over there, then purchase a 2m vhf ham in line meter, then just key the mike and watch the needle bounce, can check antenna condition, modulation and power output, about $40 over here, your local marine antenna dealer prob has them for sale

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