Vhf radio checks needed

[ricky_s]

On Tuesday on the way out of Chi there was a motorboat that had grounded. The sea was not kind that day (we abandoned our trip not long after the bar) but the boat wasn't looking in to bad a way. We tried calling up the coastguard on 16 and also Chi harbour on 14 but had no response, we even tried a radio check on 67 but nothing.

We call to lock out all the time and that works fine and haven't had to use it for anything else on this boat before but this was quite a scary thought to think we've been out loads of times and possibly didn't have a way to contact the coastguard. We do have a couple of handheld vhf units and they work okay but not quite the same.


Looks like those radio checks you hear are a necessity after all.



P.s. the rnli fom Hayling did turn up a few minutes later and tugged off the other boat.

 

[oGaryo]

On Tuesday on the way out of Chi there was a motorboat that had grounded. The sea was not kind that day (we abandoned our trip not long after the bar) but the boat wasn't looking in to bad a way. We tried calling up the coastguard on 16 and also Chi harbour on 14 but had no response, we even tried a radio check on 67 but nothing.

We call to lock out all the time and that works fine and haven't had to use it for anything else on this boat before but this was quite a scary thought to think we've been out loads of times and possibly didn't have a way to contact the coastguard. We do have a couple of handheld vhf units and they work okay but not quite the same.


Looks like those radio checks you hear are a necessity after all.



P.s. the rnli fom Hayling did turn up a few minutes later and tugged off the other boat.

Had similar on mine recently Ricky (ICOM unit). transmit was ok but no receive. Maybe yours is the same and receive is on its way out or maybe the high transmit is buggered. If yours is ICOM, contact their sales dept. had mine fixed under warranty for the princely sum of £5.62 (the cost of posting it to them)

 

[ricky_s]

Had similar on mine recently Ricky (ICOM unit). transmit was ok but no receive. Maybe yours is the same and receive is on its way out or maybe the high transmit is buggered. If yours is ICOM, contact their sales dept. had mine fixed under warranty for the princely sum of £5.62 (the cost of posting it to them)

Hi mate,

It's a Raymarine job and it seems to be a distance thing, happily works to my hand helds though they are only a few feet from the boat so not much of a challenge. Suspect the antenna is the most likely suspect?

cheers

Ricky

 

[oGaryo]

Hi mate,

It's a Raymarine job and it seems to be a distance thing, happily works to my hand helds though they are only a few feet from the boat so not much of a challenge. Suspect the antenna is the most likely suspect?

cheers

Ricky

maybe a quick fix is to check the connectors but knowing you, you'll have done that already

 

[ricky_s]

maybe a quick fix is to check the connectors but knowing you, you'll have done that already

Yep, couldn't find anything obvious. Even had a read of the vhf manual!

 

[ricky_s]

Gary, you were right, it was a dodgy connection, doh!

 

[volvopaul]

Hi Ricky, are you sure it was Tuesday this week as on our passage back from Weymouth on Wednesday we listened to Solent cg speaking to hayling lb co ordinations the rescue of a small fishing boat around Chichester area. We could hear all conversation from both sides , I'd say our position was midway between hurst castle and Anvil point in Poole bay. Time approx 11.00 am.

 

[ricky_s]

Hi Ricky, are you sure it was Tuesday this week as on our passage back from Weymouth on Wednesday we listened to Solent cg speaking to hayling lb co ordinations the rescue of a small fishing boat around Chichester area. We could hear all conversation from both sides , I'd say our position was midway between hurst castle and Anvil point in Poole bay. Time approx 11.00 am.

Hi Paul,

It was a couple of weeks ago now.

cheers,

Ricky