VHF Radio Transmitting Problems

[Tim Good]

Ok so here is the situation. I have a new Cobra hand held VHF and a fixed non DSC in the boat. They talk to each other on most channels but not some which I found odd. One for example is Channel 80.

So I went into the marina office in Darthaven and tested the hand held it with them. It works. I went to the boat and called them from the boat VHF which also worked. But the boat vhf and my hand held wont talk to each other on that channel.

Can anyone explain this and the reason some other channels act in the same way?

 

[whipper_snapper]

Ok so here is the situation. I have a new Cobra hand held VHF and a fixed non DSC in the boat. They talk to each other on most channels but not some which I found odd. One for example is Channel 80.

So I went into the marina office in Darthaven and tested the hand held it with them. It works. I went to the boat and called them from the boat VHF which also worked. But the boat vhf and my hand held wont talk to each other on that channel.

Can anyone explain this and the reason some other channels act in the same way?

I would hazard a guess that you do not have a VHF operating licence!!

 

[yesod]

do you hold a radio licence?

 

[rob2]

Yes, had you attended the training course for an operator's license you would have covered this! Certain channels, Ch 80 amongst them, are duplex - the ship and shore stations transmit on different frequencies. This means that a ship will not hear another ship's transmission, only the shore station's reply.

Rob.

 

[VicS]

They wont communicate with each other on any of the dual frequency (duplex) channels, only on the single frequency ( simplex) channels.

Do the course, get your licence . You will then know the answers to basic questions like this and be able to legally operate a VHF ships radio


Also get a ships licence , which is free from OFCOM. You will then be able to legally equip your boat with your radios.

 

[Elemental]

I would hazard a guess that you do not have a VHF operating licence!!

Do the course, get your licence . You will then know the answers to basic questions like this and be able to legally operate a VHF ships radio

do you hold a radio licence?

Hmmm, something strange here. He's already done his yachtmaster exam so he must have done the SRC...

 

[Tim Good]

Hmmm, something strange here. He's already done his yachtmaster exam so he must have done the SRC...

I would hazard a guess that you do not have a VHF operating licence!!

Yes I have done my licence a couple of years ago and nothing in my notes or to my memory on the course told us of "duplex" channels. I also enquired with a few people at the Marina over the weekend (including the staff) and everyone's answer was simply that my hand held was broken.

Anyway thanks for the info.

 

[VicS]

Yes I have done my licence a couple of years ago and nothing in my notes or to my memory on the course told us of "duplex" channels. I also enquired with a few people at the Marina over the weekend (including the staff) and everyone's answer was simply that my hand held was broken.

Anyway thanks for the info.

It seems apretty basic thing to be omitted from the course

Id recommend you get the RYA booklet

If not Tim Bartlett's VHF Handbook

 

[Tim Good]

It seems apretty basic thing to be omitted from the course

Id recommend you get the RYA booklet

If not Tim Bartlett's VHF Handbook

Will do. Thanks. To be honest I'm from a racing background and learning as I go when it comes to cruising, hence why the advice on here is invaluable compared to the books and courses I have done. I've found many things that I'd consider important that were omitted from my YM training.

Anyway I hope I don't irritate anyone with my ignorance.

 

[alahol2]

Out of interest, is there some sort of switch (software setting) that sets the radio to being ship or shore? If you want a shore based radio (eg a sailing club) do you have to specify it to the manufacturer?

 

[prv]

It seems apretty basic thing to be omitted from the course

Pretty sure it was mentioned in mine, though it's hard to tell as I don't think anything in the rather basic course was news to me. I've just had a quick look for the syllabus online, but only found a series of very general bullets. I guess it would come under "Channel allocation and use".

Pete

 

[prv]

Out of interest, is there some sort of switch (software setting) that sets the radio to being ship or shore? If you want a shore based radio (eg a sailing club) do you have to specify it to the manufacturer?

Think you're supposed to buy a special version, because most shore licenses restrict them to one channel (or a very short list).

Pete

 

[Solitaire]

Yes I have done my licence a couple of years ago and nothing in my notes or to my memory on the course told us of "duplex" channels. I also enquired with a few people at the Marina over the weekend (including the staff) and everyone's answer was simply that my hand held was broken.

Anyway thanks for the info.

Neither your fixed or your H/H will talk to one another on Ch 80. I suggest you do a radio check with your marina on Ch 80 and then make your mind up.

As has been said, ch 80 is a duplex channel and your Class D Is not set up to receive on the transmission frequency.

You should certainly have been made aware of this on your VHF course. I use tin cans and string to demonstrate simplex and duplex . Makes for some amusement during the course.

 

[VicS]

Pretty sure it was mentioned in mine, though it's hard to tell as I don't think anything in the rather basic course was news to me. I've just had a quick look for the syllabus online, but only found a series of very general bullets. I guess it would come under "Channel allocation and use".

Pete

I have to confess that I did not do a course. Bought the RYA booklet (and the syllabus booklet) Learnt the contents of the booklet thoroughly and took the test.
Piece of cake compared with some of the exams I'd taken in the past