VHF Reception in the Solent

[DJE]

Very strange behaviour from my VHF recently. QHM clear on Ch11, all the usual radio checks and boat to boat stuff clear on Ch16, marinas clear on Ch80, racing traffic clear on Ch08. But when Solent CG announce their weather bulletins on Ch16 and then transmit them on Ch23 I struggle to hear either the announcement or the bulletin. They are broken and covered in static. But Solent CG are clear as a bell the rest of the time. Anyone else having this problem over the past weekend (and late last season I seem to remember) or do I need to check my radio and antenna? (Silva S15 radio so I don't have a lot of faith in it at the moment.)

 

[malcp]

Actually I tend to agree with your observation (radio is Compact SX25). I've often found the CG Chan23 broadcast of bad quality. Don't know why though.

 

[Robin]

We had our set on on Saturday still trying to get the GPS to talk to it for DSC and noticed there was a carrier on Ch16 for about 4hrs, Solent eventually discovered the culprit and were quite snippy with them as it had interfered with a Pan Pan call. That doesn't explain Ch23 being fuzzy though.

 

[jjc]

I have this problem in Brighton. I get the info on 16 to listen to the safety info on 23 but on changing channel it is very poor quality. I asked the coastguard at Beaulieu boat jumble on Sun and he had no idea why.

John

 

[DJE]

Glad to know its not just me then.

 

[DJE]

Have you tried Ch 86 in Brighton? The normally say Ch 23 for Solent and South of I.O.W. Ch 86 elsewhere.

 

[tome]

I think the ch 23 & ch 70 (DSC) antennas are on Boniface Down (South side of IOW)

 

[DRW]

The culprit was reported to OFFCOM's Radio Investigation Service folks at Baldock for this second offence.