Marine VHF radio
Marine VHF radio refers to the radio frequency range between 156.0 and 162.025 MHz, inclusive. The "VHF" signifies the very high frequency of the range. In the official language of the International Telecommunication Union the band is called the VHF maritime mobile band. In some countries additional channels are used, such as[1] the L and F channels for leisure and fishing vessels in the Nordic countries (at 155.5–155.825 MHz).
Marine VHF radio equipment is installed on all large ships and most seagoing small craft. It is also used, with slightly different regulation, on rivers and lakes. It is used for a wide variety of purposes, including summoning rescue services and communicating with harbours, locks, bridges and marinas.
A marine VHF set is a combined transmitter and receiver and only operates on standard, international frequencies known as channels. Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) is the international calling and distress channel. Transmission power ranges between 1 and 25 watts, giving a maximum range of up to about 60 nautical miles (111 km) between aerials mounted on tall ships and hills, and 5 nautical miles (9 km; 6 mi) between aerials mounted on small boats at sea level.[2] Frequency modulation (FM) is used, with vertical polarization, meaning that antennas have to be vertical in order to have good reception.
Modern-day marine VHF radios offer not only basic transmit and receive capabilities. Permanently mounted marine VHF radios on seagoing vessels are required to have certification of some level of "Digital Selective Calling" (DSC) capability, to allow a distress signal to be sent with a single button press.
Marine VHF mostly uses "simplex" transmission, where communication can only take place in one direction at a time. A transmit button on the set or microphone determines whether it is operating as a transmitter or a receiver. Some channels, however, are "duplex" transmission channels where communication can take place in both directions simultaneously when the equipment on both ends allow it (full duplex), otherwise "semi-duplex" is used.[2] Each duplex channel has two frequency assignments. Duplex channels can be used to place calls on the public telephone system for a fee via a marine operator. When full duplex is used, the call is similar to one using a mobile phone or landline. When semi-duplex is used, voice is only carried one way at a time and the party on the boat must press the transmit button only when speaking. This facility is still available in some areas, though its use has largely died out with the advent of mobile and satellite phones. Marine VHF radios can also receive weather radio broadcasts, where they are available.
Types of equipment
Sets can be fixed or portable. A fixed set generally has the advantages of a more reliable power source, higher transmit power, a larger and more effective aerial and a bigger display and buttons. A portable set (often essentially a waterproof, VHF walkie-talkie in design) can be carried on a kayak, or to a lifeboat in an emergency, has its own power source and is waterproof if GMDSS-approved. A few portable VHFs are even approved to be used as emergency radios in environments requiring intrinsically safe equipment (e.g. gas tankers, oil rigs, etc.).
Marine radios can be "voice-only" or can include "Digital Selective Calling" (DSC).
Voice-only equipment is the traditional type, which relies totally on the human voice for calling and communicating.
Digital Selective Calling equipment, a part of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS), provides all the functionality of voice-only equipment and, additionally, allows several other features:
- a transmitter can automatically call a receiver equipped with Digital Selective Calling, using a telephone-type number known as a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI). The DSC information is sent on the reserved Channel 70. When the receiver picks up the call, their active channel is automatically switched to the transmitter's channel and normal voice communication can proceed.
- a distress button, which automatically sends a digital distress signal identifying the calling vessel and the nature of the emergency
- a connection to a GPS receiver allowing the digital distress message to contain the distressed vessel's position
The MMSI is used for seagoing vessels and consists of a nine-digit number identifying a VHF set or group of sets. The left hand digits of MMSI indicate the country and type of station. For example, here are MMSI prefixes of four station types:
- Ship : 232, 233, 234 or 235 are the United Kingdom – e.g. a UK ship : 232003556
- Coastal station : 00 – e.g. Solent Coastguard : 002320011
- Group of stations : 0 – e.g. 023207823
- Portable DSC equipment : for UK 2359 - e.g. 235900498
Here is an external link where you can find different countries MMSI Numbers http://www.vtexplorer.com/vessel-tracking-mmsi-mid-codes.html
For use on the inland waterways within continental Europe, a compulsory Automatic Transmitter Identification System (ATIS) transmission conveys the vessel's identity after each voice transmission. This is a ten-digit code that is either an encoded version of the ship's alphanumeric call sign, or for vessels from outside the region, the ship MMSI prefixed with '9'. The requirement to use ATIS in Europe, and which VHF channels may be used, are strongly regulated, most recently by the Basel agreements.
Channels and frequencies
Simplex channels here are listed with the A and B frequencies the same. The frequencies, channels, and some of their purposes are governed by the ITU. For an authoritative list see.[3] The original allocation of channels consisted of only channels 1 to 28 with 50 kHz spacing between channels, and the second frequency for duplex operation 4.6 MHz higher.
Improvements in radio technology later meant that the channel spacing could be reduced to 25 kHz with channels 60 to 88 interspersed between the original channels.
Channels 75 and 76 are omitted as they are either side of the calling and distress channel 16, acting as guard channels. The frequencies which would have been the second frequencies for simplex channels are not used for marine purposes and can be used for other purposes that vary by country. For example, 161.000 to 161.450 MHz are part of the allocation to the Association of American Railroads channels used by railways in the USA and Canada.[4]
Channel number |
Frequencies (MHz) | United Kingdom [5] | United States | Canada | Australia | New Zealand | Finland[1] | Europe CEPT [6] Mediterranean countries (Sea, Ocean) |
Belgium France Germany Netherlands Switzerland CCNR: Main stem, River, Canal, Lake, Pond, Estuary [7] · [8] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A Usually ship stations |
B Usually coast stations | |||||||||
0 | 156.000 | 160.600 | Private, coast guard A | |||||||
1 | 156.050 | 160.650 | Ship-to-ship/shore, commercial and safety West Coast A |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) BC Coast |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways.. (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
2 | 156.100 | 160.700 | Public BC Coast |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways.. (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||||
3 | 156.150 | 160.750 | A Illegal for public use1 | Public BC Coast/Inland |
Boat to Boat - Kawau | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks, Customs Coast Guard, search and rescue |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways. (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||
4 | 156.200 | 160.800 | Ship-to-ship/shore, commercial and safety East Coast and Inland A Canadian Coast Guard - public working channel |
Boat to Boat - Tutukaka/Raglan | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks, Customs Coast Guard, search and rescue |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | |||
5 | 156.250 | 160.850 | Ship Movements | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks, authorities responsible |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways.. (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||||
6 | 156.300 | 156.300 | Ship-to-ship + Ship-to-Air A | Ship-to-ship + Ship-to-Air A | Distress - Ship-to-Air | Working - Intership | A Ship-to-ship also SAR: Ship-to-Ship + Ship-to-Air |
Ship-to-ship + Ship-to-Air A | Ship-to-ship (limited to 1 watt) + Ship-to-Air | |
7 | 156.350 | 160.950 | General working channel | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Navy | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways.. (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||||
8 | 156.400 | 156.400 | Ship-to-ship A | Ship-to-ship East and west coasts, Lake Winnipeg A |
Working - Intership | Working - Intership | A Ship-to-ship | A Ship-to-ship | A Ship-to-ship (limited to 1 watt) | |
9 | 156.450 | 156.450 | Frequently used by pilots A | Calling A , commercial and non-commercial. | Ship-to-air for maritime support Atlantic and BC coasts A |
Pilots, Port Operations | Port Operations | A VTS (Ship-to-ship + Port Operations |
Marina pilots, Marina Operations, Ship in a marina | Marina pilots, Marina Operations, Ship in a marina (limited to 1 watt) |
10 | 156.500 | 156.500 | Frequently used by HM Coastguard A | Ship-to-air - SAR and antipollution A General working - Atlantic and BC coasts, Great Lakes |
Port Operations | A Ship-to-ship Port Operations also SAR and oil cleanup only VTS on Gulf of Finland |
International waters Ship-to-ship ; Customs Coast Guard, Navy | Calling ; Ship-to-ship ; Customs, On board working (limited to 1 watt) Distress, safety and calling | ||
11 | 156.550 | 156.550 | Port Operations | VTS - BC Coast Pilotage A |
Port Operations | A Port Operations | Navy | Port Operations | ||
12 | 156.600 | 156.600 | Port Operations | VTS - San Francisco offshore Pilotage A |
VTS - BC Coast Port and pilot ops A |
Port Operations, VTS | Port Operations | A Port Operations | | |
13 | 156.650 | 156.650 | Bridge-to-Bridge Working A | Bridge-to-Bridge safety A : Vessels > 20m must maintain watch, Tx limited to 1 watt. Movable bridge / lock operations. | VTS - BC Coast Bridge-to-bridge safety A |
Port Operations, VTS | Intership Nav Safety | A Pilots Ship-to-ship Port Operations |
Port Operations, Coast Guard | Ship-to-ship (limited to 1 watt) |
14 | 156.700 | 156.700 | Port Operations | VTS - San Francisco Bay and Delta Pilotage A |
VTS - BC Coast Port and pilot ops A |
Port Operations | A Working channel for SAR authorities, Turku Radio (Port Operations) |
Port Operations, Navy | Port Operations | |
15 | 156.750 | 156.750 | On board working (limited to 1 watt) A | A max 1 W Intraship Ship-to-ship Port Operations |
beach monitoring | Radiocommunications on board a ship or in a group of boats towed or pushed, as well as those concerning the instructions for the maneuver bullish and docking. (limited to 1 watt) | ||||
16 | 156.800 | 156.800 | All vessels equipped with VHF must maintain watch. |
Estuary (16 + 10). Not used on: Main stem, River, Canal, Lake, Pond. | ||||||
17 | 156.850 | 156.850 | On board Working A | Aquatic Sports Events | A max 1 W Intraship Ship-to-ship Port Operations |
Port Operations, Navy, Maritime Gendarmerie | Radiocommunications on board a ship or in a group of boats towed or pushed, as well as those concerning the instructions for the maneuver bullish and docking. (limited to 1 watt) | |||
18 | 156.900 | 161.500 | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||||
19 | 156.950 | 161.550 | Landside facilities: harbormaster, marinas. | Canadian Coast Guard - Working Channel | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Port Operations | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
20 | 157.000 | 161.600 | Repeater Operations | Continuous Weather Maritime Safety Service |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Port Operations, Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), (limited to 1 watt Paris Underground canal) | |||
21 | 157.050 | 161.650 | A U.S. Coast Guard Only | Continuous marine broadcasts B (WX 8) |
Continuous Weather Maritime Safety Service |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
| |||
22 | 157.100 | 161.700 | A U.S. Coast Guard—public working channel2 | Continuous Weather Maritime Safety Service |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Port Operations, Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
23 | 157.150 | 161.750 | HM Coastguard Maritime Safety Information | A U.S. Coast Guard Only | Continuous Weather Maritime Safety Service |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Port Operations, Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | ||
24 | 157.200 | 161.800 | UKSAR G/A Winching A UKSAR TWC B |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||||
25 | 157.250 | 161.850 | Maritime Radio Working Channel | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||||
26 | 157.300 | 161.900 | HM Coastguard Maritime Safety Information | Public correspondence (marine telephone operator) | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
27 | 157.350 | 161.950 | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||||
28 | 157.400 | 162.000 | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||||
M1/37A | 157.850 | 157.850 | (As M1) Yacht clubs, race committees and marinas | |||||||
60 | 156.025 | 160.625 | GOFREP on Gulf of Finland Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||||
61 | 156.075 | 160.675 | A Illegal for public use1 | GOFREP (Estonia) on Gulf of Finland Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||||
62 | 156.125 | 160.725 | UKSAR Calling and Helicopter Channel A UKSAR TWC B |
Boat to Boat - Waiheke/Whangaroa | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
63 | 156.175 | 160.775 | UKSAR TWC (simplex) | Boat to Boat - Manukau | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Coast Guard, Port Operations | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
64 | 156.225 | 160.825 | UKSAR TWC (simplex) | A Illegal for public use1 | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Coast Guard, Port Operations | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
65 | 156.275 | 160.875 | National Coastwatch Working Channel for communication with local mariners for radio checks and local sea conditions. Effective 1 October 2014. | Marine Assistance Working Channel | Boat to Boat - Coromandel | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Coast Guard, Port Operations | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||
66 | 156.325 | 160.925 | Marinas - BC Coast A | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||||
67 | 156.375 | 156.375 | UK Small Ship Safety Channel | Working Channel, Marine Weather | Maritime Radio Working Channel | A VTS (Ship-to-ship + Port Operations) |
Coast Guard | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||
68 | 156.425 | 156.425 | Non-commercial A | Maritime Radio Working Channel | A Port Operations | Coast Guard | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
69 | 156.475 | 156.475 | Port Operations | Non-commercial A | Australian Navy | Maritime Radio Working channel Surf Lifesaving |
A Ship-to-ship Port Operations |
Navy | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |
70 | 156.525 | 156.525 | Digital Selective Calling A | Not used on: Main stem, River, Canal, Lake, Pond. | ||||||
71 | 156.575 | 156.575 | Non-commercial A | Maritime Radio Working Channel | A VTS (Ship-to-ship + Port Operations) Port Operations |
Navy | Port Operations | |||
72 | 156.625 | 156.625 | Ship-to-ship A | Non-commercial ship-to-ship A | Ship-to-ship | A Ship-to-ship Ship-to-air |
A Ship-to-ship, communications with a social (ship) | A Ship-to-ship, communications with a social (ship) (limited to 1 watt) | ||
73 | 156.675 | 156.675 | HM Coastguard Safety Broadcasts | Ship-to-ship | Marinas - Working | A Ship-to-ship Ship-to-air (Port Operations) |
Port Operations, Navy | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||
74 | 156.725 | 156.725 | British Waterways/Canal and River Trust Channel (Canal and River System) | Ship-to-ship | Working - Coast/Ship | A Port Operations | Port Operations, Navy, Maritime Gendarmerie | Port Operations | ||
75 | 156.775 | 156.775 | Navigation related communications (limited to 1 watt) | A Restricted Ship-to-ship Port Operations |
A Restricted Ship-to-ship Port Operations, (limited to 1 watt) |
Port Operations | ||||
76 | 156.825 | 156.825 | A Restricted Port Operations |
A Restricted Ship-to-ship Port Operations, (limited to 1 watt) |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||||
77 | 156.875 | 156.875 | Ship-to-ship A | Ship-to-ship | A Ship-to-ship | A Ship-to-ship, communications with a social (ship) | A Ship-to-ship, communications with a social (ship) (limited to 1 watt) | |||
78 | 156.925 | 161.525 | Non-commercial A | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||||
79 | 156.975 | 161.575 | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Customs Coast Guard, search and rescue, Port Operations | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||||
80 | 157.025 | 161.625 | UK Marina Channel | Repeater Operations | Coastguard Radio - Working Channel | GOFREP on Gulf of Finland Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Customs, Coast Guard, search and rescue, Port Operations | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||
81 | 157.075 | 161.675 | A U.S. Government Use Only | Repeater Operations | Coastguard Radio - Working Channel | GOFREP (Estonia) on Gulf of Finland Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||
82 | 157.125 | 161.725 | A U.S. Government Use Only | Canadian Coast Guard - Working Channel | Coastguard Radio - Working Channel | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Port Operations | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||
83 | 157.175 | 161.775 | A U.S. Coast Guard Use Only | Continuous marine broadcasts B (WX 9) |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
84 | 157.225 | 161.825 | HM Coastguard Maritime Safety Information | Coastguard Radio - Working Channel | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
85 | 157.275 | 161.875 | UKSAR TWC (simplex) | Radio Telephone - Duplex | Coastguard Radio - Working Channel | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Navy | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | ||
86 | 157.325 | 161.925 | HM Coastguard Maritime Safety Information | Coastguard Radio - Working Channel | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) Port Operations |
Navy | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||
87 | 157.375 | 157.375 | Public Correspondence Port Operations |
Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks, Customs Coast Guard, search and rescue | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||||
88 | 157.425 | 157.425 | Commercial, Intership only. | Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Shore Duplex), Independent radio networks | Radiotelephone links between ship stations and land stations of the authorities responsible for the operation of inland waterways (Ship-to-Shore Duplex) | |||||
M2/P4 | 161.425 | 161.425 | (As M2) Yacht clubs, race committees and marinas | (As P4) In France, some yacht clubs, marinas and race committees | ||||||
87B | 161.975 | 161.975 | Automatic Identification System A & B | |||||||
88B | 162.025 | 162.025 | Automatic Identification System A & B | |||||||
[9] Notes:
- Some radios enable channels 3A, 61A, and 64A when configured for "USA mode" even though those channels are allocated exclusively for Public Safety use by the FCC. The frequencies 156.075, 156.150, and 156.225 MHz are used for interoperability communication by police and fire departments in many areas.
- Channel 22A is reserved for communication between the U.S. Coast Guard vessels and private vessels. The Coast Guard does not monitor 22A: Contact must first be established on 16.
- UKSAR land-based search and rescue teams have access to the simplexed versions of 24, 62, 63, 64, 85 for operational and training needs. These include mountain rescue teams in England, Wales and Scotland.
- CCG public operations moved from 22A to 04A to avoid interference from USCG stations in northern Washington state.
Operating procedure
The accepted conventions for use of marine radio are collectively termed "proper operating procedure." These conventions include:
- Listen for 30 seconds before transmitting. Don't interrupt other stations.
- Always listen to Channel 16 when not using the radio. Only transmit in a real Emergency, or to ask a listening ship to switch to Channel 9, 68, 69, 71, 72, etc. Don't chat or check your radio on 16. False "mayday" calls are a felony crime. Keep Channel 16 as quiet as possible.
- Listen to Channel 9 when expecting a call, to establish communications, to coordinate on a free channel to switch to (typically channel 68, 69, 71 or 72 to talk). Don't chat on 9.
- Using a set of international "calling" procedures such as the "Mayday" distress call, the "Pan-pan" urgency call and "Sécurité" navigational hazard call.
- Using "pro-words" based on the English language such as Acknowledge, All after, All before, All stations, Confirm, Correct, Correction, In figures, In letters, Over, Out, Radio check, Read back, Received, Repeat, Say again, Spell, Standby, Station calling, This is, Wait, Word after, Word before, Wrong (local language is used for some of these, when talking to local stations)
- Using the NATO phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu
- Using a phonetic numbering system based on the English language or a combination of English and Roman languages: Wun, Too, Tree, Fow-er, Fife, Six, Sev-en, Ait, Nin-er, Zero, Decimal, alternatively in marine communication: unaone, bissotwo, terrathree, kartefour, pantafive, soxisix, setteseven, oktoeight, novenine, nadazero
Slightly adjusted regulations can apply for inland shipping, such as the Basel rules in Western Europe.
See also
References
- 1 2 "Kommunikationsverket 2010: Handbok i VHF-radiokommunikation för radiooperatör med kusttrafikcertifikat" (PDF). Viestintavirasto.fi. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- 1 2 "MGN 324 Operational guidance on the use of radio and automatic identification systems". Gov.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ↑ Circular letter CM/19-E, International Telecommunications Union, 27 March 2009
- ↑ "American Association of Railroads channel allocation" (PDF). Arrl-al.org. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ↑ Noice, Alison, ed. (2008). VHF Radio (including GMDSS) (2nd ed.). RYA. ISBN 978-1-906435-20-2.
- ↑ MANUEL DE PREPARATION DU CRR MARITIME 2015 Agence nationale des fréquences
- ↑ Guide de radiotéléphonie pour la navigation intérieure 2014: Commission Centrale pour la Navigation du Rhin
- ↑ MANUEL DE PREPARATION DU CRR FLUVIAL 2015 Agence nationale des fréquences
- ↑ "U.S. VHF Channels". Navcen.uscg.gov. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marine radios VHF. |
- US Coast Guard basic radio information for boaters
- Coast Guard marine channel listing (with frequencies)
- US FCC marine channel listing (by function)
- UK MCA advice on use of VHF at sea, including collision avoidance, effective ranges, and International channel usage*
- Canadian VHF Bands in the Maritime Service
- VHF Marine Band Plan in TURKEY (Türkiye'deki VHF Deniz Telsiz Frekans Kanal Listesi)
- Listen LIVE! VHF Marine Radio @ East of Izmit Bay / TURKEY (İzmit Körfezi Doğusu - Canlı VHF Marin Telsiz Dinleme)
- New Zealand VHF Radio Resource Center