We've had a few threads on this subject, so I thought I'd start this off, but please chime in and add to it. The intent is to put together a thread that in the true salty dog fashion fosters learning and sharing on the ocean within a limited space on the radio and showing by example how the radio should be used. Please if you want to talk about the lady calling Joe all day, or how you'd rather just turn off the radio, or just cut the cheese (I love that one Pilar) on someone - please go somewhere else.
You have all noticed that the volume of folks on the few radio channels we have to share has increased in the recent years. That is all because of the growth in the sports fisheries on the ocean which is directly related to the fine efforts of everyone on this forum. The number of radio channels available to us for idle chit chat are very limited on the Marine VHF band so we MUST share it.
So just what are all those radio channels for anyway?
The attached PDF file is a chart that summarizes a portion of the FCC rules that cover how each US marine VHF channel can be used for the official stuff see 47 CFR
80.371(c) and
80.373(f) this from the following site:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/vhfchanl.html
A couple snips from the table so we can focus on two areas Noncommercial Use and Port Operations (sniped directly from the site), the channels available for those uses and the footnotes (numbers within the parenthetical) are below.
NONCOMMERCIAL - Working channels for voluntary boats. Messages must be about the needs of the ship. Typical uses include fishing reports, rendezvous,scheduling repairs and berthing information. Use Channels 67 and 72 only for ship-to-ship messages. 9(6), 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79(4), 80(4), 67(7).
PORT OPERATIONS - These channels are used in directing the movement of ships in or near ports, locks or waterways. Messages must be about the operational handling movement and safety of ships. In certain major ports, Channels 11,12 and are not available for general port operations messages. Use channel 20 only for ship-to-coast messages. Channel 77 is limited to intership communications to and from pilots 1(5), 5(3), 12, 14, 20, 63(5), 65, 66, 73, 74, 77
Footnotes
- Not available in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, or the Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and its approaches.
- Only for use In the Great Lakes, St Lawrence Seaway, and Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and its approaches.
- Available only In the Houston and New Orleans areas.
- Available only in the Great Lakes.
- Available only In the New Orleans area.
- Available for Intership, ship, and coast general purpose calling by noncommercial ships.
- Available only In the Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
So for the use of fishing reports and ship to ship messages we are limited to 9 channels. One important point to make, the folks in Tillamook who are using channel 14, you are not supposed to be using that channel for that purpose. I know, I know, you have been for years, but you could interfer with port operations when unusual conditions exist that may cause you signal to travel thousands of miles.
Operating Practices
How many of you have heard the frantic call where a skipper is reporting a huge bite speaks real fast and tosses his numbers out - then the rest of the fleet spends 5 minutes saying "What"?
The following are some things to think about when you are using either end of your radio.
Lets start by being good radio operators. First and foremost - lets not hog the local noncommercial use channel with idol chit chat. You want to talk it up big with you wingman, move off frequency. If your wingman or communicatee is close in distance, change frequency and reduce power. Only use enough RF power to convey the intended message - more isn't always necessary.
When changing operating channels, do not broadcast immediately. Listen for a few seconds to see if the channel is in use. You want to do this, because you may not be able to hear the other 1/2 of a conversation going on if the distant party is talking. In the ham radio world we will actually ask if the channel is in use - silence generally means it is available.
If you are using the channel, always leave a few seconds pause between your transmissions between two or more parties. By leaving a few seconds, another boat can easily either join in, make a call to a buddy boat, and or move off the operating frequency to continue their discussion. As Skein points out, press your microphones button (its called a push to talk or PTT) and wait a second before you speak - you won't cut off your first words on the other end as it does take a few milliseconds for the squelch circuit to release the receiver.
If you need to break into an ongoing conversation to hail someone, wait for the pause, and announce you vessel name. In the ham radio world we use our call signs on busy repeaters to let those who are using it know we would like to break in. If you are the one talking and you hear a vessel name announced, but just have to finish your train of thought start your next communication acknowledging that you heard the vessel and will pause for the their traffic at the next break - do not make them wait till you have finished talking about the virtues of real mayonnaise or miracle whip on your sandwich.
- When speaking on the radio, use a calm, clear, well paced voice that is loud enough to be heard.
- Speaking too quickly (I'm guilty of this from years of being on the radio) makes people look at each other and
.
- You do not need to hold the microphone directly at your lips - a few inches away actually works better.
- Most microphones use really small microphone elements and have a little small hole on the front of the radio - lets not cover that with our palm - Sorry TunaDog - cause it makes your voice real weak.
- When making a fishing report, do not make the broadcast if you really don't have time to do it - wait till you have time to put together a meaningful message. A hurried captain with a quickly spitted report leave the whole fleet saying, "What?"
- Start your report with you vessel name and why you are broadcasting, then while still pressing the PTT button pause for a few seconds, then give your report. When you are ready to give your numbers, let everyone know they are about to come and pause. Repeat your numbers is always a good idea. Use whatever format is generally accepted in your fishing area. For Instance:
"This is Ocean Cloud on 78 with a fishing report and numbers . . . . . . Numbers are as follows . . . . . 38 over 50 . . . . repeating numbers . . . . .38 over 50, fish are hitting Root Beer jigs and green silver sparkle swim baits. Ocean Cloud out"
- Leave the CB Jargon on the Highway please. For instance, "this is so and so on the side." The side of what? Its just wasted breath. 10-4, or what is your 20
you guys keep that up and I'm busting out the Q-calls. Don't get me wrong 10 signals have their place, but not in FM communications where signal to noise ratios are so high.
I think that covers talking on the radio - now lets talk about the other 1/3 - LISTENING. You can talk all you want, but eventually you have to listen. If you are not ready to listen to a fishing report cause you are too busy, don't try and change mid broadcast. When you have time, hail the boat, move off frequency and ask for a repeat.
I think it is a good idea to have a notepad and a pencil near your radio operating position at all times. You may need to write down numbers quickly, pen can smear. Remember that you might be the only one about to hear someone's emergency broadcast and it would be bad to forget the numbers while searching for something to write them on - wax pencil on the window - something. They may not have time to repeat the broadcast.
"Required" Radio Watch Keeping
"In general, any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone (whether voluntarily or required to) must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone is not being used to communicate.
Source: FCC 47 CFR §§ 80.148, 80.310, NTIA Manual 8.2.29.6.c(2)(e), ITU RR 31.17, 33.18, AP13 §25.2"
A direct quote from USCG page
So how do we accomplish this. Several ways, use two radios. One set to the local noncommercial operating frequency and the other to channel 16. If you only have one radio, read up on your dual watch and tri watch functions. Your radio will by itself listen on 16 for a signal while you think you are listening on channel 78. If a signal is present it will switch over. I've heard lots of you say, you can't stand the chatter on 16, you never know! Or tag certain channels and use your radios scan feature.
If you can't stand the noise - turn it off.
I know at least one boat was out near where the skipper of a charter died last year from a head injury and wasn't listening on 16 and missed the problem report from panicked clients now controlling the boat. Would it have made a difference - not sure. But think what might have happened if the buddy boat to the Bull Frog and or Seelicious were not listening on 16
Radio Operating Skills & Practices
Boatdog
Linear Mode
