Marine Radio beginner

[RayMetz100]

I just bought my first marine radio last weekend, an Icom M72 handheld. Trying to hear something, I added every channel to TAG and started a scan. I bumped the squelch up to 5 and it made several loops. But I still hear nothing for the most part. I think once I heard a weak weather report signal on 20 or 21.

How do I test transmitting though? I'm not familuar with which channels I can try out. Is there a website, book, or class I should consider taking before using the thing?

From what I've seen so far, it looks like 16 is the only useful channel, but I can't use that until I need it.

Do they use these when coordinating sail races and such?


Thanks,

Ray

[capitan]

Ray have you tried doing a radio check on ch.16? there should be someone monitoring 16 almost all the time

[nolatom]

See if this list helps you:

http://www.cblights.com/cruising/vhfchannels_usa.asp

Race committees would probably use 68, 69, or one of the other recreational boat or port ops channels. 16 is distress and calling, so only use it long enough to make contact, then switch to another channel to talk. It can be used for radio check, but make sure it's not already in use and keep it short.

Or you could find out what channel your local bridgetenders use, they'll answer a radio check.

Here's another link about general radiotelephone procedure, it should answer most of your questions:

radio.htm" target="_blank">http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/ radio.htm

[sailingdog]

Ray-

I hope you're doing this while on your boat. Using a marine VHF on dry land is an FCC license violation and can result in some pretty stiff fines.

You should really read up a bit on VHF use and learn what the standard uses for different channels are.

There are some reserved communications channels, for private use.

Ch. 16- Emergency use...
Ch. 13- Bridge-to-bridge... often used for intership or ship-to-facility communication when speaking to drawbridges, marinas, etc.
Ch. 70- Now reserved for digital communications, via the DSC part of GMDSS.

You can read about all of the VHF channels and their uses at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/vhf.htm

For the race committe work, you can use any of the "non-commercial" designated channels.

As for radio checks, if you're near a marina or bridge that has a published VHF channel that they monitor, you should try that. Be aware that a handheld is going to be fairly limited in range as VHF is mostly line-of-sight. So if you've got buildings, trees, and hills in the way, you probably won't get them.

For instance, my marina to the local swing bridge is only 1.5-2 NM away, but since there is an island between us, I can't get them on the VHF until I get around the island.

[RayMetz100]

nolatom, your second link was very helpful.

Looks like I'll try a radio check the next time I go out. Hopefully it'll be under 25kts the Sunday after thanksgiving.

Ray

[Sailormon6]

I also have an Icom M72, and it's a very good handheld. The squelch filters out background interference and weak signals. It should be set at the minimum level necessary to eliminate the ambient noise. If you're setting it up to 5, you're filtering out all but the strongest signals. I usually set mine at 1.

Also, I sail the Chesapeake and, around Annapolis or other heavily traveled places there is a lot of radio traffic, but 25 miles south of Annapolis, boat traffic is infrequent, so, radio traffic will likewise be infrequent. In more isolated areas, you can go a long time without hearing anything on a handheld. Keep in mind that the main radio can receive signals 25 miles south of Annapolis, because it has an antenna on top of the mast, but the handheld only has a short antenna on the unit itself, and it won't receive signals that far.

[RayMetz100]

I finally got to try it on the water yesterday. I set it to scan 9,13,16,68,69,71,72,78 and heard plenty of traffic. The commercial stuff on 13 and boaters on 68 mostly.

I tried a radio check on 16 and didn't get a response. We tried transmitting a couple other times and no response. I'm either saying the wrong stuff or it's just hard to get anyone to answer. Maybe I have to try 3-4 times in a row and be more persistant?

I think the transmitter is working because there was also a radio built into our charter boat and I could talk back and forth to that on 68.

[wildcard]

Hand helds just dont have much out put. I have one for the zodiac but other than that I find them pretty worthless.

[sailaway21]

Ray,
A hand-held VHF has it's limitations due to the line of sight properties of VHF signals. Although you can get a "skip" off the ionosphere at night and thereby get a lot more range, but that's hit or miss. You'll find that your hand-held receives much better than transmits due to the fact that the signals received are already in the air, transmitted from higher antennas, and your transmission is from maybe ten feet off the water. It's a good idea to have a fixed mount VHF with antenna at the truck for maximum distance when transmitting. The hand-held is nice in port when manoeuvering with a lot of vessels around.
Most vessels don't answer a lot of radio checks as they are busy doing other things and, in my experience, you answer one radio check from the marina and you get 15 others-probably from boats not leaving the dock! If yours' is working on 68 it's a fair assumption it's probably working on the other channels. One other way to check xmit is the little red xmit light and hold it next to your am radio. Your radio will squawk-you're putting out signal. You don't have to talk to do this, just press the xmit key.
One other hint, often not acquired by boaters, is talking slowly and distinctly. In a busy pilothouse, with a lot of other things going on, a "burst" of radio transmission is often just ignored. Listen to the CG broadcasts, that's how you want to talk for max clarity. Another tip, when calling another vessel you know is out there with their radio on, is to call: Metz this is Sailaway, shift and answer channel 68. You'll hear the CG do this and it frees up CH 16 for other users.
One other item is the name of your boat. If you insist on naming your boat something like, Gastrointestinal Dilema IV, don't expect effective communication. One might shorten that to Dilema for VHF purposes. Also, consider having a serious name. As a professional I would never reply to a broadcast from Fart in the Wind, unless the word Mayday was attached to the message. Usually figured it was some 14 yr old on dad's boat playing a "Prince Albert in a can" joke. CB "lingo" doesn't cut it either-save it for the truck and learn the proper protocol. Listen and you'll pick up the correct methodology. Enjoy.

[RayMetz100]

I have to run a handheld because I'm using charter boats.

Our boat was named Sirius. http://www.seattlesailing.com/boats/sirius_cal.html
So when we called, it sounded like "This is serious". Maybe that's worse than Fart in the Wind.

Thanks for the advice though, I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.