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Your Boat’s Radio

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Chapter

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Your Boat’s Radio

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Chapter

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Lesson Objectives

Types of Radios
Functions and use of radios
Necessity of station license
Radio operator’s license
Buying a radio
Radio limits
Antenna selection
Radio check
Distress calls

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Types of Communication

Coastal and Inland

VHF-FM radio
Citizens band (CB) radio
Cellular telephone

Offshore

Single-Sideband (SSB) radio
Amateur (ham) radio

Distress Signaling Devices

Emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)
Personal Location Beacon (PLB)

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VHF-FM Radios

Most commonly used / Useful
Monitored

US Coast Guard,
Law Enforcement
Most boaters

Two Types

Fixed mounted (max 25 watts)
Handheld portables (max 6 watts, close range)

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VHF-FM Radios Uses

Call for help
Arrange marina berth
Get weather information
Call home
Talk with other boaters

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VHF-FM Radios

FM - Static Free
Used & Monitored By U.S. Coast Guard
Limited to Line Of Sight (10 - 15 Miles)

Handheld (3-5 miles)

25 Watts Maximum Power
Relatively Inexpensive

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Citizen Band (CB) Radio

Inexpensive and popular
Not Monitored By Coast Guard
Useful on lakes and rivers with no CG
Channel 9 - Unofficial Emergency Frequency

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Citizen Band (CB) Radio

Limited Range
Low power - 5 watts
Channels Overcrowded, No Radio Etiquette
AM - Susceptible To Static

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Cellular Telephones

Call Coast Guard or 911
Limited reception on water
Relay time critical
Not Monitored By Others
Helpful as backup, especially in areas without CG presence
Can send text messages

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Single Sideband Radio

Range – 25 mi to worldwide
Channels

Distress, Safety and Calling
Ship to Ship
Public Correspondence
Weather

Monitored by USCG (limited)

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Reprinted with permission from Rough Weather Seamanship for Sail and Power by Roger Marshall

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SSB Radios

Range

Day - 100 miles
Night - 1000 miles

Recommended for Ocean Operation
Monitored By U.S. Coast Guard
More Costly Than VHF-FM
Must Also Have VHF-FM Radio

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Amateur (HAM) Radios

Radio amateurs use a variety of voice, text, image, and data communications modes
Must be a licensed operator and pass a FCC examination
Not monitored by Coast Guard

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EPIRB

Transmits boat’s identity and location via satellite
Register information
Small- portable
Range worldwide
Monitored by USCG
One way communication

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Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

Personal version of EPIRB
Registered to an individual
Range worldwide
Monitored by USCG

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Satellite Personal Messenger (SPOT)

Tracked by Globalstar
Information forwarded to sub-agencies
Tracks actual wearers movements
Signal strength not as strong as EPIRB system

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In Reach

Uses Iridium Satellite Network
Communication via dedicated transceivers, Apple and Android devices
Tracks movement of caller

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Automatic Packet Reporting Sys. (APRS)

Real time digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area for Ham radio
Announcements, Bulletins, Messages, Alerts, Weather, and map of activity
Messages repeated for a specific time awaiting voluntary response.
No guarantee messages will be forwarded to emergency responders.

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Automated Identification System (AIS)

Used on ships and by vessel traffic services (VTS) for identifying and locating vessels
Gives Vessel’s ID, description, GPS position, course and speed
Warning system required for 3000+Ton boats
Less elaborate receivers optional on smaller boats

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Distress and Safety System (DSS)

Allows users to send digital distress messages
Sends boats identity and GPS location
Can be used with VHF radios

Equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Hooked to GPS
Registered and programed with unique 9-digit MMSI number

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Distress and Safety System (DSS)

Advantages of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (DSS)

Uses Ch. 70 for distress calls
MMSI (Maritime Mobile System Identity) provides vital boat info.
Can be interfaced with GPS for position info.
Operator is free to handle emergency while distress is being sent!
Ship to Ship automated calling

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Distress and Safety System (DSS)

VHF-FM with DSC should be registered
Marine Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)

Auto Identify your radio when transmitting
Registered Through FCC (charge)
BoatU.S. Sea Tow Services International (Free)

Similarly EPIRBs require

registration prior to use

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VIDEO

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DSC VHF – FM Radio

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Radio Functions

The three functions of the VHF and SSB marine radios are:

Safety messages
Operational messages
Commercial messages

No other type of message is permitted

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Safety Messages

Distress signal: Mayday

French venez m'aider - Come Help Me
Grave or imminent danger to life or property

Urgency signal: Pan-Pan

French panne – Mechanical Breakdown
Dangerous situation that may be life threatening

Safety signal: Secur-i-tay

French Sécurité
Important messages about weather or safety of navigation

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Operation Messages

Exchange of information about

Navigation,
Movement or
Management of vessels

Ex. Call lock master for instructions
Ex. Call bridge tender to open a drawbridge
Ex. Call marina to secure berth
Ex. Call another vessel to schedule meeting at fishing hole.

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Commercial Messages

Messages specific to the commercial business the vessel is engaged in
Recreational boaters should not used channels designated for commercial communications

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Station Licenses

Not required for most recreational vessels
Required for VHF-FM on

Vessels over 65ft
Travel to a foreign port
Communicating internationally

Required when using SSB radio
Issued by the FCC

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Operator’s Permit

Restricted radiotelephone operators permit is required when in foreign waters
Required for vessels over 65ft

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Student Activities

Who recalls the three functions (types of messages) of the VHF and SSB marine radios?
They are….

Safety messages
Operational messages
Commercial messages

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Selecting Your VHF-FM Radio

Sensitivity

ability to receive weak or distant signals

Selectivity

rejecting signals from adjacent channels

Signal strength

1 watt for short distances (in harbor)
5 watt max handheld
25 watt max mounted

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Selecting Your VHF-FM Radio

Signal suppression

one radio stepping on another, strongest heard

Audio output

radio loudness (boats are noisy)

Available channels

73 channels available, 55 used in US
May have two-position switch for USA/International

Channel selector

Dial or number pad, Lighted digital readout
Scanning set

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Selecting Your VHF-FM Radio

Line of sight transmission
Height of antenna effects range

Communications between two boats with 25ft antenna = 12 mile range

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See

Table 13-1

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Installation

Can install but do not try to repair

only FCC-licensed general class commercial operators allowed to make repairs or adjustments

Do not mount near compass
Positive power lead RED + goes to radio
DSC radios need to be connected to GPS

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Installation

Install correct type of antenna

Right frequency band for type of radio
Wrong antenna reduces ability to transmit / receive

Place antenna at highest point of boat

Line-of-Sight
Higher Is Better

Allow room to lower antenna as needed

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Antennas – What is Gain?

Measure of antenna’s effectiveness
3 db, 6 db, 9 db
Higher may not be better
6 db Practical

3 db

9 db

6 db

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Antennas – What is Gain?

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Operating Your VHF-FM Radio

Low/High Power Switch

Usually at 1-watt, use when boats nearby
At High (25-watt) for cruising or distress calls

USA/International Switch

Often labeled “A or B”

Push to talk button
On/off switch = volume control
Squelch

Stops noise when not receiving
Too much squelch suppresses weak signals

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Operating Your VHF-FM Radio

Radio watch

Radios need not be operating while boating.
If you do have radio on, then it should be kept on Ch. 16 when not being used on another channel.

Radio station log

Not required for Vessels 65 feet and smaller.
However all emergency calls you hear must be recorded as completely as possible

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Student Activities

Be prepared to listen and respond to a mayday call.

Listen to these examples...

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Special Purpose Channels

CH 16 - Distress, Urgency, Safety

CH 9 - Alternate Calling Channel

CH 12 - Port Operations

CH 13 - Navigation

CH 22A - Coast Guard Liaison

CH 68 - Non-Commercial Working

WX-1, WX-2, WX-3

Note: “A” designation means USA

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Operating Your VHF-FM Radio

Important caveats:

No false distress calls
No obscenity
Not used inland
Listen before transmitting
Shift from calling to working channel
Use radio language and techniques
Speak slowly and distinctly

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Copies of the Rules

Where to obtain

Superintendent of documents
http://bookstore.gpo.gov
Internet (amazon)

Rules violations

FCC investigates
Loss of license
Fines and imprisonment

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Calling Another Station

Remember to ….
Check power
Listen
Press microphone button
Normal tone
Pro-words to use
You can’t hear reply until you let the microphone button go…..

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Calling Time Limits

1st Call - 30 Seconds Maximum

Then - Wait 2 Minutes

2nd Call - 30 Seconds Maximum

Then - Wait 2 Minutes

3rd Call - 30 Seconds Maximum

Then - Wait 15 Minutes Before Additional Calls To The Same Station

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Calling Another Station

Choose the correct channel when calling
Limit ship to ship calls to 3 minutes but move to another working channel first
Limit ship to ship calls to ship’s business
Radio checks are prohibited on Channel 16.

Use Channel 9 or working channel for radio checks

Use low power (1 watt) whenever possible

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Calling Limited Coast Station

Examples

Harbormaster Bridge operator
Marina police Towing services
Yacht club services

Hail their working Channel first
i.e. bridge operator channel 13 or 9
Listen
If that doesn’t work try local calling channel i.e. 16

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Student Activity

What is Ch.16 used for?

Distress
Urgency
Safety
Hailing

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Phonetic Alphabet

Spelling
Numbers

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Phonetic Alphabet

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Distress Signal

Use When IMMINENT Danger Exists
Call On Channel 16 or Cell Phone 911
Call Format:

“Mayday Mayday Mayday”
“This Is (Name Of Your Boat)”
Give Location Lat/Long or Visual
Problem
Number of persons onboard
“This Is (Name Of Your Boat), Over”
Follow the Coast Guards Direction

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Student Activities

Now it's your turn.
Read your assigned scenario and get ready to practice making a mayday call.

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During Distress Communications

Stop All Other Communications when you hear:

“All Stations”
“SEELONCE Mayday”
“SEELONCE Distress”

When Distress Is Over

“SEELONCE FEENEE

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During Distress Communications

Willful violation of radio regulations carries severe penalties
Revocation of License
Fines
Imprisonment

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Crew Training

Crewmembers to be familiar with how to operate the VHF-FM Marine radio
Everyone on board including children should be able to operate a radio to call for help in an emergency
Before leaving port explain how to operate your boats radio to all onboard

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Thank you

Illustrations provided by McGraw Hill Education

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Review Questions

Your Boat’s Radio Chapter 13

Review

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Review Exercises

13-1 VHF-FM licenses are issued by the

Coast Guard
State in which you live
FCC
Marine patrol

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Review Exercises

13-2 You will need an operator’s license for your VHF-FM if you

Broadcast on your station
Plan to dock in a foreign port
Want to communicate with the Coast Guard
All of the above

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Review Exercises

13-3 If a VHF-FM channel number has the letter A attached to it, this means the channel is

An alternate one
Already in use
Available
USA only

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Review Exercises

13-4 Before you transmit

Listen to see if someone else is using the channel
Write out what you want to say
Review the correct procedure
Give your station call letters

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Review Exercises

13-5 At the beginning and end of each message, you must

State your name
Give your call sign
Turn your radio on and off
Tell who you are calling

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Review Exercises

13-6 The most important purpose of a marine radiotelephone is

To arrange for boat repairs
To contact other skippers to find out where the fish are biting
To keep in touch with your home so they will know everything is okay
safety

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Review Exercises

13-7 Radios equipped with digital selective calling (DSC)

Use Channel 70 to transmit its digital information
Have a seven-digit MMSI number assigned
Can transmit location data without using any external equipment
Are designed to have voice communication on the same channel as digital data

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Review Exercises

13-8 If you set your squelch control too low you will

Reduce your ability to receive signals
Lower your transmission power
Interfere with weaker stations
Receive too many stations

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Review Exercises

13-9 The distress signal that is used to indicate grave and imminent danger and to request immediate assistance is

Pan-Pan (said three times)
Sécurité (said three times)
Mayday (said three times)
Radio check (said three times)

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Review Exercises

13-10 Which channel is the Coast Guard liaison channel?

Channel 6
Channel 16
Channel 22A
Channel 83

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Review Exercises

13-11 When you have completed your radiotelephone communication and do not require any reply, use the proword(s)

Over and out
Over
Wilco
Out

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Review Exercises

13-12 If you hear “Seelonce Mayday” on your marine radio, you know that

A Mayday is in progress
You are not supposed to use your radio
Radio silence is requested
All of the above

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Review Exercises

13-13 The range of your VHF-FM radio depends on

The height of your antenna
The height of the receiving antenna
The gain of your antenna
All of the above

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Review Exercises

13-14 Keep a watch on the calling channel at all times except when

You are communicating on another channel or when your radiotelephone is not turned on
You are underway
No one is using the calling channel
You are maintaining a watch on another channel

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Review Exercises

13-15 A radio message concerning weather or safety of navigation is preceded by the word(s)

Mayday
Pan-Pan
Now hear this
Sécurité

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Review Exercises

13-16 Do not call a Coast Guard Station on Channel 16 to request

A radio check
Assistance
A tow
A message be relayed

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Review Exercises

13-17 Although you may install your VHF-FM radio, any repairs or internal adjustments must be made by

A Coast Guard Auxiliarists communication specialist
A qualified electrician
A shortwave ham
An FCC-licensed general class commercial operator

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Review Exercises

13-18 Although a CB radio may be useful, it should not be seen as a means of

Getting fishing information
Contacting the Coast Guard
Chitchat with other operators
Calling home

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Review Exercises

13-19 When calling another vessel, the preliminary call must not exceed

10 seconds
30 seconds
1 minute
2 minutes

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Review Exercises

13-20 If you can’t reach a limited coast station on its working channel, call it on

Channel 6
The local calling channel
Channel 16
Channel 22A

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Review Exercises

13-21 If another station answers your call, and you identify yourself, then

Wait 10 seconds before talking
Ask the other station to identify itself
Request that it switch to a working channel
Give your message

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Review Exercises

13-22 If you do not get a reply to your call to another station wait

At least 1 minute before trying again
At least 2 minutes before trying again
At least 3 minutes before trying again
At least 5 minutes before trying again

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Review Exercises

13-23 After you have tried three times to call another station, wait at least

10 minutes before calling again
15 minutes before calling again
20 minutes before calling again
30 minutes before calling again

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Review Exercises

13-24 An urgency message is preceded by the urgency signal

Sécurité
Mayday
Pan-Pan
All of the above

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Review Exercises

13-25 If you willfully or repeatedly violate the communications act or the FCC rules, you may

Have your license revoked, if you have one
Be fined
Be sent to prison
Any of the above

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Matching Review

1. Distress signal

g. Mayday

2. VHF-FM

h. Most commonly used marine radio

3. Urgency signal

d. Pan-Pan

4. Safety signal

a. Sécurité

5. Public correspondence

j. Public telephone system

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Matching Review

6. Out

c. I am through and I do not expect a response

7. I spell

i. Use phonetic alphabet

8. Channel 16

f. Distress, urgency, and safety

9. Wilco

e. message received, will comply

10. Over

b. I am though but I expect a response

Boating Skills And Seamanship