"Scott Downey" wrote in message ...
So that means two ship radios cant talk together on these channels?
FCC and boaters I would think do not like wasted frequencies. I wonder what
the plan is for them.

Yes that means that two ships/boats cannot talk to eachother. They
are intended for ship to shore communications (between ships and
public/private coast stations).

Marine operators service started going by the wayside in the USA in
just the last 10 years. Prior to that, cellphones were widely
available but still pricey enough that not everyone had them.

How marine channels are used is a international issue. In many parts
of the world these duplex channels are still used more than they are
in the US. There are a couple of channels that have different uses in
the U.S. than in the rest of the world. This is why you have a
International / U.S. mode on your set. When foriegn vessels enter
U.S. waters they want to be able to use their "international" radios.
Likewise, if you take your boat to another country, you may want to be
able to contact a coast station on one of those international
channels. So just because marine operators are used as much here,
doesn't mean the international channel designations should be changed.

And in my opinion (worth something to me, but perhaps not you - your
call) we don't have a shortage of frequencies. If you can't find an
appropriate, clear, working channel it is most likely because many are
being used for communications that don't realy belong on them anyway.
The marine radio service is not there for bull**** sessions between
boaters and drunk fishermen. It should be used for communications
that are relative to the safe and efficient operation of vessel,
ports, etc.


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 17:44:40 -0500, "Scott Downey"
wrote:
I was testing my radios by talking back an forth thru each channel. On
channels 24 thru 28 and 84 thru 87 the radios do not respond to each
other.
Is this what you would expect ?

I notice these are public correspondance channels are the marine
operators
no longer in business? Are these channels ever used anymore?
================================================== ==

Those channels are in "full duplex" mode which means that they
transmit and receive are on different frequencies. They were designed
to communicate with the old marine operator shore stations, not in
"ship-to-ship" mode.

Marine operators have become obsolete in most areas since cell phones
became widely available. I haven't heard one in years but it's
possible that they still exist in some places. Too bad in a way
because some of them had very high antennas and could be heard a long
way out. We could frequently communicate with the Camden, Maine
operator from over 50 miles offshore.