1) Listen before talking to be sure the channel is free to use. Give
the
other vessels name first, then yours when making a call.

2) It is illegal to use foul language or make phoney distress calls.
Don't
think you won't get caught. A man was prosecuted for making a phoney
distress call a few years ago in my area.

3) Some people scan 16 and other channels. It is smart to give the
channel number at the end of the transmission. This way someone
listening and scanning, an switch to that channel to make contact.
Give the channel number in two digits. [i.e. channel 71 would be
"one-seven, over"

4) Roger means: I understand. Over means: Over to you. It means
you are done talking and are not listening for a response. Use plain
English when speaking, pause between words. Pause briefly when
you key up. Many people start talking before pressing the mic key
and the first part of what they say is clipped off. Some people unkey
before they finish speaking also. Finish then unkey the microphone.

5) Use minimum power. No need to blast your signal out 25 miles
when talking to someone close by. You can be heard as far as you
can see and a bit farther.

6) Limit your talk time. Marine VHF is not for chatter. Never
chatter on the calling or emergency channel. Everything you say
will be heard for miles around. Act like a fool and people will
know you are one.

7) Set the squelch properly. Turn squelch off, adjust volume to a
comfortable level. Turn squelch up until it just cuts out the static,
or a little higher if there are weak signals you don't want to hear.

8) Make contact on channel 16 and move to another channel immediately.
Formerly calling was set to channel 9. I prefer to use 9. The USCG
set
that aside for calling and then changed it back, which has just
confused the issue. I think this is because people listen to 16 and
not everyone has a dual watch radio, or knows how to use it. Channel
9 is still listed as a calling channel. So it might depend on your
area, as to which freq to use.

9) Monitor 16 using dual watch or constant watch for emergencies.

10) Know what the other frequencies are used for. Use the
appropriate
frequency for your activity. 68, 69, and 71 are commonly used for
non-commerical use.

11) Know which weather frequencies most accurately describes your
area. Typically you should be able to hear as many as three weather
stations. The strongest signal is likely the one closest to you and
will
have the most accurate weather forecasting.

12) For Mayday, emergency calls, say MAYDAY three times, state the
nature of the life threatening emergency.

Give the following information:
1. your location.
2. number of people aboard.
3. description of the vessel.
4. nature of the emergency.
5. Kind of assistance requested.
5. a position description based on a proximity and bearing to a
well
known geographic landmark like an island or buoy and follow this up
with
a GPS position. [Not everyone can plot a position, most boaters know
if
they are near a geographic position] Reporting your depth is a good
idea,
as it will eliminate many posibilities and help narrow down a search
area.


Scout wrote:
Anyone know of a plain language guide to using the VHF. My background
is CB only. I'm sure there are rules and etiquette to be observed and I don't
want to find out that I've put someone else or myself in jeopardy by being
ignorant. I plan to take a few courses in navigation and so forth, but nothing
in my life ever seems to go in the traditional sequence.