Larry W4CSC wrote:

The use of 25W any time 1W will make communications is illegal......on
any channel.

Excuse me, but while I agree with your intention.... "illegal"? hardly.
A waste and annoyance? Yes.

One of our biggest problems on Channel 16 is MARINAS.

Hardly, at least in our area. Most of the time, I can hear the boater,
but not the marina and except in a few cases, the only thing the marina
says on 16 is "Ack and switch to ....". Quite a bit of the time, they're
talking 100mw on a handheld anyway.

I think all marina operations should be handled on the COMMERCIAL
channels set aside for operations, like Channel 10. Marinas ARE
commercial marine businesses, you know, just like tugboats and
sightseeing boats.

I strongly disagree. I'll use 10 and such only to talk to our towboat
operator. I'd like it as clear as possible. I don't want the uninformed
(marina or boater) getting used to using these channels. If they're
using low power, they hardly contribute to the congestion on the "CB"
channels.

'Course, I will call up tugs and freighters on 13....

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

As I understand it, the Hi/LO setting applies only to the transmit mode. You
would use the LO setting for contacting locations closer to you (ie: 1 mile)
and the HI setting for anything further away.

"Steve" wrote in message
...
My VHF has a H/L button for selecting high or low power on various
channels.. Some channels, when selected, are preset at Low power. If I
push
and hold the HI/Lo button the indicator shifts to HI..

Am I actually overriding the preset low power when I do this??

Is it legal to do this on a channel that is suppose to be LO power (ie.
channel 13)??

Or if legal, is it ethical??

The reason I ask, Monday, I was trying to reach the Hood Canal Bridge
operator and I was still several miles away.. He wasn't answering on his
working channel or channel 16..

I know that they like to have at least 1 hour notice to schedule a draw
span
opening and I couldn't get through on their phone number (seems someone
changed the phone number but didn't tell me about it ;o( ).

After about an hour and finally laying-to 800 yards from the bridge and no
response in either HI or Lo power, the US Navy Bangor operating center
came
up on 13 and gave me the correct phone number.

From that point on, the bridge tender was overly attentive (maybe got his
ass chewed for not monitoring his radio).

As I am told, in my cruising guide, the bridge crew works on maintainance
while someone is suppose to be monitoring the radio.. In truth, I think
they
just monitor the 'Hot Line' phone from their own operating center.

Oh Well! An interesting experience and I have the correct phone number
posted at the chart table.

I wonder what people do who go sailing without a cell phone?? Maybe, pull
over and use a payphone??

Didn't we use to use horn signals to communicate with bridge tenders??

Steve
s/v Good Intentions