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VHF Hi/Lo Tx??
The use of 25W any time 1W will make communications is illegal......on
any channel. The radio presets Ch 13 because you are normally speaking ship-to-ship in or near visual range where 1W is appropriate for good communications. Communications should always be on 1W switching to 25W if that fails or is reported to be noisy. Of course, all rules/regulations ARE suspended in the event of a life threatening emergency aboard. You can run 1000W or 10KW in a life-threatening emergency. One of our biggest problems on Channel 16 is MARINAS. Some idiot at the FCC allows these marinas to have TALL TOWERS and 25W radios which are always left on 25W parking boats 200' from the 70' tower on the dock. Marinas need licenses that say they may only use 1W radios with antennas no higher than 10' above the floating docks. Anyone listening to Ch 16 for a day knows why. Marinas also need to have their asses busted for transmitting on ship-to-ship ONLY channels in the range from Channel 68 to 72. Some of these channels are ONLY for ship-to-ship traffic, not marina operations. 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. On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 16:11:54 -0700, "Steve" wrote: 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 Larry W4CSC Maybe we could get the power grid fixed if every politician regulating the power companies wasn't on their payrolls. |
good points, Larry.....
On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 10:19:50 -0400, "JAD"
wrote: VHF has become a joke here on the upper Chesapeake I was boatless for three years and when I returned to sailing on SF Bay the first thing I heard was "This is ____. Can I get a copy?" on CH 16. What's up with that? Is that CB lingo? Should I have suggested Kinkos? I say bring back licensing but drop the price to something reasonable. |
good points, Larry.....
Dick Locke ) wrote:
: On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 10:19:50 -0400, "JAD" : wrote: : VHF has become a joke here on the upper Chesapeake : I was boatless for three years and when I returned to sailing on SF : Bay the first thing I heard was "This is ____. Can I get a copy?" on : CH 16. What's up with that? Is that CB lingo? Should I have suggested : Kinkos? : I say bring back licensing but drop the price to something reasonable. and this will solve the problem how? Back to you, good buddy :-) -- Jim Hollenback my opinion. |
good points, Larry.....
I agree, VHF has become very much like the CB for the unlicensed users.
I predicted this would happen when they dropped the license requirement in the early '90s. While I was living aboard at anchor in SD Bay in '93-'94, I monitored the VHF because I didn't have a cell phone and in an emergency, my family could reach me via the marine operator. With the VHF constantly on and scanning 16 and a number of other ship to ship and working channels, I could hear all forms of abuses. One evening I happened to over hear US Navy "parking lot security patrols" using, not only Marine VHF, but channel 16 to report their patrol status.. In this instance, there happened to be a Navy Capt. aboard his personal boat and he contacted the command watch officer responsible for allowing this mis-use of Marine VHF. Now I hear of a local pizza place on the waterfront (in Seabeck, WA) that monitor and operates on Marine VHF, to take your pizza order and has it delivered via boat. This is a case where the Cell Phone should be used. -- My opinion and experience. FWIW Steve s/v Good Intentions |
good points, Larry.....
Jim Hollenback wrote:
Again, how does a license requirement prevent idiots? Especially one that does not require passing a minimal test of regulations? You drive, don't you? There is a minimal test of driving skills to obtain a drivers license that costs money. The road is full of idiots. I gotta agree. Only solution I see is to self police like the Ham bands. Punishment? Nothing serious, just a joke. In Hi school we used to pour a teaspoon of gasoline or lab (stove) alchohol down the miscreant's crack, flick an bic and watch the dance. 73, K3DWW |
good points, Larry.....
Steve wrote:
I agree, VHF has become very much like the CB for the unlicensed users. I predicted this would happen when they dropped the license requirement in the early '90s. As more people USE their VHF, of course there will be more that don't know how to use it until they learn. But I really like that more people are using their VHF! Cells and such are fine for some purposes, but a properly working VHF and the knowledge to use it are vital in an emergency. Now I hear of a local pizza place on the waterfront (in Seabeck, WA) that monitor and operates on Marine VHF, to take your pizza order and has it delivered via boat. This is a case where the Cell Phone should be used. If they switch to a working channel after initial contact, I have no problem with using the VHF. I'd of course prefer that they use 9 or their working channel, but that doesn't seem to be going over so well on the Chesapeake. A very few marinas only monitor 9 and only water taxis stick to their working channel. -- 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/ |
good points, Larry.....
JAD wrote:
I started another thread on this very subject under "open mikes on radios" above. Let's hope some uniformed or undereducated boaters read this.... VHF has become a joke here on the upper Chesapeake.....especially on the weekends. A useful tool has become another plaything....especially with "conversations" taking place on 16. The Coast Guard groups Philly and Baltimore are constantly warning people about it.....and it continues...... I wish folks would THINK before they mash that mike button down...... There are always dolts like that, though I admit I sometimes forget which channel I'm on, so sometimes AM the dolt ;-) But I'd rather the yahoos had their VHF radios on to maybe hear distress calls than "force" them to cell phones or some other sort of radio. I've lost track of the number of boats we had to serve as "point" for: They didn't use or maintain their equipment and when they really needed to get out, the could hardly reach us 100 yards away. We had to guide the tow boats in and relay communications. If they had found out that they didn't get out before then, in a non-emergency situation, they might have gotten things fixed for when it mattered. I get annoyed about improper ettiquette, too, but figure they'll eventually learn as they hear others do it (more) properly. -- 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/ |
VHF Hi/Lo Tx??
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/ |
good points, Larry.....
On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 12:02:58 -0700, "Steve" wrote:
Now I hear of a local pizza place on the waterfront (in Seabeck, WA) that monitor and operates on Marine VHF, to take your pizza order and has it delivered via boat. This is a case where the Cell Phone should be used. Carry your marine walkie talkie INLAND, some time. I had a friend, who died of cancer in 1994, who ran his pest control business in Greenville, SC, far from any ocean on Channel 10 for 15 years or so. Noone ever bothered him. He had a base station on a 70' tower at his office and used cheap marine VHF mobiles very successfully. You could hear "Charlie One" all over Greenville. The tower was on the side of a mountain. Larry W4CSC Maybe we could get the power grid fixed if every politician regulating the power companies wasn't on their payrolls. |
good points, Larry.....
On Sat, 23 Aug 2003 03:40:48 GMT, Jere Lull wrote:
Where do YOU drive? ;-) A lot of drivers around here seem to have gotten the license from Pep Boys and drive like Moe, Larry and (whomever). That's not the issue. Think how much worse it would be with *no* licences. The issue is whether licenses improve things, not whether they make things perfect. |
VHF Hi/Lo Tx??
Channel 13 is not a ship to ship channel, it's a bridge hailing channel
which ias why you don't need 25w to Tx. You'd blow their ears off at 25 w (considering you're within line of sight when you normally contact a bridge) If You're hailing Mrina's on 16, you'll never get an anwer as the hailing channel for marina's is 68, been that way for over 20 years! This is to help reduce the clutter on 16,, though this hasn't helped much. There are still too many mulletheads talking on 16. Pierre "Larry W4CSC" wrote in message ... The use of 25W any time 1W will make communications is illegal......on any channel. The radio presets Ch 13 because you are normally speaking ship-to-ship in or near visual range where 1W is appropriate for good communications. Communications should always be on 1W switching to 25W if that fails or is reported to be noisy. Of course, all rules/regulations ARE suspended in the event of a life threatening emergency aboard. You can run 1000W or 10KW in a life-threatening emergency. One of our biggest problems on Channel 16 is MARINAS. Some idiot at the FCC allows these marinas to have TALL TOWERS and 25W radios which are always left on 25W parking boats 200' from the 70' tower on the dock. Marinas need licenses that say they may only use 1W radios with antennas no higher than 10' above the floating docks. Anyone listening to Ch 16 for a day knows why. Marinas also need to have their asses busted for transmitting on ship-to-ship ONLY channels in the range from Channel 68 to 72. Some of these channels are ONLY for ship-to-ship traffic, not marina operations. 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. On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 16:11:54 -0700, "Steve" wrote: 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 Larry W4CSC Maybe we could get the power grid fixed if every politician regulating the power companies wasn't on their payrolls. |
VHF Hi/Lo Tx??
Channel 13 is "the" bridge to bridge channel. (eg vessel bridge to vessel
bridge) Duane |
VHF Hi/Lo Tx??
98stratus wrote:
Channel 13 is not a ship to ship channel, it's a bridge hailing channel which is why you don't need 25w to Tx. You'd blow their ears off at 25 w (considering you're within line of sight when you normally contact a bridge) It's also the primary contact channel for commercial traffic, tugs and freighters, at least here on the Chesapeake. That's ship-to-ship. If You're hailing Mrina's on 16, you'll never get an anwer as the hailing channel for marina's is 68, been that way for over 20 years! This is to help reduce the clutter on 16,, though this hasn't helped much. There are still too many mulletheads talking on 16. Pierre Again, on the Chesapeake, most marinas monitor 16. A few have recently switched to monitoring 9. Any of the "general" channels are used for their working channel, but few seem to monitor their working channel. You only get them just as they're just finishing up with a different customer and haven't switched back ot 16. Only the taxis keep to 68 or 72 or whatever, and they post that prominently on their signboards. -- 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/ |
VHF Hi/Lo Tx??
On Sun, 24 Aug 2003 22:12:58 -0400, "98stratus"
wrote: Channel 13 is not a ship to ship channel, it's a bridge hailing channel which ias why you don't need 25w to Tx. You'd blow their ears off at 25 w (considering you're within line of sight when you normally contact a bridge) If You're hailing Mrina's on 16, you'll never get an anwer as the hailing channel for marina's is 68, been that way for over 20 years! This is to help reduce the clutter on 16,, though this hasn't helped much. There are still too many mulletheads talking on 16. Every marina from VA to FL, including every marina in Charleston, SC, monitor and use Ch 16. You can call 'em on 68 but they only got one radio and you won't get an answer until you call 'em on 16 first. BTW, on an FM radio, DEVIATION (how far the carrier swings with audio modulation) determines how loud the volume is coming out of the receiver. The difference between 1W, 25W and 100KW, using the same deviation and deviation index produce exactly the same "volume" at the receiver. Power extends RANGE, not volume, on an FM transmitter. In SSB, POWER makes you LOUDER. In AM, % of modulation makes you LOUDER and to some extent power. But not in FM Larry W4CSC Maybe we could get the power grid fixed if every politician regulating the power companies wasn't on their payrolls. |
VHF Hi/Lo Tx??
All bridges monitor 9 in SC, too.
On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 08:47:58 -0400, Kelton Joyner wrote: In south Florida the bridge channel is channel 9. Duane wrote: Channel 13 is "the" bridge to bridge channel. (eg vessel bridge to vessel bridge) Duane Larry W4CSC Maybe we could get the power grid fixed if every politician regulating the power companies wasn't on their payrolls. |
good points, Larry.....
They didn't even pretend to enforce the license requirement when it was in
effect, so I have to agree that it had zero impact. Only people who cared enough to get one (and hence probably pretty responsible) had one. Dave "Jim Hollenback" wrote in message ... Steve ) wrote: : I agree, VHF has become very much like the CB for the unlicensed users. : I predicted this would happen when they dropped the license requirement in : the early '90s. Again, how does a license requirement prevent idiots? Especially one that does not require passing a minimal test of regulations? You drive, don't you? There is a minimal test of driving skills to obtain a drivers license that costs money. The road is full of idiots. -- Jim Hollenback my opinion. |
good points, Larry.....
In addition, with the license, there could be a radio etiquette
handbook that would explain a few things. That would take care of the simply ignorant. Not a perfect solution, but like drivers licenses, requiring a license improves things. Requiring a license will not cure the problem. Look at CB when they dropped the license requirement and the same thing happened on VHF. Going back to obtaining a license will only make a lot of illegal stations out there that cannot, and with the budget the FCC gets, will not be tracked down and brought to court. On another thought, How many times have you heard an open mike with a conversation or music in the background and a hundred people shouting back, "Turn off the Mic" on a simplex channel where the offender can't hear them because his mic is keyed. Leanne s/v Fundy |
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