I LIKE it

That's good news on the the VHF radios, although most who use them don't have a licence anyway. It will be good to know it's all above board though, and I think a push for boats in limited coverage areas to have VHF radios is a good idea as well.

Most of the south coast has VHF repeater statiosn located near hard to reach spots, not having the freq's with me it would be wise if you are going to travel to those areas to make the effort and contact the sea rescue bases to find out.

One is in line to be erected at the ranger station on Steep Point which is another tick for boaters.

I have had my VHF licenc for 30 plus years and have never been asked to produce it since I have installed a VHF in my boat

Sounds like a good idea. Both will encourage more people to use VHF.

Would be nice if you could still do a very cheap training course or they at least made the booklet available (or a shorter one a couple of pages long). As far as I understand, one of the reasons for the license was so that people used the radio properly. I had a look and it seems you cant get the booklet for the VHF license online anyways (deliberately so). I did find a full marine radio book that was available, and apparently the VHF part is a subset of that. The book is 124 pages long though, and I dont think all the stuff you'd need to know is in one section only.

Though, when I joined whitfords sea rescue, they did send me out a little booklet with a guide on how to use the radio/log on/log off, etc, which was good.'

I did come across a list once that had all the channels and call signs for sea rescue groups throughout all of WA, but dont remember where i got it.

good to see logic prevails.

I have both radio's onboard, but the VHF is far better when out deep.

Yes it is logical, but we are dealing with the gov. here.  I will be pleasantly surprised if it happens.

maybe we need to e-mail four certain gents that are Kingmakers this week and ask them to add it to their list...lol
:-)

vhf licence? call me stupid but never heard of it, i know i am only a young bloke but have fitted plenty radios to new boats in the past with very little thought and never brought up by any customer,didnt even think such a thing existed for any radio application, just the common sense logon logoff.

You were supposed to have a licence for a VHF radio since they were introduced years back and stil need one now but as others have stated no one has heard of anyone being prosecuted for not having onel

With the newer vhf's that have the distress button that hooks up to your gps.  I know if you hit it it sends out your co-ords..  Question is are they monitored here in WA as I have heard that they are mainly an over east thing but others have said you need to reguister with canberra much like your epirb for it to work...

Will ask around and see what I can find out.

From what i was told when i got the new radio it was a case of pressing the button and they new where to come get you but lately Hearing a lot different stories to its not even monitored over here yet..

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is the newer radio system that you're talking about (the one that is linked to your GPS). It covers VHF, MF/HF radios, EPIRBS, plus some other systems only found on bigger boats, but VHF is really the only DSC radio you will find on trailer boats. It allows you to hit the "distress" button in an emergency and your details and position is sent to all DSC radios in range of you. It doesn't matter if the other radio is on another channel or the volume is right down, their radio will alarm and your details will pop up on their screen. In the past people had to be on your channel, their volume had to be up and they had to be listening for your call. This info is now all automated with DSC.

It works the and is monitored the world over, all you need to be is in range of another VHF radio. All commercial shipping, commercial boats, coast radio stations, Volunteer Marine Rescues have VHF DSC radios. For example, if you hit your VHF DSC distress button off Perth, every VHF DSC radio within 15-30nm (maybe more depending on atmospherics) will alarm and will be listening out for your message (if any). In the past, you had to make your "mayday" call and hope someone was listening, then they had to write down your position etc which all took time. With DSC all it takes is a few seconds so even if your boat sinks within seconds, as long as you hit the button your distress message is out there.
Another bonus is when you register with AMSA and get your MMSI (your DSC "phone number"), you can call other DSC radios privately over the radio for a chat.
They may cost another hundred or so $$$ but worth it, especially if it hits the fan and you have seconds to let someone know what's happening.

http://www.amsa.gov.au/publications/fact_sheets/vhfdsc_fact.pdf

Even though the VHF radio operators license is not "policed", this is the sort of stuff you will learn getting your license so in my eyes it's well worth doing. Hopefully, if you ever have to make a distress call the person who gets it has done theirs and knows what to do in the emergency.
Tim

You should be a politician Carnarvonite.But then again your talking too much common sense. I reckon it's an excellent proposal.

Whitfords, Fremantle & Cockburn sea rescue all have VHF radios that monitor DSC. All our boats are also equiped with these radios to monitor it as well. Coverage is 24/7

Silly question but how can one tell if the button is actually working correctly..

Can you on logging in with air sea resuce request a test or is there another way to tell if its working / wired up properly... Hate to find out when its too late that its not connected properly...

Fremantle water police monitors DSC. I guess the only way to test it is to get someones MMSI number and send a private text message. Then check verbally if they recieved it. If you have the buddy system set up, you also should see your buddies boat on your GPS if it is capable.

I have a Cobra MR HH415 hand held VHF radio that can set between 1.3 and 5 watt that I want to use on the JetSki when fishing. When I bought it they said I does not require a license. Anyway, I am confused with the channels, I know about ch16 and 9 as it is in the RST book. But if I want to call my fishing buddy on the water and have a chat with him what channel do I use, what channels are for general chat etc. The radio has many channels including digital on CH 70 which does not accept voice messages.

Also when calling for log on and log of, I see that most of the marine stations have channel 88, is that 157.425 mhz?, So if I want to log on I get the call sign for the nearest station and just call them on Channel 88.

eg, Mandurah call sign is VMR611 and I call them on Channel 88.

and Jurien bay is call sign VMR 661 and I call them on Channel 91 because they do not operate on channel 88.

Do I understand this correctly?

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Can anyone help me here?

I think you will find that the channel 88 and 91 are 27mHz channels.
As for what VHF channels to use:
VHF 16/67- distress and calling
VHF 06- comms between aircraft and surface vessels
VHF 13- ship to ship to pass on safety or nav info
VHF 67- Coast stations to pass on safety or nav info
VHF 70- DSC
VHF 72- routine ship to ship

VHF 70 doesn't allow voice communications, it is reserved for DSC alerting.
Also keep in mind that ports use certain channels, and others will be used for working channels. Just find one that is quiet and if someone wants you off, they will ask. Also, if your mate is nearby, turn to the low power (1 watt) as this has a smaller range. Just remember to up the power when you're done.

also, you are meant to have a license for it (Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency).
Channels 72 and 73 will be your best bet for talking to your mates.

Thanks for that, much appreciated

Directed from channel 16 to 73 with my First log on with rockingham sea rescue.

The only channel I log on & off with from my area.

According to the gov. website is should be channel 90. I am now confused again, Is it channel 73 on VHF? According to the list I got of the internet it is mostly only channels 88/90/91/94 and 96 with exception for pilbara on CH 86. Can anyone put some light on what I have here?

Cheers

GROUP Call Sign 27MHz UHF VHF

Albany Sea Rescue
VMR 610
90
Yes
Yes

Augusta Sea Rescue
VMR 625
88
 
Yes

Bremer Bay Sea Rescue
VMR 607
88
Yes
Yes

Broome Sea Rescue
VMR 650
88/91
Yes
Yes

Bunbury Sea Rescue
VMR 634
88
 
Yes

Busselton Sea Rescue
VMR 640
88/91
Yes
Yes

Carnarvon Sea Rescue
VMR 676
91
 
Yes

Coral Bay Sea Rescue
VMR 679
90
Yes
Yes

Denmark Sea Rescue
VMR 613
96
Yes
Yes

Derby Sea Rescue
VMR 694
88
 
Yes

East Kimberley Marine Rescue
VMR 699
88
Yes
 

Esperance Sea Rescue
VMR 601
88
Yes
Yes

Exmouth Sea Rescue
VMR 682
90
Yes
Yes

Geraldton Sea Rescue
VMR 671
88/91
Yes
Yes

Hopetoun Sea Rescue
VMR 604
88
 
Yes

Jurien Bay Sea Rescue
VMR 661
91
Yes
Yes

Kalbarri Sea Rescue
VMR 673
90
Yes
Yes

Lancelin Sea Rescue
VMR 688
91
Yes
Yes

Leeman Sea Rescue
VMR 664
91
 
Yes

Mandurah Water Rescue
VMR 611
88
Yes
Yes

Margaret River Sea Rescue
VMR 628
88/91
 
Yes

Naturaliste Sea Rescue
VMR 631
88/91
Yes
Yes

Onslow Vol. Marine Rescue
VMR 683
88
 
Yes

Peaceful Bay Sea Rescue
VMR 616
88/96
Yes
Yes

Port Denison Sea Rescue
VMR 667
88/91
 
Yes

VMRS Port Hedland
VMR 691
88
 
Yes

Port Walcott Sea Rescue
VMR 689
88/94/96
 
Yes

Rockingham Sea Rescue
VN6 KC  
90
Yes
Yes

Shark Bay Vol. Marine Rescue
VMR 675
88/90
 
Yes

Two Rocks Sea Rescue
VMR 677
88/91
 
Yes

Walpole Sea Rescue
VMR 619
88
Yes
Yes

West Pilbara Sea Rescue
VMR 685
86
 
Yes

Windy Harbour Sea Rescue
VMR 620
91
Yes
 

Oops, it did not show the table, sorry for the loooooooong list there guys

in your list there, the channel listed with the numbers is 27mHz channel. So the order is:
Station
Call Sign
27mHz channel
UHF radio (yes or no)
VHF radio (yes or no)

To call on VHF, you use 16 to make initial contact, then change to the directed channel.
It would go something like:
You:
VN6KC, VN6KC, VN6KC
This is (insert your name here repeated 3 times)
Them:
JR Jetski x3
Go to channel 72
You:
Going to 72

Then change and make your call.

So for Rockingham for example:
Name: Rockingham Sea Rescue
Call sign: VN6 KC
27 mHz channel: 90
UHF: Yes
VHF: Yes
Some coast stations will also have a VHF calling channel that they will monitor, this saves them having everyone call on 16 and then change to a working frequency. You'll need to get this channel off them. They will also monitor 16 as well.

OK, Now I get it. So we always contact on 16 then they will redirect and then we go to that channel and log on.

On the list it shows the channel numbers, does it mean they monitor those channel also, in other words can I call Rockingham on channel 90 or is that not correct procedure?

You have just answered my question before I posted it, Can you read my mind?

Also good to have direct sea rescue phone numbers for the areas you use pinned into your mobile phone just incase radio plays up.

Sure ya got a spare spot on the ski for a phone somewhere.  

Should log on under 73, which is sea rescue groups. Can use 16 if you cant get through to 73 though.

Though, i'm still a bit unclear as to what channels you can use for boat to boat. Dont want to use 73 as thats sea rescue groups. I'm sure they dont want to listen on to fishos going on, plus too easy to interrupt someone else (seeing as with my piddly aerial, i can hear only half of some convos). Obviously some are taken by other things, but what about the ones that arent listed at all? List is here.

Would make a lot of sense to make it a lot easier (and cheaper!) to get an operators license. Not exactly cheap atm (or easy from what i've heard). Having a cheaper, quicker, easier course (single evening not multiple plus a test) would be better for all IMO. Perhaps a cut down version for recs if possible? Bit pointless atm if no-one does it but they dont make it easy.

that you are logging in with...

But if you log in/out or call on the emergency channels 27MHz channel 88 or VHF 16 no doubt you will get a reply and asked to go to a different channel if necessary.

Whitfords Sea Rescue is:

Ch 90 - Working and calling frequency

Ch88 - Emergency calling

Ch 86 - Alternate emergency calling

Ch73 - Working and calling frequency

Ch16 - Emergency calling

4125 KHz:  - Working and emergency calling

ACRM Base (Preston Beach to Margaret River) is:

27MHz

27.88 Calling and Emergency

VHF

Channels 16 or 80

UHF

CB channel 6

Fremantle and Cockburn are 27MHz Channel 27.90 and VHF Channel 73 for calling.

DPI "Remember to Log Off" Sticker

VHF

Ch 16 - Calling and Emergency

27MHZ

Ch 27.86 - Alternate Emergency

Ch27.88 - Calling and Emergency

Ch27.90 - VSSR Groups

Ch27.91 - Other Clubs

Ch27.94 - Club Events

Ch27.96 - Boat to Boat

Doesn't help with the boat to boat question for VHF tho!!!

Different Sea Rescues will have different VHF channels so 73 is ok to talk boat to boat on. Just be mindful as other people may want to use that channel. If your message is short and sweet, go for it, if you want to talk footy and girls, change to a non allocated channel.

This is all the sort of stuff you learn doing your license but I do agree it is more info than a rec user needs to know. They could prune out the MF/HF stuff, the bit on the ionosphere and how radio signals work, plus some other out of date subjects and concentrate on VHF/27MHz and distress/calling procedures and actions, radio silence periods (does anyone even know these exist???), a bit on how EPIRBs work and that would probably be all a rec needs to know.

There is a shortened course that doesn't include the HF section available but IMO if you are going that far why not go all the way, after all it can only do you some good in the long run.

Most of the groups will answer you on 88 [27meg] then direct you to what their designated working channel eg 90-91 etc.

Below is a link to the ACMA website with all channels in use. Acording to this site use 72 for ship to ship communications. In the metro area all rescue group monitor 16 & 73. Best to call first on 73.

http://www.amc.edu.au/sites/default/files/Frequencies_01012004.pdf

Interesting how the metro groups are not on the government website!!

As South Coast Regional Commander VMRWA (Windy Harbour, Walpole, Peaceful Bay and Denmark) I would like to give everyone the current communications frequencies for the South Coast.

Whilst all VMR groups down this way monitor 27 Megahertz (88). Peaceful Bay does not accept Log Ons on 27Mhz frequencies. Other locations do, but will do so informing you that coverage on 27meg is random and your transmissions may not be heard. This may lead to initial SAR action if you go past yor ETR and have not communicated that you are safe. Worse still it may result in "nothing heard" if you transmit a requirement for assistance.

The prefered communications method is VHF as the coast is covered by a series of VHF (duplex) repeaters which provide coverage in all but a few "blackspots" close in under cliffs. Whilst VHF 16 is monitored it is not the primary log on log off frequency. The following information gives the primary (log on, traffic and log off) frequencies for each of the South Coast VMR locations. VHF 16 is pretty much line of sight so does not have the broad coverage of the high elevation repeaters.

Whilst we encourage compliance with appropriate legislation we are not the radio police so if you log on on VHF, to us it is just a log on, regardless of operator's certificates.

WINDY HARBOUR VMR620  VHF 81

WALPOLE            VMR619  VHF 21

PEACEFUL BAY     VMR616  VHF 22 (primary) & VHF 21

DENMARK            VMR613  VHF22 & VHF 82

The most common cause of non received transmissions is operator error where the radio is not set to INT (international) or not set to HI transmission.

Log on when you are out as that way the VMR groups know you are out there. Log off when you are back at the ramp.

A helpful link for other locations is http://www.vmrwa.org.au/boating/documents/Radio%20Communications%20Chart.pdf

There may be some typographical errors such as Windy having VHF 18 instead of 81 but these are under constant review and at this very moment the webmaster is taking remedial action with regards Windy.

In respect to the opener in this string. The lisense exemption for recreational use of VHF has not occured and may be a long way off. I believe they are going to try to cover this off for the future by incorporating something into the RST. In the mean time it isn't difficult to obtain, at least a restricted certificate. Many Sea Rescue Groups facilitate these courses so if you want to follow the compliance path, contact your local group.

Stay Safe.