Vhf radio assistance
Submitted by Toddzilla on Mon, 2015-10-19 20:01
Hi guys
firstly I know you have to have a license to operate a vhf radio, just waiting for whitfords vsr to hold one where I can attend (busy on the 19th) I am a fully paid up member
going out out on the ocean dropping pots and fishing in the coming weeks and would like some help
what radio frequency should I log in/off with
please don't turn this into a your unsafe etc argument, I have an epirb all flares bilge/bucket life jackets on board
just not sure how to operate the radio
thank you
resurgence
Posts: 575
Date Joined: 23/04/14
All on their website
www.whitfordssearescue.org.au/radio_network.php
www.whitfordssearescue.org.au/boating_radio.php
Very brief overview:
Don't forget to log off!!
Rob H
Posts: 5795
Date Joined: 18/01/12
VHF16 is not emergencies
VHF16 is not just emergencies only, it is also for initial contact then switch to a working channel
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Hughesy
Posts: 36
Date Joined: 27/10/13
iam no expert
iam not to sure mate but I fish every were from Albany to Kalbarri and usually there's a sign at the ramp with all the info channel and ph. number if there is one.
Toddzilla
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 05/03/15
Thanks guys appreciate it
Thanks guys appreciate it
groverwa
Posts: 286
Date Joined: 21/07/14
vhf read only handbook
Have a look at https://www.amc.edu.au/handbooks. It will give you the info regarding procedure etc.
Correct use of the squelch control is essential to enable the effective reception of incoming signals.
CCC
Posts: 539
Date Joined: 29/03/10
http://www.transport.wa.gov.a
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/distress-signals-and-safety-calls.asp
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC_IS_MakingADistressCall.pdf
reece
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 10/07/08
The marine radio is a good
The marine radio is a good course! If you have the time and can afford if you should also go on and do your coxswains grade 1. Your marine radio, was and cox g1 will cost you all up around $4k but may well save you or sum one else's life. Weather you intend on going on to your master 5,4,3,2 unrestricted masters or just Rec fish the knolage and skill you will pick up could prevent a 95% of accidents and problems at sea
Any one free to help me pull my drum lines tomorrow?
Toddzilla
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 05/03/15
Thank you definatly intend
Thank you
definatly intend on doing it its just getting a course that fits in with my schedule
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
CH 73 in the metro area for
CH 73 in the metro area for logging on/off to sea rescue. I assume you will be north of the river, so you will be logging into VJ6LQ (Whitfords sea rescue)
CH 16 emergency.
Don't be afraid to login. The people in the tower are friendly and will guide you through you first login attempts. When out on the water always leave you radio on in case they need to contact you, and don't forget to log out.
Lavs
Posts: 174
Date Joined: 30/04/12
Make a cheat card
I was once given the advice to make a laminated cheat card which walks you through the log on/off procedure and hang it on your radio. There's a bit of information the tower usually wants i.e
-Boat Registration
-Number of people on board,
-Litres of fuel on board,
-Leaving X port
-Heading to X location
-Estimated time of return
Saves you forgetting :)
Gotta admit I'm pretty bad at logging on. A habit I need to change.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8666
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Channel 16
As Rob H has stated, make contact on channel 16 then they will direct you to 73 or 72 depending on the amount of traffic, give them your details, eg rego number, boat name / call sign, number of people on board , destination and time of expected return. Some groups like Exmouth will ask for a shore based phone number for contact as well.
If for some reason you change locations PLEASE call up and let them know where you are heading because in the vent of an emergency that will save time and that could mean life or death. For the location it doesn't have to be exact but if in a one nautical mile radius is fine, we don't want your fishing spots we just want to keep you and your passengers safe. Here in Carnarvon, we often get boats logging in saying they are going to the islands, great!! the islands are 30nm offshore and are approx. 35nm long, so we ask for whether they are going to Cape St Crique in the south, the Gap in the middle or Koks Island to the north and if they are fishing inside or outside, this gives us a referenceon where to start a search if needed.
Also for those who haven't done a radio ops course, there is a thing called quiet time, its from the hour to 5 minutes past the hour, this is so that anyone in an emergency situation can get a mayday or pan pan call through without interference and have plenty of stations listening in to pick up what may be a faint signal.
Toddzilla
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 05/03/15
Hi guys. Thank you, one
Hi guys.
Thank you, one question do I use the boat rego or my individual call sign
ie ba700 or ocean ref 100
thank you
z00m
Posts: 1086
Date Joined: 10/05/14
Call sign
You can call them up as ocean reef 100 but give them the boat rego (referred to as D.O.T. number) when logging on.
resurgence
Posts: 575
Date Joined: 23/04/14
Typical log-in call
A typical log-in call would go like this:
Vessel: "VJ6LQ, VJ6LQ, VJ6LQ, this is Ocean Reef 100, Ocean Reef 100, Ocean Reef 100, over"
VJ6LQ: "Ocean Reef 100, this is VJ6LQ, go ahead"
Vessel: "VJ6LQ, this is Ocean Reef 100, we would like to log on today. We are departing Ocean Reef Marina, 3 people on board, 200 litres of fuel, and our DOT registration is Bravo Alpha 700. Our destination is fishing approx 10nm west of Ocean Reef, and our ETA back at Ocean Reef Marina is 1100 hours. Over".
VJ6LQ: "Romeo Ocean Reef 100, we have you on the log. VJ6LQ standing by"
Vessel: "Ocean Reef 100 standing by"
carnarvonite
Posts: 8666
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Okay
That is okay if you are calling the group that you are registered with but not with those who have no idea where you are from or whether you are using a made up and not registered call sign that is why the DoT number is requested.
Nothing worse than ringing Water Police in the middle of the night and asking for details of an overdue vessel called Reef Runner or Wahoo only to be told that there are some 30 boats having the same name
resurgence
Posts: 575
Date Joined: 23/04/14
OK
I did say a typical conversation, and the OP did tell us that he has a call sign.
For those that need everything spelled out, if you have no registered call sign you can use your boat name or some other call sign.
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Correct resurgence! Always
Correct resurgence!
Always give your DOT rego, if you have a "group call sign" give both.
In the metro area use ch73 for logins. If you use 16 in the metro area you will be immediately asked to move to ch73 if not an emergency.
cruzy111
Posts: 274
Date Joined: 08/10/13
relaying a mayday call.
Hi. Just a question what is the correct procedure for relaying a mayday or pan pan call if you hear one and no response is made by sea rescue.
crasny1
Posts: 7002
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Proceedure is for you to call in Pan Pan
Pan Pan is a request that is serious but not life threatening. Even if you hear a Mayday call and there is no response from the Rescue, call in a Pan Pan (rather than another mayday) and then relay the information you have heard. I hope my understanding is correct.
PS: this is because other boats might also have heard a Mayday (lessor problem Pan Pan) and if you call in Mayday some confusion can arise that there is 2 boats in life threatening trouble. Hence Pan Pan to get the attention of Sea Rescue, then relay the Mayday etc message.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
CCC
Posts: 539
Date Joined: 29/03/10
Check out this link I just
Check out this link I just found
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/distress-signals-and-safety-calls.asp
carnarvonite
Posts: 8666
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Note it down
In the event of hearing a mayday or pan pan call please write all the message down especially the lats and longs as you may be the only vessel that has received the call.
Same goes for relaying a mayday or pan pan, we were anchored approx. 50nm north of Dampier about 17 years when the bulk carrier caught fire and 6 seamen died, we could hear them but their signal wasn't strong enough to reach shore so we relayed all communications till help arrived in the shape of a couple of rig tenders from the Wandoo? field.
All our messages and replies were written down and handed over to the authorities when we next berthed in Hedland and were presented in the coronial inquest.
crasny1
Posts: 7002
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Was my response correct
Was my response correct mate?
Do not want to give wrong safety information p
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Rob H
Posts: 5795
Date Joined: 18/01/12
the correct call is actually
the correct call is actually "Mayday relay Mayday relay Mayday relay" then your details and await a response.
However the Pan pan will (or should) get the same response EXCEPT, with the number of people using VHF with no knowledge many dont even know what Pan pan means
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
crasny1
Posts: 7002
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Tha Rob Wanted that crystal
Tha Rob
Wanted that crystal clear
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
crasny1
Posts: 7002
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Monitoring
I always stay on 16 listening. Imo that is correct but can someone correct me if I am wrong.
Things are different down here compared to Dampier
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
quest
Posts: 248
Date Joined: 03/08/15
Dual watch
I use the dual watch and listen to both 16 and 73 on my GME.
Rob H
Posts: 5795
Date Joined: 18/01/12
it is law that commercial
it is law that commercial vessels monitor VHF16, but not 100% certain regarding amateurs and less so even with unlicenced-I guess they can hardly force people who are technically illegal to monitor anything!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
resurgence
Posts: 575
Date Joined: 23/04/14
Scanning
I use the scan function on my radio and have the scan cycle set to 16, 68 (ship-ship), 73 (sea rescue working channel) and 81 (repeater on Rottnest).
crasny1
Posts: 7002
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Thanks for that
Not a chatter box on the radio so in theory no need to listen to anything other than 16, but I also have a GME with dual watch now after the old VHF crashed. Also have a 27meg onboard for dual safety. And Mobile.
Will use dual watch 16/73 and 27 only on 88.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk