VHF in Woodies marina

Hi all,
picked up a new boat a month ago, new to VHF, new to lgging on and off. So, today i thought my VHF was KAPUT when i was in the marina coming home and tried to log off. no chatter at all, like the unit was broken. she worked fine all day up to that point. is my conclusion that it didnt like the (limestone) walls possibly correct?  


Dale's picture

Posts: 7930

Date Joined: 13/09/05

Sun, 2016-11-13 19:11

 Check your squelch hasn't been wound up too far.

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Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

Agree with Dale

Sun, 2016-11-13 19:50

Sounds like your squelch tuner has been turned to high.
Turn the squelch knob all the way anti clock wise until there is a loud hissing noise coming from the radio.

slowly turn the squelch knob clock wise,make sure you do this very slowly and you should notice that the hissing noise is slowly reducing in volume and intensity.

With the fine adjustments you are making by turning the squelch knob slowly clock wise you will come to a point that the hissing has all but disappeared.

When this point has been reached make very small adjustments to the squelch knob until all the hissing has disappeared.

Stop at this point and listen for radio traffic, ensuring that the volume is turned up sufficiently loud enough for you to hear any traffic.

Now, try to contact any station or vessel, use channel 16 then immediately go to the channel you will be directed to by your contact. This will usually be a repeater station.

If contact can not be raised then I suggest that you need to have all the contacts of the radio checked for corrosion, vertigis and such. If they appear all right check the antenna cable for cracks splits etc..

If all of the above check out ok then I'd suggest having the voltage to your radio checked out and a SWAR meter testing carried out on your radio antenna setup.

Hope this helps a bit.

Next get a VHF radio operators certificate.

sunshine's picture

Posts: 2549

Date Joined: 03/03/09

Who did you log on with

Sun, 2016-11-13 20:38

? VH6CL ?   Rockingham or DI Fremanltle.......the marina itself poses a real dead spot for Di ! 

Cheeto's picture

Posts: 79

Date Joined: 14/04/14

 cheers all,its with

Mon, 2016-11-14 05:32

 cheers all,

its with VH6CL

i'll have a look at the squelch might have acidently played with it during the day or soemthing. 

its a new boat, new radio etc, and it was screaming its box off right up until we entered the marina. 

Tradewind's picture

Posts: 756

Date Joined: 18/09/12

For reference I can raise

Mon, 2016-11-14 08:26

For reference I can raise VN6DI in woodies marina with no issues

Darren253's picture

Posts: 570

Date Joined: 23/07/16

I struggle to reach VN6CL in

Mon, 2016-11-14 08:46

I struggle to reach VN6CL in the marina also... I usually call in and out just exiting the marina with much better results. Maybe an antenna directional thing?
Mine is 27Mhz.

sunshine's picture

Posts: 2549

Date Joined: 03/03/09

It's VH6CL

Mon, 2016-11-14 09:32

 And whilst some find it ok to sign on to 6DI from the marina much depends on antenna configuration on the boat .....there is NO reason even the low power HF signal (max of 5 watts ) should not be able to be heard at such short range.  As an ex ham operator I would be questioning antenna efficiency, you seldom see an SWR meter in this day and age where in the old CB times they were commonplace.  So called "pre-tuned" antennas MUST be a compromise as proximity of other structures and antennas all impact causing directionality in the transmit nodes and can severely alter SWR and hence greatly reducing actual power being transmitted.

Antenna placement on boats is always a compromise

I meant to add that I applaud you going to the trouble of logging on and off, such a SMALL percentage of boats actually do log on.    Some non-users even resort to using their mobile phone when seeking assistance as they are too embarrassed to use (or don't know how) their radios even when in trouble!

Cheeto's picture

Posts: 79

Date Joined: 14/04/14

i doubt placement is an issue?

Mon, 2016-11-14 11:40

 i have two antennas on top of my hard top, 27meg and VHF. (id love to add a picture if i could figure out how) and as mentioned im sure i was hearing heaps of chatter right up until i came into the heads.

 

cheers for the props on logging on and off, truth be told it was my frist time doing so with the new boat, hardest part is actually grabbing the mic and starting to talk, once you start the first call you cant go back and it is peace of mind.

as the new boat is big enough to get me past rotto and into trouble i am keen to do the right thing, just in case that one in a million does occur.

Guardy's picture

Posts: 381

Date Joined: 09/08/12

I also had problems logging on & off

Mon, 2016-11-14 12:00

 While at the ramp at Cockburn Power Boat Assoc. I now use Fremantle Rescue to Log on & off.

Posts: 1392

Date Joined: 08/01/09

As above

Mon, 2016-11-14 12:49

 don't forget your 3 minute silence periods on the hour and every 1/2 hour.

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Poppy's picture

Posts: 98

Date Joined: 19/01/13

Limestone

Mon, 2016-11-14 16:27

When fishing out of Woodies, I always logged on and off outside of the marina.  The guys from sea rescue told me that the limestone walls do interfere with radio communication.  It worked for me. 

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Cheeto's picture

Posts: 79

Date Joined: 14/04/14

not the only one

Mon, 2016-11-14 19:45

cheers, seems im not the only one. my squelch was set at -2 so it is a possibility but my gut is the limestone, especially as it was so sudden, and as im not hte only one im not going silly (yet)

 

Barneyboy, the 3 minutes is only for ch16 or is it for all? i didnt know that one until i just googled. 

Nimbin 157's picture

Posts: 130

Date Joined: 03/05/10

 Poppys right Cockburn Sea

Mon, 2016-11-14 19:45

 Poppys right Cockburn Sea Rescue recommend that you log on and off outside of the marina . Ive had the same problem on 27 meg.