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Message |
    
Ted Lavino
Moderator
Username: tlavino
Post Number: 233
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, October 04, 2020 - 12:21 pm: | 
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Folks, recently noticed a change in the channelization of the VHF Marine Mobile service that took place in 2017. The gist of the changes reflect a move from simplex (1 channel, send or receive only at one time) to duplex (2 channels, simultaneous send and receive capability) channelization, which for those in the US would mostly affect the Coast Guard channels being renamed. For example 22A and 22B would be renamed using a 4 digit code of 1022 and 2022. It will be interesting to see how fast these changes are adopted in this country...
More info at https://cruisingclub.org/article/vhf-channel-changes |
David Sheriff
Board Administrator
Username: admin
Post Number: 82
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 11:13 pm: |
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Good point to surface, Ted. I better keep my radio on. |
Ted Lavino
Senior Member
Username: tlavino
Post Number: 455
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 11:57 am: |
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Greetings folks, for those interested a more detailed chart of Marine Mobile VHF-FM Channelization than appears on the FCC link. This is courtesy of the USCG:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/vhf.htm
Also, did you know that the FCC changed its rules in October, 2003, requiring all boats with a Marine Mobile Service VHF-FM transceiver to have it turned on and tuned to Channel 16 while underway (unless communicating with another vessel on another channel)? Previously the rules did not require the radio to be turned on, but if it was, channel 16 was to be guarded (monitored). Info at:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/watch.htm
For those interested the relevant text of the regulations are provided below. Note the absence of "whenever the radio is operating" in the new version...
§ 80.310 Watch required by voluntary
vessels.
Voluntary vessels not equipped with
DSC must maintain a watch on 156.800
MHz (channel 16) whenever the radio is
operating and is not being used to communicate.
Noncommercial vessels,
such as recreational boats, may alternatively
maintain a watch on 156.450
MHz (channel 9) for call and reply purposes.
[57 FR 19552, May 7, 1992]
EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: At 68 FR 46967, Aug.
7, 2003, § 80.310 was revised effective October
6, 2003. For the convenience of the user, the
revised text is set forth as follows:
§ 80.310 Watch required by voluntary vessels.
Voluntary vessels not equipped with DSC
must maintain a watch on 156.800 MHz
(Channel 16) whenever the vessel is underway
and the radio is not being used to communicate.
Noncommercial vessels, such as recreational
boats, may alternatively maintain
a watch on 156.450 MHz (Channel 9) for call
and reply purposes. Voluntary vessels
equipped with VHF–DSC equipment must
maintain a watch on either 156.525 MHz
(Channel 70) or VHF Channel 16 aurally
whenever the vessel is underway and the
radio is not being used to communicate. Voluntary
vessels equipped with MF–HF DSC
equipment must have the radio turned on
and set to an appropriate DSC distress calling
channel or one of the radiotelephone distress
channels whenever the vessel is underway
and the radio is not being used to communicate.
Voluntary vessels equipped with
Inmarsat A, B, or C systems must have the
unit turned on and set to receive calls whenever
the vessel is underway and the radio is
not being used to communicate. |
Ted Lavino
Senior Member
Username: Tlavino
Post Number: 262
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 02:55 pm: |
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Greetings All, an update from the USCG on the Ch. 9 vs. Channel 16 question:
Boater Calling Channel (VHF Channel 9)
The Federal Communications Commission established VHF-FM channel 9 as a supplementary calling channel for noncommercial vessels (recreational boaters) at the request of the Coast Guard. A ship or shore unit wishing to call a boater would do so on channel 9, and anyone (boaters included) wishing to call a commercial ship or shore activity would continue to do so on channel 16. Recreational boaters would continue to call the Coast Guard and any commercial facility on channel 16.
The purpose of the FCC regulation was to relieve congestion on VHF channel 16, the distress, safety and calling frequency. FCC regulations require boaters having VHF radios to maintain a watch on either VHF channel 9 or channel 16, whenever the radio is turned on and not communicating with another station.
Since the Coast Guard does not have the capability of announcing an urgent marine information broadcast or weather warning on channel 9, use of channel 9 is optional. We recommend boaters normally keep tuned to and use channel 16 in those waters unless otherwise notified by the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard has asked the Federal Communications Commission that provisions for using channel 9 as an alternative calling frequency to channel 16 be eliminated, effective on the date when watchkeeping on channel 16 by compulsory-equipped vessels is eliminated. The International Maritime Organization has scheduled that date to be February 1, 2005. The justification for using channel 9 as an alternative to channel 16 was to reduce congestion on channel 16. DSC’s implementation and use should be sufficient to eventually and substantially reduce the need for channel 9 as an alternative calling channel.
Note: The First Coast Guard District (waters off the coast of northern New Jersey, New York, and New England) ceased announcing warnings on channel 9 effective the start of the 2000 boating season.
As David indicated below, the use of Channel 9 is optional for non-emergency ship to ship or ship to shore hailing. Emergency traffic should be on Ch. 16 only to maximize the chance of being heard. |
David Sheriff
Board Administrator
Username: David
Post Number: 149
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 09:01 pm: |
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You get to be right, Ted. Right, right, right.
Buuuut, I have a small Tedification. There is the matter of local custom and practice. Like we all drive 80 when traffic permits.
If I'm serious about communicating, I'm going to call on the frequency I think is most likely to be monitored. Channel 16 is usually not "extremely congested" in these parts and so that seems to be what most people monitor. As for dual or triple watch, it's mostly limited to people who can program a VCR.
In the EM business, I do radio checks on channel 9 as a first choice. Usually someone comes back, but the monitoring audience seems pretty thin.
PS. I'm still alive, but hardly even reading email. And you are still absolutely right. Right, right, right. |
Ted Lavino
Senior Member
Username: Tlavino
Post Number: 174
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 11:18 am: |
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Authoritative information on the CH09 vs. CH16 topic may be found in 43 CFR §80.310, "Watch required by voluntary vessels":
"Voluntary vessels not equipped with DSC must maintain a watch on 156.800 MHz (channel 16) whenever the radio is operating and is not being used to communicate. Noncommercial vessels, such as recreational boats, may alternatively maintain a watch on 156.450 MHz (channel 9) for call and reply purposes." |
Ted Lavino
Senior Member
Username: Tlavino
Post Number: 173
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 11:06 am: |
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Greetings All, earlier this year during the planning stages of the first 214/215 cruise David and I were having discussions re: use of Ch. 16 vs. Ch. 9 for use in hailing other recreational vessels. It was my understanding that the FCC is encouraging recreational vessels to use Ch. 9 for hailing to relieve congestion on Ch. 16. At the time I promised to provide more background. A bit late, but here it is:
From "A Boater's Guide to VHF and GMDSS" by Sue Fletcher (which is endorsed by the USCG):
"The use of CH16 is limited to distress, urgency and safety communications and as a calling channel where DSC (Digital Selective Calling-ed.) cannot be used. To relieve congestion on CH16 and comply with the needs of GMDSS (Global Marine Distress and Safety System-ed.) the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has established VHF CH09 as a supplementary intership calling channel for U.S. recreational boaters."
From "Cruiser's Radio Guide" by Roger Krautkremer (a great source for Marine Mobile (VHF and SSB) and Amateur (Ham) service information):
"Recreational vessels underway must monitor Channel 16, the distress and calling channel. A secondary calling channel, channel 9, has recently been designated for recreational vessels. It is primarily used in very congested areas... Recreational vessels talk ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore on the designated recreational vessel working channels: 9, 68, 69, 71, 72 (ship-to-ship only) and 78.
So my suggestions at the time boiled down to this:
1. Guard CH16 as required by law
2. Configure your radio to also guard Ch09 simultaneously.
3. Hail other recreational vessels on CH09 (having made sure they also guard CH09) to keep CH16 clear for commercial and safety traffic.
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Ted Lavino
Senior Member
Username: Tlavino
Post Number: 60
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 11:58 pm: |
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Greetings, below is definitive information from the FCC regarding the US VHF Marine Service channelization. Please note that Canada and the rest of the world have their own channelization schemes under the auspices of the ITU.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/vhfchanl.html |
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