Marine radio?

Question

I have a marine radio, and I was woundering if there are any complecations with like codes or something from the coast guard. Any web sites with any info on marine brodcasting would be helpful.

i have found that I can hear the coast guard, but when the civallian responds i cant hear him, or if i can, its jumbled

Answer 1

the CG uses a very powerful system. therefore they can hear you and you them. the reason you don't hear someone else talking is merely distance. normal range is 45-60miles at high power.

Answer 2

On the marine radios on my sailboat, the fixed radio with the antenna on my mast will get out farther than my handheld. I can sometimes hear parts of conversations and not the other half, Squelch may be too high for them to break and also they may be on the other side of the coast guard. Lets say they're north of baltimore, They may be barely able to reach the coast guard because they are talking on a handheld the coast guard is between us and I may be at the limit of my transmit/receive area. Well....I'd hear the coast guard, but not them.

For VHF/FM radio transmit and receive, you usually get about 15% over the visual horizon, so antenna height is important. The atmosphere offers some resistance, but also smaller handhelds just dont have enough antenna height to get out there.

Answer 3

Go to the FCC Website;
http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html for information about operation procedures, channel assignments, registering your MMSI, and more.
Also look at this Uniden users manual to get an understanding of a typical VHF marine radio set-up and operation;
http://www.uniden.com/pdf/OCEANUSDSCom.pdf
(Programming the DSC codes (MMSI) is a bit different for each radio.)

That should cover everything you need to know.

You can't hear the other boat because it doesn't have as strong a transmitter as the Coast guard does.

I also recommend taking a boating safety course which will provide you with a lot of other valuable information.

Have fun!

Answer 4

The coast Guard operates at a much higher watt level than regular marine radios. Also, you may have an issue with your marine antenea

Answer 5

I give you a link that may help you;
http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_radio.htm
Mainly it like a CB radio, just different Frequencies. Most times they operate at about 5 watts, though some have a 25 watt booster. If, you not hear someone they could be transmitting at 1 or 5 watts and out of range. You can buy Antennas that have more "Gain" to transmit and receive. Also, the higher up you can get the antenna the better it will work. IF, I remember correct VHF transmits "Line of Sight", so, if a person is below the horizon from your antenna you may not hear them very well.
Normally a person just states their business, no 10-4 Good Buddy stuff. Also, they frown on just talking. It for safety and getting through Locks and Dams. Boat business. The link will show channels that used for important stuff and not used for other stuff.

Answer 6

You will find that there are two main types of channels on a VHF radio" Simplex and Duplex. Many of the channels that the Coast Guard uses to talk to other vessels require two frequencies to use, one to transmit and one to receive. In your case, you can hear the Coast Guard transmit but you can't hear a civilian transmit. The Coast Guard radios are equipped to transmit and receive on all channels while most civilian radios are not. There's probably nothing wrong with your radio. If you go to something like the Standard Horizon website and download their PDF, you will be able to find which channels are simplex and duplex as well as which ones you're allowed to use as a civilian... and trust me, out of the 80 odd channels available, you're not allowed on most.