page 62
Owner’s Manual
GX2355S
11.
CHANNEL ASSIGNMENTS
Tables on the following columns list the VHF Marine Channel assignments for
U.S.A., Canada and International use. Below are listed some data about the charts.
1. VTS. Where indicated, these channels are part of the U.S. Coast
Guard’s
V
essel
T
raffic
S
ystem.
2. Alpha channel numbers, that is, channel numbers followed by the letter
A (such as Channel 07
A
) are
simplex
channels on the U.S.A. or Canadian
channel assignments whose counterparts in the International assignments
are
duplex
channels. International channels do not use “alpha” numbers.
If you call the Coast Guard on Channel 16, they will sometimes ask you to
“go to channel 22 Alpha.”
This is a channel assigned to U.S.A, and
Canadian Coast Guards for handling distress and other calls. If your radio
is set for
International
operation you will go to Channel 22 instead of 22
A
,
and will not be able to communicate with the Coast Guard. To use Channel
22
A
, your radio must be set for
USA
or
Canada
operation, usually by a U/
I/C (USA/International/Canada) control or combination of controls.
Channel 22 (without an “A”) is an
International
duplex channel for port
operations. Some radios indicate an “A” adjacent to the alpha channels on
the display; on others “alpha” is not indicated but the proper channel is
selected based on the U/I/C setting.
3. Bridge-to-Bridge channels (for example, Channel 13) are for use by
bridge operators on intercoastal waterways and rivers. It is also used by
marine vessels in the vicinity of these bridges for navigation and for
communicating with the bridge operators.
Note that a limit of 1 Watt is
specified for these channels.
See page 51 for additional information.
4. The
S/D
column on the chart indicates either S (simplex) or D (duplex).
Simplex
means transmitting and receiving on the same frequency. Only
one party at a time can talk, unlike a telephone. Be sure to say
“over”
and
release your microphone push-to-talk switch at the end of each
transmission.
Duplex
operation involves the use of one frequency for
transmitting and a separate frequency for receiving. On channels specified
as duplex on the charts, correct mode of operation is established
automatically by your radio when you select a channel; you cannot change
the mode. And you still must release the push-to-talk switch after each
transmission in order to listen to the radio.
5. Channels normally used by recreational boaters are those that include
the term “non-commercial” in the
Channel Use
column of the chart. Some
of these are shared with other users and some are used only in certain
geographic regions. The Marine Radio – Telephone User’s Handbook
identifies shared channels in details.
6.
Marine vessels equipped with VHF radios are required to monitor
Channel 16.
