6 English
VHF Marine Radio
Procedures
Voice Calling
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra
®
7
VHF Marine Radio Procedures
•
Maintain Your Watch
Whenever your boat is underway, the radio must be turned On and be tuned to Channel 16,
except when being used for messages .
Power
Try 1 watt first if the station being called is within a few miles . Try a second call after
waiting two (2) minutes . If there is no answer, switch to a higher power . This will conserve
your battery and minimize interference to other users by avoiding repeated calls .
Calling Coast Stations
Call a coast station on its assigned channel . You may use Channel 16 when you do not
know the assigned channel .
Calling Other Vessels
Call other vessels on Channel 16 or on Channel 9 . (Channel 9 is preferred
for recreational vessel use .) You may also call on ship-to-ship channels
when you know that the vessel is listening on a ship-to-ship channel .
Initial Calling on Channel 16
The use of Channel 16 is permitted for making initial contact (hailing) with another vessel .
The limits on calling must be followed . Be reminded, Channel 16’s most important function
is for Emergency Messages . If, for some reason, Channel 16 is congested, the use of
Channel 9, especially in U .S . waters, may be used as the initial contact (hailing) channel for
non-emergency communication .
Limits On Calling
You must not call the same station for more than 30 seconds at a time .
If you do not get a reply, wait at least two (2) minutes before calling again .
After three (3) calling periods, wait at least 15 minutes before calling again .
Change Channels
After contacting another station on a calling channel, change immediately
to a channel which is available for the type of message you want to send .
Station Identification
Identify, in English, your station by your FCC call sign, ship name, the state registration
number, or other official number at both the beginning and end of each message .
Prohibited Communications
You
MUST NOT
transmit:
n
False distress or emergency messages .
n
Messages containing obscene, indecent, or profane words or meaning .
n
General calls, signals, or messages (messages not addressed to a particular station) on
Channel 16, except in an emergency or if you are testing your radio .
n
When you are on land .
Voice Calling
•
To Call Another Vessel Or A Shore Installation Such As A Lock Or Bridge Tender:
n
Make sure your radio is
On
.
n
Select Channel 16 and listen to make sure it is not being used .
NOTE
Channel 9 may be used by recreational vessels for general-purpose
calling . This frequency should be used whenever possible to relieve
congestion on Channel 16 .
n
When the channel is quiet, press the
Talk
button and call the ship you wish
to call . (Hold the microphone a few inches from your face and speak directly into it in a
normal tone of voice — clearly and distinctly .) Say “[name
of station being called] THIS IS [your vessel’s name or call sign] .”
n
Once contact is made on the calling channel, you must switch to a proper working
channel . See the channel listing on page 66 through 78 .
The vessel Corsair calling the vessel Vagabond:
Corsair:
“Vagabond, this is Corsair (station license number call sign) .”
Vagabond:
“Corsair, this is Vagabond . Over .”
Corsair:
“Vagabond go to working Channel 68 . Over .”
Both parties switch over to the agreed upon working channel . . . .
Corsair:
“Vagabond I need to talk to you about . . . Over .”
Vagabond:
“Corsair in answer to your question about . . . Over .”
Corsair:
“Vagabond, thanks for the information about . . . (call sign and
out
) .”
After each transmission, say “OVER” and release the microphone
Push to Talk
(PTT)
button . This confirms that the transmission has ended . When all communication with
the other vessel is totally completed, end the message by stating your call sign and
the word “OUT .” Remember, it is not necessary to state your call sign with each
transmission, only at the beginning and end of the message .
NOTE
For best sound quality at the shore station or other vessel receiving your call, hold
the microphone/speaker at least 2 in . (51 mm) from your mouth and
slightly off to one (1) side . Speak in a normal tone of voice .
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
For Example
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