VHF channels, a few questions

[rigi36]

Hi. I'm after some help here.

Located on the Thames, upstream of Teddington lock but downstream of Shepperton.

Could you help with the following please...

a) London VTS on Channel 14 (correct?)
b) Distress on Channel 16? (correct)
c) What channel should I use for calling over vessels in the vicinity?
d) What channel could be used for (brief) communication between a land base and safety boat for a sailing race?

Thanks for the help.

[SeaSkills]

Originally Posted by maxhar

Hi. I'm after some help here.

Located on the Thames, upstream of Teddington lock but downstream of Shepperton.

Could you help with the following please...

a) London VTS on Channel 14 (correct?)

Long time since I've been that way, so the locals will have more up to date info - but I do remember talking to london VTS on 14 (and also on another channel - maybe 68??) lower down the river

Originally Posted by maxhar

b) Distress on Channel 16? (correct)

Correct. It's good practice to keep radios on a listening watch on Ch16 so that you can respond if you become aware of a vessel in distress. It's also what you hope other people will be doing if you need that help yourself!

Originally Posted by maxhar

c) What channel should I use for calling over vessels in the vicinity?

Because of the answer to the above, unless you have pre-arranged an alternative channel - use CH16

Originally Posted by maxhar

d) What channel could be used for (brief) communication between a land base and safety boat for a sailing race?

There are channels set aside for yacht club safety boats. Depending on the display on your set, they may show Ch37, or sometimes M1 or M2, or even P1 and P2. (If the club is using VHF radios from a land base, they should have a licence for that use - many do not)

[Chris]

Originally Posted by maxhar

Hi. I'm after some help here.

Located on the Thames, upstream of Teddington lock but downstream of Shepperton.

Could you help with the following please...

a) London VTS on Channel 14 (correct?)
b) Distress on Channel 16? (correct)
c) What channel should I use for calling over vessels in the vicinity?
d) What channel could be used for (brief) communication between a land base and safety boat for a sailing race?

Thanks for the help.

I'm guessing you have not done your VHF Course? might be worth getting your license especially if you are using VHF in that neck of the woods.

[mcolston]

London VTS is indeed on channel 14, and will generally transfer to 22 for longer transmissions.

Channel 16 is the coastguard, also in charge of search and rescue (distress).

With regard to the other channels to use, I'd also recommend getting onto a VHF course / get your operators license.

Hope that helps?

[rigi36]

Hi

I will be doing my VHF course in a few weeks but wanted some prior knowlege before I went.

Is there a standard channel that boats will listen on to get in contact with each other not in a distress situation?

Thanks again

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by maxhar

Is there a standard channel that boats will listen on to get in contact with each other not in a distress situation?

Ch 16 is used for all of that, but as it is also the distress channel there is a need to keep things to the point and move to a "working" channel asap.

All of this will be covered in great detail on your course as it is a full day, it should also be possible to write your own list of channels relevant to you at the end.

Have a look at this list on our site, a bit localised but it gives an idea....

http://www.alderneymarine.com/info/frequencies.html

[jake 4589]

Hi All, I have just done my vhf course yesterday, brilliant and very enjoyable.
Just wanted to say that I would really recommend learning the phonetic alphabet and
learning the designated channels before you go.
All this can be found in the VHF (with gmdss) book from the RYA. Only cost £5.99

Well worth it

Jake