Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 10 April 2011, 16:05   #1
Member
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Jersey
Boat name: t/t
Make: Honda
Length: under 3m
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 261
VHF - On or Off

I have finally got round to fitting the antenna for my VHF to my boat this past week, it was freestanding in the wheelhouse for the past 2 years.

We had a pleasant day today onboard but I HAD to turn the VHF off due to the constant traffic and DSC alerts. None of which were close or we could do anything about with divers in the water.

I know I should monitor it but if it continues like today all summer it will either be OFF or the handheld will be on Ch 16 and the main set OFF.
__________________
karlT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 18:06   #2
Member
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: No name yet
Make: Avon
Length: 4m +
Engine: Honda BF30
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 153
Shouldn't switching to low power cut out a lot of them?

free
__________________
free is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 18:08   #3
Member
 
ashbypower's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Salisbury
Boat name: Blue C
Make: XS 600
Length: 6m +
Engine: 125hp Opti
MMSI: 235082826/235909566
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,439
Quote:
Originally Posted by free View Post
Shouldn't switching to low power cut out a lot of them?

free
Err NO low power only works on TRANSMIT!!! as should have been explained on yor VHF course !!!
__________________
Brian C
APS Marine Centre
ashbypower is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 18:57   #4
Member
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: No name yet
Make: Avon
Length: 4m +
Engine: Honda BF30
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 153
Lol, it's been a long day! Lucky I stuck a question mark at the end, it was a question, honest. What's the answer then, a second antenna in the wheelhouse?

free
__________________
free is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 19:12   #5
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,684
Quote:
Originally Posted by free View Post
What's the answer then, a second antenna in the wheelhouse?
Well, seeing as they're not close - I'd dial the squelsh down a touch to remove the non-local chit chat (not a precise science mind)

The DSC stuff will probably come through anyway.

Personally, I'd just turn the volume down a touch.

As divers seems to account for a large proportion of emergencies (and I am one too ) I try to keep a listen out. In fairness, there's not much happening on the VHF here though...
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 19:57   #6
Member
 
martini's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: jersey
Boat name: Martini II
Make: Arctic 28/FC470
Length: 8m +
Engine: twin 225Opti/50hp 2t
MMSI: 235067688
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,030
Where abouts were you? I don't normally get bothered with random dsc's these days. Maybe you were getting more than normal due to atmospheric conditions? My receiver at work has been getting Brixham, Falmouth, Solent etc all weekend, reception has been particularly good.
__________________
martini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 20:53   #7
Member
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Jersey
Boat name: t/t
Make: Honda
Length: under 3m
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 261
North / Northwest

Also getting Brixham et al on 16 - my soldering can't of been too bad. Had 3 DSC's yesterday and 4 today. Did not look at details just cleared them. Even with volume down the alarm was loud.

Also, on my previous boat I used to get numerous position requests from someone who obviously wanted to know where I was (maybe trying to track a wreck down) I had fun sending my position back as 200 miles west of lands end. I don't have my GPS connected on the Icom as I have not yet found where to turn off auto position report when answering a request. I know this may cause issues in an emergency but I would be able to send the DSC then back it up with a call, even on the handheld if I have abandoned the vessel.
__________________
karlT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 20:59   #8
Member
 
ashbypower's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Salisbury
Boat name: Blue C
Make: XS 600
Length: 6m +
Engine: 125hp Opti
MMSI: 235082826/235909566
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,439
Volume does not work on the DSC alarm !! the auto Pos request is swithable from the Menu ... where depends on the ICOM Model tis adviseabe to have the radio and GPA connected tho, aftyer all Press the distres button sends the lot, you can the "Get off" and wait !!!
__________________
Brian C
APS Marine Centre
ashbypower is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 21:20   #9
RIBnet Supporter
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,684
Quote:
Originally Posted by karlT View Post
Had 3 DSC's yesterday and 4 today. Did not look at details just cleared them. Even with volume down the alarm was loud.
Hopefully you weren't troubled by pesky flares on the horizon either!

I hope I never become that jaded.
__________________
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 April 2011, 23:32   #10
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Stanley, Falkland Is
Boat name: Seawolf
Make: Osprey Vipermax 5.8
Length: 5m +
Engine: Etec 150
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,726
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
As divers seems to account for a large proportion of emergencies (and I am one too ) I try to keep a listen out. In fairness, there's not much happening on the VHF here though...

You think yours is quiet

I was away for about four hours today and it was quite busy, I saw my old rib (twice), an Interceptor 42 and a Seaward 35, like Piccadilly Circus it was
__________________
A Boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by fibreglass, into which you throw money...

Sent from my Computer, using a keyboard and mouse
BogMonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 April 2011, 12:19   #11
Member
 
Ian M's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: New Milton
Boat name: Jianna
Make: Osprey
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200 E-TEC
MMSI: 235076954
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,940
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
Hopefully you weren't troubled by pesky flares on the horizon either!

I hope I never become that jaded.
__________________
Ian

Dust creation specialist
Ian M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 April 2011, 12:31   #12
Member
 
m chappelow's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: yorkshire
Boat name: little vicky
Make: avon ex RNLI
Length: 3m +
Engine: tohatsu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,310
just turn down and adjust the squelch
__________________
m chappelow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 April 2011, 21:25   #13
Member
 
wolfie's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Telford
Boat name: ?
Make: Searider
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 99
Quote:
Originally Posted by martini View Post
My receiver at work has been getting Brixham, Falmouth, Solent etc all weekend, reception has been particularly good.
think i can beat that, had my set on after fixing it in place, picking up Liverpool CG and others, and i am 80 odd mile inland................. LOL
__________________
wolfie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 April 2011, 23:06   #14
Member
 
Avocet's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Poole
Boat name: Grimalkin
Make: Ribcraft 750 Sport
Length: 7m +
Engine: Suzi 250
MMSI: 235050647
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 909
Quote:
Originally Posted by martini View Post
My receiver at work has been getting Brixham, Falmouth, Solent etc all weekend, reception has been particularly good.
Why no Portland (my favourite)?

All were transmitting regularly throughout the weekend and (apart from Solent) not telling anybody off that I heard!

It's the line of sight over open water that does it: coming back from CI, it's good to hear the communication when there's no land in view.

Radio atmospherics have enabled me to speak to Italy on CB radio (VHF) from the car in the past - and unusual conditions (hot weather after cool temperatures combined with sunspot activity which can promote as well as destroy radio performance) will help this.
__________________
Avocet is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 16:34.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.