Section 12: Communications Afloat 133
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Section 12: Communications Afloat
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It is very important that boaters maintain
the ability to communicate between
themselves and other boaters, the Coast
Guard, and other facilities ashore. These
communications links provide the means
to get help quickly in an emergency,
exchange important information, and get
the latest weather reports. In this chapter
we’ll learn how to set up these communication
links and use them properly.
RADIO VS. TELEPHONE
Several methods are available for communicating
on the water. The most widely used
today are VHF radio and cellular telephone.
Cellular Telephone
• Cellular telephones are designed for land
communications.
• They may be useful for contacting local
law authorities on lakes and rivers.
• Their value at sea is severely limited.
• They don’t provide universal direct contact
with Coast Guard vessels or aircraft.
• Other boats that may be in a position to
help you cannot hear emergency telephone
calls.
• The Coast Guard cannot use its radio-directional
finding equipment to determine
your boat’s position.
• A cellular phone transmits at less than 1
watt of power compared to a 25 watt VHF
marine radio
• Coverage at sea is spotty and limited in
range.
VHF Radio
• VHF is the best radiotelephone system for
recreational boaters operating in coastal
areas, on the Great Lakes and on the major
rivers systems of the USA
• VHF stands for very high frequency.
• VHF radios have a range of 20 to 30 miles
and usually provide clear, static-free messages.
• They are not required equipment, but are
highly recommended.
• VHF radios provide 24-hour contact with
the Coast Guard and communication
with other boats and shore facilities.
VHF RADIO
Recreational boats under 65.6 feet (20m)
are not required to have a VHF radio, but
should. If you do have a VHF radio aboard
and it is on, you must monitor Channel 16
(see below) unless you are communicating;
you are not required to have it on, but you
should.
Operation
• VHF radio is a line-of-sight system.
• Its range is affected by:
• The power of the transmitter
• Height of the transmit and receive
antennas
• Solid land objects that interfere with
the line of sight between transmitter
and receiver
• Marine VHF radios have channels whose
frequencies are allocated by the FCC in
the U.S.
• Most VHF radios have additional channels
that provide access to NOAA weather
information.
• There are two types of VHF radios (Figure
12-1):
• Fixed radios:
• Are either “built-in” to the boat’s
instrument panel or on a mounting
bracket attached to the boat.