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 Roger, not 10 four, out
DSC-equipped radio uniquely identifies your vessel
By BOB E. SHERMAN
Waterfront News Columnist
A VHF radio is probably one of the most important items you can have on your boat. And yet it is not “required equipment.” However if you have one onboard, you’re required by law to monitor channel 16
Visual distress signals — which can be used if you have no radio or are out of radio range — are also required. Among them: the orange distress flag, measuring at least 3 feet x 3 feet with a black square and ball on an orange background. It must also be marked with an indication that it meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
I heard a story about a boater stranded off the coast while fishing. He had a fixed mount VHF but his battery was dead and he had no bars left on his cell phone. Luckily, he did have an orange flag that he waved frantically until authorities arrived.
Upon closer inspection, it became obvious that it was actually a Miami Hurricane flag. Before calling a tow service, law enforcement officials issued a ticket for carrying a flag that did not meet USCG requirements. Maybe the officer was a Gators fan.
The VHF radio signal works on a line-of-sight basis. So the higher your antenna and that of the receiving vessel or station, the greater the range. VHF radios for recreational vessels are limited to 25 watts of output. To boost your range, you need to raise your antenna.
Handhelds operate at 5 or 6 watts max. Climbing the mast while holding a handheld is not advisable. All my friends who signed my cast will attest to this.
It’s easy to forget that the VHF works like a party line — everyone can listen to your call. You can be fined for misuse of the radio from false Mayday calls to using profanity. Channel 16 is for calling another station and emergencies.
That’s why it’s important to make your contact and switch to a working channel. You should also adjust the power output based on the range required. If you are calling the Hollywood bridge, there’s no need for boaters in West Palm to hear you.
When I’m in Hallandale I often hear calls to bridges on the Miami River or the New River in Fort Lauderdale. It’s unlikely that all the calls I hear are from sailboats with the antenna on top of a 110-foot mast. So they’re operating on full power when it is unnecessary. In addition to annoying me, it ties up a channel that may be needed in an emergency.
Recreational boaters can use four channels for communication: 68, 69, 71, and 72. They are all designated as non-commercial. Channel 68 is also designated for marinas and yacht clubs, which apparently are not as commercial as a tow company. Several marinas in Fort Lauderdale use 68. In any case these channels are not meant for endless chatter. This is why cell phones were invented.
Proper party line etiquette should be used at all times. For example, if the channel is in use, don’t start talking until the other conversation is finished or switch to another channel.
Learning some of the VHF lingo is also a good idea. I know you love to watch “Smokey and the Bandit” reruns, but you don’t say “10 four” on a marine radio. We say “Roger.”
“Over” means my transmission has ended and I’m awaiting a response. “Out” means my transmission has ended so no response is expected.
“Over and out” makes no sense. If you hear “over and out” followed by “10 four, it’s probably the boat in front of you with all its fenders hanging over the gunwale.
To avoid some of the party line affect, all you need is a DSC (digital selective calling) equipped radio. All radios manufactured in the past few years come equipped with DSC. This new technology has two major benefits — both of which require you to register the radio and receive a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI).
This nine digit number uniquely identifies your vessel. In the case of a distress call, the USCG knows exactly what vessel they are looking for. Armed with the MMSI of other boats, you can call them directly without everyone else hearing you.
Only the hailing is private. Prior to making the call you pick a channel for the other boat to answer. So if other boaters with nothing better to do are scanning the recreational channels, your life is an open book again.
Capt Bob “out.”
Comments? For more information see Bob E. Sherman’s website:
www.bobesherman.com .
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