Faster, better…

In the last hour and a half this Friday afternoon three vessels have called for radio checks on marine VHF Channel 16. The Coast Guard reminds boaters on the air and in their various boating courses that radio checks are not permitted on channel 16.

Why are radio checks not permitted on Channel 16? Channel 16 is a calling and distress frequency. It is NOT intended for casual radio traffic or for making blind general calls for radio checks. Keeping the radio channel free of superfluous radio traffic is vital to boater safety – your safety. Every person using channel 16 for other than the channel’s intended purpose could potentially interfere with an emergency call for assistance or in other words prevent or delay a call from being heard.

Look at the issue from the point of view of the Coast Guard. Their watchstanders listen to marine radios connected through an array of high antenna sites. The Coast Guard hears far more on these high sites than you ever will on your boat radio. Your radio horizon may be just a little farther than your visual horizon but the Coast Guard’s radio horizon extends four to five times as far. Radio checks in the area of responsibility for Baltimore Sector would quickly jam channel 16 with junk radio traffic on a busy boating weekend.

It still amazes me that inconsiderate boaters still use channel 16 to test their marine radios even after they must have heard the Coast Guard periodically remind violators over the radio. The recommended channel for radio checks is the alternate boater calling frequency, VHF channel 9. The method for making the radio check call is to direct a call to a vessel you can hear and call them asking for a radio check. Should you not hear a vessel on channel 9 you can listen to one of the non-commercial radio channels and call a vessel you hear there. Making a directed call is the preferred method. You should NEVER make a general call to any boater using channel 16.

Please don’t clutter channel 16 with unnecessary radio traffic. Do not make or respond to radio checks on channel 16.

Comment here or on the Faster-better BBS

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