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I purchased a VHF from BIAS on the w'end. Ended up getting the GME GX600 (c/- new 1.8m aerial & mount). I already had the GME 27MHz (GX300) installed so aerial & radio mounts were identical
Just had issues with our GX300 with 50% working beautifully, then only static & chinese shipping the rest of the time. I was so keen to get it fixed I bought another GX300 (thinking it was the radio) but still same issues....must be something in our boat wiring or the aerial. 27megs don't get along with ETEC's very well either, so I've removed it.
The VHF testing (on land) sounded high definition by comparison. After 5 years of putting up with hit & miss reception on the 27meg, it was about bloody time!
My wife & I are going to do the proficiency course at Redcliffe Coast Guard in the next few weeks, but I wanted to test the installation in the mean time.
So.... from all the pre-study it looks like you observe the silent period, call on 16, then switch to another channel. Supposedly YOU suggest the switch-to channel (73) but I thought I'd leave it to the Redcliffe Coast Guard to suggest.
But instead I got told that it's prob not a good idea to call for a radio check on the emergency channel.... I was trying to follow all the governing regulation I could, but apparently STILL got it wrong!
Bit peeved having failed my first test, I then called them on 73 and explained I was only following SOP by calling them on 16. She just said they could hear me loud & clear and nothing further.
It makes me wonder now if they also prefer calls for logging On/Off on 73, then only use 16 if they don't respond.
I'm sure the course will clarify this, but every bloody online legislation & training guide I found said to call on 16! It makes perfect sense to keep it free for emergencies, but why then use it as the initial calling channel as well?
ps - anyone had luck in selling their old 27MHz radios. I've now got 2 perfectly working units that I no longer need. One of them is less than 12 months old & still in warranty.
Since channel 16 is the channel you are observing, and will call on it kinda makes sense to do a radio check on that channel. However the correct procedure is to call in on 16, wait until you are acknowledged then go to another channel to discuss details.
I always call in on the supplementary call channel, channel 67. Most coast guard and VMR bases will monitor both.
My wife & I are going to do the proficiency course at Redcliffe Coast Guard in the next few weeks, but I wanted to test the installation in the mean time.
So.... from all the pre-study it looks like you observe the silent period, call on 16, then switch to another channel. Supposedly YOU suggest the switch-to channel (73) but I thought I'd leave it to the Redcliffe Coast Guard to suggest.
Mattyd: look forward to seeing you on the Saturday 19th January course. We'll explain it all to you then. Have you booked a place yet?
I'm currently studying the Aust Maritime College's handbook to get my certificate and one thing it doesn't cover is the proper protocols for radio checks and logging on with VMRs. Sure it mentions mayday protocols, but not much on what happens day-to-day. I have installed a VHF on my boat in anticipation of getting certified and have been monitoring channel 16 (but haven't ever transmitted anything). I thought listening might be a good way to learn a few things for the test but it's actually not such a good learning tool. Anyway, I heard a few craft vessels asking for radio checks on 16 and thought that was a no-no. I ended up phoning the coast station a few days later and the radio operator said they didn't mind replying to radio checks on 16, as long as there wasn't much other radio traffic at the time, like communicating with a ship coming through the heads. Perhaps the "rules" are a bit local and I suspect doing a course where an experienced operator can teach you the things the book lacks is a good idea.
Too bad I'm not in Qld, Peter. Courses here in Vic all seem to be cancelled last year, but new ones coming up.
I was trying to follow all the governing regulation I could, but apparently STILL got it wrong!
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