Marine Band Frequencies
- Agent 48
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Marine Band Frequencies
I'm miles away from any coast but I do have a reasonable take off point in the direction of the river Thames in London and I can receive London VTS and some boats taking to each other on 156.700 MHz.
I am just wondering if there were any other VHF Marine Band frequencies worth monitoring?
I have had a scan but I only get activity on the one channel 156.700 MHz.
From my research the average boat uses a 5/8 wave antenna and a maximum of 25 watts, some use handhelds, 5watt rubber duck antenna so I'm not likely going to hear the handhelds but I will hear the more powerful stations. This gives me an idea of what I will pick up.
Thanks.
I am just wondering if there were any other VHF Marine Band frequencies worth monitoring?
I have had a scan but I only get activity on the one channel 156.700 MHz.
From my research the average boat uses a 5/8 wave antenna and a maximum of 25 watts, some use handhelds, 5watt rubber duck antenna so I'm not likely going to hear the handhelds but I will hear the more powerful stations. This gives me an idea of what I will pick up.
Thanks.
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
The usual ones that are active are 12. 14 and of course 16. 16 often takes you to more coastguard broadcasts in the area in the 60’s. 37 and M2/P4. If you have any locks or bridges inland that could be 73. Plus of course, 0. Other than those, activity is usually from people on the ground or in low boats.
- Agent 48
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
Thanks. Channel 14 seems to be the only active channel, occasionally channel 68.
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
My office is in a harbour, I'm about 1 mile from the sea. All day, monitoring the port channel, I hear loud and very strong boats call the bridge, near the sea. They dont answer. As boats come into the port from sea, they go into a marina. The marina can use a proper radio with an antenna, but usually use a portable. I never hear this, even on my antennas on a mast.
The horizon is for a kayak paddler about two miles? Range is always very limited unless you have your boat antenna up the top of a 30 foot mast! Marine users are on the water level 0, land is always higher. I guess we just have to live with it. I live on the Norfolk broads and its really flat. We have one boat that runs pleasure trips west. They have a vertical yagi on their office at the waters edge, and the water is a virtual, but meandering straight line. They get perfect reception for the entire route!
The horizon is for a kayak paddler about two miles? Range is always very limited unless you have your boat antenna up the top of a 30 foot mast! Marine users are on the water level 0, land is always higher. I guess we just have to live with it. I live on the Norfolk broads and its really flat. We have one boat that runs pleasure trips west. They have a vertical yagi on their office at the waters edge, and the water is a virtual, but meandering straight line. They get perfect reception for the entire route!
- Agent 48
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
What does Delta Span mean? as in "take Delta Span"?
I think there is "Echo Span" as well.
I think there is "Echo Span" as well.
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
Probably local knowledge stuff - do you have any bridges with multiple segments? Could be the designation of the possible routes under the sections? Spans as in bridge spans?
- Agent 48
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
There are quite a few bridges along the Thames, they mention Tower Bridge sometimes as well as other bridges... a lot of the time its "Tower bridge closed to navigation London VTS out... or another bridge gets mentioned. There is a nice sounding lady operating channel 14 and the boatmen keep saying "wink wink" down the radio
There is a bit of banter that goes on between the boat people but its kept brief.
Things got a bit juicy last night... thee was a fire on a boat and people had to be evacuated they were told to goto channel 22 and heard the police boats & fire boat on there...
There is a bit of banter that goes on between the boat people but its kept brief.
Things got a bit juicy last night... thee was a fire on a boat and people had to be evacuated they were told to goto channel 22 and heard the police boats & fire boat on there...
- Agent 48
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
In terms of listening all's I really need are channels 14, 16, 22, 68 I can put these into my Tait and have it on scan.
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
You will find that dual band VHF/UHF collinear such as the Diamond x-30 are also sensitive at receiving marine band communication..
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- Agent 48
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
My homemade 2 Meter slim Jim receives Marine band very well, I compared it with my dipole antenna and the slim jim was better for receiving marine traffic.
I've been thinking about getting a nice yellow Boafeng UV-9R for when I go down to the Thames and program it up as a little Marine band handheld radio. There are quite a lot of channels in the Marine band so a Boafeng is cheap and has lots of channels. I'm not sure how water proof they are but I think it will be OK for the Thames.
I've been thinking about getting a nice yellow Boafeng UV-9R for when I go down to the Thames and program it up as a little Marine band handheld radio. There are quite a lot of channels in the Marine band so a Boafeng is cheap and has lots of channels. I'm not sure how water proof they are but I think it will be OK for the Thames.
- Agent 48
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Re: Marine Band Frequencies
Mill bank Pier closed to navigation. A body had been seen in the water search and rescue called out.
Its all kicking off again today on Marine band.
Its all kicking off again today on Marine band.