The Basic Guide For Using Vhf Marine Radio

VHF radio is generally used for safety purposes on every boat. This ensures that there is control over the safety measures of the boat. Due to the unavailability of the network, vhf marine radio works on satellite transmission. This allows communication from one board to another boat without any disturbance. There are a lot of advantages when a Marina uses the Marine radio. If you want to know the basics of using the vhf radio, you may read this article.

The usage of marine radio

• You need to turn on the vhf and adjust the squelch with the help of the turning knob and tune to a channel that is nearby. For example, the US coast guard uses channel number 16.
• You have to monitor channel 16 when you are not much active in conversation with the opposite person. This is an unwritten rule for all radio users.
• Remember that before going to the boat, make sure that the radio is properly functioning. For this, you may not use channel number 16.
• Then use the open channel to check the performance of any other channels that are available.

• Turn on the radio on the one-watt power setting.
• Call and speak ‘radio check’ three times followed by your location and your boat name when you are in an emergency situation.
• Wait for the reply of the transmission that you have done on the channel.
• Make sure that you keep your conversations short and language on point as it is a formal and emergency call.
• Each coastline has its own channels so make sure you are aware of them. There are channels that are specific to the type of query you have. For example, channel number 16 is for general queries.

There are a few differences between cell phones and vhf marine radio. The mobile phone requires you to add the contact number while the radio needs just one button to be posted for the communication. There is only one person on the mobile phone who can hear the conversation while when talking on the radio any boater can hear it out. When you have to call someone on the cell phone that person will contact the other for help, but on vhf radio, the very first respondent can hear the call immediately. Hence it is a faster and efficient conversation when you use the Marine radio.