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VHF Marine Radio Protocols
43
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra
®
Voice Calling
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
42
English
VHF Marine Radio
Procedures
VHF Marine Radio Procedures
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Maintain Your Watch
Whenever your boat is underway, the radio must be turned On and be tuned to
Channel 16 except when being used for messages.
Power
Try 1 watt first, if the station being called is within a few kilometers. If there is
no answer, switch to 3 watts and call again. You have the ability to go to high
(maximum) power to increase your calling distance. Remember, the lower wattage
outputs will conserve your battery and minimize interference to other users.
Calling Coast Stations
Call a coast station on its assigned channel. You may use Channel 16 when you
do not know the assigned channel.
Calling Other Vessels
Call other vessels on Channel 16. You may also call on ship-to-ship channels
when you know that the vessel is listening on a ship-to-ship channel.
Limits on Calling
You must not call the same station for more than 30 seconds at a time.
If you do not get a reply, wait at least two (2) minutes before calling again.
After three (3) calling periods, wait at least 15 minutes before calling again.
Change Channels
After contacting another station on a calling channel, change immediately
to a channel which is available for the type of message you want to send.
Station Identification
Identify your station by your call sign, vessel name and the state registration number,
at both the beginning and at the end of the message.
Prohibited Communications
You MUST NOT transmit:
n
False distress or emergency messages.
n
Messages containing obscene, indecent or profane language.
n
General calls, signals or messages (messages not addressed to a particular
station) on Channel 16, except in an emergency or if you are testing your radio.
n
When you are on land.
For Example
Voice Calling
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To call another vessel or shore installation (e.g, lock or bridge tender):
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Make sure the radio is On.
n
Make sure you are in standby listening mode on Channel 16. Make sure Channel
16 is not in use.
n
When the channel is open (quiet), press the Talk button and call a vessel.
Hold the radio or microphone several inches from your face and speak
clearly and distinctly in a normal voice tone. Say “name or station being
called,” “THIS IS [your vessel name or call sign].”
n
Once contact is made, you must leave Channel 16 and go to another working
channel. See channel listing in the appendix.
The vessel Corsair is calling the vessel Vagabond:
Corsair: “Vagabond, this is Corsair. Over.”
Vagabond: “Please switch and answer on Channel 68 (or any proper working
channel). Over.”
Corsair: “Switching to Channel 68. Over.”
n
If the other does not respond, wait two (2) minutes and repeat. You are permitted
to attempt contact three (3) times, two (2) minutes apart. If you still have not
made contact, wait 15 minutes before trying again.
n
After communications are completed, each vessel must sign off with its call sign
or vessel name and the word “out” and return to Channel 16.
NOTE
For best sound quality at the station you are calling, hold the microphone on
the front of the radio at least 51 mm (2 in.) from your mouth and slightly off
to one (1) side. Speak in a normal tone of voice.
NOTE
“Over and Out”
The most commonly misused procedure words are “over and out” within the
same transmission. “Over” means you expect a reply. “Out” means you are
finished and do not expect a reply.
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