Coast Guard vessel ID

[WSGSD]

I apologize in advance if this post is out of relevance for this forum.
Was vacationing in Maine and Coast Guard Sector Northern New England had plenty of radio traffic. There was almost daily communication with "Coast Guard Vessel 4949". Anyone know what type of CG ship this call sign would match up to? From what I've found online, I don't believe it was anything the size of a cutter. I'm thinking a smaller patrol boat.

Also, do CG helicopters in Northern New England operate on anything other than channel 16, 21 or 22 for routine communications? The "sector" office was calling a "helo" multiple times on these channels with no answer, which surprised me. I thought all these channels were more less standard monitoring for the Coast Guard.

[kennyblues]

The 4948 would indicate that it is a 49' patrol craft, although the number should have been 5 digits long. Anything over a certain length is called a cutter anything under is called a small boat. Typically the first 2 numbers indicate the length of the vessel.
CG Northeast New England primarily operates on ch 23 157.150 but can come up on virtually any freq including Maine interop channels/ local FD channels etc. The helos will continually switch their radio guard from one sector to another as they transit the air space to or from Cape Cod Air Station. The will contact the air station on 122.9750, 164.5500 FM or 345.0.

[hill]

CG vessels are numbered with a 5 or 6 digit number. The first two is the vessel length. Cutters are over 65', but ones under 100' still numbered with a 5 digit number. Cutters are named and this serves as the voice callsign. After the first radio contact CG vessels just use the last three numbers and sometimes just the last two to id.

CG helos have a 4 digit number.

It seams you might have missed something during the calls.

[ecps92]

Here is a good reference, from Monitoring Times

Most CG Vessels [other than Named Cutters] are 5-6 digits in length
however with the move to the fast 25' boats, you will hear them use the last 3-4 digits only. I would guess it's 254949 aka a 25'ft

USCG: International Affairs: FMS [Photo]

The CG also use VHF LMR channels as listed in the RR Wiki
and you will find them hiding on other VHF Marine channels, depending
on the Operations Tempo in the Sector.

Pt. Allerton in Hull MA routinely uses other VHF Marine channels
vs the Specific 21, 23, 81, 82, 83 which are reserved for the CG
and the CG Aux. [Kenny is it 74?]

Also, remember the Helo is airborne and can cover multiple sectors in a short-time. They may have already switched "Guard" over to the other sector.

Sectors in New England are [and with a Good Antenna, Long Island is routinely heard in southern Mass, CT and RI]

Sector Boston
Sector Northern New England
Sector Southern New England

Originally Posted by WSGSD

I apologize in advance if this post is out of relevance for this forum.
Was vacationing in Maine and Coast Guard Sector Northern New England had plenty of radio traffic. There was almost daily communication with "Coast Guard Vessel 4949". Anyone know what type of CG ship this call sign would match up to? From what I've found online, I don't believe it was anything the size of a cutter. I'm thinking a smaller patrol boat.

Also, do CG helicopters in Northern New England operate on anything other than channel 16, 21 or 22 for routine communications? The "sector" office was calling a "helo" multiple times on these channels with no answer, which surprised me. I thought all these channels were more less standard monitoring for the Coast Guard.

[kennyblues]

That's correct Bill Channel 74 156.7250

[WSGSD]

Wow....great info everyone! Thanks.
Here's one more question....what brand of VHF radio equipment does the CG use in their communications room? Northern New England's base radio sounded like it needed a mild tune-up. Transmissions sounded very "tinny" with background noise similar to if someone was operating a vacuum. In simple terms, not as crisp like a police dispatch would sound. At times I really had to focus on the transmission to decipher what was being broadcasted, plus the operator much spoke too fast, which didn't help.

[kennyblues]

I have no idea as to what type of radio equipment is used by the CG, This report may be of some use to you, and others;
The Lowcountry Listening Post: USCG Asset Guide

[ecps92]

Many times they just don't speak directly into the microphone

Originally Posted by WSGSD

Wow....great info everyone! Thanks.
Here's one more question....what brand of VHF radio equipment does the CG use in their communications room? Northern New England's base radio sounded like it needed a mild tune-up. Transmissions sounded very "tinny" with background noise similar to if someone was operating a vacuum. In simple terms, not as crisp like a police dispatch would sound. At times I really had to focus on the transmission to decipher what was being broadcasted, plus the operator much spoke too fast, which didn't help.

[hill]

The CG AUX may be using channel 74 in other areas, but this is a unauthorized allocation. Channel 74 is to be used for port ops. Unknown what other sectors or the districts are doing. As a member of the CG AUX active in communications our members are only authorized the CG VHF channels and channel 16 with Auxiliary Radio Facilities. Some areas use VHF repeaters outside of the marine band.

The Sectors not using off the shelf radios or equipment, but radios that are installed with the upgrade to Rescue 21.

[ecps92]

We were not talking about Aux Comms, but a CG Station that uses 74 to alleviate traffic on 21, 23, 81, 82, 83 since they are with-in Hearing distance of 3 Sectors and it's busy. However if a CG Station asked an Aux unit to use another channel, to work with them, it's not unauthorized.

150.7000 Mhz is the CG AuxNet Repeater system [not in every Dist] and due to interference with Canada, some have been reported using other frequencies at this time [Pacific North West]

Originally Posted by hill

The CG AUX may be using channel 74 in other areas, but this is a unauthorized allocation. Channel 74 is to be used for port ops. Unknown what other sectors or the districts are doing. As a member of the CG AUX active in communications our members are only authorized the CG VHF channels and channel 16 with Auxiliary Radio Facilities. Some areas use VHF repeaters outside of the marine band.

The Sectors not using off the shelf radios or equipment, but radios that are installed with the upgrade to Rescue 21.

[hill]

Just because it is being done at a local station in your local area doesn't make it right. A lot of things sometimes stay under the radar of those in higher positions. I will make no more comments on this topic and if it is right or wrong.

[ecps92]

Anyone else notice this am [Sector Boston] that they were simulcasting the "Notices to Mariners" on both Ch.12 and Ch.22 with an R9 signal on Ch.12 and an R1 signal on Ch.22. Lately it seems that the system is not keying up all of the High-Sites.

Originally Posted by kennyblues

That's correct Bill Channel 74 156.7250

[RKG]

Coast Guard air assets maintain a guard and watch on 5696 USB. Ground stations are ComSta Boston and CAMSLANT (formerly ComSta Portsmouth) (Virginia).

[kennyblues]

Originally Posted by RKG

Coast Guard air assets maintain a guard and watch on 5696 USB. Ground stations are ComSta Boston and CAMSLANT (formerly ComSta Portsmouth) (Virginia).

They will use HF radio guard only if out of reliable range on VHF channels of the appropriate Sector