With most CG sectors,stations and now most of the SafeBoats, MLBs, and the new UTBs all equipped with Rescue 21 radio gear it seems that there is a general shift away from using the customary operations channels (21, 23, 81 and 83) for routine communications.
Example: Sector LI Sound which in the past always used Ch 23 for SAR has now abandoned Ch 23 for the new "CG121" (they seem to add an extra "1" to the CG21 designation).
Sadly, when I have programmed the "CG" channel (16X.XXXMhz) into my scanner all I hear is hash/static. Can anyone tell me if the CG is using digital emission which could be heard if I invested in a newer scanner that decodes digital transmissions OR is the Coast Guard actually encrypting as well?
I understand that the CG might want to make their Law Enforcement operations impossible to monitor... but it's a shame that the Coast Guard is moving away from keeping SAR operations readily listenable to by the multitude of boaters whom the CG openly asks to be their 'eyes and ears' every time an UMIB urgent marine information broadcast is sent out.
Can anyone who really knows whether its digital or encrypted being used on the CG/lant channels clue me in please?
Example: Sector LI Sound which in the past always used Ch 23 for SAR has now abandoned Ch 23 for the new "CG121" (they seem to add an extra "1" to the CG21 designation).
Sadly, when I have programmed the "CG" channel (16X.XXXMhz) into my scanner all I hear is hash/static. Can anyone tell me if the CG is using digital emission which could be heard if I invested in a newer scanner that decodes digital transmissions OR is the Coast Guard actually encrypting as well?
I understand that the CG might want to make their Law Enforcement operations impossible to monitor... but it's a shame that the Coast Guard is moving away from keeping SAR operations readily listenable to by the multitude of boaters whom the CG openly asks to be their 'eyes and ears' every time an UMIB urgent marine information broadcast is sent out.
Can anyone who really knows whether its digital or encrypted being used on the CG/lant channels clue me in please?