What are, if any good marine channels in the Philadelphia area. I know we don't have a big port presence, but is there any good active ones?
Marine Channels in Philly
- Thread starter domman27
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Is there some reason you cannot monitor them yourself to find out? The VHF marine channels are in a comparatively narrow band of frequencies between 156-162 mHz and those freqs are predominantly marine use (there are some other services but you'll be able to tell whether or not they are VHF marine by listening). Set your scanner for that as a search range and you'll hear any marine activity assuming you are in receiving range.
u2brent
OAMPT
Is there a VHF marine "CB" or chit-chat channel?
I got a radio for the boat but haven't been out and don't live anywhere near water to monitor. Channels 9 and 16 both say Calling but I don't know what that means.. I know 16 is for emergency.
I come up to this area sometimes in my work truck and spend some monitoring marine. You just need to close to the water to be able to receive marine VHF.
Many scanners have a marine service search that only searches the VHF-FM Marine Channels. I would start here.
Some channels likely to be used are 13, 16, and 22A. Plus all the the noncommercial channels used by pleasure boaters during the summer boating season. Many of the commerical marine channels may be in use for marine companies like tugs.
If you have a scanner that has P25 a few frequencies used by USCG. Try CG 121 and CG 409 with sometimes encryption used. CG 409 is mainly used to talk with helos from AIRSTA Atlantic City the aircraft side seams to always be encrypted.
Many scanners have a marine service search that only searches the VHF-FM Marine Channels. I would start here.
Some channels likely to be used are 13, 16, and 22A. Plus all the the noncommercial channels used by pleasure boaters during the summer boating season. Many of the commerical marine channels may be in use for marine companies like tugs.
If you have a scanner that has P25 a few frequencies used by USCG. Try CG 121 and CG 409 with sometimes encryption used. CG 409 is mainly used to talk with helos from AIRSTA Atlantic City the aircraft side seams to always be encrypted.
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16, 22a, 81a
81a usually has interop with Coast Guard and police and fire departments. Also you will hear coast gaurd auxiliary stations checking in when they are on the water about every 30 minutes on ch 81.
81a usually has interop with Coast Guard and police and fire departments. Also you will hear coast gaurd auxiliary stations checking in when they are on the water about every 30 minutes on ch 81.
Marine 13 is the designated navigation channel for the commercial shipping corridor along the Delaware River. Vessels are required to keep watch on both 13 and 16. So, at a minimum, those are in my list.
captaincab
Member
22 and 81 are used a lot in the Philly marine terminal area and further south by Tinicum etc on the river and there are the occasional coast guard stuff since there is a coast guard base in Philadelphia
I have been associated with BB62 (NJ2BB) for 20 years and grew up In Burl. City right on the riverbank. CG and marine was around 2mHz then. I an with BB62 most weekends and always have my VX7 with all VHF marine in it. What are you hearing on 5,9 and 12? I Hear mostly tugs, the Spirit, and the three bridges doing the radio dance as ships go/up/down and tug/barges passing port to port one whistle - CG bulletins and aux units.
Do I know you under another call sign?
DE K2QWQ Southampton (The one in NJ!)
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Thank you very much for your reply. No other calls in the last few decades, grow up in PA, went to college in 1971 on Long Island New York, bachelors in 1975 and Masters in 1978 and then lived there for a while, about 15 years, then moved back.
All through school I was a licensed Bayman and was a state and town licensed Clam Digger with my own Garvey.
I appreciate your references to the "big J"... not sure why I waste my time listening to the river but I listen to everything, kind of in the blood, I'm personal friends with the Captain of the Spirit.
As you know Bucks County and Burlington County police are totally encrypted P2.
I have no doubt that we know similar friends. My story is an odd one. Started in the 60s as a kid, CB and swl around 11 because of a dad and uncle who were ham operators. Learned it all by the time I graduated high school including CW, LOL. Got it shoved down my throat everyday. I totally rebelled.
As far as the frequencies I listed, I should have identified them more than I did as was pointed out. I've got a good setup for an antenna for Aviation and VHF High, ground plane Sputnik.
Channel 5, Fairless.. a lot more busy before we got attacked by the virus. 6 and 9, I just wouldn't be caught at the helm, not monitoring them, if you know what I mean. I really don't listen to 14 anymore but it's port operations. And yes I've been listening to the Burlington-Bristol Bridge, the Tacony Palmyra Bridge and the Delaire Bridge forever. I'm really not sure why I do that?
It's interesting that 151.01 pl 127.3 that has to be at least 50 plus years old was the old F2 frequency for the Bridge Commission. That's what you want to listen to. They rarely want to get involved with the P2 encrypted Channel unless they have to. Everybody goes by the old VHF radio. It's Simplex so...
Again, very nice replying to you and I appreciate the contact.. Bob.
73's de W3BUX
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