channel bandplan (Marine)

[alg]

Well, I'm confused!

I went to the Portland, OR harbor Friday to listen to some maritime activity - had my scanner all set up with US frequencies found here on RR (http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Marine).

I didn't hear what I was expecting (major activity related to moving a bridge) but soon enough I heard the local Sheriff calling the Coast Guard on channel 16. The Sheriff asked CG what channel this certain activity was on and the CG replied "62A". So I tried to figure out what frequency 62A would have been.

But I'm confused because I thought 62A would be illegal inside the US waters... And here's the Coast Guard referring law enforcement to that freq!

Can someone explain this to me? Or point me toward a current and correct frequency table for US waters? And maybe a Coast Guard reference to appropriate frequencies?

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Al

 

[n2mdk]

If I had to guess since your in the Pacific Northwest the activity could have been being carried out by the Canadian Coast Guard, RF travels and Govt agencies help one another so it could have been 62A

 

[DPD1]

This is the list I have, which I think is pretty accurate.

http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_marine.html#marinevhfchannels

The Marine plan has always been kind of flexible. They aren't as strict as say, aviation. There's also some Canadian ones.

156.025 Channel 60A (Canada)
156.075 Channel 61A (Canada)
156.125 Channel 62A (Canada)
156.225 Channel 64A (Canada)

There's some that are designated US, some CA, and some International... and then there's combinations of all three. Maybe I should add that info to the table.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[VE3PE1BQ]

Marine channels

If you check out the channels some are duplex channels. they have seperate frequencies for transmit and receive. The lower frequency is in the 156 to 157 MHz band , this is the A frequency and the Higher frequency is in the 161 to 162 MHz band, this is the B frequency. It you set your marine radio on International then these channels stay as duplex channels. The ship transmits on A and receives on B, while the shore station transmists on B and receives on A. If you set your marine radio on the Canadian (C) or United States(U) setting, some of these channels become simplex channels and they transmit and receive on the A ( or lower ) frequency. The USCG uses 21A, 22A, 23A and 81A regularly. 22A is their broadcast channel. The Canadian Coast Guard regulArly uses 82A and 65A here on the Great Lakes. If you hear a channel using the A, such as 82A try going to the US or Canadian setting for the channel. If you are using a scanner program both frequencies into the radio and the communication will come up on the lower (156 to 157) frequency. for instacne channel 83B, 161.775 MHz, is used for Marine radio broadcasts here in Canada. Channel 83A 157.175 MHz, is used by the St. Lawrence Seaway.

 

[alg]

Thanks to all! You've given me some useful info!

Al

 

[joescanner]

I went to the Portland, OR harbor Friday to listen to some maritime activity - had my scanner all set up with US frequencies found here on RR (http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Marine).

I didn't hear what I was expecting (major activity related to moving a bridge) but soon

Check marine 13 - there tends to be action there when bridge lifts are required. A lot of it happens by phone now, too.

 

[Grog]

Check marine 13 - there tends to be action there when bridge lifts are required. A lot of it happens by phone now, too.

True dat When I was with a fire dept who had to traverse a manned swing-bridge, we would have to notify the bridge on CH13 to not open the bridge to water traffic until all units (fire and EMS) were off of the island. It's also a low power channel, but I'm sure our mobiles were set to 40 watts. I guess any boaters nearby would be sure to hear when the bridge was closed to them :lol: