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.
Looks like you posted the same frequencies at the same time I did but your post was the only one that was seen.16 is for distress calling. Usually you'll get chased off by the USCG if you show up on there without a good reason.
9 is calling. Call the other party and switch to an appropriate channel.
68, 69, 71, 72, 78A are "Non-commercial" channels. Those are the ones recreational boaters can use for talking amongst other boats.
Other channels are usually assigned for commercial or marine operator use. A good guide is here:
U.S. VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies | Boat Safe | Water Sports, Product Reviews, and Nautical News
When you’re out on the water, it’s essential that you’re familiar with VHF marine radio frequencies and channels. The marine industry specifically uses the VHF frequency range for communication. VHF stands for Very High Frequency, and it’s used for ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and even...www.boatsafe.com
During my school years (60's/70's); our family vacationed along the Elk River in Cecil Co MD; the same freqs were used there too. Before VHF FM, HF was used: 2182KHz emerg/cllng - 2670KHz USCG - 2638/2738KHz boater/boater freqs using DSB.I have always lived by the water and listened to marine radio even before it went to the VHF set up we have now. I can always remember with VHF marine radio when I first listened in the 60s the real loosey-goosey anything goes boat to boat channels are channel 68 and 69 and channel 71 and 72, Anything Goes boat to boat channels. Certainly nothing to do with Citizens Band of course.
In those days you did need a license and my dad's license was WM6934.. Harbor frequencies are Channel 6, 9, 12, 14... I live on the Delaware River in the Philadelphia PA area and channel 13 is required to be monitored at all times by ships going up and down river. This is for boat to boat navigation and communication with drawbridges.
Now what I listen to is 13, 16CG, 21CG, 22CG, 23CG, 81CG and we have 2 conventional digital channels net CG 121, and net CG 409. There is a lot more to listen to like the Chit Chat channels, tugboat companies, tow boat companies, private facility frequencies but... I don't listen to those LOL.
During the 60's/70's our family spent summers on Nantucket Island. We had a multiband radio and with no TV my brother and I spent a lot of time monitoring the marine channels. Often we could receive not only the US Coast Guard (local station was Brant Point), but often we could pick up the Canadian Coast Guard stations (Yarmouth Radio). The US Coast Guard in the area used 2694. That is where my interest in monitoring began.During my school years (60's/70's); our family vacationed along the Elk River in Cecil Co MD; the same freqs were used there too. Before VHF FM, HF was used: 2182KHz emerg/cllng - 2670KHz USCG - 2638/2738KHz boater/boater freqs using DSB.
Hey Trentbob. Would you happen to know which sector might cover my area in Upstate NY. I’m near Albany. I do hear the local version and “Coast Guard NY” on VHF Marine. I’m wondering about the “CG 100” channels. I see the designated areas. But nothing too close. Unless it’s not listed? Thanks!I have always lived by the water and listened to marine radio even before it went to the VHF set up we have now. I can always remember with VHF marine radio when I first listened in the 60s the real loosey-goosey anything goes boat to boat channels are channel 68 and 69 and channel 71 and 72, Anything Goes boat to boat channels. Certainly nothing to do with Citizens Band of course.
In those days you did need a license and my dad's license was WM6934.. Harbor frequencies are Channel 6, 9, 12, 14... I live on the Delaware River in the Philadelphia PA area and channel 13 is required to be monitored at all times by ships going up and down river. This is for boat to boat navigation and communication with drawbridges.
Now what I listen to is 13, 16CG, 21CG, 22CG, 23CG, 81CG and we have 2 conventional digital channels net CG 121, and net CG 409. There is a lot more to listen to like the Chit Chat channels, tugboat companies, tow boat companies, private facility frequencies but... I don't listen to those LOL.
Not familiar with the Albany area Coast Guard but it is part of sector New York. There is a coast guard office in Albany.Hey Trentbob. Would you happen to know which sector might cover my area in Upstate NY. I’m near Albany. I do hear the local version and “Coast Guard NY” on VHF Marine. I’m wondering about the “CG 100” channels. I see the designated areas. But nothing too close. Unless it’s not listed? Thanks!
16 is for distress AND calling. 9 is an alternative calling channel. Provided you make contact on 16 and then move immediately to another appropriate channel the USCG won't give you any grief. However, if you engage in any chitchat on 16, the Coast Guard will immediately tell you to get off 16.16 is for distress calling. Usually you'll get chased off by the USCG if you show up on there without a good reason.
9 is calling. Call the other party and switch to an appropriate channel.
RADIO INFORMATION FOR BOATERS } [B said:Boater Calling Channel (VHF Channel 9)[/B]
The Federal Communications Commission established VHF-FM channel 9 as a supplementary calling channel for noncommercial vessels (recreational boaters) at the request of the Coast Guard. A ship or shore unit wishing to call a boater would do so on channel 9, and anyone (boaters included) wishing to call a commercial ship or shore activity would continue to do so on channel 16. Recreational boaters would continue to call the Coast Guard and any commercial facility on channel 16.
The purpose of the FCC regulation was to relieve congestion on VHF channel 16, the distress, safety and calling frequency. FCC regulations require boaters having VHF radios to maintain a watch on either VHF channel 9 or channel 16, whenever the radio is turned on and not communicating with another station.
Since the Coast Guard generally does not have the capability of announcing an urgent marine information broadcast or weather warning on channel 9, use of channel 9 is optional. We recommend boaters normally keep tuned to and use channel 16 in those waters unless otherwise notified by the Coast Guard.
I am not sure why they didn't also let them just use the low side as well.
They did. Those are paired channels.I am not sure why they didn't also let them just use the low side as well.
They did. Those are paired channels.
I'm not at all familiar with digital marine band channels, such as CG121 or CG409 (mentioned above) Can someone fill me in, please? What purpose? What type of digital modulation? Specific frequencies?Now what I listen to is 13, 16CG, 21CG, 22CG, 23CG, 81CG and we have 2 conventional digital channels net CG 121, and net CG 409.
Look up United States Coast Guard in database or Wiki.I'm not at all familiar with digital marine band channels, such as CG121 or CG409 (mentioned above) Can someone fill me in, please? What purpose? What type of digital modulation? Specific frequencies?
I'm not at all familiar with digital marine band channels, such as CG121 or CG409 (mentioned above) Can someone fill me in, please? What purpose? What type of digital modulation? Specific frequencies?
Got it. Apparently, I misunderstood the earlier post. Thanks.Those are not standard VHF marine channels. They are frequencies assigned to the USCG by the NTIA for their own use.