Is there a VHF marine "CB" or chit-chat channel?

[n4jri]

The FCC granted a waiver for a VHF P25 Public safety system that uses the high side of the marine public correspondence channels:

161.8125c Between CH 24/84
161.850c Channel 25
161.900c Channel 26
161.950 Channel 27

Woodway Trunking System, Woodway, Hewitt, Lorena, Texas

Woodway Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

I am not sure why they didn't also let them just use the low side as well. As for actual phone patching near the water, I have not heard any and am not even sure if the mobile operators are still in place.

I don't hear any 'marine operator' type stuff around Hampton Roads, either. Am pretty sure that most 'public correspondence' and old mobile phone channels have turned into something leased. Virginia's STARS statewide trunked system uses a number of these freqs as control channels, starting around 100 miles inland--possibly leased. Some Navy ships have onboard trunked systems in the 454 MHz range that come from a former mobile phone band and that I suspect may be leased as well.

Apparently, modern marine radios are fairly permissive because I hear tugboats use the 'A' freqs from public correspondence channels, and even some government-only channels as their onboard 'working' channels. Ditto for the 'A' side of various 'international' channel's not for use in the US. I didn't know that you could buy a marine radio that would transmit on a Coast Guard channel other than 22A, but apparently they're pretty flexible or there's an easy hack.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[hill]

No hacks need for VHF-FM marine radios, as they transmit on all channels right out of the box.

 

[AK_SAR]

…..I hear tugboats use the 'A' freqs from public correspondence channels, and even some government-only channels as their onboard 'working' channels. Ditto for the 'A' side of various 'international' channel's not for use in the US. I didn't know that you could buy a marine radio that would transmit on a Coast Guard channel other than 22A, but apparently they're pretty flexible or there's an easy hack.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

Here in Alaska I know of one water taxi outfit that uses Marine Ch 5, reserved for “Port operations in Houston, New Orleans, and Seattle areas”, as their own working channel. We are obviously a long way from those ports, and apparently no one complains. Neither the FCC or USCG hassles them about it.

 

[hill]

The USCG wouldn't enforce it would be the FCC.

The Coast Guard would only care if was interfering with channel 16 or any CG working channels.