Marine channels in use inland?

[fuzzymoto]

I live in PA near a lake. I don't live anywhere near any really large body of water.

Tonight on 156.8 (Marine channel 16) I pickup a call of "Ox-base" from "Ox-1"

Gradually they discussed what appear to be marine channels and they switch to 83A which I pickup on 157.175. Seems like they are doing a radio test of some sort.

My question is, who would be using this? Could this just be marine radios in use on the lake? I wasn't sure if regular marine channels can be used by anyone or if there is something "official" going on at the lake.

Sorry if this is a silly question but I've never eard ANY marine channel activity before.

 

[Don_Burke]

With the exception of some of the B channels in the US, the marine channels are not used for anything else.

Anyone who is doing marine operations or is willing to blow off the law could be your source.

 

[MikeMike]

Coast Guard Auxiliary Perhaps?

Are you sure "Ox-base" wasn't "Aux-base"? It might be that the lake you live near is big enough to have a Coast Guard Auxiliary presence. Especially since they went to a Coast Guard working channel to continue testing. A quick Google search for "Coast Guard Auxiliary PA" reveals the following website: http://www.5nr.org/index.php This is for the 5th district CGAuxiliary that covers a portion of PA, NJ and DE.

Good luck!

-MikeMike

 

[w8jjr]

I live in PA near a lake. I don't live anywhere near any really large body of water.

Tonight on 156.8 (Marine channel 16) I pickup a call of "Ox-base" from "Ox-1"

Gradually they discussed what appear to be marine channels and they switch to 83A which I pickup on 157.175. Seems like they are doing a radio test of some sort.

My question is, who would be using this? Could this just be marine radios in use on the lake? I wasn't sure if regular marine channels can be used by anyone or if there is something "official" going on at the lake.

Sorry if this is a silly question but I've never eard ANY marine channel activity before.

How about intercoastal rivers. USCG has a big present on the larger Ohio and PA rivers?

 

[fuzzymoto]

No real larger rivers nearby and based on their chat they were definitely on my lake. I guess it could be AUX instead of OX. I've had 156.8 programmed in all of my scanners as an emergency channel. This is the first I've heard any activity. All they did was a radio test the entire time....not much after that. It's a fairly large lake but if they've had any Coast Guard Aux presence in the past it was never on the radio before. They sounded like older guys and they did struggle with protocol a little always saying Aux-1 this is Aux-base...sounded like they were not used to radio use.

So can I assume anyone with a boat and marine radio could be using these or ar these reserved for official use of some sort?

I guess I'm really trying to decide if it is worth programming in the marine channels or not...

 

[SkipSanders]

It's quite common for pirate radio operators to 'appropriate' marine band channels away from the water.

Just another set of unlicensed stations polluting the spectrum.

 

[fuzzymoto]

Well...they were on water....and they did sound like older gentlemen, and they did appear to be struggling to follow protocol of some sort....not sure if they were pirates or polluters.

Would the coast guard Aux have any reason to be on a lake?

 

[SkipSanders]

For info on USCG communications, you might like this site, which has buried in it jpeg maps of 'expected' USCG VHF communications range along the coast.

If your stations are legally using 83A, they'd have to be USCG, since it's goverment ONLY.

Nice fancy US VHF Marine Frequencies chart here: USCG VHF Chart

 

[fuzzymoto]

I'm definitely too far from the coast to be hearing that. Based on their description of where they were each time they checked the radio, clearly these guys were on the lake here. I'd lean toward the AUX = USCG Auxilliary explanation. Still very strange.

 

[kny2xb]

I've heard USCG Auxiliary on 157.175 / 83A here on the Gulf Coast of Florida (not often though). I remember reading in an old copy of Popular Communications or Monitoring Times that 83A was allocated or designated to the CG Auxiliary.

73
Greg
Dunedin, FL

 

[phask]

Since you don't state WHAT lake - that leaves a lot to guess.

Here in Ohio I've seen Coast Guard Aux. on 800 acre lakes.

They often do boat safety checks at ramps also.

 

[fuzzymoto]

After a little research I found that our Fish & Boat commission holds boating safety courses at our local American legion that are taught by the US Coast Guard Auxilliary. I also found out that the only name mentioned in the radio conversation I heard, is listed as the USCG Aux primary contact for these courses.

Mystery solved I guess.

 

[hill]

The CG AUX is the only CG presence on most the inland lakes. The members of the AUX set up at their own expense VHF-FM Marine Radio networks. If the CG AUX patrols that lake would have a fixed land radio facility for taking radio guard for the vessel. The AUX conduct periodic radio drills in each area and that is most likely what you heard.

Larry
Parkville, MD

 

[fuzzymoto]

That's probably it. They don't have much permanent presence here and it sounded like they had one boat and one vehicle....both w/radios setup. They basically ran around the lake stating their position and checking radio reception.

 

[Jay911]

I realize you're speaking of the United States, but I just thought I'd mention that Canada licenses marine freqs to non-marine use in non-marine-areas. For example, northwest of Calgary there is a trucking company licensed to 156.3.

 

[nd5y]

I realize you're speaking of the United States, but I just thought I'd mention that Canada licenses marine freqs to non-marine use in non-marine-areas. For example, northwest of Calgary there is a trucking company licensed to 156.3.

They do that here too. This license is in Dallas on Ch 27 (157.35) http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&cs=KKS477&action=fcc

 

[Don_Burke]

You learn something new every day.

http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=1197323

TNX