Marine Radio and its proper use

[mjthomas59]

Just curious how many scannists have picked up illegal traffic on the Marine Channels? I got to thinking about it after i realized how limited the range is on most gmrs radios, and it seems as though there is never a repeater in the area you need it(i'm not even sure if there is a repeater in my entire county). With 25 watt VHF marine radios readily available, i'm surprised people aren't jumping on those in areas where there isn't any marine traffic to begin with. Also, i don't believe there are any antenna limitations on Marine so that could help boost your coverage area even more with some of these 5+db gain VHF antennas.

I have multiple scanners at my listening post so i've been having 1 monitor the marine channels just to see if anything comes through. I live about 15-20 miles from the missouri river, and about 30 miles from the mississippi river, so if i do pick up anything, i seriously doubt it will be from legitimate users.

I furthered my curiousity seeing as how there is such a heavy use of "freeband" as well as gmrs by unlicensed users, that i figured if people would break the law on gmrs, why wouldn't they break the same law on marine?

Also, what is proper usage of the marine channels? I know 1 or 2 channels are suppose to be used for emergency comms, but are the others open to whatever like CB is?

Just curious if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on the matter, and also if the penalties are any worse for misuse of gmrs vs. marine, and not that i'm planning on doing this(who the heck would you talk to anyway) are the marine bands monitored by the fcc more frequently than gmrs?

Thanks

 

[WA1CRZ]

I hear alot of logging truckers on the marine bands. Ill dedicate a scanner to marine band and frs/gmrs to see whats what.

 

[iMONITOR]

Marine band hand-helds are frequently used by hunters, who are frequently busted by DNR officers.

 

[wannabescannist]

In the Indiana forum, IMPD On Illegal tac frequencies 156Mhz

 

[mjthomas59]

Interesting debate over in the Indiana forum. I'm curious though about the broad references to "156mhz", there are several police agencies in my area that use 156.000 and 156.0300 and both are licensed.

I've only picked up maybe one or two different conversations on gmrs in my area while i've been scanning them, and still nothing on marine.

 

[ScannerDude244]

Over here in California Santa Clara SO use 156.21000 as their Primary.

 

[nd5y]

Also, what is proper usage of the marine channels? I know 1 or 2 channels are suppose to be used for emergency comms, but are the others open to whatever like CB is?

No.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/vhf.htm
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_bandplan&id=ship_stations

 

[mjthomas59]

No.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/vhf.htm
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_bandplan&id=ship_stations

Thanks for the info, i had a partially right answer in that 13 and 16 are primarily used for emergency situations(distress or collision) but i do see that there are only 5 or 6 channels that are listed for non-commercial use.

Thanks for the help

 

[RodStrong]

I occasionally hear traffic on Marine 16 in Colorado where I live, and I'm pretty sure it is not legal.

Years ago, there was a police dept. in Texas that I knew was licensed to use the old marine ch. 3, which off the top of my head is 156.150.

I agree one would think a marine radio would be a better cheat than FRS or CB, but I have no idea if this is abused alot or not in non marine applications.

 

[Big_Ears]

I've monitored alot of car-to-car comms utilizing the marine band frequencies. The correct useage would be for ship-to-ship communications and ship-to-Port Control (Traffic) for large vessels (ie transversing the SF Bay). I also believe that ship-to-shore is ok, even if shore is a residence ,however car-to-car is not legal. I think these (car-to-car) people like pushing 25 watts (FM) while cruising down the highways.

 

[Tfitzmaurice89]

huh... never thought about a marine radio... cheaper and more coverage. I know the FD dive truck carries one mobile and a couple handhelds.

 

[rcvmo]

Years ago, there was a police dept. in Texas that I knew was licensed to use the old marine ch. 3, which off the top of my head is 156.150.

My PD is still licensed for this freq. In fact all of Michigan PD's are licensed for this freq.
rcvmo

 

[policeMonitor]

we use marine radios in our cars

and acouple time i talk to the macomb county sheriffs on channel 13

i live near the water and most of my travel is next to the water so i dont see the problem we use channel 9 as a stand by in the summer very active as long as people stay off of channel 16 and 22a there shouldent be a problem

 

[kb2vxa]

"I also believe that ship-to-shore is ok, even if shore is a residence ,however car-to-car is not legal."

Both constitute illegal operation of an unlicensed shore station. This means you too PM, the FCC levies fines for such activities. 16 is the primary calling and distress channel where radio watch is required for vessels 25' and over, 9 is the calling channel primarily used by pleasure craft and 22 alpha is the USCG liaison frequency.

Heard on channel 16 all summer long; "This is the United States Coast Guard. Radio checks are conducted on channel 9. Coast Guard out." Huh? If you think it gets crazy down the shore in summer you won't believe this. Right now outside my window one of the neighbors is mowing his lawn! Time for some bourbon and Vicoden, FOR ME!

"No mercy on the Mudducks!"
So sayeth the duck pluckahs! (;->)

 

[hill]

As a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary active in communications, I regularly report via proper authority’s abuse of VHF-FM Marine radio channels. I haven’t received any lately, but had people on land playing with marine radios a few years ago. On channels that are monitored 24/7 like channel 16 by USCG someone talking on the channel will be quickly detected and be asked to leave that channel. On one of the other 55 channels on VHF marine radio that is not used the illegal radio traffic could continue for along time. I do know that people playing around with marine radios like to callout on each channel and if no response will change to the next channel by doing this these people will be noticed by the CG. Talking with the local sheriff or PD via the marine radio is not a use for this radio service. I would hope that members of this forum would not be abusing marine radio channels, since many people own their life being saved to having a VHF-FM marine onboard and knowing how to call for assistance with the radio.

You just can’t put a marine radio on land and use it to talk with vessels underway without getting the proper license from the FCC as a private coast station and the definition is below. Even then you have to have a need to talk with the vessel as in a business.

“Private coast stations are not common carriers -- they cannot charge for communications services. Instead, they provide information to associated vessels. Only those entities that provide some sort of service to vessels or control a bridge or waterway may become a private coast station licensee. Some common uses of private coast stations include: marinas, radio repair shops, bridges, locks, and yacht clubs”

Larry Hill
Assistant District Staff Officer Communications 5th District Southern Region
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

 

[policeMonitor]

"I!



"No mercy on the Mudducks!"
So sayeth the duck pluckahs! (;->)

at least someone knows

 

[Zaratsu]

There is a good article on Marine Band shore-station use and liceinsing in the March issue of PopComm.

Whats this coast guard auxillary thing? Some kind of whacker-club with boats? I spend 1/2 the year on the shoreline and never seen such a thing. The view of the beach is better than the view of the water anyways if you know what I mean

 

[policeMonitor]

There is a good article on Marine Band shore-station use and liceinsing in the March issue of PopComm.

Whats this coast guard auxillary thing? Some kind of whacker-club with boats?

lmao!!!!!!!

 

[Spec]

There is a good article on Marine Band shore-station use and liceinsing in the March issue of PopComm.

Whats this coast guard auxillary thing? Some kind of whacker-club with boats? )

Wow that's a fairly harsh statement about a very well established and organized volunteer outfit. The Auxiliary teaches boater safety class's and is nationally recognized in each state. If your state requires a boater safety certificate "The Aux." is an accepted coarse. In addition they also perform patrol functions both in the air and on the water. And they do it at their own cost. "Whackers" ??? Hardly. You don't see a bunch of wanabee's with flashing light bars. Maybe that's why you have never seen them. Thousands of people are assisted each year on the water by these folks around the nation. BTW I have no affiliation with their great organization.

 

[ecps92]

USCG Aux

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard_Auxiliary

There is a good article on Marine Band shore-station use and liceinsing in the March issue of PopComm.

Whats this coast guard auxillary thing? Some kind of whacker-club with boats? I spend 1/2 the year on the shoreline and never seen such a thing. The view of the beach is better than the view of the water anyways if you know what I mean