NS-NF Ferries

[RStyles]

I'm looking for a little help figuring out the set-up for the (Marine Atlantic) NS-NF ferries. If anyone will be passing through, or has the new frequencies working would you please pass along the info. Would be most appreciated.
Thanks in Advance!

 

[ecps92]

MV Joseph & Clara Smallwood
IMO 8604797
162.3450 R / 163.2600 D-162

I'm looking for a little help figuring out the set-up for the (Marine Atlantic) NS-NF ferries. If anyone will be passing through, or has the new frequencies working would you please pass along the info. Would be most appreciated.
Thanks in Advance!

 

[RStyles]

Thanks for the quick reply ecps92. Unfortunately, the frequencies you suggested no longer work. Marine Atlantic no longer uses any conventional frequencies on thier boats or shore/dock work. Late 2011 they switched over to a new communications system.
All input is welcome. Thanks again in advance!

 

[ecommfan]

Put marine atlantic into tafl see some uhf stuff for them Licensee Name Search | Spectrum Direct | Industry Canada

 

[ecps92]

-k That one was caught 10.12.2010 when Dry Docked in Boston

Had a Few Federal Monitors going bonkers

Thanks for the quick reply ecps92. Unfortunately, the frequencies you suggested no longer work. Marine Atlantic no longer uses any conventional frequencies on thier boats or shore/dock work. Late 2011 they switched over to a new communications system.
All input is welcome. Thanks again in advance!

 

[novascotian]

Does Marine Atlantic still have or use HF frequencies for long distance comms, as listed at marscan.com :

"Marine Atlantic also has a number of longer range HF frequencies for use by vessels out of VHF range. These upper sideband frequencies for which you will need a communications receiver:

2324.5 kHz
2367.5 kHz
4466.5 kHz
4993.5 kHz
5761.5 kHz
7409.5 kHz
7836.5 kHz
11418.5 kHz"

I am guessing perhaps incorrectly that from VHF repeaters on high ground in NS and NF and beam antennas they could pretty much stay in communications the whole way without resorting to satellite or HF. I am speaking here of routes between NS and NFLD.. at the moment I cannot recall if they have other routes but I think not anymore.

 

[RStyles]

NS_NF Ferries

Put marine atlantic into tafl see some uhf stuff for them Licensee Name Search | Spectrum Direct | Industry Canada

I applied the UHF channels into my scanner conventionally and immediately received traffic on those frequencies. So these are definitely the frequencies I was looking for. So a big thanks! I will have to figure out what system they are using (EDACS, LTR, Motorola, P25) I will keep the thread informed as I find out more.

As for Novascotions comment on long range communications between shore and vessels. I do know that they still communicate long distance with the vessels. I do have a feeling that these new UHF frequencies are being used for this. Again, as I discover more on my next trip to the docks I will pass along anything I learn.
Finally a big thanks to all of you, your help is invaluable and most appreciated. We have a wonderful and helpful community here.

 

[novascotian]

Further to my comments re long distance comms for Marine Atlantic, I was thinking a bit more and to me it looks like if there was a repeater site at say Cape North and another on a high point near Port Aux Basques, and with beams they likely could do it on UHF but I really think it would be a stretch or impossible to do the same on the North Sydney to Argentia route.. that really is a long way.... so it would be interesting to monitor those HF freqs....

 

[RStyles]

After some time trying most every option I could think of....I discovered the ferries and docks are now running on something called a MOTORBO system. Back to the drawing board. Most everything Im reading into this tells me I have to get my laptop involved and my PSR-800 wont be able to decode this by itself.