Ship to Shore (telephone)

[k7ng]

I never really cared to listen to the VHF marine telephone channels much, but I do truly miss the HF telephone service.

My understanding is you'd better have had some spare money in your bank account to use it. I bet INMARSAT service is proportionally cheaper than the old HF maritime telephone.

When I was really new in the radio world, HF Maritime SSB was my first 'Adventure in SSB', along with what ham radio I could pick up.

I'm making myself feel old.

 

[signal500]

Most of those VHF channels, got auctioned off to the AAA of the waterways, where they made
them into Advertisement Channels, with the ability for users to do a SELF Radio Check

Key up, "Say your message"
Un-Key
Listen to the Sea Tow etc commercial
and then the system plays back your message for you to figure out how good you sounded.

Sea Tow still to this day has the automated play back system in Destin, FL.

 

[mmckenna]

My understanding is you'd better have had some spare money in your bank account to use it. I bet INMARSAT service is proportionally cheaper than the old HF maritime telephone.

It wasn't cheap at the time. But then again getting yourself that far off shore to need HF radiotelephone required some money in the first place.

A rented satellite phone or simply buying your own and paying $50/month for access and 10 minutes of air time is a pretty good option.

 

[SABER3]

There hasn’t been a vhf marine operator in the NY/NJ area in 20 years. The licenses were sold to Maritel back in the late 90’s. The Maritel story:

8/27/1999
MariTEL, "The Marine Telephone Company" the nation's leading provider of VHF marine wireless telecommunications, finalized an agreement with American Tower Corp. to develop a 250-300 tower network. American Tower owns and operates approximately 3,200 wireless communications towers in 44 states. The new towers, which are to be built according to MariTEL's specifications, will serve as the physical backbone of the MariNET, the marine wireless local loop. Under the agreement, American Tower will construct or place MariTEL on tower sites as the anchor tenant. The towers will be sited along the coastal and inland waterways of the U.S.

09/01/1999
MariTEL, "The Marine Telephone Company" a nationwide provider of VHF marine wireless telecommunications, has won all nine Federal Communications Commission maritime licenses for an aggregate cost of $6.8 million. After eight days and 44 rounds of competitive bidding, MariTEL won sole rights to 20 channels in the spectrum range 156-162 mHz. The nine territories cover 43 states and 100 percent of U.S. navigable waterways. The licenses will enable the company to create a single nationwide system. Expanded channel coverage, the newly acquired spectrum and amended regulations also allow MariTEL to offer land mobile systems on a secondary basis to approximately 235 million people. In conjunction with its acquisition of VHF licenses, MariTEL will begin construction of MariNET, the marine wireless local loop.MariTel Launches New Marine Telephone Service With Vessel Location

7/9/2001
MariTel Launches New Marine Telephone Service With Vessel Location

But it couldnt compete economically. By 2001 cellphones & service plans had reached the price point where they were available to most middle-class income subscribers, and the networks now covered about 75% of the large population urban areas. Not only that, but cell signals were of sufficient signal strength and available for up to 5 miles from shore in most areas of NY, NJ, Long Island & coastal Connecticut. The cellular system gave full duplex service, and the idea of the push-to-talk, release-to listen technology Maritel was selling, in addition to the higher cost vs that of the cell service, seemed like a throwback to the days of the Titanic.

9/13/2001
MariTEL, "The Marine Telephone Company" has announced that all vessels in or near New York/New Jersey and Baltimore Harbors can utilize the company's "Marine Operator" VHF marine telephone service to make calls to home, update relatives, call operations centers, or for any other purpose. The call is both for ship-to-shore calls as well as shore-to-ship calls, which can originate from any US area code. This "Free Five-Minute Call" offer will stay in effect until Wednesday, September 26, 2001.The USCG issued emergency regulations earlier today affecting closures of New York/New Jersey Harbor, Baltimore and the Potomac River that restrict most vessel movements."We realize that New York City has experienced cellular and telephone network operational difficulties, which could be preventing commercial crews or recreational mariners from contacting loved ones or making alternate arrangements," said Mitchell Hauser, President and CEO. MariTEL. "And from the shore side, those on land need to be able to contact a vessel potentially delayed by this tragedy. By offering another way to reliably make these calls, we hope the marine community can get back to business as normal as quickly as possible."Mariners who want to make a "Free Five-Minute Call" should key their VHF radio's microphone button for six seconds on the channel listed below, and follow the prompts.

New York/New Jersey Harbor: Ch. 28 (Staten Island);

Baltimore Harbor: Ch- 25 & Ch- 26.

Those on shore who want to call a vessel in the affected areas may dial 1-888-MARINE2 (627-4632) or 800-955-9025 with the vessel's name and general location to request the "Free Five-Minute Call".Calls can be made to any vessel within range of the Staten Island or Baltimore Harbor channel frequencies.Due to the system's capacity, all calls are limited to five minutes.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/rescuers-searching-missing-cyclone-sinks-487787

 

[SABER3]

Maritel story Cont'd

4/24/2003
After over 30 years of service to mariners across the United States, MariTEL is discontinuing Marine radio voice communications service, effective June 6, 2003, citing rising operating costs and declining service revenues. “MariTEL appreciates the opportunity to serve the marine industry over the years.

I sincerely hope that MariTEL service has been useful and regret that this action is necessary,” said Dan Smith, President and CEO of MariTEL. “Over the past decade, the coastal radio station voice communications market has been eroded by the proliferation of public mobile services (cellular and PCS), satellite communications, and other commercial mobile radio services. These services have improved their coverage, availability, and affordability – they have become the voice communications service of choice for many mobile customers, including mariners.

Marine VHF radio equipment simply has not evolved to meet market demands.” MariTEL intends to maintain a presence in marine communications by developing new products and services more in step with the communication needs of today’s marine industry. “We see excellent opportunities using VHF radio technology for marine data applications. MariTEL believes it is in a unique position to take advantage of this emerging market,” according to Smith. MariTEL is currently evaluating plans to build a marine data radio network in the United States compatible with MariTEL’s licensed spectrum. This network will be developed in accordance with standards established and maintained by international standards bodies.

8/8/2011
Sea Tow Services International, Inc. announced it has completed installation of its Automated Radio Check (ARC) boating safety service through its network of Sea Tow franchises, and will make the free public service available nationwide through additional marine outlets. Boaters can now obtain radio checks through the Sea Tow ARC service in major coastal boating markets across the U.S., including the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Southern California, as well as in select inland regions. The first boating safety program of its kind, Sea Tow ARC is made possible due to Sea Tow’s ongoing relationship with marine communications specialist MariTEL.

To conduct a radio check through the Sea Tow ARC service, boaters can simply tune their VHF radios to Channel 24, 26, 27, or 28 (depending on the region), key the mic, and ask for a radio check. The ARC system responds to each radio check with an automated reply, and also replays to the boater’s original radio transmission, allowing him or her to assess the strength of the signal and confirm the VHF radio is in good working order. To find the Sea Tow ARC service channel in a particular region, visit http://www.seatow.com/boating_safety/ARC.asp. The web page also links to an instructional video demonstrating how to use the service step by step.

“It’s the same procedure you would use to get a radio check on Channel 9, but it doesn’t require a fellow boater or watch-stander to answer your hail; it’s automated,” said Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Sea Tow Services International. “A properly working VHF is essential safety equipment on every boat. Equally important to boater safety in general is the fact that the ARC system helps reduce unnecessary chatter on Channel 16.”

The next phase of the Sea Tow ARC program includes offering the service through additional marine outlets in areas throughout the Continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii where VHF communications are widely used by mariners. Sea Tow ARC will be available for hosting by marinas, boat dealerships, bait shops, and other on-water businesses. The name of each host location will be mentioned in the ARC system’s pre-check message in its area. In addition, post-check messages can be recorded to announce local events. Companies interested in hosting the Sea Tow ARC service can find more information at Radio Checks | Sea Tow.

Sea-Tow International came up with an automated radio check system to give USCG radio watchstanders a break from the incessant calls for radio checks on Channel 16, and generate a fair amount of market recognition for itself. It was an excellent idea for the dormant Public correspondence channels. Unfortunately most mouth-breathing nitwits dont understand that if you key the mic & the TX icon appears on your radio display, your radio is working & to leave 16 open for distress calls. But thats a topic for another day.

9/21/2007
MariTEL has launched its much-anticipated marine wireless telecommunications network with its inaugural service region in the Gulf of Mexico and lower Mississippi River. When completed, the $300 million network will provide cellular-telephone-like coverage to the entire U.S. coastline and all navigable waterways inland, as well as up to 100 miles offshore. The only wireless telecommunications system built specifically for mariners, MariTEL's VHF network uses Digital Selective Calling in conjunction with strategically placed coastal station towers and a fiber-optic network. The first region offers coverage from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Sarasota, Florida, and up the Mississippi River to Memphis, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.maritelusa.com.

From this press release it looks like they launched some sort of Vhf voice-data service aimed at the off-shore oil supply & inland towing operations segements of the marine industry in the Gulf & western rivers. Dont know its status at this time.

12/18/2013
Free Marine VHF Check Call Expanding, Seeks Hosts
Sea Tow Services International, Inc., a leading professional marine assistance provider in the USA, says that the number of stations transmitting its free Automated Radio Check service in coastal and inland boating areas across the U.S. has risen to over 130 locations. Claimed to be the first and only service of its kind, Sea Tow continues to seek new host stations in its mission to expand this vital boating safety service. Automated Radio Check, which is provided by Sea Tow in association with MariTEL, lets boaters quickly and easily check that their vessel’s VHF radio is working.

Maritel leased channels 24-28 to SeaTow for this service.

9/26/2020
Tennessee Eastern District Court, on behalf of MariTEL Inc., a radio communication services business, and its affiliates. The complaint accuses Sea Tow Services International Inc. of continuing to use the plaintiff's licensed spectrum for transmission after the expiration of nine-year agreement. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendant. The case is 3:20-cv-00424, Maritel, Inc. et al v. Sea Tow Services International, Inc.

This is the current state of affairs of Maritel. In early October 2020, Sea Tow shut down its popular & effective Automated Radio Check system. Rumor Control has it that SeaTow & Maritel couldn't agree on the fee for continued use of the channels. I used the station @ captree boat basin on Ch-28 all the time. As of now, the Maritel.Usa web domain is up for grabs at Go-Daddy.

Although the Vhf marine operator system is almost non-existent in the US, Canada still has operations on a few of the PC channels in its major ports, and many are still in use in parts of the UK, Europe, Africa & Asia.

Maritel at one point sued the USCG for failing to return AIS channels A & B in the early 2000's after testing them for suitability for the its Rescue 21 AIS system. The issue was that the ITU had designated those channels for the world-wide AIS system & the US, being a signatory to the ITU, was bound by international treaty to begin its implementation of the US AIS system service on those frequencies. Maritel lost.

The latest ITU useage of the former public correspondence channels are as follows;
All the channels listed below with the exception of the AIS channels, which use the coast side of the duplex VHF radio channels 87 & 88; AIS Ch-A (87B; 161.9750) and AIS Ch. B (88B; 162.0250).
Ch-24 thru 28 & 84 thru 86 are available for VDSMS [Vhf Digital Small Message Service] which is to be some sort of message/data exchange between ships & coast stations and possibly satellite stations. I will post more on that later. There are proposals to knit 2 channels together for a wideband channel. Ch-88A is a commercial ship-ship/Coast station channel.

84A	84B	157.225 [Ship]	161.825 [Coast]	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
85A	85B	157.275	161.875	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
86A	86B	157.325	161.925	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
87A		157.375		Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS

24A	24B	157.200 [Ship]	161.800 [Coast]	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
25A	25B	157.250	161.850	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
26A	26B	157.300	161.900	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
27A	27B	157.350	161.950	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS
28A	28B	157.400	162.000	Public Correspondence (Marine Operator). VDSMS

 

[biomedbob]

I didn't get hosed as much as Maritel.

 

[n2wly]

Good evening, I purchased a Uniden SDS200 and while scanning the full database I frequency stopped on the Maritime Operations.
Specifically it is 84RX- Ship/shore (telephone). I do remember listening to phone conversations from ship to shore back in the day on my Uniden 800XLT.

Are these frequencies still active?
And would anyone know if it is part of the NXDN Band?

Thank you in advance for any and all responses.

Good evening, I purchased a Uniden SDS200 and while scanning the full database I frequency stopped on the Maritime Operations.
Specifically it is 84RX- Ship/shore (telephone). I do remember listening to phone conversations from ship to shore back in the day on my Uniden 800XLT.

Are these frequencies still active?
And would anyone know if it is part of the NXDN Band?

Thank you in advance for any and all responses.

Those days are long gone. AT&T had a transmitting site and a receiving site in Manahawkin NJ. I worked there as a contractor on and off. I don't remember the names but if you Google AT&T Manahawkin you should see some pictures. The receiving site was totally wiped out by Sandy. There were acres of wire rombec antennas out in the marsh. I can remember sitting for hours listening to stories by the old timers that worked there back in the day of the cruse ships. I really miss going there . They had all Collins radios and amps. When I was there they had a transatlantic cable going out across the Atlantic. I just wish I had taken more pictures when I was there. The property was donated to the county.

 

[celestis]

WLO in Mobile, AL was handling telephone traffic from boats as late as 8 years ago... their license is still active, someone said they shuttered that service (not entirely sure if that's accurate though)

 

[ecps92]

Shut down in July 2018

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After 71 years, WLO operators go off the air

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Zach, who notes that WLO have announced that as of 04:59 UTC on July 1, 2018, “there there will no longer be 24/7 operators on duty at the Mobile, AL s…

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WLO in Mobile, AL was handling telephone traffic from boats as late as 8 years ago... their license is still active, someone said they shuttered that service (not entirely sure if that's accurate though)

 

[K0RE]

I retired in Jan 2018 but before that I worked as a Merchant Marine radio electronics officer on ocean going ships. We haven't used any marine radio telephone services for a long time. If we were in port a crew member would just pull out his cell phone and make a call home. If we were at sea, I could sell them a phone card for the satellite phone system we had on the ship. Year ago there used to be a local company that operated on marine channel 26 in my location on the Mississippi River and the tow boaters used them all the time. There was a marine operator that would make the call and patch them thru. Many times while a tow boat was in the lock a crew member could be seen using the land line pay phone calling home.