VHF Marine

[K9WG]

Hi, Planning on a trip to South Florida and was wondering if it would be worth the time to program the VHF marine channels into my receiver. I plan on spending most my time on the coast and down in Key West.

Thanks

73 de K9WG

 

[JoeyC]

Most scanners already have the marine channels as well as many others preprogrammed as a service search item.
nevermind, i thought you said scanner but see now you said receiver.

 

[K9WG]

i thought you said scanner but see now you said receiver.

Yes, I plan on programming my 2-meter to receive marine. Didn't know if there was enough traffic anymore on VHF to make it worth my time.

 

[haleve]

South Florida along the coastlines are hopping with VHF marine traffic, when I vacation down in Southeast Florida I pick up Port Everglades & the Port of Miami pretty much all day & well into the night.

 

[K9WG]

Thanks for the info. I was in South FL back in the 1980s and had the VHF channels inn my handheld. Got to hear a lot of traffic in the gulf.

73 de K9WG

 

[TEH]

VHF Marine in Florida

Hello from Seminole County,

You will hear VHF Marine comms practically everywhere in the state. While the majority of the traffic is in coastal counties, there are many lakes and rivers that have commercial and/or recreational boat traffic in the inland counties.

And due to the frequent Coast Guard aircraft operations, and local law enforcement aircraft assisting in water SAR operations, you can hear them from some distance.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you study the Florida scanner law. If you have a valid ham license or meet one of the other exemptions in the law, you will be OK. But numerous people have been arrested--and their radios were confiscated-- for having in their vehicles receivers that can receive law enforcement comms.

The law is here: Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

Hope you enjoy your stay and have a great time in Florida.