VHF Radio Test

[eastont]

How do you test your VHF radio?

I always wonder if mine is working and what strength signal I am sending. I can hear lots of chatter, but who can hear me and where is a mystery.

Both the Canadian & US Coast Guards will not do radio checks, they say it uses up too much air time, which I agree with.

 

[schmitth]

Re: VHF Radio Test

I have a backup hand held vhf radio I keep on-board and use that once in a while. If you have a scanner, you can enter the frequency for the channel you're on and transmit on the same frequency to check it out. Here's a link to a site that lists all the frequencies and channel. http://www.csgnetwork.com/marinefreqtable.html Hope that helps.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: VHF Radio Test

Sea Tow has started an automated radio check service on ch 27. I'm not sure exactly how it works but I'm sure you could come up with more info with a search.

 

[sasto]

Re: VHF Radio Test

You may hail a known vessel or marina on 16, then switch to a working channel, agreed upon between the two parties.

 

[sasto]

Re: VHF Radio Test

Goes something like this.

"Hometown Marine...Hometown Marine....eastont, one six"

"Eastont.... this is Hometown Marine...switch to one four"

"Eastont to one four"

Carry on your conversation!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: VHF Radio Test

You ever go boating with friends? Set up on 71 (or other non-traffic channel) prior to leaving the dock and see hoe far away you get from one another with a good signal. They are line of sight transmissions, so you'll get better distance in open water than you will down a back river way. I've been 25 miles off shore and spoken to land units, but you have to have good transmission strength.

 

[Boatist]

Re: VHF Radio Test

Go on channel 68 or 69 and when the channel is not busy just ask for a radio check. Someone will usually call back to you and say loud and clear and give their location.