2. Agenda
What Communications Systems are Available?
License Requirements
What Can I Expect when using the different Systems
Operation of VHF
Use of Portable VHF
3. Agenda
Break – 20 minutes
Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
Automatic Identification System (AIS)
Installation of VHF Radios
Installation of AIS Receiver
4.
5. What is Available
VHF Marine Radio (Very High Frequency)
VHF Hand Held Radios
HF/SSB Radio (High Frequency/ Single Sideband)
Cell Phone
AIS (Automated Information System)
Satellite Phone also available, but not part of training.
6.
7. License Requirements
VHF Marine Radio – None US Operation Only
Since 1996 for recreational boaters
In US only communicating with other US Boaters
VHF Hand Held Radios – Same as above
AIS – As required by VHF Radio
8. License Requirements
HF/SSB Radio
Ships License or Ham dependent on frequency use
Ships License and Call Sign covers EPIRB, Radar, HF,
AIS, and VHF
Also requires Operator’s Permit
Cell Phone – None
9.
10. Prospective of the Horizon
Horizon in NM=
Distance to the horizon in Nautical Miles
1.17 X square root Sum of heights
Height of Self + Height of other
So if you are both at 8 feet
1.17 X SQRT(8 + 8)
1.17 X 4
= 4.68 NM
A 50 foot Mast at both locations = 11.7 NM
11. What Can I Expect
VHF Marine Radio
Line of site Communications
Top of Mast to Radio Tower could be 40 miles
Boat to Boat may only be 3-11 miles
VHF Hand Held Radios
1-3 miles depending on your position and the contact antenna
height.
HF/SSB Radio - Potentially Around the world
Cell Phone – Similar to VHF to cell tower, then the world.
AIS – Similar to VHF,
But will work at very low signal levels (digital signal).
12. Why install a VHF Radio?
Chances are:
1. You do not have the Cell phone number of the boat
100 yards away.
2. You do not have the Cell phone number of the Coast
Guard.
3. You do not have the Cell phone number of the Ship
headed your way.
4. Your Cell phone will not work.
13.
14. The Radio Volume
Level in
Speaker
Squelch
Threshold
to hear
16
Over-Ride
Push To
Talk
Distress
Channel
Select
Scan
DSC
Weather
15. Channel Use
Channel 16 Emergency
and Hailing Channel.
“No” Radio Checks
Coast Guard: 22A
Commercial Operations:
01, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 18, 19,
63, 67, 79, 80, and 88.
Safety: 06
Used for ship-to-ship
emergency coms
Coast Guard S&R
Vessel-to-vessel
navigational safety: 13 **
Noncommercial working
channels:
09, 68, 69, 71, 72, and 78
DSC – 70
Port operations:
01, 05, 12, 14, 63, 65, 66, 73,
74, and 77
Not for public use:
15, 17, 21, 23, 81, 82, and 83
** 1W Power Only
16. Phonetic Alphabet
Alpha
Bravo
Charley
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Victor
Whiskey
X-Ray
Yankee
Zulu
17. Radio Use
1. Listen for anyone else using the channel
Make Sure the Squelch is not to high
2. Hail on Channel 16 to make contact (or use DSC)
3. Then move to another channel (61, 63, 64, 68-72 and 78)
18. Radio Use
When Contacting a Commercial vessel or Bridge, Try
calling on 13. (Vessel Bridge to Bridge)
Vessel Traffic System – Commercial Ship routing in
Traffic Lanes. Channels 5, 11, 12, 14
Good to let them know you are there and where you are
going and scan for others being routed
Marinas frequently use channel 68 as a contact
channel
If you are talking to someone close, reduce power
19. Emergency Communications
1. The boat is in grave and imminent danger
Distress (mayday)
Calls are used when the boat is in grave and imminent danger
and in need of immediate help.
That means someone could die or vessel is sinking fast!
Rescue authorities can reasonably expect you to leave the
yacht if a rescue boat or helicopter arrives. (No arguments)
20. Emergency Communications
2. The boat or a crew member needs urgent help
Urgency (pan pan)
Calls are used when the boat or a crew member needs
urgent help
The boat is not in grave and imminent danger.
No one will die if help is slow
The boat will not sink before help arrives
21. Emergency Communications
Example: On Channel 16
Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan,
This is the vessel Lead Weight.
We have a slow leak and the engine has failed.
We are at Lat 47.234 Lon 126.234 drifting west at a speed of
approximately 1 knot.
There are 4 people on board. All have life Jackets on.
Lead Weight is a brown vessel with white trim.
Standing by on channel 16
22. Emergency Communications
3. Safety (SECURITÉ)
securtité
Calls are used for navigation or weather warnings.
Pronounced – “say cure it tay”.
Example: On Channel 16
Securite, Securite, Securite, There is a large log floating
under the water at Lat 47.234 Lon 126.234 drifting East at
approximately 0.5 knots.
23. VHF Operation – Emergency Communications
1. Call on Channel 16
2. Listen for Clear Channel
3. Repeat: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
4. Provide Call Sign (3 times) and Name of Vessel
5. Provide Position information – “Lat & Lon”
24. VHF Operation – Emergency Communications
6. State the Nature of Problem – “Hit underwater Rock Vessel
sinking”
7. Number of People on board and Status – “4 People on Board,
one unconscious”
8. Seaworthiness of Vessel – “Taking on Water”
9. Describe Vessel – “Cream Colored 45’Sloop”
10. Channel Monitoring – “Monitoring Channel 16”
11. Repeat until answered
25. Emergency Communications
When Reporting a Mayday or Pan Pan:
1. Make Sure all have Life Jackets on
2. Make sure someone is monitoring the radio
3. Be Prepared with Position Reports
4. Be Prepared to update Personnel Status
5. For a Mayday, prepare to leave the boat.
26.
27. Use of Portable VHF
May be used around the Marina
VHF Not for use in Town as a family radio
Family Radio Service (FRS) is an improved walkie
talkie radio system authorized in the US 1996.
This personal radio service uses channelized frequencies
in the (UHF) band.
US FRS radios may not be used in MX. Must buy similar
radios in MX certified for MX.
Good to have in a Ditch Bag (with Extra Batteries)
28.
29. Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
DSC available on MF, HF and VHF
DSC is primarily intended to initiate radiotelephone
calls. (Emergency and non-emergency)
DSC calls can also be made to individual stations,
groups of stations, or "all stations" in one's reach.
DSC use requires an assigned/unique 9-digit
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
Distress
30. Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
DSC radio - ability to send an automatic "mayday" that
identifies the vessel and location.
Radio May also send information on Type of Issue
Must be set up with MMSI number
Must be tied to GPS position Data to be effective
31. Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Allows contacting a friend via DSC without hailing on
channel 16
Like using your cell phone.
Private ship-to-ship calls to other vessels equipped with
DSC radio.
If you know the MMSI number of the radio you are
calling only that vessel will receive you message.
DSC allows contacting of a Group /Club Privately
32.
33. MMSI Numbers
Unique nine (9) Digit FCC Identification Number
Like your Telephone Number for Radios
Included with Ships License from FCC
May also be Obtained from Boat US and Sea Tow
34. MMSI Numbers
US VHF Users Only
http://www.boatus.com/mmsi/
http://www.seasmartvhf.com/
Those Who Travel/Communicate Outside the U.S.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensin
g&id=ship_stations
Must apply to the Federal Communications Commission for a
ship station license.
Ships License includes an MMSI
Also need Operators Permit
Installation of Marine SSB requires Ships License
35.
36. AIS
Digital Communication of Ships information
Transmitted on VHF Radio Frequencies
Channels 87 and 88B
37. AIS Classes
Class A Marine AIS - Large commercial
vessels, is the full specification.
May See Class B also
38. AIS Classes
Class B Marine AIS Lighter
commercial and leisure vessels.
Must have assigned MMIS
Raymarine AIS 500
West Marine
AIS 1000
39. AIS Classes
Receive (Rx) Monitors the AIS network
Both Class A and Class B
Receives positional data reports for on-screen display.
Dual Channel reads both frequencies at the same time.
Single Channel, reads one channel then the other
Slower to get all the data
Costs less
40. Stand-Alone AIS
Graphical heading-up
situation display shows all
targets and nav aids within
the selected range.
Dangerous or lost targets
are indicated.
Pop-up information box
shows details for selected
target.
Unique CPA
plot shows
whether target
will pass ahead
or astern. Helps
you determine
the best
collision
avoidance
strategy.
42. AIS Type Information
Name of Vessel
Call Sign
MMSI
Draught
Length
Beam
Position
Lat & Lon
Heading
COG
SOG
CPA
Bearing and Range
TCPA
Destination
ETA
Status
Vessel Type
43.
44.
45. Installation of VHF
Select a location you can use when driving the boat
The Speaker has a magnet in it so be careful of
interaction with compass
Make sure the radio is waterproof if in cockpit
An in-line fuse to the radio should be used.
Tap off Breaker feeding Cockpit with heavy wire if long
run
46. Installation of VHF
Antenna should be as high as possible
Max range is proportional to the Antenna’s Height.
Your height plus the height of the other station
NMEA 0183 from GPS (NEMA Out Connection)
Provides position data to radio for DSC
If two radios are used
An antenna switch must be used
Or two Antennas must be installed
49. Installation of VHF - Issues
Hum in the radio can occur when charger is on
Poor filtering on charger (Goes away with Charger off)
Can add a large capacitor at point of connection to 12V
power.
Poor connection to antenna can result in
Minimal received signal
No transmitted signal
Burning out radio output amplifier
50. Installation of VHF - Issues
Speaker too close to Compass
Compass will mot read properly
Long power run to radio with to small of wire
Poor radio operation as battery voltage decreases
No static out of radio with squelch low
Microphone is keyed
Static out of radio
Turn squelch control up to quiet radio
51.
52. Installation of AIS Receiver
Stand-Alone Units
Have own display
Provides relative position data of Class A&B AIS.
Specific Requirements should be listed in Vendor
Installation
Vendors Include:
Furuno AIS FA150
VESPER Marine AISWatchMate
53. Installation of AIS Receiver
Integrated Receiver and GPS Display
Components
Antenna
AIS Receiver
Connection to Graphical Display or PC
Many Vendors of single and dual Channel Receivers
AIS units use a default baud rate of 38400
Can connect to NEMA in on Multifunction Display
Can be wired to connect to a 9 pin RS232
Can then adapt to a USB Port