|
Home | Forums | Gallery | Webcams | Blogs | YouTube Channel | Classifieds | Calendar | Register | FAQ | Donate | Members List | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
07-06-2019, 11:04 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford
Posts: 1,931
Thanks: 445
Thanked 604 Times in 340 Posts
|
Such a Shame
Am I one of the last that still finds a VHF as an essential piece of gear?
Don’t know if anyone else noticed, but at the Thursday nite Fireworks in Merideth - some YAHOO decided it was okay to play Country Western music the ENTIRE evening over VHF 16!!! Of all nights when there could have been someone in need - this bonehead tied up the channel I personally find that immensely disrespectful to other boaters.
__________________
A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!! |
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Phantom For This Useful Post: | ||
07-06-2019, 11:28 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Alton Bay
Posts: 188
Thanks: 91
Thanked 56 Times in 36 Posts
|
Always
I always have the VHF on CH 16 in the event I can aid a fellow boater in distress if necessary. What you describe is just another example of bad boating behavior, which unfortunately seems more prevalent each year.
|
07-06-2019, 01:57 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,009
Thanks: 61
Thanked 701 Times in 455 Posts
|
Or... it could have been a stuck mic broadcasting the boat’s tunes.
Not all bad stuff is done deliberately. |
The Following User Says Thank You to 8gv For This Useful Post: | ||
Cal Coon (07-06-2019) |
07-06-2019, 03:06 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Francisco/Meredith
Posts: 1,491
Thanks: 604
Thanked 631 Times in 321 Posts
|
Deliberately or not...
I believe a criminal offense.
__________________
Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~ |
07-08-2019, 08:24 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,560
Thanks: 149
Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts
|
How many other channels are available for broadcasting?
|
Sponsored Links |
|
07-08-2019, 08:45 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Down Shores
Posts: 1,938
Thanks: 533
Thanked 568 Times in 334 Posts
|
If you're not familiar with marine VHF operation, here are a couple of useful links:
https://www.boat-ed.com/florida/hand...e/6/VHF-Radio/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDMckJD65tg https://www.offshoreblue.com/communi...dio-basics.php
__________________
[insert witty phrase here] |
07-08-2019, 10:32 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Kuna ID
Posts: 2,755
Thanks: 246
Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts
|
Straight from the FCC's website:
VHF Marine Channel 16 Designated for Emergency Calls - Section 80.369 of the FCC's Rules states that VHF Marine Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) is the international voice, distress, urgency, safety, call, and reply channel for ship, public, and private coast stations. The Coast Guard continually monitors Channel 16 and treats any distress call received as an emergency that should be immediately investigated. Prohibited Channel 16 communications include: false distress or emergency messages, superfluous communications, messages containing obscene, indecent, or profane words or meaning, general calls (calls not addressed to a particular station), routine messages and radio tests, and communications when your ship is on land (for example, while the ship is on a trailer). Interference to a maritime distress and safety frequency, including VHF Marine Channel 16, is a violation of the most critical nature, with potential impact upon safety of life and property. Harmful interference can be caused not only by intentional operation, but also by stuck microphones on Channel 16, and inadvertent activation of EPIRBs. Harmful interference disrupts vital safety frequencies, and can obscure genuine distress transmissions. Tracking down such interference also places a strain on valuable resources of the safety and rescue agencies. Be aware that the Enforcement Bureau intends to strictly enforce the Rules related to marine radio operations. Violators may be subject to the penalties authorized by the Communications Act, including first offense fines as high as $16,000 for each violation or imprisonment for up to one year. Your radio equipment can also be seized and forfeited to the U.S. Government. In addition, the Coast Guard can recover the costs of its rescue efforts when the initiating distress call is determined to be false; these rescue-related costs can be as much as $5,000 per hour. Since this is an inland waterway obviously the Coast Guard would not be called in but I have to believe that even so the governing authorities would be interested in enforcing all out blatant abuse of the marine bands in particular channel 16. As stated it could have been an honest mistake but all the more reason to take care that you're not accidentally doing a dead mike. FCC takes this stuff pretty serious and it is certainly stressed when acquiring any kind of license from them such as a HAM license and although the Marine bands are open to unlicensed public use that doesn't mean there are not consequences for careless use intentional or not. |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MAXUM For This Useful Post: | ||
FlyingScot (07-09-2019), Phantom (07-08-2019) |
07-08-2019, 02:23 PM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Down Shores
Posts: 1,938
Thanks: 533
Thanked 568 Times in 334 Posts
|
Quote:
Hypothetical discussion, mostly, I doubt it would ever go that far, but I could certainly see the CG sending out a small boat/crew if this was a persistent issue affecting boaters on navigable waters.
__________________
[insert witty phrase here] |
|
07-09-2019, 01:03 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Gilford
Posts: 212
Thanks: 6
Thanked 75 Times in 50 Posts
|
such a shame
Maxum has said it all. FCCs job not CG
|
07-09-2019, 01:25 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Moultonboro, NH
Posts: 213
Thanks: 196
Thanked 86 Times in 56 Posts
|
|
07-09-2019, 02:08 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Kuna ID
Posts: 2,755
Thanks: 246
Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts
|
I'm not sure the FCC wants licensed HAMs to go rogue but I'm in, be a fascinating and fun thing to do.
That said would a frequency coordinator have any kind of jurisdiction here? |
07-09-2019, 03:20 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Gilford
Posts: 212
Thanks: 6
Thanked 75 Times in 50 Posts
|
such a shame
Max, I have been a ham since 1958, have seen lots of fox hunts and never an issue with FCC, but all hams can do is locate and thats it.
|
Bookmarks |
|
|