Cobra Electronics MR HH200 VP owner manual VHF Marine Radio Procedures Voice Calling

VHF Marine Radio Procedures

Voice Calling

VHF Marine Radio Protocols

VHF Marine Radio Procedures

Maintain Your Watch

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VHF Marine Radio Protocols

Voice Calling

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To Call Another Vessel Or A Shore Installation Such As A Lock Or Bridge Tender:

Whenever your boat is underway, the radio must be turned On and be tuned to Channel 16 except when being used for messages.

Power

Try one-half (1⁄2) watt first if the station being called is within a few miles. If there is no answer, switch to a higher power. This will conserve your battery and minimize interference to other users.

Calling Coast Stations

Call a coast station on its assigned channel. You may use Channel 16 when you do not know the assigned channel.

Calling Other Vessels

Call other vessels on Channel 16 or on Channel 9. (Channel 9 is preferred for recreational vessel use.) You may also call on ship-to-ship channels when you know that the vessel is listening on a ship-to-ship channel.

Limits On Calling

You must not call the same station for more than 30 seconds at a time.

If you do not get a reply, wait at least two (2) minutes before calling again. After three (3) calling periods, wait at least 15 minutes before calling again.

Change Channels

After contacting another station on a calling channel, change immediately to a channel which is available for the type of message you want to send.

Station Identification

Identify, in English, your station by your FCC call sign, ship name, the state registration number, or other official number at both the beginning and end of each message.

Prohibited Communications

You MUST NOT transmit:

■False distress or emergency messages.

■Messages containing obscene, indecent, or profane words or meaning.

■General calls, signals, or messages (messages not addressed to a particular station) on Channel 16, except in an emergency or if you are testing your radio.

■When you are on land.

■Make sure your radio is On.

■Select Channel 16 and listen to make sure it is not being used.

NOTE

Channel 9 may be used by recreational vessels for general-purpose calling. This frequency should be used whenever possible to relieve congestion on Channel 16.

■When the channel is quiet, press the Talk button and call the ship you wish to call. (Hold the microphone a few inches from your face and speak directly into it in a normal tone of voice — clearly and distinctly.) Say “[name of station being called] THIS IS [your vessel’s name or call sign].”

■Once contact is made on the calling channel, you must switch to a proper working channel. See the channel listing on page 12 through 13.

For Example

The vessel Corsair calling the vessel Vagabond:

Corsair: “Vagabond, this is Corsair.”

Vagabond: “Corsair, this is Vagabond. Reply 72 (or any proper working channel).”

Corsair: “72” or “Roger”

■After communications are completed, each vessel must sign off with its call sign or vessel name and switch to Channel 16.

NOTE

For best sound quality at the station you are calling, hold the microphone

on the front of the radio at least two (2) inches [five (5) cm] from your mouth and slightly off to one (1) side. Speak in a normal tone of voice.

6 English Nothing comes close to a Cobra® 7