1992 - Palomar Amateur Radio Club

APR'92
FEDERAl COMMUNICATIONS CoMMISSION
FEll OPeAATONS BUREAu
January 30, 1992
The FCC has become increasinqly concerned about the misuse of VIIi' lIBrine
radios by recreational vessel radlo operators. At risk is the uar:ine rad:io
user'S ability to co_nicate effectively durinq an actual emergency. The
ComaUssion bas noted the followinq problem areas that \IlISt be corrected by
lIIIIrine radio users:
* Make sure your radio system on your vessel is licensed. All uarine radjj:
transceivers on board your vessel IIIISt be licenSed by the rc:c. Fa: FO[1ll
S06 mst be completed am submit.ted to the Fa: to obta.in a SIJjp Radio
Station lXense.
* Use your radio call-sign ass.iijned to your vessel IDr .identi£ic:ation.
Your FCC call-sign identifies you am your vessel. call-silgns IIIISt he
used at the beqinn.inq am end of your tran&llllsslons.
* Channel 16 is both a "callinq" (mak.inq contact with another vessel) am
a "distress· (emerqency) channel. When call.inq another vessel make sure
you immediately switch to another channel Ie.q. channels 9, 68, 69, 71,
781. Any other use of Channel 16 is prohi:lited. Channel 72 may be
used as a sh.ip to sh.ip channel only.
The U.S. Coast Guard OJS:G1 reports that lIBIly vessels do not switch
to another channel after establishing contact on channel 16. This
practice endanqers the lives of persons .in l.ifi! threaten:ing emergen­
cies. Another COlllllXl prtlblem is open mlcrq:>hcne.s ~rsons who use
the radio and leave their transmit key depressed on their lllicro­
phonel. Open microphones can also be life threaten.inq since they
block emergency camun:ications by the Us::G and others .involved in
respcn:l.inq to the emergencies.
*' When the USCG advises radjo silen=e, please COIIllly. Radio silen=e
indiCates that the USCG is working on an emerqerlcy and they need
channel 16 clear for COllllUl'l:icat.ions with the vessel in distress.
* Do not use your VIIi' uarine radio mr :idle chit-chllt or personal
messages. Instead, either place a teJepbClne call through the uar.ine
radio operator or use an alternative radjo service Ie.g. cellular
telephone, CD radio, etc.).
* Channel usage; various VIP channels are used for diftlerent purposes.
The FCC has available to the public a lIIIIr:ine decal that can be affixed
near your marine radlo wlrich lists the VIP uar.ine cbIInnels am ezpla.inS
their authori2led use. In additXln, the decal also provides tlstlUCtioos
for emergency procedures (establishing a distress caJll.
* Do not llllite radjo checks on Channel 16 with the Us::G. Radlo check
fl:?r. recreational vessels on channel 16 with the Coast QJard are prer-­
hiblted. The Us::G has stated they will not answer reqJests mr radjo
checks. They also recoomend that you ca1duct radio checks on a
channel other than channel 16 with any vessel in the area.
T~ USCG advises that contmual radio checks on channel 16 lparticUJarly
on the weekends) blocks ltigher priority conm.m:icatioos.
The followinq marine information is availai:lle from the Fa::
.
IJ.t.k
Form Nlmt:!!:C
- Manne Decal FOB-41
- Recreational Boaters: PR-SOOO CIUd:ler 2)
Bow to Use your VIIi' Marine RaJlo
- VHF Marine Radio In1i:>r:natlon mr FOB 8.lJ.letin No. 2
Recreat~ Boaters
- Young Boaters••••Welcame to
Marine Radio