Marine VHF Radio Usage in New Zealand


Click HERE to view the Maritime New Zealand Radio Handbook for Coastal Vessels


Do’s and Don’ts in operating Marine Radios

In the Operation of your Maritime Radio Apparatus

  • Use VHF Channel 16 for distress, safety and calling, or the SSB frequency appropriate for your location. Cellphones: call 111.
  • Replace your handset correctly when not in use. (Open microphones are the prime cause of serious interference on VHF channels.)
  • Listen before transmitting to avoid interference to others.
  • Use the vessel’s name and radio callsign.
  • Use accepted operating procedures.
  • Be brief.
  • Speak as clearly as you can.
  • Be courteous.
  • Wait for a reply to calls before transmitting again, or before changing channels or frequencies.
  • Don’t make long transmissions. Remember that many VHF stations are solar powered.
  • Don’t transmit false or misleading messages. The transmission of a false distress message isΒ an offence.
  • Don’t operate your maritime radio in a manner which endangers or interferes with others
    Β 

    HOW RADIO WORKS

    Radio waves

    Radio transmitters work by supplying a rapidly changing electrical current to an aerial (antenna) to create a changing electromagnetic field. The speed with which these currents change controls the speed that the electromagnetic field around the aerial changes. This is measured in Hertz (Hz).

    1HzΒ Β Β  1 Hertz 1 cycle per second
    1kHzΒ  1 kiloHertz 1 thousand cycles per second
    1MHzΒ  1 Megahertz 1 million cycles per second
    1GHzΒ  1 Gigahertz 1 billion cycles per second

    Like dropping a pebble into a pond, the pebble represents the transmitter while the radiating ripples represent the fluctuating electromagnetic fields. These radiating electromagnetic fields are called radio waves. These radio waves radiate out from the aerial at the speed of light. Marine VHF operates at a frequency of approximately 156MHz. MF/HF (also called SSB) radios operate at frequencies from about 2MHz to 22MHz.

    Β 

    Frequency characteristics

    The different frequencies have different characteristics for specific purposes and are sub-divided into different β€œbands”. These bands are listed below.

    Frequency range Band classification Band abbreviation
    Β 

    VLF

    Very low frequency

    10-30kHz

    LF

    Low frequency

    30-300kHz

    MF

    Medium frequency

    300-3000kHz

    HF

    High frequency

    3-30MHz

    VHF

    Very high frequency

    30-300MHz

    UHF

    Ultra high frequency

    300-3000MHz

    SHF

    Super high frequency

    3GHz-30GHz


    VHF radio waves travel in a straight line and won’t bend over hills, headlands or over the horizon to any great extent. VHF radio is used for local transmissions but aerials must be in sight of each other (line of sight).

    MF radio waves have a greater tendency to follow the earth’s curvature, so lend themselves to medium-range navigation aids, regional broadcasting and for medium-range communications because they can curve around obstructions and over the horizon.

    HF radio waves do not bend over the horizon, but utilise a layer of the earth’s atmosphere known as the β€œionosphere” to reflect the radio waves back to earth. The ionosphere varies throughout the day but is most stable shortly after sunset. This is a particularly good time for SSB communications in the HF band.

    During the daytime, SSB transmissions are not as reliable due to the effect of the sun on the ionosphere. In general, higher frequencies such as 12MHz or 16MHz bands achieve better communications while lower frequencies such as 4MHz or 6MHz work better at night.

    The distance between stations is also a factor, with higher frequencies such as 8MHz and above providing better results at longer ranges.

    Β 

    Simplex and Duplex – VHF radio

    Simplex means both stations use the same frequency for transmitting and receiving. Duplex is where there is a third station, a repeater station, normally on a high mountain or similar. It receives the incoming signal and simultaneously retransmits it on a different frequency. So duplex uses two frequencies, one to transmit and another to receive.


    RADIO TELEPHONE PROCEDURE

    The use of radio communications has introduced words and abbreviations and it is important that all radio operators use the correct procedure in the appropriate context.

    Turn the radio on and select a channel.

    • LISTEN. Others may be using the channel for messages more urgent than your own.
    • THINK. Prepare what you are going to say before you transmit, be succinct.
    • When not transmitting, be careful not to hold the transmit button down at all times. If this button is jammed or held down by mistake, it prevents any other person from transmitting any messages.
    • Safety or lives may depend on clarity in communication.
    • Speak simply and enunciate words slowly and clearly using correct procedures and avoid casual technique.

    Β 

    The correct voice procedure is:

    Β 

    OverΒ  This is the end of my transmission. I will listen for and expect your reply.
    Out This is the end of our contact. No reply is expected and I have no further messages for you. (Also used when switching the radio off.)Β This is a sign for other parties waiting to use the channel that they will not interrupt if they start transmission.
    This is Used to separate the target’s callsign from your own.
    All understood I understand what you want and I will do it.
    Romeo, Copy or
    Acknowledged
    I have received your message correctly and it is understood.
    Say again I did not receive correctly, or I don’t understand your message. Please repeat it so I can be sure I have it right.Β This statement is sometimes qualified by describing the portion not understood, eg β€œAll after – between – and”, indicating the boundaries of what was correctly received and understood.
    Correction or I say again I have made a mistake; this version following is the correct one.
    Wait or Standby I will call you back soon.Β This statement may be followed by a figure (especially wait), indicating the estimated delay in minutes.
    Clear I have finished with this communication but will remain listening.
    Affirmative Yes. These expressions are less easily lost in noise than the single syllables
    of β€œYes” and β€œRight”.
    Negative No. These expressions are less easily lost in noise than the single syllables
    of β€œNo” and β€œWrong”.
    I spell I will spell the word using the phonetic alphabet.
    Radio check The caller is requesting confirmation that their radio is working and
    indication of strength and clarity (5x5).


    PURPOSE OF NEW ZEALAND VHF CHANNELS
    Β 

    PURPOSE of CHANNELS CHANNEL
    The international distress, safety an calling frequency for the maritime mobile VHF radiotelephone service. All ship's stations licensed for operation in the authorised bands between 156MHz and 174MHz must be able to transmit and receive on this channel. 16
    Inter-ship navigation safety. 13
    ForΒ inter-shipΒ working.Β  6, 8Β 
    Working channel for harbour authority radio stations on port operation and ship movements.Β  9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 19Β 
    Continuous weather transmission channel.Β  20, 21, 22, 23Β 
    Two frequency talk-through repeater channels, some allocated to Coastguard and to other private coast stations.Β  1, 3, 4, 5, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86Β 
    Working channel for Great Barrier Maritime Radio.Β  25Β 
    Working channel for Whangarei, Tologa, Wairarapa, Taranaki, D'Urville, Fox, Puysegur, Kaikoura, and Waitaki Marine Radios, and anti-pollution operations.Β  67
    Working channel for CapeΒ Reinga, Plenty, Napier, Farewell, Picton, Akaroa, Greymouth and Bluff Maritime Radios.Β  68Β 
    Working channel for Wanganui Maritime Radio.Β  69Β 
    DSC distress alert and messaging.Β  70Β 
    Working channels between coast and ship stations after initial contact has been madeΒ on channel 16. Also working channel for Kaitaia, Auckland, Runaway, Wellington, Westport, Fiordland, Chalmers, Cape Egmont and Stewart Island Marintime Radios.Β  71Β 
    Channel for use in association with maritime developments.Β  73Β 
    Working channels between coast and ship stationsΒ after initial contact hasΒ been made on channel 16.Β  74Β 
    Channels availableΒ for aquatic events.Β  17, 77Β 
    Working channels for Chatham Islands Maritime Radio.Β  60, 62Β 



    Phonetic Alphabet

    When it is necessary to spell out callsigns/IDs or words, the following spelling should be used:

    LETTER LETTER SPOKENΒ AS WORD LETTER SPOKEN AS
    A Alpha AL FAHΒ 
    B Bravo BRAH VOHΒ 
    C Charlie CHAR LEEΒ 
    D Delta DELL TAHΒ 
    E Echo ECK OHΒ 
    F Foxtrot FOKS TROTΒ 
    G Golf GOLF
    H Hotel HOH TELLΒ 
    I India IN DEE AHΒ Β 
    J JulietΒ  JEW LEE ETTΒ Β 
    K Kilo KEY LOHΒ Β 
    L Lima LEE MAHΒ Β 
    M Mike MIKEΒ 
    N NovemberΒ  NO VEM BERΒ 
    O OscarΒ  OSS CAHΒ 
    P PapaΒ  PAH PAHΒ 
    Q QuebecΒ  KEH BECKΒ 
    R RomeoΒ  ROW ME OHΒ 
    S SieraΒ  SEE AIR RAHΒ 
    T TangoΒ  TANG GOΒ 
    U UniformΒ  YOU NEE FORMΒ 
    V VictorΒ  VIK TAHΒ 
    W WhiskeyΒ  WISS KEYΒ 
    X XrayΒ  ECKS RAYΒ 
    Y YankeeΒ  YANG KEYΒ 
    Z ZoolooΒ  ZOO LOOΒ 

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