Marine Band Frequencies

[Agent 48]

I'm miles away from any coast but I do have a reasonable take off point in the direction of the river Thames in London and I can receive London VTS and some boats taking to each other on 156.700 MHz.

I am just wondering if there were any other VHF Marine Band frequencies worth monitoring?

I have had a scan but I only get activity on the one channel 156.700 MHz.

From my research the average boat uses a 5/8 wave antenna and a maximum of 25 watts, some use handhelds, 5watt rubber duck antenna so I'm not likely going to hear the handhelds but I will hear the more powerful stations. This gives me an idea of what I will pick up.

Thanks.

[paulears]

The usual ones that are active are 12. 14 and of course 16. 16 often takes you to more coastguard broadcasts in the area in the 60’s. 37 and M2/P4. If you have any locks or bridges inland that could be 73. Plus of course, 0. Other than those, activity is usually from people on the ground or in low boats.

[Agent 48]

Thanks. Channel 14 seems to be the only active channel, occasionally channel 68.

[paulears]

My office is in a harbour, I'm about 1 mile from the sea. All day, monitoring the port channel, I hear loud and very strong boats call the bridge, near the sea. They dont answer. As boats come into the port from sea, they go into a marina. The marina can use a proper radio with an antenna, but usually use a portable. I never hear this, even on my antennas on a mast.

The horizon is for a kayak paddler about two miles? Range is always very limited unless you have your boat antenna up the top of a 30 foot mast! Marine users are on the water level 0, land is always higher. I guess we just have to live with it. I live on the Norfolk broads and its really flat. We have one boat that runs pleasure trips west. They have a vertical yagi on their office at the waters edge, and the water is a virtual, but meandering straight line. They get perfect reception for the entire route!

[Agent 48]

What does Delta Span mean? as in "take Delta Span"?

I think there is "Echo Span" as well.

[paulears]

Probably local knowledge stuff - do you have any bridges with multiple segments? Could be the designation of the possible routes under the sections? Spans as in bridge spans?

[Agent 48]

There are quite a few bridges along the Thames, they mention Tower Bridge sometimes as well as other bridges... a lot of the time its "Tower bridge closed to navigation London VTS out... or another bridge gets mentioned. There is a nice sounding lady operating channel 14 and the boatmen keep saying "wink wink" down the radio

There is a bit of banter that goes on between the boat people but its kept brief.

Things got a bit juicy last night... thee was a fire on a boat and people had to be evacuated they were told to goto channel 22 and heard the police boats & fire boat on there...

[Agent 48]

In terms of listening all's I really need are channels 14, 16, 22, 68 I can put these into my Tait and have it on scan.

[dc260]

You will find that dual band VHF/UHF collinear such as the Diamond x-30 are also sensitive at receiving marine band communication..

[Agent 48]

My homemade 2 Meter slim Jim receives Marine band very well, I compared it with my dipole antenna and the slim jim was better for receiving marine traffic.

I've been thinking about getting a nice yellow Boafeng UV-9R for when I go down to the Thames and program it up as a little Marine band handheld radio. There are quite a lot of channels in the Marine band so a Boafeng is cheap and has lots of channels. I'm not sure how water proof they are but I think it will be OK for the Thames.

[Agent 48]

Mill bank Pier closed to navigation. A body had been seen in the water search and rescue called out.

Its all kicking off again today on Marine band.