top-fed SSB backstay antenna??

[Doug Dotson]

Hi Wayne,

USCG always responds to radio checks.

No they don't.

And as Doug offered though, on VHF it
is indeed strongly discouraged, and that becomes your "radio check".

So being chewed out by the CG is their form of a response to a request
for a radio check? Isn't that sweet. That certainly encourages folks to
check to see if their rig is working.

Channel
9 is allocated for both calling/hailing and as an alternate distress
frequency (ship-to-ship only) in most areas now. This was done to
alleviate
the congestion in busy areas on Ch-16. It is also part of an experiment to
move ALL calling/hailing from Ch-16 to Ch-9, leaving Ch-16 for urgency and
distress only. Ch-9 is where ship to ship or ship to shore radio checks
should take place.

That's good. Ch9 is where radio check should be made.

Radio operating procedures for VHF-marine do state that
no "any station" type radio checks should ever be made.

You just said that Ch9 is now intended for that purpose!

I paraphrased that
so you would understand that calling the "USCG" is just like making an
any-station call.

How does that make sense?

We don't know if you are in distress, an urgency, safety
issue, which Coast Guard unit is requested, etc.

Perhaps listening to the caller to understand what the nature of the call
is.

All of the above are valid
reasons for just sayng "USCG",

I've never heard one say USCG unless they are trying to contact the USCG.

but doing that for a radio check in congested
areas is NOT.

I've never heard anyone ask for a radio check from the USCG. Usually they
are asking for a response from anyone that can hear them.

Now if you called a SPECIFIC Coast Guard Group or Station,
asking to switch to their wkg frequency for radio check, they should
accomodate you in a courteous fashion, unless something else urgent is
going
on with their unit.

Fair enough.

On HF: Since HF duplex calling channels are no longer guarded
(Jan-1-2005),
and instead the associated simplex voice channels for 4,6,8, and 12 meg
DSC-GMDSS are, I am not sure if that makes them the place for a radio
check
with USCG. It hasn't happened to me yet and I have not seen guidance on
this.

So, if I am heading offshore, how do I find out if the USCG can copy me?

As I understand, a VESSEL USING CALLSIGN could make a HF radio check call
to
any particular ship or coastal-station (never any-station, same as above)
on
4125, 6215, 8291 or 12290 which are now guarded by CAMSLANT and CAMSPAC
and
KODIAK. A USCG operator will answer any non-distress HF call on a
case-available basis. I didn't tell you to do this, but I would answer
you.

So if I am trying to check my gear as I am heading offshore, the USCG will
answer if they feel like it?

The PURPOSE of guarding 4125, 6215, 8291 and 12290 is to be READY for
distress traffic voice calls on the associated channel for most of the
DSC-GMDSS channels.

Even though no mechanism is in place for a vessel to establish that their
equipment is capable of said comms.

These newly guarded channels (US is the first nation to
do so btw) are ALSO allocated for "Calling". We'll have to see how that
part
works out.

[0322z sidebar: USCG Group St Pete loud and clear in Virginia Beach, VA on
2182, shifting to 2670 khz for offshore marine information broadcast] ;-)

Maybe I can get back to you with a more definitive HF-answer later Wayne,
sorry it's just too new a procedure to be sure yet.

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

[Rodney Myrvaagnes]

4. Some small patrol boats DO have SSB capability, namely all new 47' MLBs's
which systematically replace the aging 41' patrol boats. Some 41's also have
SSB. All aircraft have VHF/MF/HF systems.

Don' tyou mean they are replacing the 44' MLBs?


Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


"Be careful. The toe you stepped on yesterday may be connected to the ass you have to kiss today." --Former mayor Ciancia

 

[Jack Painter]

Don' tyou mean they are replacing the 44' MLBs?


Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

Those also, yes. Most if not all 44's should already be retired by now, and
there were a lot less of them to begin with (100?). Stations with heavy-surf
requirements had to have a 44, those without that requirement, and that was
a larger number, got various smaller units, 36' & 41' etc. Many of them are
still around. Washington State, notorious for the surf-school and the worst
bar-crossings in the continent, still has a variety of older surf boats for
training. But the new 47 is the mainstay of the med-range surf-boat and
general purpose patrol boat. SAFE boats are the new aluminum cabintops with
orange protective rigid-hulls, generally at 25' with some customs units at
21,23 and 27'.

These two new designs were tested at ISC Portsmouth, VA all summer of '04.
Exciting equipment.
http://www.oceantech.com/whatsnew.htm

Jack

 

[Doug Dotson]

Man, you must have alot of spare time on your hands

So how does the USCG support skywave comms for stations not near the
coast?

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

 

[Jack Painter]

So being chewed out by the CG is their form of a response to a request
for a radio check? Isn't that sweet. That certainly encourages folks to
check to see if their rig is working.

Doug,

Unfortunately that's correct. Although the boating public often disagrees,
it is not the USCG's responsibility to provide a means of testing their
radio equipment. A reasonable person will understand that the boater is
responsible and normally capable of making such equipment checks without
interfering with a life-saving and homeland security service. This includes
following the regulated use of marine radios, which prohibit making calls to
a non-specific ("Any Station") unit or vessel for routine traffic, radio
checks, etc. In local VHF use, there are few exceptions to this. One example
could be in winter/heavy-wx, etc (imagine a condition when few pleasure or
commercial activities might be active) and there are no other observed
vessels or monitoring coastal stations available for a radio check prior to
departing. We would all agree a vessel's communications equipment should be
tested by any means available before such activity!

That's good. Ch9 is where radio check should be made.


You just said that Ch9 is now intended for that purpose!

Indeed. That doesn't provide an excuse to ignore proper marine radio
operating procedures, in which routine calls to unspecific stations are not
permitted. This is not Amateur Radio! we do not "CQ" to chat or see how far
anyone might hear us over the VHF or HF marine bands.

If that activity is going to happen, and certainly it does, it should never
be over the distress/hailing channel (16). I said the Coast Guard always
answers radio checks. Let me be more specific. Over the years the policy on
answering radio checks has changed at least a couple of times. It is current
policy to discourage any vessel from using channel 16 to make radio checks.
They should however be answered, and the sometimes inconsistent results are
simply unfortunate.

I've never heard anyone ask for a radio check from the USCG. Usually they
are asking for a response from anyone that can hear them.

See "This is not amateur radio!" above.

Fair enough.

I understand a boater ( I am one too btw) wants to know that the ones who
would be called to help them should be able to hear them. It's also ignorant
of the fact that it must be policy to discourage calling the Coast Guard
anytime this emotional desire gets triggered (getting underway, tinkering
with radio system, bored, etc). There are other more practical ways to test
a radio when it is appropriate to do so, which do not interfere with
life-saving and homeland security communications of the USCG.

So, if I am heading offshore, how do I find out if the USCG can copy me?

As above, this is not a question that any indivdual vessel operator has a
right to verify with the USCG
directly. They can of course check their systems with any specific station
(no "Any Station" calls) and if the USCG is able to answer, they might. USCG
is not a marine telephone operator, and it would be purely the disgression
of a watchstander, based on other priorities and guided by local command and
service-policies, to respond to a radio check made specifically to his unit
or station. I hope you find this helpful.

Best regards,

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

[Jack Painter]

Man, you must have alot of spare time on your hands

That's a given, since as you know, my activities for the USCG are 100%
volunteer!
I specialized in communication areas that I felt needed improvement, and
additionally support other duties that are encouraged at the national and
all local levels. These include vessel safety patrols, marine safety
inspections, and harbor security. Of course I "tow the company line" there!
The USCG and the citizens we serve deserve no less.

So how does the USCG support skywave comms for stations not near the
coast?

By virtue of hundreds and in some cases thousands of miles distance
(North/South and East/West) between multiple antennas (of varying design
frequency, gain, direction and launch angle) at each of several antenna
sites.

You asked an interesting question about antenna locations earlier. It is my
belief that the site locations were neither arbitrary nor at the expense of
reliable communications for the defined area of operations of the USCG.
Nobody will argue that government does practically anything in the most
efficient manner possible. But most will agree that critical services are
provided in the most reliable fashion, nonetheless subject to the
availability of funds provided.

 

[Bruce in Alaska]

Thank You! A great and sensible answer! And I agree that the squelch
doesn't work all that well on SSB.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

Just another note, basically ALL the SSB Squelch Systems around today,
are copies of, or Reverse Engineered versions, of the SEA Variable
Sylobic Rate Squelch design, that was first first introduced in the
Marine Radio MF/HF Radios in the Northern N550. This system was a Dick
Stephens design and was incororated into all of his radio designs
subsequent to that intorduction, as either builtin, or as an optional
addon board.

Bruce in alaska who was there, when all this happened......

 

[Me]

Are you still interested in answers to your questions, or would you two just
rather continue your back-slapping stories? Your replies to each other sound
pretty cozy, and I don't want to barge in between your barstools while the
two of you solve the world's problems.

For the rest of the group still following <G> here is my universe:

1. "Squelch" is NEVER adjusted on any USCG guard receiver, VHF, MF, or HF.
This applies equally to every Boat Station, Group, Sector, Activity,
Communication Station and Communication Area Master Station. Anyone not
drunk will also understand the following:

I don't know where your Universe is, or what Dimension it is in, Jack,
but do you REALLY expect us ALL to believe that EACH VHF Receiver on
ALL USCG RADIO's don't have an "Adjusted Squelch" and that white noise is
eminating from all the speakers????? This is just SO MUCH BULLSHIT, that
even the most imcompitant Mooorooon knows it is CRAP.
I have been in a number of CommSta's around in the REAL UNIVERSE, and I
can STATE Catagorically that this is JUST NOT THE CASE.

2. Volume is NEVER turned down, as was foolishly suggested above. Lets be
serious for a moment. During critical SAR comms, volume will be turned UP on
affected systems, this will have the same effect as turning others "down".
That is not a long term condition, and SSB receivers are in a separate area
from the VHF consoles anyway. This is something some of you could observe if
you asked for a tour of a Group watchstanding system.

Yes Jack, volumes ARE turned down in CommSta's in the REAL Universe. It
happens quite often. Speakers are also MUTED, for specific situations,
so that other speakers can be copied better. Any reports, otherwise are
just not creditable.

3. Boat Stations do NOT have SSB capability, their AOR is always within VHF
range.

4. Some small patrol boats DO have SSB capability, namely all new 47' MLBs's
which systematically replace the aging 41' patrol boats. Some 41's also have
SSB. All aircraft have VHF/MF/HF systems.

5. Most Groups (or "Sectors" as they are transitioning to) and Activities
have multiple towers (called "High Sites" ). Location of these high-sites
normally allows significant overlap of the adjoining Group/Sector's AOR.

and most CommSta's don't have the MF/HF Receivers right there in the room
either. Most of that equipment is remoted out at the Antenna Farms, and
is brought in on Phonelines, or other longhaul communications links.
The reason for that is if the receivers were actually in the Consoles at
the CommSta, they would be STONED Deaf because of all the computer, and
network noise that is zipping around in there. Some of us actually have
designed systems for USCG CommSta's, Jack.......

6. There are still areas of the Coastal-Continental United States that have
small gaps in VHF coverage. Maine and Florida used to be the last ones on
the East coast reporting this problem (there may be others we are not aware
of). USCG AUX in Florida remedied that state's problem with volunteer
funded, erected and maintained towers and repeater systems in the thousand
islands area of SW Florida.

Even if it has slipped you mind, Jack..... Alaska IS in the North
American Continental United States!!!!

7. Rescue-21 when fully implemented, will maintain full VHF coverage in all
areas, and between 20-40 miles seaward. The first Group to have this system
completed is adjacent to me, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Even with
Rescue-21 up and running there, that Group NOW has full MF-DSC-GMDSS
capability on 2187.5 khz and of course monitors 2182 khz (the IMO-regulated
adjoining voice channel to 2mhz-DSC) on a 24/7 basis, just as all USCG
Groups do.

8. Each of a Group's several high-sites now has their own set of VHF
receivers and transmitters. Group watchstanders monitor a guard receiver
speaker from EACH high site, all playing "white noise" all the time.

9. The SSB/MF/HF systems of every GroupSector/Activity serves many other
purposes than just guarding 2182 khz, which is required by International
treaty for declared Sea Area A-2 (the range between VHF and HF shore
coverage of guard frequencies). IMO regulations are beyond the scope of this
discussion, but I will be happy to try to elaborate some that relate to ship
to shore communications later.

9. Automatic Direction Finding equipment with display on computer-screen
charts is selectable from all or individual high-sites.

10. Digital recording devices capture 100% of all incoming traffic to USCG
Group receivers.

11. Auto-alarms received on 2182 khz (that are NOT during the
testing-periods allowed) occur up to several times a week. In no case that I
can remember, has the pleasure boat, fishing vessel or commercial ship that
sounded them ever "cancelled" with apologies. Callouts and urgent marine
information broadcasts across wide areas result.

When was the last time you actually SAW a TG-502 connected to a SSB Radio
on a noncommecial Vessel??? You do know what a TG-502 is, right Jack????

12. Auto-alarms received on VHF-DSC Ch-70 (156.525 mhz) with no
acknowledgement or cancellation occur at least weekly. Testing of VHF-DSC
auto-alarms is illegal, so I guess it's no surprise that most don't
acknowledge. I have heard a commercial fishing captain call us to say "the
darn thing just went off". He was DF'd and hunted-down before he
acknowledged this. It cost him nothing to apologize yet cost the Coast Guard
an hour of SAR-callouts, boat-team launch, preparation for aircraft launch,
etc.

Better go back and get your TERMINOLOGY Staight Jack..... AutoAlarms
went out with Morse Code, and 500Khz.... DSC Distress Signals are not
refered to as AUTOALARMS.....

13. Valid MAYDAY calls for USCG SAR-response are received on 2182 khz as the
first communication used on average of once every two weeks or so along the
Eastern seaboard.

14. HF is the ONLY 24hr skywave-reliable SSB system in use. MF is only for
short range (20-200 miles), and only intended as a bridge between VHF line
of sight and HF skywave. This doesn't stop us from completing hours of
SAR-case communications exclusively on 2182 khz as long as it remains
successful.

Hope this clears some of the fog spreading from various
barstool-scuttlebutt.

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Me who actually does live in the REAL Universe........

 

[Bruce in Alaska]

I've never heard anyone ask for a radio check from the USCG. Usually they
are asking for a response from anyone that can hear them.

Actually, it is REQUIRED during a SOLAS Inspection that a "Radio Check"
be preformed with the nearest USCG Station, and that it be "Logged" in
the Radio Station Log of the Vessel, for each piece of Gear aboard.

Also SOLAS Required vessels are also REQUIRED to Log one complete
Communication every 24 hours, while navigating.


Bruce in alaska who actually does SOLAS Inpsections on occasion.....

 

[chuck]

Jack Painter wrote:

<snip>

This includes

following the regulated use of marine radios, which prohibit making calls to
a non-specific ("Any Station") unit or vessel for routine traffic, radio
checks, etc. In local VHF use, there are few exceptions to this. One example
could be in winter/heavy-wx, etc (imagine a condition when few pleasure or
commercial activities might be active) and there are no other observed
vessels or monitoring coastal stations available for a radio check prior to
departing. We would all agree a vessel's communications equipment should be
tested by any means available before such activity!

Hello again Jack,

It is the Federal Communications Commission, and not the US
Coast Guard, that promulgates and enforces rules regarding
communication by radio. (The FCC has delegated some
inspection functions to the Coast Guard.)

The FCC rules and regulations are available at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/47cfr80_03.html

for anyone who is interested. While lengthy, they are quite
readable.

Regarding your assertion that "making calls to a
non-specific vessel or unit" for radio checks is prohibited,
it would be useful to consider Section 80.89:

Stations must not:
<snip>
(d) When using telephony, transmit signals or communications
not addressed to a particular station or stations. This
provision does not apply to the transmission of distress,
alarm, urgency, or safety signals or messages, or to test
transmissions.
<snip>

To some of us, it does matter that your advice and legal
opinions often bear dubious relation to reality.

Regards,

Chuck

 

[Jack Painter]

in message news:[email protected]...

Jack Painter wrote:

<snip>

This includes


Hello again Jack,

It is the Federal Communications Commission, and not the US
Coast Guard, that promulgates and enforces rules regarding
communication by radio. (The FCC has delegated some
inspection functions to the Coast Guard.)

Hello again Chuck.
I never implied otherwise.

The FCC rules and regulations are available at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/47cfr80_03.html

for anyone who is interested. While lengthy, they are quite
readable.

Regarding your assertion that "making calls to a
non-specific vessel or unit" for radio checks is prohibited,
it would be useful to consider Section 80.89:

Stations must not:
<snip>
(d) When using telephony, transmit signals or communications
not addressed to a particular station or stations. This
provision does not apply to the transmission of distress,
alarm, urgency, or safety signals or messages, or to test
transmissions.
<snip>

To some of us, it does matter that your advice and legal
opinions often bear dubious relation to reality.

Regards,

Chuck

Test transmissions means "Test-1,2,3,3,2,1,Test Out".

That's a legal opinion, and since it did not come from a lawyer, it's worth
what you paid for it, nothing. Then again, you might pay a lot someday for
ignoring it, and that would be unfortunate.

Just so everyone's clear on the meaning of "advice and a legal opinions",
these do not constitute "legal advice". I am simply attempting to clear up
some of the many misconceptions of how the USCG monitors and responds to
pleasure boaters on VHF and SSB radios. I have operated and fraternized with
the boating community for my entire life, and it has only been in the last
several years that I was ever entirely sure how some of the procedures I
explained in this thread really operated. Of course procedures and
equipments can change on a frequent basis, but forty years of anecdotal
stories do not add up to actual qualification on the equipment and
watchstanding positions. It is easier to be empathetic with distressed
parties if you have already heard a lot of the typical difficulties a boater
can get into, and know from experience how stressful an emergency on the
water really is.

Best regards,

Jack

 

[Jack Painter]

Test-1,2,3,3,2,1-Test Out (followed by Station ID)
================

This is the only kind of radio check you can make without addressing a
specific vessel or station.

Jack

 

[Doug Dotson]

I don't recall right now where I read it a couple years ago, either in an
FCC or CG Publication, where they said it was illegal to contact the Coast
Guard on VHF FM for routine radio checks, with the exception being a
licensed commercial radio technician testing a ship's radio and he was to
indicate in the initial call or after the first response from the CG that
he
was a radio technician performing a check or adjustment. The local CG
Group in Portland, OR seems to vary their responses depending upon who is
on
watch, time of year (boating season or not), time of day, etc. Sometimes I
hear repeated calls for a CG radio check go unanswered, other times they
answer immediately and move to channel 22A, and other times when they
respond directing a move to a recreational boat channel for radio tests
as
channel 16 is a calling and distress channel. I have visited the Group
station several times and often there is only one person on watch,
covering
4 remote marine VHF FM radio sites along the Columbia River, plus HF SSB,
local marine police and fire boat channels. There is usually a rash of
"10-4
good buddy" or "anybody got a copy?" calls after Christmas presents are
hooked up or at the start of the seasonal recreational boating season.
Common sense would indicate a single CG operator may not be relied upon to
answer all calls for "radio checks", as he may be coordinating an actual
distress with helicopters, police, CG and/or fire boats on scene, plus
divers in the water on a frequency other than the local channel 16
coverage.
73 Doug K7ABX

The USCG radio operators in this area do not appear to be all that well
trained.
They stick to boiler-plate dialog such that it takes 5 minutes to
communicate
30 seconds worth of information. In terms of efficiency, hams have them
beat hands down.

Doug, k3qt
s/v CAllista

 

[Doug Dotson]

Although it has been a few years since I was on the 14.300 MMSN, the
Pacific
maritime nets, the Southeast Asia marine nets, the Pacific Weather Net, as
VQ9DM from Diego Garcia Island, Chagos Islands, British Indian Ocean
Territory, I know that the "no traffic" calls are valuable when a blue
water
vessel is overdue and radio logs are searched for last known contact.
Weather, piracy, etc., are a fact of life in the western Pacific and
Indian
Oceans.
I found a regular checkin being a "no show" quite often to be the first
sign
of a problem, sometimes as simple as they overslept, but quite often much
more serious. Also weather reports from blue water hams were valuable to
many third world weather services and the US Navy as well. By the way,
the
ham net controls often have no boating connection at all, such as 9N1MM
(now
a silent key) being a regular control station from a mission in Nepal.
They
do the job because they are geographically located where most ships can
hear
them and out a sense of public service.
I know of hams who are also military members, passing on the word for a
"no
show on net" vessel to local maritime patrol aircraft to check out last
known positions and route of travel on a not to interfere basis with the
military flight mission.. The ham fraternity sticks together on these HF
nets and the practice goes beyond message traffic.
73
Doug K7ABX

Well said Doug. Jack, inasmuch as he is not a ham, doesn't really have
a dog in this fight. He clearly lacks knowledge of how the ham community
works
and very clearly has some sort of bias against the MMSN and other related
nets.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

 

[Jack Painter]

Well said Doug. Jack, inasmuch as he is not a ham, doesn't really have
a dog in this fight. He clearly lacks knowledge of how the ham community
works
and very clearly has some sort of bias against the MMSN and other related
nets.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

Doug (of Calista), why would you say such a thing? You just slandered me and
I expect an apology through the group, after you read back through the times
that I highly praised the MMSN and the workers in that net. When you start
inventing crap like that just because you tire of being corrected for your
consistently inaccurate statements about the Coast Guard, your reputation
goes to zero in the eyes of honorable men.

You sir, give a bad name to hams, by lying on their behalf while you try to
defend some of the indefensible statements you have made about the CG and
their radio operations in particular. When you resorted to slander, you
stepped over the line, and that had better stop right now.

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

[Doug Dotson]

Doug (of Calista), why would you say such a thing?

It is my experience of operating in this area for 10 years.

You just slandered me and
I expect an apology through the group,

What are your damages as a result of this "slander"?

after you read back through the times
that I highly praised the MMSN and the workers in that net. When you start
inventing crap like that just because you tire of being corrected for your
consistently inaccurate statements about the Coast Guard, your reputation
goes to zero in the eyes of honorable men.

So your implication is that just because you say good things about MMSN
("playing-around" was I believe your complement), I should automatically
say good things about the CG operators. I don't see how that follows.

You sir, give a bad name to hams, by lying on their behalf while you try
to
defend some of the indefensible statements you have made about the CG and
their radio operations in particular. When you resorted to slander, you
stepped over the line, and that had better stop right now.

When did I lie on someone's else's behalf? I think you have gone
around the bend. You also need to learn the definition of slander, Last I
knew the definition isn't "something that Jack disagrees with". I think you
better
calm down before your head explodes.

 

[Bob]

For the rest of the group still following <G> here is my universe:

1. "Squelch" is NEVER adjusted on any USCG guard receiver, VHF, MF, or HF.
This applies equally to every Boat Station, Group, Sector, Activity,
Communication Station and Communication Area Master Station. Anyone not
drunk will also understand the following:

i dont understand this, since operation of the squelch is part of the
training for CG radio operator on VHF

i routinely check it to ensure it's not too high.

 

[Jack Painter]

Back a few yers there was a Big Infight between the FCC and USCG
concerning this very issue. The FCC rules REQUIRRED a Logged
Radio Check for each piece of equipment, during a SOLAS Inspection,
and the USCG wanted to get out of doing them, because they said their
operators were to busy. Since the SOLAS Requirement was an International
Requirement, the USCG had to backdown, and all District Communications
Officers were informed that these would be the ONLY Radio Checks that
their CommSta's would conduct.
At the time I was the FCC Field Inspector for Southeastern Alaska and
was the liason to District 17, and had many discussions with the
Commander for District Communications, about this and other issues of
mutual interests. this issue never was a problem here in District 17,
but some of the other districts had issues with the policy. Puget Sound
was one of those places, and it took the Region X FCC Director a while
to get the Admiral to come around.
It was ALWAYS very hard to get the USCG to answer up on 2182 Khz for
these checks, even after setting up the check via the VHF Check, and
most of the Southeast Alaska, and Puget Sound, Checks were done with
Canadian Coast Guard, as these guys ALWAYS Kept their 24/7 Watches on
2182 Khz, ALWAYS. The Canadians have always been better at comm's that
our own USCG, and their Wx Transmissions are used thruought the North
Pacific extensivly.

Bruce in alaska

Bruce, the ten Canadian stations that I can copy in the Newfoundland/Nova
Scotia area do a pretty good job as well. They require all shipping to
contact their VTC's on 2182 and other 2kc freqs, and so the equipment has
probably been modernized to maintain such traffic. There is so much overlap
on US/Canadian wx in the NE that if one station goes a little long, the next
one is on top of it.

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

[Jack Painter]

i dont understand this, since operation of the squelch is part of the
training for CG radio operator on VHF

i routinely check it to ensure it's not too high.

That sounds a lot like a river-station/inland waters, and your boats
probably often resort to cellphones to check in, because the Station can't
cover parts of the AOR, huh? That is often the case on inland waterways, and
on big rivers such as the Mississippi, it is practically all cell-phone
comms between any unit and the Stations. White-noise is guard-noise, and
adjusting the squelch means ensuring it remains "open". If your station is
authorized to do otherwise, I stand corrected about this including all boat
stations. Under the control of LANT, guard receivers make noise 24/7.

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

[Jack Painter]

it's station sandy hook, at the mouth of NY harbor.

White-noise is guard-noise

there is actually a textbook watchstanders are trained with, and this
states how to adjust the squelch. basically the process is to open it,
turn it just until the noise stops, then back it off a bit.

Neither the COMDTINST M2399 Radiotelephone Handbook (referenced) in M16120
series Communications Watchstander Qualification Guide nor COMDTINST M2300
Telecommunications Manual direct squelch as the Station Watchstander Guide
( in COMDTINST M16120, section CWS-02-01) indeed does. I just looked it up,
you are of course correct about Stations setting squelch.

In that watchstander guide, it states in part:

[Groups stand a 24-hour guard on channel-16 and are directly responsible for
all SAR cases in their AOR.]

[Watchstanders at Stations normally stand a day watch, and Stations usually
do not make initial contact with the caller unless the Group is busy or
cannot hear caller's transmission. Their normal responsibility is to
maintain direct communication with their own assets. ]

These are major distinctions between the responsibilities of a
Group/Sector/Activity and a Station, and the responsibility for
communications is the primary difference as this discussion involves. Except
for the need to train with their small boat assets, Stations would not often
be involved in CG Radiotelephone Communications at all, and are not intended
to communicate with the public, except in cases where the Group is busy or
unable. Your mileage might vary but that is the design of the Station-Group
relationship, and it does work that way in LANTAREA.

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia