1. VHF Radios and Communication Systems
VHF-HF/SSB-AIS
Terry Sparks
Commander USN Retired

2. Agenda What Communications Systems are Available? License Requirements
What Can I Expect when using the different Systems
Operation of VHF
Use of Portable VHF

3. Agenda Break – 20 minutes Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
Automatic Identification System (AIS)
Installation of VHF Radios
Installation of AIS Receiver

4. What Communications Systems are Available

5. What is Available VHF Marine Radio (Very High Frequency)
VHF Hand Held Radios
HF/SSB Radio (High Frequency/ Single Sideband)
Cell Phone
AIS (Automated Information System)
Satellite Phone also available, but not part of training.

6. License Requirements

7. License Requirements VHF Hand Held Radios – Same as above
VHF Marine Radio – None US Operation Only
Since 1996 for recreational boaters
In US only communicating with other US Boaters
VHF Hand Held Radios – Same as above
AIS – As required by VHF Radio

8. License Requirements HF/SSB Radio Cell Phone – None
Ships License or Ham dependent on frequency use
Ships License and Call Sign covers EPIRB, Radar, HF, AIS, and VHF
Also requires Operator’s Permit
Cell Phone – None

9. What Can I Expect when using the different Systems

10. Prospective of the Horizon
Horizon in NM=
Distance to the horizon in Nautical Miles
1.17 X square root Sum of heights
Height of Self + Height of other
So if you are both at 8 feet
1.17 X SQRT(8 + 8)
1.17 X 4
= 4.68 NM
A 50 foot Mast at both locations = 11.7 NM

11. What Can I Expect VHF Hand Held Radios VHF Marine Radio
Line of site Communications
Top of Mast to Radio Tower could be 40 miles
Boat to Boat may only be 3-11 miles
VHF Hand Held Radios
1-3 miles depending on your position and the contact antenna height.
HF/SSB Radio - Potentially Around the world
Cell Phone – Similar to VHF to cell tower, then the world.
AIS – Similar to VHF,
But will work at very low signal levels (digital signal).

12. Why install a VHF Radio? Chances are:
You do not have the Cell phone number of the boat 100 yards away.
You do not have the Cell phone number of the Coast Guard.
You do not have the Cell phone number of the Ship headed your way.
Your Cell phone will not work.

13. VHF Operation

14. Volume Level in Speaker Squelch Threshold to hear
The Radio
Volume Level in Speaker
Push To Talk
Channel Select
Squelch Threshold to hear
DSC
Distress
Scan 16
Over-Ride
Weather

15. Channel Use Channel 16 Emergency and Hailing Channel. Coast Guard: 22A
“No” Radio Checks
Coast Guard: 22A
Commercial Operations:
01, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 18, 19, 63, 67, 79, 80, and 88.
Safety: 06
Used for ship-to-ship emergency coms
Coast Guard S&R
Vessel-to-vessel navigational safety: 13 **
Noncommercial working channels:
09, 68, 69, 71, 72, and 78
DSC – 70
Port operations:
01, 05, 12, 14, 63, 65, 66, 73, 74, and 77
Not for public use:
15, 17, 21, 23, 81, 82, and 83
** 1W Power Only

16. Phonetic Alphabet November Alpha Bravo Charley Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-Ray
Yankee
Zulu

17. Radio Use Listen for anyone else using the channel
Make Sure the Squelch is not to high
Hail on Channel 16 to make contact (or use DSC)
Then move to another channel (61, 63, 64, and 78)

18. Radio Use
When Contacting a Commercial vessel or Bridge, Try calling on 13. (Vessel Bridge to Bridge)
Vessel Traffic System – Commercial Ship routing in Traffic Lanes. Channels 5, 11, 12, 14
Good to let them know you are there and where you are going and scan for others being routed
Marinas frequently use channel 68 as a contact channel
If you are talking to someone close, reduce power

19. Emergency Communications
1. The boat is in grave and imminent danger
Distress (mayday)
Calls are used when the boat is in grave and imminent danger and in need of immediate help.
That means someone could die or vessel is sinking fast!
Rescue authorities can reasonably expect you to leave the yacht if a rescue boat or helicopter arrives. (No arguments)

20. Emergency Communications
2. The boat or a crew member needs urgent help
Urgency (pan pan)
Calls are used when the boat or a crew member needs urgent help
The boat is not in grave and imminent danger.
No one will die if help is slow
The boat will not sink before help arrives

21. Emergency Communications
Example: On Channel 16
Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan,
This is the vessel Lead Weight.
We have a slow leak and the engine has failed.
We are at Lat Lon drifting west at a speed of approximately 1 knot.
There are 4 people on board. All have life Jackets on.
Lead Weight is a brown vessel with white trim.
Standing by on channel 16

22. Emergency Communications
3. Safety (SECURITÉ)
securtité
Calls are used for navigation or weather warnings.
Pronounced – “say cure it tay”.
Example: On Channel 16
Securite, Securite, Securite, There is a large log floating under the water at Lat Lon drifting East at approximately 0.5 knots.

23. VHF Operation – Emergency Communications
Call on Channel 16
Listen for Clear Channel
Repeat: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
Provide Call Sign (3 times) and Name of Vessel
Provide Position information – “Lat & Lon”

24. VHF Operation – Emergency Communications
State the Nature of Problem – “Hit underwater Rock Vessel sinking”
Number of People on board and Status – “4 People on Board, one unconscious”
Seaworthiness of Vessel – “Taking on Water”
Describe Vessel – “Cream Colored 45’Sloop”
Channel Monitoring – “Monitoring Channel 16”
Repeat until answered

25. Emergency Communications
When Reporting a Mayday or Pan Pan:
Make Sure all have Life Jackets on
Make sure someone is monitoring the radio
Be Prepared with Position Reports
Be Prepared to update Personnel Status
For a Mayday, prepare to leave the boat.

26. Use of Portable VHF

27. Use of Portable VHF May be used around the Marina
VHF Not for use in Town as a family radio
Family Radio Service (FRS) is an improved walkie talkie radio system authorized in the US 1996.
This personal radio service uses channelized frequencies in the (UHF) band.
US FRS radios may not be used in MX. Must buy similar radios in MX certified for MX.
Good to have in a Ditch Bag (with Extra Batteries)

28. Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

29. Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
DSC available on MF, HF and VHF
DSC is primarily intended to initiate radiotelephone calls. (Emergency and non-emergency)
DSC calls can also be made to individual stations, groups of stations, or "all stations" in one's reach.
DSC use requires an assigned/unique 9-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
Distress

30. Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
DSC radio - ability to send an automatic "mayday" that identifies the vessel and location.
Radio May also send information on Type of Issue
Must be set up with MMSI number
Must be tied to GPS position Data to be effective

31. Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Allows contacting a friend via DSC without hailing on channel 16
Like using your cell phone.
Private ship-to-ship calls to other vessels equipped with DSC radio.
If you know the MMSI number of the radio you are calling only that vessel will receive you message.
DSC allows contacting of a Group /Club Privately

32. Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)

33. MMSI Numbers Unique nine (9) Digit FCC Identification Number
Like your Telephone Number for Radios
Included with Ships License from FCC
May also be Obtained from Boat US and Sea Tow

34. MMSI Numbers US VHF Users Only
Those Who Travel/Communicate Outside the U.S.
Must apply to the Federal Communications Commission for a ship station license.
Ships License includes an MMSI
Also need Operators Permit
Installation of Marine SSB requires Ships License

35. Automatic Identification System (AIS)

36. AIS Digital Communication of Ships information
Transmitted on VHF Radio Frequencies
Channels 87 and 88B

37. AIS Classes
Class A Marine AIS - Large commercial vessels, is the full specification.
May See Class B also

38. AIS Classes Class B Marine AIS Lighter commercial and leisure vessels.
Raymarine AIS 500
Class B Marine AIS Lighter commercial and leisure vessels.
Must have assigned MMIS
West Marine
AIS 1000

39. AIS Classes Receive (Rx) Monitors the AIS network
Both Class A and Class B
Receives positional data reports for on-screen display.
Dual Channel reads both frequencies at the same time.
Single Channel, reads one channel then the other
Slower to get all the data
Costs less

40. Stand-Alone AIS
Graphical heading-up situation display shows all targets and nav aids within the selected range. Dangerous or lost targets are indicated. Pop-up information box shows details for selected target.
Unique CPA plot shows whether target will pass ahead or astern. Helps you determine the best collision avoidance strategy.

41. Integrated AIS

42. AIS Type Information Name of Vessel Call Sign MMSI Draught Length Beam
Position
Lat & Lon
Heading
COG
SOG
CPA
Bearing and Range
TCPA
Destination
ETA
Status
Vessel Type

44. Installation of VHS

45. Installation of VHF
Select a location you can use when driving the boat
The Speaker has a magnet in it so be careful of interaction with compass
Make sure the radio is waterproof if in cockpit
An in-line fuse to the radio should be used.
Tap off Breaker feeding Cockpit with heavy wire if long run

46. Installation of VHF Antenna should be as high as possible
Max range is proportional to the Antenna’s Height.
Your height plus the height of the other station
NMEA 0183 from GPS (NEMA Out Connection)
Provides position data to radio for DSC
If two radios are used
An antenna switch must be used
Or two Antennas must be installed

47. Installation of VHF NMEA 0183 From GPS For position RG58/RG8/RG213
In-line fuse + -
12VDC

48. Another Option

49. Installation of VHF - Issues
Hum in the radio can occur when charger is on
Poor filtering on charger (Goes away with Charger off)
Can add a large capacitor at point of connection to 12V power.
Poor connection to antenna can result in
Minimal received signal
No transmitted signal
Burning out radio output amplifier

50. Installation of VHF - Issues
Speaker too close to Compass
Compass will mot read properly
Long power run to radio with to small of wire
Poor radio operation as battery voltage decreases
No static out of radio with squelch low
Microphone is keyed
Static out of radio
Turn squelch control up to quiet radio

51. Installation of AIS

52. Installation of AIS Receiver
Stand-Alone Units
Have own display
Provides relative position data of Class A&B AIS.
Specific Requirements should be listed in Vendor Installation
Vendors Include:
Furuno AIS FA150
VESPER Marine AISWatchMate

53. Installation of AIS Receiver
Integrated Receiver and GPS Display
Components
Antenna
AIS Receiver
Connection to Graphical Display or PC
Many Vendors of single and dual Channel Receivers
AIS units use a default baud rate of 38400
Can connect to NEMA in on Multifunction Display
Can be wired to connect to a 9 pin RS232
Can then adapt to a USB Port

54. Installation of AIS Receiver

55. AIS Class B Installation

56. VHF Radio
To Keep you Safe at Sea!
West Marine
AIS 1000