BLUEMOMENT

I finally got to go sailing on Friday. Saturday morning was a bit lacking in wind but what was noticable was the plethora of radio check calls to Belfast coastguard.
A serious question is why? What am I missing? Can anyone explain the purpose of these calls other than paranoia that the radio which worked last time is not working this time?

Well I've never actually committed one (I rely on the CC to check that I can pollute the airwaves) but the temptation is always there because I re-solder every year and my soldering is not the best. I doubt this applies to many of the radio check requests we hear though.

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Connections corrode. Fairwinds had been deserted on her mooring since 21st July last year. I did a radio check last week and couldn't hear the CG though they could hear me. Cleaned up the deckplug and the aerial connection into the back of the set and it worked just fine.

I think disparaging radio checks is one of these 'big boys don't do it' things that is not as silly as some of us like to think. Of course, if you do them every trip then yes - but after 9 months of neglect I think it is reasonable. I could wait until the CC and lose the engine and the wind in Cuan round about the Cleit twenty minutes after setting off . . . what then, no radio suddenly . . . feck

As for the Silkmeister and his smug 'never done one' - well, mebbes, but then how many of us have broadcast detailed instructions on how to hotwire our car on Ch16 ?

That makes sense but connections tend not to corrode over night from "loud and clear" to "barely readable". I admit to a radio check when the mast goes up and if I've been fiddling with the co-ax. If an every day radio check is necessary to ensure safety, wouldn't every 5 minutes be even safer?

On a vaguely similar sort of vein - there was a Mayday on Friday (CG after a 999 call) but all on Ch16: no DSC alert. The number of times my DSC has emitted strange noises are few and far between to the extent I tend not to know what the noise is coming from. Radio checks to the CG via DSC would make a bit of sense, not pollute my eardrums, would ensure the CG MMSI was is the machine and that the facility to operate the thing was maintained.

There are, certainly, those who perpetrate a radio check every time they visit their boat. They are, indubitably, complete tossres. There are also those who, like Mr C and me, do it once a season when the radio hasn't been used all winter. Then there are charterers who quite understandably want to be assured that an important piece of gear does work. The point about using DSC is quite persuasive but as Nick says the kind of disparaging comment about radio check perpetrators that we see so regularly elsewhere is a bit silly. We will be having a laugh at the expense of people who seem unable to keep their liferafts under control, next.

I didn't think I was being disparaging. I actually did a radio check myself today via a test DSC tx to Belfast CG. Sure enough back came an acknowledgement, all without annoying anyone.

marisca wrote:I didn't think I was being disparaging. I actually did a radio check myself today via a test DSC tx to Belfast CG. Sure enough back came an acknowledgement, all without annoying anyone.

[Adopts beligerent YBW-stylee tone] If you read my post with the care it deserves you will see quite clearly that my reference to disparaging comment was not directed at anyone here. Perish the thought.

I admit to not having done my annual radio check, though been out twice.
I should get around to that. I do have the advantage of two transceivers, so can check from one to the other (antennas sufficiently seperated to not worry about blowing the front end of the receiving one).
I think an annual check is a good idea. I hear plenty of poor transmitted signals.

The auld goat was thinking of investing in a AIS transceiver. If this caught on, the airwaves would soon get cluttered with geriatrics asking "can you see me?" before venturing out

ParaHandy wrote:A recently retired gentleman was thinking of investing in a AIS transceiver. If this caught on, the airwaves would soon get cluttered with geriatrics bleating "can you see me?" before venturing out

Wus what I meant to say

I understand you are delighted with yours - ye geriatric bletherer

Nae point in Calmac Country really, don't you think?

Guilty m'lud. But only after having doubts about my equipment.
Rothesay Harbour didn't respond to a bridge request which is unusual, then it happened again - I could hear the caller but not the RHA. eventually I raised them on the handheld, but a subsequent test of the Furuno resulted in a "loud and clear" from Belfast CG. The thick plottens... I'm not totally convinced there isn't a problem. (yes, the handheld does hear the Furuno and V - V, I tried that first)

sahona wrote:Rothesay Harbour didn't respond to a bridge request which is unusual,

Not at all Bill, I find it completely normal for Rothesay to ignore all calls on all the channels that are listed for you to call them on!

On then subject of radio checks, I have heqard two semi official opinions. One from a commercial pilot who said it should be part of any pre-departure checklist and another from a Coastguard (who was the instructor on a VHF course) who said that a radio check should be carried out "regularly" during the season. I did not query what regularly meant but assumed possibly that it was after a period of non-use and if nothing was being heard, or if calls were unanswered.

I usually check mine several times per year, but usually by using it to call marinas etc for berthing instructions. I have mostly remembered to have it on this year by the way, and even tuned to 16, not 84, 86 or 23.

Does asking the lassie in Stornoway her opinion on the quality of one's transmission count as a radio check? Of course the mellifluous tones may have emanated from another "Claymore" all together, they seem to be 10 a 1d around the west.

marisca wrote:Does asking the lassie in Stornoway her opinion on the quality of one's transmission count as a radio check? Of course the mellifluous tones may have emanated from another "Claymore" all together, they seem to be 10 a 1d around the west.

Aahhh - caught in the act. In my desperate attempt to avoid the damning words "radio check" - I did go a bit around the houses.
I was being a bit dim really as we were in Oban bay in the shadow of the transmitter so the response was enough to loosen a few fillings.
How did you fare in the 3 peaks - we sailed back through as they were starting - keeping well clear of course. Not much of an evening for runners and Saturday must have been pretty awful over the Paps?