Browsing: VHF radios

Cruising Life
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New Coast Guard Rules for VHF Radio Check

POSTED BY CWO KURT FREDRICKSON ON OCTOBER 19, 2020 • The Coast Guard Inspections and Compliance Directorate has issued MSIB 20-20 to inform mariners of the proper procedure for performing a VHF radio check. Sea Tow Automated Radio Check System no longer available: For several years, Sea Tow operated an Automated Radio Check System, which was available on VHF Channels 24 to 28 for the benefit of mariners in over 130 locations. However, on October 2nd, 2020 that service was discontinued. How to test a VHF Radio using Rescue 21: The U.S. Coast Guard continues to offer an automated Digital…

Cruising Life
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Don’t Wait: Get the MMSI Number for Your DSC-VHF Radio Now. It Could Save Your Life.

Maritime Mobile Service Identify (MMSI) is a mouthful. It’s also long – a nine-digit number that works like a phone number on your DSC-VHF radio to call for help. If you have it, all you have to do is push a red button on your VHF (even a child can do this) and the radio will automatically and immediately broadcast your boat’s location, in exact latitude and longitude, to all other boats with DSC-VHF radios within range. It also will show your boat’s location on their chart plotters and determine the distance and bearing back to your boat. But it…