Sunday, January 5, 2014

Distress Frequency Change for North America

Offshore sailors make note: Effective Wednesday, August 1, the US Coast Guard will no longer monitor voice frequency 2182 kHz for International distress and safety. They will also drop 2670 kHz for marine information and weather broadcasts, and they will discontinue monitoring the International Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress frequency 2187.5 kHz .
"This termination decision was made after a review of Coast Guard medium frequency (MF) communications sites revealed significant antenna and infrastructure support degradation that put the Coast Guard at risk of not being able to receive and respond to calls for assistance on the 2 MHz distress frequencies," said a Coast Guard spokesman.
Radio guru Gordon West responds, "This is actually a good call. Atmospheric noise on 2 MHz causes even the best of radio systems to not hear much beyond 30 miles ground wave, and 30 miles to shore is the typical maximum range of the Coast Guard’s  excellent Rescue 21 VHF channel 16 coverage.
"U.S. Coast Guard Communication Stations (COMMSTA) and Communications Area Master Stations (CAMS) will continue their guard of the following High Frequency safety frequencies: 

         VOICE                  DSC
   4125.0 kHz                4207.5  kHz
   6215.0 kHz                6312.0  kHz
   8291.0 kHz                8414.5  kHz
  12290.0 kHz               12577.0  kHz
                                     16804.5  kHz

 "VHF Channel 16, 156.800 MHz, will CONTINUE to offer the Coast Guard’s  Rescue 21 fabulous coverage throughout boating areas of the United States from Coast Guard units, on land, at sea, and in the air. VHF Channel 70 will CONTINUE to be the DSC call up channel to the Coast Guard.
"Only Medium Frequency 2 MHz, here in the U.S., is being dropped by the Coast Guard for a continuous radio listening watch.

"Internationally, 2182 kHz remains the International distress and calling channel. It will still be an on scene distress working channel, and will continue to be an authorized calling channel," writes Gordon.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Maritime VHF Channels

U.S. VHF CHANNELS

Channel NumberShip Transmit MHzShip Receive MHzUse
01A156.050156.050Port Operations and Commercial, VTS. Available only in New Orleans / Lower Mississippi area.
05A156.250156.250Port Operations or VTS in the Houston, New Orleans and Seattle areas.
06156.300156.300Intership Safety
07A156.350156.350Commercial
08156.400156.400Commercial (Intership only)
09156.450156.450Boater Calling. Commercial and Non-Commercial.
10156.500156.500Commercial
11156.550156.550Commercial. VTS in selected areas.
12156.600156.600Port Operations. VTS in selected areas.
13156.650156.650Intership Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge). Ships >20m length maintain a listening watch on this channel in US waters.
14156.700156.700Port Operations. VTS in selected areas.
15--156.750Environmental (Receive only). Used by Class C EPIRBs.
16156.800156.800International Distress, Safety and Calling. Ships required to carry radio, USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel.
17156.850156.850State & local govt maritime control
18A156.900156.900Commercial
19A156.950156.950Commercial
20157.000161.600Port Operations (duplex)
20A157.000157.000Port Operations
21A157.050157.050U.S. Coast Guard only
22A157.100157.100Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts. Broadcasts announced on channel 16.
23A157.150157.150U.S. Coast Guard only
24157.200161.800Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
25157.250161.850Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
26157.300161.900Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
27157.350161.950Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
28157.400162.000Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
63A156.175156.175Port Operations and Commercial, VTS. Available only in New Orleans / Lower Mississippi area.
65A156.275156.275Port Operations
66A156.325156.325Port Operations
67156.375156.375Commercial. Used for Bridge-to-bridge communications in lower Mississippi River. Intership only.
68156.425156.425Non-Commercial
69156.475156.475Non-Commercial
70156.525156.525Digital Selective Calling (voice communications not allowed)
71156.575156.575Non-Commercial
72156.625156.625Non-Commercial (Intership only)
73156.675156.675Port Operations
74156.725156.725Port Operations
77156.875156.875Port Operations (Intership only)
78A156.925156.925Non-Commercial
79A156.975156.975Commercial. Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only
80A157.025157.025Commercial. Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only
81A157.075157.075U.S. Government only - Environmental protection operations.
82A157.125157.125U.S. Government only
83A157.175157.175U.S. Coast Guard only
84157.225161.825Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
85157.275161.875Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
86157.325161.925Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
87157.375157.375Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
88A157.425157.425Commercial, Intership only.
AIS 1161.975161.975Automatic Identification System (AIS)
AIS 2162.025162.025Automatic Identification System (AIS)

VHF Maritime Spectrum Chart

NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies
ChannelFrequency (MHz)
WX1
162.550
WX2
162.400
WX3
162.475
WX4
162.425
WX5
162.450
WX6
162.500
WX7
162.525
Channel numbers, e.g. (WX1, WX2) etc. have no special significance but are often designated this way in consumer equipment. Other channel numbering schemes are also prevalent.
The order of channels shown is the order they were established and is slowly becoming less "popular" over time than a numerical ordering of channels.
Additional Information, Frequencies, & Charts
Frequencies are in MHz. Modulation is 16KF3E or 16KG3E.
Note that the letter "A" indicates simplex use of the ship station transmit side of an international duplex channel, and that operations are different than international operations on that channel. Some VHF transceivers are equipped with an "International - U.S." switch for that purpose. "A" channels are generally only used in the United States, and use is normally not recognized or allowed outside the U.S. The letter "B" indicates simplex use of the coast station transmit side of an international duplex channel. The U.S. does not currently use "B" channels for simplex communications in this band.
Boaters should normally use channels listed as Non-Commercial. Channel 16 is used for calling other stations or for distress alerting. Channel 13 should be used to contact a ship when there is danger of collision. All ships of length 20m or greater are required to guard VHF channel 13, in addition to VHF channel 16, when operating within U.S. territorial waters. Users may be fined by the FCC for improper use of these channels. See Marine Radio Watch Requirements for further information.
Also available are International VHF Maritime Radio Channels and FrequenciesNarrowband VHF Maritime Channels and FrequenciesRadio Information for Boaters , and U.S. Coast Guard VHF Distress and Safety Coverage Charts.

source: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtvhf

HAM MARITIME FREQUENCY

Ham Maritime Mobile Nets
Time (UTC)Freq (MHz)NameDaysAreaNotesContact
1600-020014.3Mar. Mobile Service Net http://www.mmsn.org/DCAR,PACK4EDX
01003.925Gulf Coast Hurricane NetDGCwx, tfcWD5CRR
0130-030028.31310M MM NetDEPAC,HawN6URW
01307.126MM Fast CW Net
020021.402Gerry's Happy HourM-FPAC, Bajasoc
020014.334Brazil/East Coast NetDEC, ATLwx, tfcK3UWJ
02003.932Great Lakes EmergencyDGLwx, tfcWD8ROK
02007.126MM Slow CW Net
030014.3Pacific Seafarer's Net WarmupDPAC, WCWUKH6RC Randy
032514.3Pacific Seafarer's Net Roll CallDPACMMKH6RC Randy
03307.294Sandia NetDWC, BajasocKA6HFG
040014.115Canadian DDD NetDPACalso 1730ZVE7DB
040014.318Arnold's NetDSPACMM, wxZK1DB
050021.2UK/NZ/African NetDPAC, IOCMMVK3PA
063014.316 first 5-10 mins, then moves to 7.120S. African Maritime Net; zs5mummnet@mweb.co.za; zs2abk@intekom.co.zaDSATL, IOC, SAF, SA, AUSwx, also 1130Z, in operation >30 years.Alistair Campbell ZS5MU, QTH: Umzimbe Lower South Coast KZN. Graham Griggs ZS2ABK, QTH: Bushman's River Mouth East Cape
07007.235HHH Net http://www.hhhnet.net/
0700-00007.085MED, SEA Cruisers NetDMED, SEAMM
07153.82Bay of Islands NetDNZ, AUS, PACMMZL1BKD
0800-083014.315Pacific Inter-Island NetDSPAC, SEAtfcKX6QU
080014.303UK Maritime NetDATL, MEDalso 1800ZG4FRN, Bill
090014.313MED, SEA MM NetDMEDMM5B4MM
100014.32South China Sea NetDSPAC
10303.815Caribbean Weather NetDCARwx,+1045,2230ZVP2AYL
10457.163Caribbean WX NetDCARwx,+1030,2230Z
11003.77Mar Provinces WX NetM-SaNE CanadawxVE1AAC
1100-12007.241Caribbean MM Net; http://users.isp.com//kv4jc/DCARMMKV4JC
110014.300/313Intercon NetDNA, CA, SAtfc, also 2200ZK4PT
110014.283Carribus Traffic NetDEC, CARtfcKA2CPA
11103.93Puerto Rico WX NetDPR/VIwx, also 2310ZKP4AET
111514.316Indian Ocean MM NetDWPAC, IOCVK6HH
113014.316 first 30 mins, then moves to 7.120South African MM NetDSATL, IOC, SAF, SA, AUSwx, see also 0630Z net infoZS5MU, ZS2ABK
113021.325South Atlantic RoundtableDSATLtfc, also 2330ZPY1ZAK
120028.38Maritime Mobile NetDnovice ok
120014.1225Mississauga Net; http://www.tormarc.com/DE CanadaATL wxVE3NBL
120014.32Southeast Asia NetDSEA, SPACWB8JDR
12307.185Barbados Info NetDCARtfc8R6DH
12457.268East Coast Waterway Net; http://www.waterwayradio.net/DEC, CARMMNU4P
1300-140021.4Trans Atlantic MM NetDNATL, CARrc, wx8P6QM
13007.083Cen. Am. Breakfast ClubDCAMM, socAB6HR
1445, 1430 early chkins3.968Sonrisa Net; http://sonrisanet.org/DBaja, So. Calif.MM, wxXE2/KF6IL, Rick
1400-16007.263/268Rocky Mtn RV NetDMid WesttfcK5DGZ
14157.192Chubasco NetDBaja, So. Calwx
14307.192Chubasco NetDBaja, So. Calif.MMXE2/N6OAH
15157.2335Baja Calif. MM Net; http://www.bajanet.jackclarke.net/DBaja, So. Calif.wx
16007.2335Baja Calif. MM Net; http://www.bajanet.jackclarke.net/DBaja, So. Calif.MMN6ADJ
16007.200/268Taco NetDBaja
1600-220014.300/313Maritime Mobile Service NetDATL, CAR, PACalso 2400ZKA8O
1600-18007.263/268Pacific RV Service NetM-FWestern U.S.tfcK6BYP
163014.303Swedish Maritime NetDMMalso 0530, 2030
163014.313INTERMAR eV, German Maritime Mobile Net; www.intermar-ev.deDMMDL0IMA
1700-180014.308RV Service NetDU.S.tfcKB1Z
170014.323US/Canada Power Sqdn NetSaU.S./CanadatfcW7LOE
170014.34Cal Hawaii NetDEPACtfcK6VDV
17007.24Bejuka NetM-FCAtfcHP3XWB
1700-190014.28Inter Mission RA NetM-SaCA, SAtfcWA2KUX
173014.115Canadian DDD NetM-FPACMM, also 0400ZVE7CEM
180014.303UK Maritime NetDATL, MEDMM, also 0800ZG4FRN, Bill; G4YZH,Bruce
18007.076South Pacific Cruising NetDSPACMM, wxinformal
183014.34Manana Net WarmupM-SaWC, EPACMM, WUKB5HA
190014.2975Italian Amateur Radio Maritime Mobile Net; http://www.qsl.net/ik6ijf/DMMON6BG, AA3GZ
190014.285Kaffee Klatch Un-NetMWSaHawaii, TahitiMM, newsKH6S
190014.305Confusion NetM-FPACtfcW7GYR
19007.285Hawaii AM NetDHawaiitfc, wxKH6BF
1400 ET21.39Halo Net (2:00 PM Eastern Time)DNA, SAtfcDon WA4PXR
190014.329Bay of Islands NetDNZ, SPACMMZL1BKD
20007.08New Zealand WX NetDNZMM, wxZL1BTQ
20007.095Harry's NetDWPAC, SPACMMKL7MZ
200014.26Partyline NetDCAR, CAN3QVW
2000-220021.39Inter-American Traffic NetDNA, CA, SAtfcWD4HAY
203014.303Swedish Maritime NetDATLMM,0530,1630Z
203014.315Tony's Net WarmupDNZ, SPACMM, WUZL1ATE
210014.261Ben's Friends MM Un-NetECMM, socK3BC
210014.315Tony's NetDNZ, SPACwx, 2130ZZL1ATE
210014.113Mickey Mouse ConnectionDSATL, SPACMMCX9ABE
210021.412PAC Maritime Mobile Service Net; Early bird call. Net at 2200zDPACMMW1VDE, WA4PVZ
213014.29EC Waterway NetEC, U.S.MM
2200-22303.963EC Recreational Vehicle NetDEC, U.S.also 1300ZKB1Z
220021.402Pacific Maritime Net (has not been active for the past year)M-FPAC, BajaMMKB7DHQ
2200-240021.412PAC Maritime Mobile Service Net; (Early bird call at 2100z); http://pmmsn.aboutus.tc/DPACMMW1VDE, WA4PVZ
2200-240014.300/313Intercon NetDNA, CA, SAalso 1100ZK4PT
22303.815Caribbean WX NetCARwx, also 1030ZVP2AYL
23103.93Puerto Rico WX NetDPR, VIwx, also 1110ZKP4AET
233021.325South Atlantic RoundtableSATLtfc, soc
0000-020014.300/313Maritime Mobile Service NetDCAR, Baja, PACMM
00003.968Happy Hour NetDBaja, W. MexicoMM, soc
000014.32Southeast Asia MM NetDPAC, SEAMM
variable14.325/275/175Hurricane Watch NetATL, CAR, PAChurr. trackK0IND
Updated 26May10

Ham Radio HF Emergency Net Frequencies (USB or LSB as appropriate)
Name / DescriptionFreq (kHz)
Alabama3965
Antigua / Antilles3815.0, 7165.0
Antilles Net3818
Southern Louisiana7245
Baja California7235
Belize3935
Bermuda14275
Caribus Net14283.0 +/-
Caribbean Emergency14185
Caribbean Maritime Mobile7115.0 (1200Z)
Caribbean WX3808.0 (1030Z)
California WX3948.0 (1400Z)
Georgia3975
Gulf Coast Central Hurricane3935.0, 7245.0
Gulf Coast Western Hurricane3845.0, 7260.0
Gulf Coast (outgoing only)3967.0, 7283.0
Gulf Coast WX3995.0, 7290.0
Gulf Coast Health and Welfare3993.5, 7264.0
Hurricane Watch Net (Nat. Hurr. Center)14325
Interamericas Health and Welfare21390
Inter-Island 75 meter (24 hr watch)3815
Inter-Island 40 meter (24 hr watch)7165
Lake Charles, LA3993.5, 7264.0
Louisiana14340.0 (1900Z)
Manana7070
Mexican National3987.5
Mississippi ARES3923.0, 3910.0
North Carolina3915
Red Cross (IARN)14275
South Carolina Emergency Net3915.0, 7232.0, 7243.0
South Texas Emergency3955
Texas Emergency7240.0, 7250.0
Texas Traffic / Health and Welfare3691.0, 7290.0 (day), 3910.0 (night)
Transatlantic Maritime Mobile21400
Waterway7268

Marine HF Maritime Mobile Nets (all USB)
Time (UTC)Freq
(MHz)
NameDaysAreaControl
000016.534WX QuestionsNPAC, SPACwx
01454.054Southbound NetDBaja, CAMark Schneider, S/V SolMate WDE2635, KI6UPS,
www.inoneday.cawx
05008.188Puddle Jumpers Eastern FleetDATL, CARwx
1000-12006.215Eastern Caribbean NetECARuncontrolled
12154.003MisteneDCARwx
12308.104MisteneDCARwx
13308.152CruisetimersDCAR
140013.55Chat NetD
14158.122Amigo Net
153012.359WX Questionswx
154516.534WX QuestionsNATL, NPAC, SPACwx. Alternate frequencies: 18.840, 22.165, 25.115
0800 Local6.209 +/-3kHzNorthwest Caribbean NetDMM
18308.188Puddle Jumpers Western FleetDPAC, EPAC, CARwx
192012.359Weather Check-InDCAR, ATL, EPAC
2000-230012.359Southbound IIDCAR, ATL, EPAC
23004.033 / 4.045Gossip NetD
234512.359WX Questions

Abbreviations:
ATL - Atlantic, AUS - Australia, Baja - Baja California, CA - Central America, CAR - Caribbean, D - Daily, EC - East Coast, ECAR - Eastern Caribbean, EPAC - Eastern Pacific, GC - Gulf Coast, GL - Great Lakes, IOC - Indian Ocean, MED - Mediterranean, MM - Maritime Mobile, NA - North America, NATL - North Atlantic, NZ - New Zealand, PAC - Pacific, PR - Puerto Rico, rc - roll call, SA - South America, SATL - South Atlantic, SEA - Southeast Asia, soc - socializing, SPAC - South Pacific, tfc - traffic, VI - Virgin Islands, WC - West Coast, WU - Warmup session, check-in, wx - weather
Special thanks for information and corrections submitted by:
Tom VE3II, Assistant Net Manager, Maritime Mobile Service Network
Bill G4FRN, Net Control, UK Maritime Mobile Net
Rolf DL0IMA, INTERMAR eV
Charles VE3CFL, Mississarga Maritime Net
Jack WA4PVZ, Pacific Maritime Mobile Service Net
Data last updated November 24, 2012

SOURCE: