How often do you use your VHF

CrownRay · 05-18-2016, 10:29 AM

Its amazing how few boats on the lake even have VHF radios anymore. When I was a kid, boating in the 80's and 90's, everyone had them. It was how you raised your buddies to find out which sand bar you were on.

Last year, I turned mine on to 16 to see if any life was out there. Nothing. I even broadcasted "Is anyone actually tuned in to 16?" No responce. I did it a few times too.

On the ocean, it's a whole different animal! When I am out there, I feel like my cell phone would be useless....

Phantom · 05-18-2016, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrownRay

Its amazing how few boats on the lake even have VHF radios anymore. When I was a kid, boating in the 80's and 90's, everyone had them. It was how you raised your buddies to find out which sand bar you were on.

Last year, I turned mine on to 16 to see if any life was out there. Nothing. I even broadcasted "Is anyone actually tuned in to 16?" No responce. I did it a few times too.

On the ocean, it's a whole different animal! When I am out there, I feel like my cell phone would be useless....

CrownRay -- I wouldn't leap to the conclusion that just because no one answered you means no one heard you !

I for one monitor two channels -- one we use for friends and all those conversations you referred to back in the 80's / 90's the other of course is CH 16.

Personally I do not tend to respond to broadcasts such as you describe ....

My definition of proper use of ch16 is for (1) Hailing another boat - then move off channel (2) Weather or boating advisory ..... (3) Hailing MP to advise misplaced or missing spar (4) Aid needed for me or another boat (5) EMERGANCIES (6) and on a VERY VERY rare occasion a radio check -- this is only when I have changed something .... new antenna, wiring, replaced radio, etc.

To your point, we were active boaters on the Lake in the 80's / 90's and quite frankly CH 16 was cluttered with useless & unnecessary chatter that most times was quite annoying. Who cares where you & your buddy plan on going and I don't want to be forced to listen to a long discourse of you two trying to figure out where each other are by radio --- tying up the channel...

MP tried very hard during those days to continually jump in and remind people that the channel was for hailing or emergencies ---- while others treated it as an extension of their then popular CB radios in the car or truck --- including 10 codes and "good buddy"/ "Breaker Breaker" lingo

Please understand -- I am not trying to be harsh --- simply do not jump to conclusions that no one heard you.

.

radioman · 05-18-2016, 01:01 PM

Lest we not forget, VHF is a privilege, in years past, we as boaters had a very different set of frequencies which were not as affordable or convenient. Handheld radios simply did not exist.
When I first arrived here in 2002 I went to work for Shep Browns and we monitored 16 every day and I can tell you that we were always on top of everything in the northern part of the lake. The Mount would broadcast bad weather on 16 based on there position and based on what they saw on radar
And then there was "Mighty Moe" a blind man who monitored 16 religiously and very much kept order. (Moe, Bill was his name, found a doctor who was able to correct his vision several years before he died) Bill was even able to drive before his death.
If you have a VHF. monitor ch 16, it just might make you a hero!

Dave R · 05-22-2016, 08:04 PM

I used mine every day last week. Even had a long chat with the US Navy, but I was not on Winni. Never use it on Winni anymore.

05-18-2016, 10:29 AM	#1
CrownRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Medford MA/Blackcat Island Posts: 148 Thanks: 0 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Its amazing how few boats on the lake even have VHF radios anymore. When I was a kid, boating in the 80's and 90's, everyone had them. It was how you raised your buddies to find out which sand bar you were on. Last year, I turned mine on to 16 to see if any life was out there. Nothing. I even broadcasted "Is anyone actually tuned in to 16?" No responce. I did it a few times too. On the ocean, it's a whole different animal! When I am out there, I feel like my cell phone would be useless.... __________________ "The ocean (or lake) itself is not dangerous, it's the hard stuff around the edges that will kill you."

05-18-2016, 01:01 PM	#3
radioman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 217 Thanks: 6 Thanked 75 Times in 50 Posts	Vhf Lest we not forget, VHF is a privilege, in years past, we as boaters had a very different set of frequencies which were not as affordable or convenient. Handheld radios simply did not exist. When I first arrived here in 2002 I went to work for Shep Browns and we monitored 16 every day and I can tell you that we were always on top of everything in the northern part of the lake. The Mount would broadcast bad weather on 16 based on there position and based on what they saw on radar And then there was "Mighty Moe" a blind man who monitored 16 religiously and very much kept order. (Moe, Bill was his name, found a doctor who was able to correct his vision several years before he died) Bill was even able to drive before his death. If you have a VHF. monitor ch 16, it just might make you a hero!

05-22-2016, 08:04 PM	#4
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	I used mine every day last week. Even had a long chat with the US Navy, but I was not on Winni. Never use it on Winni anymore.