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VHF Comms Question

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britinusa
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Initially Posted - 12/16/2012 : 17:24:53

What are the restrictions for one sailor afloat to communicate via VHF with another Sailor that is ashore?

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

GaryB
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Response Posted - 12/16/2012 : 17:44:06

If the sailor on shore transmits he is breaking the law.

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 12/16/2012 : 18:30:36

Even if they are communicating with a sailor afloat for safety purposes?

paul

Edited by - on

C250 Editor
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Response Posted - 12/16/2012 : 18:30:46

There's a pretty good discussion of it [url="http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-discussion-sailing-related/54336-use-hand-held-vhf-when-not-board-2.html"]here[/url].

We would probably use our cell phones, but we do have a pair of Sony FRS radios we could use in our rigging bag. If one of us is on our Avon, it seems that it's OK to use your handheld as "Tender to Sirius Lepak", or "Sirius Lepak mobile" or something along those lines.

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Steve Milby
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Response Posted - 12/16/2012 : 18:36:03

...although it must be possible to get a license to allow transmission from shore, because many restaurants, gas docks, marinas and resorts do it. Maybe one of our Ham radio members knows about licensing.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 12/16/2012 18:39:40

britinusa
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Response Posted - 12/16/2012 : 19:01:23

Ok, so if you were to report in by a particular time but conditions delayed that event, then how could you legally report in the delay.

Scenario: I'll call you as soon as we get to Miami. Then weather delays arrival and unable to make a cellphone call (no signals) would it be ok to call in via VHF to advise of the delay???

Paul

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 12/16/2012 : 20:29:56

Most marinas, shoreside restaurants and fuel docks use VHF radios (monitor 16 and 9 and switch to 9 or 10) to communicate with nearby boaters. If the radio operator is on terra firma and they transmit, then they are in violation of the law. Generally, however, the representative is located on a floating dock or landing point - which is technically legal.
If, on the other hand, a boater and their counterpart who may be located in a shoreside house, car or fixed structure, that's patently verboten. It's not like a CB radio. Originally, before cell phones, the phone company used to monitor VHF channels 24-28 which was referred to as "ship to shore radio". You would contact a telephone operator via VHF and they would place a phone call to your shoreside party.
In many locations this service is no longer available. Instead you can use a cell phone or "family radio service" or FRS radios. There are two types: low power (2 mile line of sight) and higher power GMRS (5 mile). You don't need a license for FRS, but you do technically need an FCC license to operate on GMRS.

Further note: the FCC or USCG have no easy way to determine whether the operator is on land or on the dock. While they can use a directional antenna to determine the direction that the transmission is coming from, they'd need two receivers in two separate locations to get a "fix" on the transmit radio's position.

Edited by - Voyager on 12/16/2012 20:51:42

GaryB
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Response Posted - 12/17/2012 : 15:19:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 ...although it must be possible to get a license to allow transmission from shore, because many restaurants, gas docks, marinas and resorts do it. Maybe one of our Ham radio members knows about licensing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes, I believe it is possible but the base station has to be licensed by the FCC to operate as such.

As someone else mentioned I guess if you're transmitting from a floating dock you are technically not onshore.

If you're asking this question because someone you know is close to the shoreline you could still report to them that you were running late, they just could not acknowledge they received the call.

Ooorrr, they could launch some flares from their boat in the driveway to let you know they received the call!!!!

Edited by - GaryB on 12/17/2012 15:22:27

Voyager
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Response Posted - 12/18/2012 : 22:10:56

Gary
They could only legally launch the flares from the boat in the driveway if the tide really came all the way in!!!!!

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