Catigale wrote:(...snip!)
Remember, VHF on marine bands from shore is a no-no unless you have the shore license.
(snip!...)
Just as a quick followup on this issue of using handheld marine radios ashore, the recent April 2017 issue of "
Sail" magazine has the following item in its "
Ask Sail" section on page 68:
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VHF PORTABLES ON LAND
Q. Our dockmaster tells us that portable marine VHF radios are now permitted for use on land. Does this mean I can use my hand-held on the ski slopes, or talk from the office with boats for weather reports? Don Hull, New York, NY
GORDON WEST REPLIES
Yes and no. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in its August 2016 Report and Order amended the rule 80.115 (a)(1)-(4) to allow portable VHF radios to be used on shore "adjacent to a waterway" to talk with your own ship about ship's business. With this in mind, for pleasure craft you would use non-commercial channels and keep transmissions to a minimum practical time. However, this rule change does NOT allow ski slope operation. Nor does it allow you to gab with any and all ship stations--just shore to your own ship station, like calling from the dock for the kids to pick you up, or calling your ship from the shore-side marine hardware store to see if there are any other parts you need to bring back aboard. The FCC also makes it clear that this should not be interpreted as a free-for-all on using marine hand-helds ashore between each other. Again, the only permitted shore-to-ship calls will be to your "associated ship station," and not anyone or everyone to just "yak, yak, yak." DSC calling on channel 70 is also permitted to minimize channel 16 traffic.
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Those yearning to wade through the actual published regulatory amendments in the
Federal Register may don their snorkels and water wingies, and
dive in right here. They read as follows:
9. Section 80.115 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(1) through (4)
to read as follows:
Sec. 80.115 Operational conditions for use of associated ship units.
(a) * * *
(1) It must only be operated on the safety and calling frequency
156.800 MHz or 156.525 MHz or on commercial or noncommercial VHF
intership frequencies appropriate to the class of ship station with
which it is associated.
(2) Except for safety purposes, it must only be used to communicate
with the ship station with which it is associated or with associated
ship units of the same ship station. Such associated ship units may be
used from shore only adjacent to the waterway (such as on a dock or
beach) where the ship is located. Communications from shore must relate
to the operational and business needs of the ship including the
transmission of safety information, and must be limited to the minimum
practicable transmission time.
(3) It must be equipped to transmit on the frequency 156.800 MHz or
156.525 MHz and at least one appropriate intership frequency.
(4) Calling must occur on the frequency 156.800 MHz or 156.525 MHz
unless calling and working on an intership frequency has been
prearranged.
* * * * *
So, it seems it'll be OK after all to radio the boat in order to inquire with the Admiral concerning the critically important ship's business of whether she wants that slaw
on her crabcake roll or as a side...Maintenance of proper morale being critical to the efficient operation of the craft and all. Of course, when in doubt, just get it on the side. You can always plop it on easier than scraping it off. And don't you even
think of coming back without that chocolate that you've thoughtfully jammed into that bulk ice reefer outside the marina shop to keep it from getting all melty on the way to the boat. Just make sure not to grab that other guy's little bait bag of flies and worms instead by mistake. The Admiral is unlikely to be amused by this.
As far as how all this affects Baofengs or their setup, it simply means that if your primary intended use for the unit like mine is as a cheapo marine transceiver and NOAA weather radio that also gets broadcast FM stations, and you just want to do a little ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship chatter, then you need not really bother about programming in additional
MURS channels, like those used by little 1/2 watt type walkie-talkie sets, such as those previously mentioned pairs from Cobra. Of course, you
could still easily program those added frequencies in if you like, but if you just wanted to really clarify that whole crabcake issue, you're already good to go...And don't forget that chocolate
!
