View Full Version : radio rules
bullfroglabat
04-13-2002, 08:24 AM
I have always fished the Islands area on Erie so I did not buy a marine band radio untill this year. Is there a source for info on how to operate, what to monitor, basic transmitting, etc. I hate to be a bonehead, but I have no experience on radios.
mbrandt
04-13-2002, 10:55 AM
I would check your owners manual that came with your radio. Most explain how it works and what channels to use and what ones are reserved for what. The FCC also has a site at http://wireless.fcc.gov/rules.html that explains what you can and cannot do. I'm in the same boat having just purchased a marin radio and those are the sources I used.
Hope this helps a little.
Mark
River_eye
04-13-2002, 02:13 PM
The aeronautical radios are more toughly regulated by making you write a test for a certificate, but even that's not very complicated.
The basic principles are, knowing the standard terms and phrasology so your message can be communicated with minimal frequency tie-up, and knowing it's not a toy and therefore not abusing it.
If there are any regulations, they should be national, so maybe look up your government website, or the coast guard or somthing.
Grey Ghost
04-13-2002, 02:33 PM
Try this web site for marine radios. http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/marine/fctsht14.html
Each channel has a specific use. You can see a list of them I posted for a guy a while back by going to http://users.westco.net/~tandjlm/Information/channel.htm It should be printable.
The basics are covered very well in Chapman's and the true basics are even simpler. You use channel 16 to establish contact but not for communications. You agree on a working channel after making contact on 16 and then go there and do your thing. Different areas use different channels for their working frequencys. Find out what is used in the area you fish.
The Coast Guard frowns heavily on the use of 16 for anything but establishing contact. So don't use it for radio checks or any other such stuff. Notice that some channels have the letter A behind them. Also notice that they are simplex channels (same frequency for sending as receiving). Notice the Canadian channels and their reservations. Then read Chapman's for proper operating procedures. Nothing to it really. The basic rule is simple - listne, don't talk.
Thom
One of the best ways , is to listen to the radio for a few days, and you will learn from listning, the proper ways to talk, and probably the improper ways also. a lot of common sense, and no foul language. good luck and good fishin.
Den