Radio checks - how many of you do it

[Stu Jackson]

Been a lot of chatter about this.

How many of you do it?

If so, why?

If not, why, too.

Added: Why do you think people incorrectly use Ch 16 when 9 or another working channel will do?

 

[kappykaplan]

I don't. My gear is in good shape and I don't see a need to conduct radio checks everytime I go out.

 

[Captnkev25]

I did my first one just the other day. More to test out SeaTows new automated radio checks than to test my radio lol.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Maybe 5 times a year to test the strength and range of my transmission out of about 40 "sorties" per year from the slip.

Less than two years ago, after going up the mast myself, I noticed that the housing for the connector to my VHF antenna coming out of the mast had cracked from weather and had become accessible to water. I had it replaced; naturally, I wanted to check the transmission after that, etc. So, there can be many reasons. Obviously, if you chat frequently on your VHF to your sailing buddies you do not need to check it often by request. Otherwise, it's good practice to make periodic checks, in my opinion. There being about 10,000 boaters with VHF radios in southern California, even at only 5% doing it once per year, there would be between one and two checks a day on Ch 16 (or where ever). It would be interesting to get Sea Tow's data on the check rate for the LA area.

 

[Sailm8]

Never have done it. No need since I can here the radio already, and when I use the radio to call other boats or marina's they can hear me. If it stopped working I would use my back up. Radio checks seem unnecessary. Kind of like blowing the horn in your car every time you go out and yelling out the window "Can anyone hear me?"

 

[Lee Coller]

Better question is -- how many of you answer radio checks on channel 16?

 

[zeehag]

dont do em, dont answer em. mine works or it doesnt. if it doesnt, i use a different one. why junk up the radio waves with bs.

 

[Kings Gambit]

So, if you attempt to hail somebody on VHF 16 and you do not get a reply after several tries, you go to your back-up radio and try. You still receive no reply, your conclusion is:

A) Both of my VHF's are working, but the person I'm hailing is out of range, or his unit is turned off, or he just does not hear me, or is too busy to answer.

B) Neither of my VHF's are working properly.

C) One is and one isn't working properly (although I do not know which one), but in any case the person I'm hailing is out of range (or one of the other choices above).

However, I'm not going to find out which of the above is most likely true b/c a request for a radio check is a BS operation?

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

I never used to do radio checked because I didn't want to bother anyone. Now, since Boat US or Towboat US or whoever it is that runs the automatic radio checks I have done a few. My goal was to see how far I could transmit with a handheld at 1 and 5 watts and my fixed mount at 1 watt and 25 watts of power. The HH at 1 watt could work at about 1 nm but no further. The HH at 5 watts worked to about 3 nm. I was disappointed in my fixed unit at 25 watts, I only have about 8 nm range, significantly less than I thought. The radio is fairly new, but the antenna and cable are very old and probably should be replaced.

Barry

 

[Ron20324]

So, if you attempt to hail somebody on VHF 16 and you do not get a reply after several tries...You still receive no reply, your conclusion is:...a request for a radio check is a BS operation?

No, you should conclude you are lucky you do NOT get a response to a radio check on 16, as it would most likely be in no certain terms tell you that 16 is for emergency use only. Radio checks should have previously been done on some other channel.

 

[jimmcgee]

I keep a handheld at the helm and I have a more powerful VHF at the nav station with a mast head antenna.

When we launch in the spring I'll carry the hand held to the far end of the marina and hail the wife on the boat using a working channel. If we can communicate loud and clear I'm good to go. Occasional on water conversations during the season confirm I'm still good. But realistically the handheld gets most of the use.

Jim

 

[Kings Gambit]

No, you should conclude you are lucky you do NOT get a response to a radio check on 16, as it would most likely be in no certain terms tell you that 16 is for emergency use only. Radio checks should have previously been done on some other channel.

The somebody I was referring to in my post is somebody that one wishes to communicate with, like a companion boat you're sailing with, etc., not somebody one wants to raise as a radio check. If by the negative contact you cannot decide A, B, or C, THEN, YOU MIGHT TRY A RADIO CHECK (ON CH 9).

Also, you might refer to zeehag's post right before mine; hence the category "threads."

 

[robertsapp]

Never have done it. No need since I can here the radio already, and when I use the radio to call other boats or marina's they can hear me. If it stopped working I would use my back up. Radio checks seem unnecessary. Kind of like blowing the horn in your car every time you go out and yelling out the window "Can anyone hear me?"

Everytime we get the runabout ready for use, I test the running lights, bilge pump, and yes, blow the horn to make sure it works, before launching the boat. Much rather fix it on dry land than find out in the middle of the bay that it doesn't work. I also make sure my trailer lights are working before leaving the driveway, rather than wait till I need them and step on the brakes whlle rolling down the highway.

So yes, we do radio checks every couple of weeks. It's just one more piece of gear that needs to be tested occasionallly to ensure it's there when you need it.