I am in San Diego. Using channel 9, I ask for a "radio check" plus giving my location and almost never get a reply. Any suggestions? Different channel? Different type of request. Any help appreciated.
suggestion for getting reply for "radio check"
- Thread starter tadd5181
- Start date
In my area (Tampa) it's channel 27, and is sponsored by SeaTow or Towboat US (can't remember which). "Radio check, radio check, radio check, this is _______" is what I get played back. Very helpful when I am instructing for our club's sailing school, and have to check 12 handhelds.
Radio checks are strictly prohibited on 16, which is for hailing and emergencies only.
Unless you're on Wateree Lake in SC. Then you are basically expected to do everything on 16. Including talk about who won the bass tournament. And which boat has the hottest women on it.
Get a friend with a working radio.
Try yours out.
If he hears you fine, great. You never have to do a radio check ever again.
Radios rarely fail. I have a 30 year old one on my boat, works fine. I stopped doing the stupid radio check thing years ago. I've replaced a few handhelds over the years, but my Standard Horizon has been working for 8 years now.
Try yours out.
If he hears you fine, great. You never have to do a radio check ever again.
Radios rarely fail. I have a 30 year old one on my boat, works fine. I stopped doing the stupid radio check thing years ago. I've replaced a few handhelds over the years, but my Standard Horizon has been working for 8 years now.
Automated on 27 in San Diego IIRC.
Most often heard Coast Guard communication around here on 16: "Channel 16 is not to be used for radio checks. Use 27 or 9."
Of course, if the cosasties tell you that, your radio was working fine, which makes 16 a great channel to get a radio check on... (it's still wrong... use 27, 9, or a buddy in another boat)
Most often heard Coast Guard communication around here on 16: "Channel 16 is not to be used for radio checks. Use 27 or 9."
Of course, if the cosasties tell you that, your radio was working fine, which makes 16 a great channel to get a radio check on... (it's still wrong... use 27, 9, or a buddy in another boat)
If no one responds on Ch 9 for "radio check", which is the usual, and I'm too far from the auto-check tower, which is most of the time, I hail the nearest harbor master on the harbor working channel, usually either VHF Ch 12 or 9, and request the conditions at the harbor entrance. I do this only two or three times a year when I'm out of the harbor, usually to confirm that my transmission range is at least 16 to 20 n.mi., and/or when sea conditions are less than perfect. I suppose another thing one might do is to try to hail a transmitting vessel on a working channel at the end of his ongoing exchange with another vessel, and ask to confirm the strength of your transmission.
Last edited:
The radios per se may not fail, but the antenna connection near the mast head can become corroded and cause a loss of transmitting power (audible range). I think it's prudent to confirm the transmitting power periodically. It's not too useful in that regard to chat with a guy at the end of the gangway, or in a nearby slip, responding to you with a hand-held VHF or even with his boat's VHF, and deem it a "radio check."
Last edited:
When I was on my mini cruise this weekend, I kept hearing guys on 16 asking for radio checks. Like @jeepbluetj said, each time they would be admonished by the CG in LA or San Diego. Then I got to thinking. The CG should ignore those guys just because when the CG replies, they confirm the other guys radio is working. Maybe a prerecorded message every 15 minutes saying no radio checks allowed on 16.
Oceanside used to have one of those automated systems on 27 but not any more. CGAux in Oceanside makes periodic announcements on 16 to use channel 9 for radio checks and they monitor that channel.
Oceanside used to have one of those automated systems on 27 but not any more. CGAux in Oceanside makes periodic announcements on 16 to use channel 9 for radio checks and they monitor that channel.
As mentioned above, modern radios rarely fail, but the antenna connections can. If the radio powers up and receives, it works. I call my marinas office for a check during spring commissioning, and through the season if I can hear other stations that appear to be a good distance away I know I'm fine. The weather channels are good for this, you can identify where they are so you know what the range is. If you can hear one from 50-75 away you know the antennas good. We don't have those everywhere but it works well here on the Lakes.
Don't check your radio with another boat in your same marina, it may seem like it is working fine but that may be all the distance it is carrying.
I've been on a boat (not mine) where the radio could receive but not transmit. I don't remember now the cause, but I do remember how puzzled people were at the time over not being able to successfully hail a vessel not far distant that could clearly be heard.
No so true.
Antennas work differently in receive vs transmit. A failing ground on the antenna can result in a setup that receives fine, but cannot send for crap.