VHF RADIO COURSE (BOATUS)

Question 1

Low output power:

• ____ watts
• Preferred for ____ contact
• Mandatory for Ch. ____

Answer 1

• 1
• Initial
• 13

Question 2

High out power:

• Fixed mount radio: ____ watts
• Handheld: ____ watts

Answer 2

• 25
• 5-6

Question 3

There are approximately how many total VHF channels?

Answer 3

50

Question 4

VIEW: Channels are allocated by use

Answer 4

Question 5

What are the steps to make a routine call?

Answer 5

Question 6

VIEW: Example of routine call

Answer 6

• Island girl Island girl Island girl, Seamist, Island girl this is Seamist, over.

– Seamist, this is Island girl, switch to channel 68, over.

• Seamist on channel 68, meet me at marker 21 in 5 minutes, over.

– This is Island girl, roger. We’ll meet you at marker 21 in 5 minutes, switching back to 16, out.

• Seamist switching back to 16, out.

Question 7

VIEW: Example of MAYDAY distress call

Answer 7

• MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is sailboat Windsong, MAYDAY this is Windsong, over.

– Vessel Windsong, this is Coast Guard, what is the nature of your distress? over.

• This is sailboat Windsong, we are taking on water, estimated float time 2 hours, we are located at 41 degrees 24.1 minutes north, 70 degrees 57.2 minutes west, we have 4 people on board all wearing life jackets, we are a 28-foot sailboat, white with blue trim, over.

– Sailboat Windsong, this is Coast Guard, I read your position as 41 degrees 24.1 minutes north, 70 degrees 57.2 minutes west, please confirm position, the Coast Guard vessel is on the way to provide assistance, anticipated arrival 30 minutes, we will maintain regular contact until vessel arrives, contact you again in 10 minutes, over.

• Coast Guard, this is Windsong, you have our correct position, I will wait for your next call unless conditions change, Windsong standing by on 16, out.

Question 8

VIEW: Example of PAN-PAN distress call

Answer 8

• PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, this is Angler, Angler, Angler, PAN-PAN, Angler, over.

– Angler, this is Coast Guard Cortez, over.

• Coast Guard, Angler, we are taking on water, our pump seems to be keeping up with the flow, my position is latitude 41 degrees 20.6 minutes north, longitude 71 degrees 20.5 minutes west, approximately 7 miles south of Beaver Tail lighthouse. We are heading north towards Newport Harbor at 5 knots. Can you send a vessel to meet us in case we need assistance? over.

– Angler, what is the description of your boat? over.

• Coast Guard, we are a white 28-foot Whaler Outrage, over.

– Angler, a vessel is headed your way, standby on channel 16, call if your situation changes, otherwise we’ll contact you again in 10 minutes. Coast Guard out.

Question 9

View: Example of a SECURITE call

Answer 9

• SECURITAY, SECURITAY, SECURITAY, this is Impulse, Impulse, Impulse, SECURITAY, Impulse, there are floating pilings in the water falling from a barge at position latitude 38 degrees 26 minutes north, longitude 86 degrees 35 minutes west, proceed with extreme caution in this area, Impulse out.

Question 10

What do the following 10 Procedural Words convey?

Answer 10

1. This is - Used to identify your vessel
2. Over - Means “I’m turning the conversation over to you”
3. Say again - Means “Please repeat what you just said”
4. Correction - Means “I’m repeating it correctly this time” or “I’m correcting the mistake I just made”
5. Affirmative - Means “yes, you are correct”
6. Roger - Means “I understand what you said”
7. Stand-by - Means “Wait for me to get back to you”
8. Negative - Means “I disagree with what you said”
9. Wilco - Means “I understand what you said and will comply”
10. Out - Means “I am done talking and am ending the conversation”

Question 11

Letters are mentioned as?

Answer 11

The phonetic alphabet

Question 12

Numbers are mentioned as?

Answer 12

A series of single digits

Question 13

What are the 4 steps taken in making a Designated Distress Call?

Answer 13

Question 14

How do you make an Undesignated Distress Call?

Answer 14

Question 15

What are the 6 steps taken in making a (DSC) Safety or Urgency call?

Answer 15

1. Press ‘Menu’
2. Select ‘DSC Calls’
3. Select ‘All Ships Call’
4. Select type of call (Safety/Urgency)
5. Press ‘Call’ and your call is initiated
6. Press ‘Push to Talk’ button and deliver your message

Question 16

VIEW: Making DSC Routine Calls or Group Calls

Answer 16

Question 17

What are the 6 steps taken in making a (DSC) Routine Call?

Answer 17

1. Press ‘Menu’
2. Select ‘DSC Calls’
3. Select ‘Individual Call’
4. Screen will show the list of all MMSI numbers you have put into the radio’s directory. Select the boat you wish to call.
5. Then, select the channel you wish to converse on (e.g. 72).
6. Lastly, hit the CALL button. When the party you are calling presses their PTT button, tone (not the emergency tone) is issued and you can begin the conversation.