Communications

Here you will find out information about the different types of communication we use.

The Lifeboat

The Lifeboat has an on-board ICOM Marine Transceiver IC-M56 VHF , which is connected to an ear piece in coxswain helmet and is also connected to a small speaker for the radio crew member to listen to.

There is also an IC-31 VHF handheld on-board as a back-up.

The Boathouse

The boathouse has two VHF radios, an ICOM Marine IC-M59 Euro VHF and a Kelvin Hughes HUSUN 65 VHF.

We also have a handheld VHF as a back up.

Telephone.

E-mail.

The Crew

Some crew have purchased their own handheld VHF and use them on callouts - IC-M1 Euro, but mostly the IC-M71.

2 crew members now have purchased their own Gecko Mk2 helmets, purchased a helmet speaker & boom unit that can be plugged into their own IC-71 HH VHF for better comms when they become a mobile unit.

Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat

Call Signs

Lifeboat - Sandown ILB

Operational Base - Sandown ILB boathouse

Land unit or transferred to other vessel (mobile) - Sandown ILB Mobile

What is VHF and how does it work?

The most popular method of communicating with other boats is via very high frequency (VHF) radio.

In technical terms this is similar to the way that commercial radio stations (BBC Radio one, Classic FM, IOW radio and so on) transmit, but unlike commercial radio stations it can receive as well and gives two way communication.

It has the advantage that equipment is relatively simple and can therefore be compact and low cost.

To ensure that maritime users do not cause interference for other radio users, a part of the radio spectrum has been allocated specifically to this group and to make operation as simple as possible frequencies have been put into numbered channels. For example, Channel 16 (usually abbreviated Ch16) actually refers to a frequency of 156.800MHz, although you rarely need to know that.

Because radio does not recognize geographic or political boundaries, and to ensure that boats traveling on international voyages can always communicate, the VHF marine band is the same all around the world. There are 55 international marine channels, a similar number of private channels (allocated on a local basis to commercial organisations) and some other unique national channels.
 

How far will your VHF work?

Many people ask us about the range (distance) over which a radio can communicate and it is the most popular question, with the hardest answer.

Radio travels as waves, similar to light. Like light it can be reflected, reduced or even stopped by other objects. A popular response to the range question is ‘if you can see it you can talk to it’ (known as line-of-sight) and this is generally a good guide.

Remember however that the radio signal comes from the radio aerial (not the radio itself) and therefore using a higher antenna allows the radio to ‘see’ further. The same rules apply for receiving a signal, although of course base station aerials are mounted on very high masts and have much higher power, which is another influencing factor.

A stronger, more powerful light can be seen further and more clearly and the same applies to radio. Power is measured in Watts (abbreviated ‘W’) and the higher the power the further the range, but it’s not quite that simple. Even a very low power can give some range.

Power can be used to improve the quality of signal and to overcome some obstacles.

All fixed sets have at least two power settings, 1W and 25W.

Because VHF travels in straight lines, like light, as you travel away from land the curvature of the Earth prevents the signal from reaching you.

This happens between 35-50 miles offshore.
 

UK licensing

All marine VHF, MF and HF radios require the user and the vessel to hold a relevant license.

The vessel’s license is like a car tax disc, but it is also the key to obtaining an MMSI number, which will uniquely identify your vessel and is a must have.

The user requires an operator’s VHF license.

Anyone without a license should not use a VHF radio.

If you are looking for advice on VHF licensing please visit the Ofcom site below for more details.