How to use a Marine VHF RADIO [Capable Cruising Guides]

This week on Emily and Clark's Adventure, Emily explains how to use your marine VHF radio. This is an important piece of safety gear that everyone should be familiar with.

WATCH EMILY RUN A VHF RADIO NET

IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:16]. Basics
[00:47]. Who am I
[01:39]. What is VHF
[02:41]. Who Needs One
[04:00]. Controls
[07:14]. Microphone
[11:00]. Channels
[13:04]. Making a Call
[14:07]. Special Words
[17:07]. Sample Call
[18:45]. Emergencies
[21:24]. Teach Crew
[22:44]. Review
[23:44]. Closing

DOWNLOAD OUR VHF RADIO CHEAT SHEET

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[nyiz]

I've been in "radio" for 40 years. You did an excellent job explaining.

[dudispudis]

Perfect summary of an essential skill when sailing. Hits all the basics. Well done, Emily.

[matthewcosgrove]

Emily, I've watched a lot of YouTube videos over the years and many are mediocre at best. Your VHF Instructional video was so well done that it was a pleasure to watch in its entirety. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful Life!

[stanleybest]

You explained the boat radio better than those coast guard guys

[yepiratesworkshop]

Well done. This should be mandatory watching before anyone can buy a VHF radio. There are so many out there that think they're kids with grandpa's C.B.!

[stephendisney]

One of the best VHF guides on the web!

[Laxlife]

Nicely done Emily. This will be saved as a recommended training reference. Well organized and clearly explained. The quizzes are a great idea too. Much appreciated. Keep ‘em coming!

[skesno]

Love this channel. The best channel for practical, real life things you will experience out sailing.

[Benztv]

Great job Emily! I'm a private pilot and Amateur radio operator(Ham)and understand each radio type having their own language. There are similarities and differences in all of them. I can say that after watching your video... I learned something new! Thanks!

[ChristianBernieri]

Really nice video. Clear and comprehensive.

Just a quick note: if you have certain flags (I.e. Italian) you have to gain a licence a in order to operate with vhf. Sometime you have to pass an exam (it depends on the kind of vhf installed too)

Fixed vhf are bound to a specific vessel and can’t be removed or changed freely. You have to record on your boat official papers.

Last: MMSI number and DSC are advanced topics but are most interesting and useful.

Bye and thank you

[scottkrebs]

+1 for Emily's run through the basics, very nicely done! Another +1 for the proposed "VHF radio from an engineering perspective" à la Clark.

[ThunderBroomPilot]

You are a teacher or would be a great one. This is how informational videos should be put together. Thank you for making this video.

[scottabeers]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I work on a passenger ferry and training new deckhands on the use of the VHF (and other radios) is a common topic. Your video has given me some ideas for training and motivated me to make our own video. In the mean-time I will point them at your video.

A side note of trivia. You describe marine channels as semi-duplex. SOME marine channels are in-fact semi-duplex however...most of them are actually simplex. Here are 3 different ways channels are used/described.

Simplex-is a single frequency where both stations(boats) talk and listen on the same frequency using a transceiver. A transceiver is a communication device (radio) that both transmits AND receives. Quite often the transmitter and receiver actually shares components and it CANNOT talk and listen at the same time.

Semi-duplex- a system where each station talks and listens on different frequencies yet the equipment still potentially shares some pieces and typically can only transmit OR receive due to the design of the radio or by the way it is used.
Full Duplex- is a radio that has an independent transmitter and an independent receiver. When you operate this type of station on separate transmit and receive frequencies it is possible for both stations to be able to talk AND receive at the same time. This might be useful if a need arises where you might want the other station to hear you in the middle of their transmission. This is how a telephone works. Both people can talk AND listen at the same time.

Example of this in marine VHF radios marine channel 22 VS marine channel 22A. (I wont get into the US vs International channel usage for now as this is just an example but...)
Marine channel 22 is a semi duplex channel where you receive on frequency 157.100 and transmit on 161.700
Whereas...
Channel 22A you both transmit and receive on frequency 157.100

In regards to actual usage...semi-duplex and simplex are very similar.

Again...thank you so much for making this video.
Scott

[jameshoiby]

This is a FANTASTIC tutorial. I'm a long-time flight instructor getting into sailing and I've been frustrated with other tutorials that basically say why you should have a radio, what the PTT is, and mention channel 16, then end it there. Subscribed!

[ivanjames]

Would love a video about building a better radio!!!

[chipfornaris]

I’m a Ham operator and use vhf/uhf & hf. You did a great job showing all the basics! Good for you.

[antonditt]

I love you technical vids and of course the one coming up about the Clark powered radio!

[Snookbite]

Kara and I just watched this. Great video for her to learn the basics. Awesome job as always you two

[davep]

Excellent job! I'm an EMCOMM officer, ham & Skywarn and you covered all the high points quite nicely. You might also hear me on the Maritime Mobile Service Net on 20 meters (14.300)
Safe boating

[acromegla]

Definitely want to see a vid from Clark on powering the radio!