Practical Sailorvideo
Marine VHF Radio - What You Need to Know
20 July 2024 · 8 min · 208K views
What this video covers
Marine VHF radio operation, DSC, AIS, and MMSI registration are covered in a single tutorial aimed at recreational boaters. Basic VHF protocol calls for hailing on channel 16, then moving to a working channel — Tim recommends channel 68 — and keeping transmissions short because all nearby stations hear every word.Watch DSC (Digital Selective Calling) requires registering an MMSI number, programming it into a DSC-equipped radio, and ideally connecting the radio to a GPS or chartplotter so a single distress button press broadcasts the vessel's identity and exact position to the Coast Guard's Rescue 21 direction-finding network.1:49 Without GPS integration, the distress signal still transmits MMSI data but no coordinates.3:09 AIS, often built into higher-end VHF radios, broadcasts and receives vessel identity, position, course, speed, and destination at roughly 40 nautical miles; satellite AIS extends that globally.4:18 DSC also supports direct digital calls to a specific MMSI, functioning like a pager for a buddy boat.3:44 Tim recounts towing a disabled vessel with a dead handheld radio for an hour at six knots until the Coast Guard arrived, illustrating how a Coast Guard relay on powerful equipment can reach vessels that cannot be heard locally.7:51 Connecting a VHF to GPS and registering an MMSI are the minimum upgrades that meaningfully improve rescue response.
More from Practical Sailor
From Practical Sailor — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.