YachtCom the yacht communications resource
on the web
 Marine VHF is the best way of summoning help. You can contact
the coastguard upto 50 miles off-shore and talk to other yachts upto 15 to 20
miles on the open sea. Yachtsmen wishing to communicate with each other or the
coastguard over a greater distance use
SSB. VHF
range is governed by the height of the antenna, the height the antenna the
greater the range. Out on the open sea the curvature of the earth restricts the
range. On this page is a list of VHF international channels and the
usage.
| |
Calling
channel
(distress working) |
Navigation
& Safty
(Bridge to Bridge) |
|
Digital
Selective Calling
DSC |
| VHF channel |
16 |
13 |
|
70 |
| Frequency |
156.800MHz |
156.650MHz |
|
156.525MHz |
Primary channels
| VHF
channel |
06 |
08 |
72 |
77 |
|
|
| Frequency |
156.300MHz |
156.400MHz |
156.625MHz |
156.875MHz |
|
|
Secondary channels (shared)
| VHF
channel |
09 |
10 |
15 |
17 |
67 |
73 |
| Frequency |
156.450MHz |
156.500MHz |
156.750MHz |
156.850MHz |
156.375MHz |
156.675MHz |
Channels (simplex)
| VHF
channel |
11 |
12 |
14 |
68 |
71 |
74 |
| Frequency |
156.550MHz |
156.600MHz |
156.700MHz |
156.425MHz |
156.575MHz |
156.725MHz |
Channels (duplex)
| VHF
channel |
01 |
02 |
03 |
04 |
05 |
07 |
| Ship
transmit |
156.050MHz |
156.100MHz |
156.150MHz |
156.200MHz |
156.275MHz |
156.350MHz |
| Shore
transmit |
160.650MHz |
160.700MHz |
160.750MHz |
160.800MHz |
160.850MHz |
160.950MHz |
Channels (duplex)
| VHF channel |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
|
| Ship transmit |
156.900MHz |
156.950MHz |
157.000MHz |
157.050MHz |
157.100MHz |
|
| Coast transmit |
161.500MHz |
161.550MHz |
161.600MHz |
161.650MHz |
161.700MHz |
|
Channels (duplex)
| VHF channel |
78 |
79 |
80 |
81 |
82 |
84 |
| Ship transmit |
156.925MHz |
156.975MHz |
157.025MHz |
157.075MHz |
157.125MHz |
157.225MHz |
| Coast transmit |
161.525MHz |
161.575MHz |
161.625MHz |
161.675MHz |
161.725MHz |
161.825MHz |
Channels (duplex)
| VHF
Channel |
01 |
02 |
03 |
04 |
05 |
07 |
| Ship
transmit |
156.050MHz |
156.100MHz |
156.150MHz |
156.200MHz |
156.275MHz |
156.350MHz |
| Coast
transmit |
160.650MHz |
160.700MHz |
160.750MHz |
160.800MHz |
160.850MHz |
160.950MHz |
Channels (duplex)
| VHF Channel |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
|
| Ship transmit |
157.150MHz |
157.200MHz |
157.250MHz |
157.300MHz |
157.350MHz |
157.400MHz |
|
| Coast transmit |
161.750MHz |
161.800MHz |
161.850MHz |
161.900MHz |
161.950MHz |
161.200MHz |
|
Channels (duplex)
| VHF Channel |
60 |
61 |
62 |
63 |
64 |
65 |
66 |
| Ship transmit |
156.025MHz |
156.075MHz |
156.125MHz |
156.175MHz |
156.225MHz |
156.275MHz |
156.325MHz |
| Coast transmit |
160.625MHz |
160.675MHz |
160.725MHz |
160.775MHz |
160.825MHz |
160.875MHz |
160.925MHz |
Channels (duplex)
| VHF Channel |
78 |
81 |
82 |
83 |
84 |
85 |
86 |
| Ship transmit |
156.925MHz |
157.075MHz |
157.125MHz |
157.175MHz |
157.225MHz |
157.275MHz |
157.325MHz |
| Coast transmit |
161.525MHz |
161.675MHz |
161.725MHz |
161.775MHz |
161.825MHz |
161.875MHz |
161.925MHz |
Working channels (simplex)
| |
Working |
Secondary
|
Secondary |
Private |
| VHF channel |
67 |
10 |
73 |
0 |
| Frequency |
156.375MHz |
156.500MHz |
156.675MHz |
156.000MHz |
Working channels (duplex) used for Maritime Safety
Information broadcasts
| VHF channel |
23 |
84 |
86 |
|
| MHCG Receive |
157.150MHz |
157.225MHz |
156.675MHz |
|
| MHCG Transmit |
161.750MHz |
161.825MHz |
161.925MHz |
|
| VHF channel |
80 |
37 (M) |
M2 |
|
| |
Marina |
Yacht
Club/Marina |
Yacht
Club |
|
| Receive |
157.025MHz |
157.850MHz |
161.425MHz |
|
| Transmit |
161.625MHz |
157.850MHz |
161.425MHz |
|
International
VHF Channels |
Transmitting Frequencies (MHz) |
Transmitting Frequencies (MHz) |
|
Intership |
Port Operations
and Ship Movement |
Public
correspondence |
| |
Ship
Stations |
Coast
Stations |
|
|
|
|
| 0 |
156.000 |
156.000 |
Private |
|
Used
by UK HM Coastguard |
| 1 |
156.050 |
160.650 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 2 |
156.100 |
160.700 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 3 |
156.150 |
160.750 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 4 |
156.200 |
160.800 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 5 |
156.250 |
160.850 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 6 |
156.300 |
157.300 |
simplex |
intership |
|
|
| 7 |
156.350 |
160.950 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 8 |
156.400 |
157.400 |
simplex |
intership |
|
|
| 9 |
156.450 |
156.450 |
simplex |
intership |
x |
|
| 10 |
156.500 |
156.500 |
simplex |
intership |
x |
|
| 11 |
156.550 |
156.550 |
simplex |
|
x |
|
| 12 |
156.600 |
156.600 |
simplex |
|
x |
|
| 13 |
156.650 |
156.650 |
simplex |
intership |
x |
|
| 14 |
156.700 |
156.700 |
simplex |
|
x |
|
| 15 |
156.750 |
156.750 |
simplex |
intership |
x |
|
| 16 |
156.800 |
156.800 |
simplex |
DISTRESS, SAFETY AND CALLING |
| 17 |
156.850 |
156.850 |
simplex |
intership |
x |
|
| 18 |
156.900 |
161.500 |
duplex |
|
x |
|
| 19 |
156.950 |
161.550 |
duplex |
|
x |
|
| 20 |
157.000 |
161.600 |
duplex |
|
x |
|
| 21 |
157.050 |
161.650 |
duplex |
|
x |
|
| 22 |
157.100 |
161.700 |
duplex |
|
x |
|
| 23 |
157.150 |
161.750 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 24 |
157.200 |
161.800 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 25 |
157.250 |
161.850 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 26 |
157.300 |
161.900 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 27 |
157.350 |
161.950 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 28 |
157.400 |
162.000 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 29 to
36 |
|
|
private |
|
|
|
| 37
(M) |
157.850 |
157.850 |
private |
Used by UK Marines and Yacht Clubs |
| 38 to
59 |
|
|
private |
|
|
|
| 60 |
156.025 |
160.625 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 61 |
156.075 |
160.675 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 62 |
156.125 |
160.725 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 63 |
156.175 |
160.775 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 64 |
156.225 |
160.825 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 65 |
156.275 |
160.875 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 66 |
156.325 |
160.925 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 67 |
156.375 |
156.375 |
simplex |
inteship |
UK
Coastguard |
| 68 |
156.425 |
156.425 |
simplex |
|
X |
|
| 69 |
156.475 |
156.475 |
simplex |
intership |
x |
|
| 70 |
156.525 |
156.525 |
smiplex |
|
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) |
| 71 |
156.575 |
156.575 |
simplex |
|
x |
|
| 72 |
156.625 |
156.625 |
simplex |
intership |
|
|
| 73 |
156.675 |
156.675 |
simplex |
intership |
x |
|
| 74 |
156.725 |
156.725 |
simplex |
|
x |
|
| 75 |
156.775 |
156.775 |
simplex |
|
x |
|
| 76 |
156.825 |
156.825 |
simplex |
|
x |
|
| 77 |
156.875 |
156.875 |
simplex |
intership |
|
|
| 78 |
156.925 |
161.525 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 79 |
156.975 |
161.575 |
duplex |
|
x |
|
| 80 |
157.025 |
161.625 |
duplex |
|
UK Marinas |
|
| 81 |
157.075 |
161.675 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 82 |
157.125 |
161.725 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 83 |
157.175 |
161.775 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 84 |
157.225 |
161.825 |
duplex |
|
x |
x |
| 85 |
157.275 |
161.875 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 86 |
157.325 |
161.925 |
duplex |
|
|
x |
| 87 |
157.375 |
157.375 |
simplex |
|
|
x |
| 88 |
157.425 |
157.425 |
simplex |
|
|
x |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| M2 |
161.425 |
161.425 |
private |
|
Used
by UK Marinas and Yacht Clubs |
| ASI
1 |
162.025 |
162.025 |
simplex |
|
Automatic Ship Identification (data) |
| ASI
2 |
161.975 |
161.975 |
simplex |
|
Automatic Ship Identification (data) |
| Primary intership working channels
06, 08, 72, 77 |
UK Coastguard use channels 67, 10,
73, 23, 84, 86 |
| M1 & M2 used by UK Yacht Clubs |
UK Marinas use channel 80 or 37 |
| |
|
The following channels are simplex in
the USA:
1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 7A, 18A, 19A, 20A, 21A, 22A, 23A, 60A, 61A,
62A, 63A, 64A, 65A, 66A, 78A, 79A, 80A, 81A, 82A, 83A, 86A, 88A |
[TOP of PAGE] |
GMDSS
Long Range
Certificate The Long Range Certificate is a higher level
certificate to the Short Range Certificate and allows you to operate on any
marine MF/HF/VHF frequency/channel and Inmarsat satellite from on-board your
yacht. More information
Enquiries & Enrolment
Telephone bookings are welcome between the hours of 09:30 to 17:30
Monday to Friday. Payment may be made over the phone by all major
credit and debit cards except American Express.
Phone: 01489856558100
From overseas phone:
+ 44 .81489856558100 
SailCom Marine SailCom
Marine are leading suppliers of marine HF SSB communications equipment
including ICOM and SCS pactor SSB modems.
SailCom Marine
SailCom Marine SailCom
Marine are leading suppliers of marine HF SSB communications equipment
including ICOM and SCS pactor SSB modems.
SailCom Marine
GMDSS
Long Range
Certificate The Long Range Certificate is a higher level
certificate to the Short Range Certificate and allows you to operate on any
marine MF/HF/VHF frequency/channel and Inmarsat satellite from on-board your
yacht. More information
GMDSS
Short Range Certificate This is a 1
day RYA VHF marine radio course. On completion you will be a competent
radio operator and know the correct procedure for distress, urgency, safety by
means of marine VHF DSC radio. More information
RYA
Radar Certificate This is a 1 day RYA course. International
regulations state that if you have radar on board your yacht, you must know how
to use it. This 1 day RYA radar course will teach you how to get the best out
of your radar unit. More information
|