Sea Tow Charleston now provides automated VHF radio checks on channel 27. All you need to do is go the channel 27 and do a radio check as you normally would do on channel 16. The system has several advantages in that you will be able to hear what you and your radio sounds like, its 24/7, and it frees up alot of the traffic on channel 16.
We will continue to provide “live” radio checks on channel 16 as usual. The system is on our shorter tower and is designed for the harbor and surrounding area, but if you get an automated radio check from any distance, shoot me a email and let me know.
And of course if you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line or phone us.
Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend!
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949
Sea School Charleston
843-747-1000
www.seatow.com
www.seaschool.com
Cool! So I will say “radio check on two seven” and I will hear myself a few seconds later?
Yes you will…
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949
Sea School Charleston
843-747-1000
www.seatow.com
www.seaschool.com
Will try it out this weekend Thanks
I have a new vhf and ant.seams to send but not receive. Who around charleston works on them?
scott
key west 189FS
A little solder wire on the ends of your antenna wire will prob. fix the problem,it worked wonders for mine…Better check with someone with alot more experience just to be safe.
bigfisher. if you can get someone who has an SWR meter, you can check your output and signal loss thru the antenna…radio should be putting out 25watts…are you not hearing anything over the radio?
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949
Sea School Charleston
843-747-1000
www.seatow.com
www.seaschool.com
Mike,
Thanks for the info. I have a new radio so I tried the automated radio check last weekend in the harbor and again about 15 miles out and it worked great. Tried it later 50 miles out just to see if by chance my call would transmit that far but no dice.
If I had tried the longer range call on 16 do you think it may have reached your taller tower? My antenna is and 8 foot fiberglass on top of the t-top on a 23 cc. so maybe 10-12 feet above waterline?
Our high site tower is at 286ft so you would have reached that one with no problem…spoke with a boat Sunday that was at 68nm out and he was clear as a bell!
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949
Sea School Charleston
843-747-1000
www.seatow.com
www.seaschool.com
Thanks for the help all. Mike, I have heard the Coast Guard on it. It might just be a bad ant. short because it seams to work sometimes. I also take it out of the boat After each trip so might just not be getting a good hook up with the Ant. I will be down this weekend I am going to try and get it worked out. Thanks
scott
key west 189FS
quote:
Originally posted by mike7653
Our high site tower is at 286ft so you would have reached that one with no problem…spoke with a boat Sunday that was at 68nm out and he was clear as a bell!
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
843-881-8949
Sea School Charleston
843-747-1000
www.seatow.com
www.seaschool.com
Thanks for the info. I will try that next time. Comforting to know.
That’s a cool service and idea, Mike. Thanks.
Bigfisher,
The first thing I’d do in trouble shooting that particular problem is put a new terminal on the end of the antenna cable. The tap ones work better than people say, but the solder ones are obviously the best (but only for people who actually know how to solder properly by heating both components to application temperature before applying the solder; the tap ones are actually better for those who don’t know how to solder properly because bad–“cold”–solder joints are no good on the ocean).
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Thanks gotcha, That sounds like where my problem could be. I have little EXP. with solder. I think I will pick up a tap and try that.
scott
key west 189FS
That is cool, saw such a system in action last month down in Hernando Beach, FL. They have an awesome radio system down there. Actually heard transmissions out of Pensacola all the way down to just north of Tampa/St. Pete.
Thanks for providing the service.