NZ's VHF Radio Resource Centre

When you look at a VHF radio, it might seem like a no-brainer to use. Just click on a button, talk over the mic and that’s it. But there’s a lot more than meets the eye. There are some important things to know about  how to use that VHF radio you just bought.

A lot of people have been subscribing to to the Free VHF Radio Usage Printout. We’ve come up with this printout to serve as a guide for first time VHF radio users… or even for those who have been using it for quite some time now but still need to know vital information.

This printout contains info that every NZ VHF radio user should know about. It has a list of channels being used in NZ and what these channels stand for. It also differentiates “Pan-Pan” and “Mayday”; when you should use one over the other.

Overall, the guide is something that can come in handy for when you are planning to take your radio out during a trip.

FREE VHF Radio Usage Printout

Got your Uniden Voyager wet and it's stopped working?

A lot of people have reported issues with the Uniden Voyager when getting submerged in water. Even though the radio is 'submersible' sometimes the water contact can jam the radio on a particular station or result in the phone letting out a constant tone.

The best solution is to spray some Inox down the jackpoint and give the radio a good shake....

If you are in the market for a new Uniden VHF Radio, you should know that the Uniden Voyager is no longer available and has been replaced by the MHS75.

The Uniden Voyager MHS75 VHF Radio has a full JIS8 waterproof rating. It also features a floating design, and is submersible for up to 30 minutes at five feet.

From www.callsigns.co.nz.

Boaties urged to check their VHF radios

Careless boaties are disrupting emergency distress channels and putting potential rescue operations at risk, Radio Spectrum Management warns.

Radio Spectrum Management has been alerted to multiple incidents of jammed-on microphones causing significant disruption to the VHF distress channel, particularly within the Tasman, Marlborough and Wellington regions.

Marine VHF channel 16 is the international distress and calling channel and is monitored around-the-clock by Maritime New Zealand’s coast station network.

Radio Spectrum Management compliance manager Chris Brennan says the problem has been particularly evident over long weekends.

On Waitangi weekend, coverage at Picton and Wellington stations was disrupted by continuous transmission on the distress channel from a vessel operating in the Endeavour Inlet area. The problem ceased as a helicopter despatched from Wellington arrived to search for the offending vessel but resumed again for a period the next day.

On Good Friday a similar incident occurred affecting the Farewell, Durville and Picton sites, again repeating the next day. Both instances are believed to be caused by jammed-on microphones.

“These transmissions greatly reduce the ability of the safety services and boaties to receive calls and distress messages. We urge boaties to check their VHF radios every time they turn them on. The transmit light should not be showing unless you have the microphone switch depressed, and there should be noise from the speaker when the squelch is reduced. A test call is recommended to verify correct operation.

“Microphones must always be carefully stowed when not in use, to ensure that the operating switch is not accidentally activated.”

In my previous blog post I promised to discuss what the JIS / IPX waterproofing scheme actually means. 

Firstly lets talk about the JIS Scale.

The JIS Scale

• JIS "0" No special protection
JIS "1" Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect (Drip resistant 1)
• JIS "2" Dripping water at an angle up to 15 degrees from vertical shall have no harmful effect (Drip resistant 2)
• JIS "3" Falling rain at an angle up to 60 degrees from vertical shall have no harmful effect (Rain resistant)
• JIS "4" Splashing water from any direction shall have no harmful effect (Splash resistant)<
• JIS "5" Direct jetting water from any direction shall have no harmful effect (Jet resistant)
JIS "6" Direct jetting water from any direction shall not enter the enclosure (Water tight)
• JIS "7" Water shall not enter the enclosure when it is immersed in water under defined conditions (Immersion resistant)
• JIS "8" The equipment is usable for continuous submersion in water under specified pressure (Submersible)

The IPX Rating

The IPX rating usually comes as IPX-7 or IPX-8.

• IPX-7 - water-proof, immersion resistant for 30 minutes under 1 meter (3 feet) of water. 
• IPX-8 - water-tight under immersion for 30 minutes under 2.6 meters (8 feet) of water.

So now you should understand just exactly how waterproof your VHF radio is!