VHF marine

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(VHF Marine Channels (USA)/International Simplex)
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|Guard Band For Channel 16 156.800 MHz
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|Guard Band For Channel 16 156.800 MHz - NOT ALLOCATED OR USED IN USA
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|156.825 MHz
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|Guard Band For Channel 16 156.800 MHz
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|Guard Band For Channel 16 156.800 MHz - NOT ALLOCATED OR USED IN USA
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Revision as of 16:52, 9 August 2018

VHF Marine Band, marine radio, VHF radio, or even "VHF marine CB" to some people. Worldwide allocation 156-162 MHz. Several country-specific variations. In some parts of the USA, parts of the marine band is allocated to other services (either on a primary or secondary basis). Mixture of simplex and half-duplex (split-channel) allocations. Some channels used as repeaters in certain countries (Australia, New Zealand), as links to landline telephone system (defunct now) or crossband to other marine allocations such as 27 MHz or HF.

Like many other VHF / UHF Radio services, the VHF marine band is heavily pirated (or bootlegged) for non-marine land mobile purposes. It is especially popular with hunters, truckers, logging companies and delivery services. While similar services such as plain old CB, MURS, FRS and GMRS exist to fill these needs, the VHF marine band continues to suffer from misuse, especially away from water where enforcement is difficult. So common is VHF marine usage by hunters that it has earned the nickname "The Bambi Band".

Internationally, the VHF marine band is set up for either single frequency (simplex) or split-frequency (duplex). On duplex channels, the higher side is the "B" channel, the lower/simplex channel is the "A" channel. VHF marine radios set to "USA mode" operate in simplex mode only, making all channels "A". One will often hear a channel referred to in this manner "channel 22A" for example, simply means channel 22, simplex.

Channels 24-28 and 84-87 were allocated for "coast station" (radiotelephone) services but these are no longer used. The high side ("B" channel) of the duplex pairs for these channels (161.800 - 162.000 MHz) have been re-allocated to other services. The "A" (or low side) channels are now used as simplex channels. 24-28 and 84-87 are officially still allocated to duplex radiotelephone and VHF Digital Small Message Service data services but are heavily used for analog voice communications, usually non-commercial in nature.

Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) is used for Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and voice communications are not permitted.

156.800 MHz - VHF marine channel 16, is the international VHF distress, safety, and calling channel.

VHF marine radio frequency bands (international allocation)

156.000-157.425 MHz Simplex/Duplex on certain channels/in certain areas 160.600-162.025 MHz Duplex 161.975 Automatic Identification System (AIS) 162.025 Automatic Identification System (AIS)

VHF Marine Channels (USA)/International Simplex

Channel Frequency Purpose/Use (USA)
01 156.050 MHz VTS/Port Ops/Commercial, New Orleans/Lower Mississippi River area only
02 156.100 MHz Not allocated for marine use in the United States
03 156.150 MHz Not allocated for marine use in the United States
04 156.200 MHz Not allocated for marine use in the United States
05 156.250 MHz VTS/Port Ops/Commercial, Houston, Seattle, and New Orleans/Lower Mississippi River areas only
06 156.300 MHz Intership Safety
07 156.350 MHz Commercial
08 156.400 MHz Commercial (Intership only)
09 156.450 MHz Boater Calling (Commercial/Non-Commercial)
10 156.500 MHz Commercial
11 156.550 MHz Commercial, VTS in certain areas
12 156.600 MHz Port Ops, VTS in certain areas
13 156.650 MHz Bridge-to-bridge/Intership Navigation Safety
14 156.700 MHz Port Ops, VTS in certain areas
15 156.750 MHz Environmental (Receive Only), US Government Use, Class C EPIRBs
16 156.800 MHz International Distress, Safety and Calling. USCG, coast stations, and ships maintain watch on this channel
17 156.850 MHz State and/or Local Government Maritime Control
18 156.900 MHz Commercial
19 156.950 MHz Commercial
20 157.000 MHz Port Ops
21 157.050 MHz US Coast Guard Only
22 157.100 MHz US Coast Guard Liaison and Safety Information Broadcasts
23 157.150 MHz US Coast Guard Only
24 157.200 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
25 157.250 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
26 157.300 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
27 157.350 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
28 157.400 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
60 156.025 MHz Not allocated for marine use in the United States
61 156.075 MHz Not allocated for marine use in the United States
62 156.125 MHz Not allocated for marine use in the United States
63 156.175 MHz VTS/Port Ops/Commercial, New Orleans/Lower Mississippi River area only
64 156.225 MHz Not allocated for marine use in the United States
65 156.275 MHz Port Ops
66 156.325 MHz Port Ops
67 156.375 MHz Commercial (Intership Only)
68 156.425 MHz Non-Commercial, Recreational Boaters
69 156.475 MHz Non-Commercial, Recreational Boaters
70 156.525 MHz DSC (No voice transmissions permitted)
71 156.575 MHz Non-Commercial, Recreational Boaters
72 156.625 MHz Non-Commercial (Intership Only), Recreational Boaters
73 156.675 MHz Port Ops
74 156.725 MHz Port Ops
75 156.775 MHz Guard Band For Channel 16 156.800 MHz - NOT ALLOCATED OR USED IN USA
76 156.825 MHz Guard Band For Channel 16 156.800 MHz - NOT ALLOCATED OR USED IN USA
77 156.875 MHz Port Ops (Intership Only)
78 156.925 MHz Non-Commercial, Recreational Boaters
79 156.975 MHz Commercial. Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only.
80 157.025 MHz Commercial. Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only.
81 157.075 MHz US Coast Guard/US Government Only/Environmental Protection
82 157.125 MHz US Coast Guard Only
83 157.175 MHz US Coast Guard Only
84 157.225 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
85 157.275 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
86 157.325 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
87 157.375 MHz VHF Digital Small Message Services (VDSMS), Analog Voice Also Permitted
88 157.425 MHz Commercial/Non-Commercial (Intership Only), Recreational Boaters
AIS 1 161.975 MHz Automatic Identification System (AIS Channel 1/Channel 87B)
AIS 2 162.025 MHz Automatic Identification System (AIS Channel 2/Channel 88B)
WX 1 162.400 MHz NOAA Weather Radio (Receive Only)
WX 2 162.425 MHz NOAA Weather Radio (Receive Only)
WX 3 162.450 MHz NOAA Weather Radio (Receive Only)
WX 4 162.475 MHz NOAA Weather Radio (Receive Only)
WX 5 162.500 MHz NOAA Weather Radio (Receive Only)
WX 6 162.525 MHz NOAA Weather Radio (Receive Only)
WX 7 162.550 MHz NOAA Weather Radio (Receive Only)



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