A Maritime Technological Wonder

There are many Maritime VHF-Rs, they come in all shapes and sizes, and each serves a different purpose slightly. One of the reasons for the high diversity in the design of VHF-R is because in most cases, VHF-R makers must trade between transmission power and the ability to pick up frequencies. For example, a police VHF-R must be suited to be able to, both, transmit through objects, such as buildings, and pick up frequencies through such, whereas waterfront VHF-Rs do not need to transmit through lots of buildings. The odds are that most, if not all, of us, have either seen, interacted with or heard a handheld VHF-R. This is because they are a very fast and reliable way to share information within a network, people within a frequency. One of the most common handheld VHF transmitters is the Standard Horizon HX380. This particular model is widely used in the waterfronts industry, due to this fact, they are suited to transmit over open water and not optimized to transmittravel through objects. If the user tries to use this model in a crowded city, such as Manhattan, their transmission will only go as far as three or four blocks, if not less. 

The information in this document is meant to serve as a guide for new users of a VHF handheld radio. It will serve as a manual to help owners of VHF handheld radios to communicate effectively to another vessel in the Hudson River. 

RANGE:

As hinted earlier, VHF radios can transmit information from one person to another within line of sight. Meaning that, if a person is trying to reach another person on the other side of a hill (NOT in their line of sight) the transmission might not be received, as shown in Image 1 “shadow zone”. Although, if the receiver is located on the top of the mountain, the transmission will be received better since it will be within its line of sight. 

*Being at a higher altitude helps widen the range of a VHF. 

 A Standard Horizon HX380 handheld VHF radio is able to transmit information to a receiver located within 5-6 miles on flat open terrain, 2-4 miles on suburban locations, 1-2 miles on Urban areas (Quality Two-Way Radios). 

BASIC CONTROLS:

1. Volume/Power Knob 

To turn the Standard Horizon HX380 handheld VHF ON, turn the knob on the top of the radio to the right. You will feel a click once it is turned on. To make it LOUDER, turn the knob further to the right. To make it QUIETER, turn the knob towards the left. To turn the radio OFF, turn the knob all the way to the left until you feel a click. 

2. LCD Display 

Once the radio is turned on, the LCD Display placed in the middle of this device should light up. This will tell you the radio’s battery level, frequency (high or low) and channel being used. 

3.  Channel Selector (up and down button) 

VHF radios must use the same channel number in order to transmit information between each other.

If the channel displayed on the LCD is not the channel you intend to use, you can keep pressing the up and down buttons located on the bottom center of this radio.  “↑” button to pick the higher channel numbers, and “↓” for the lower channel numbers. 

Here are some important channels numbers to remember:

	Channel Number	Used for:
	16	Distress and Safety Calling — it’s like calling 911 but on the water.**You may only use this channel to hail for help. Wait for a response and switch to an authorized working channel.  **You may NOT use this channel to chitchat, you could be preventing someone (without even knowing it) from reaching help in a disaster.
	22	COAST GUARD’s working channel — This channel is reserved for communication between the U.S. Coast Guard vessels and private vessels. **The Coast Guard does not monitor 22A: Contact must first be established on 16.
	68, 69, 71, 72, 78	Working Channels — these are the channels where you can chitchat
	13	Bridge-to-Bridge (Captain-to-Captain) — this channel is used by vessels that are more than 20m in length to hail another vessel in case of danger of collision.
	1-10	Weather Channels — this informs you of any weather hazards that may occur in your current area.

4. Preset 

This will help you “save” a channel number that you would like to consistently monitor and scan. 

To preset a channel, select a channel to preset using the channel selector buttons. Once the channel is selected, hold the “preset” button until the channel number displayed on the LCD blinks. DONE!

5. Scan 

After having multiple channels preset/saved, you can then scan through the channels to monitor any transmission going through them.

Press the “scan” button, the LCD should start to display the channels you preset in a continuous cycle. If there is a transmission in any of the channels, the LCD will display the channel number and transmit the information to your VHF Radio.

6. PTT (Press to Talk)

To transmit information to another VHF radio, press and hold the PTT button located on the higher left side of the Standard Horizon HX380 handheld VHF radio. You are able to transmit information while holding on to the PTT button and when you are done, release and wait for a response. 

Sequence on how to HAIL or call the attention of a receiver

**PRESS and HOLD the PTT button then…

1. Identify the person, or vessel you intend to reach (3x)
   1. Ex. “HRCS Base, HRCS base, HRCS base..” 
2. Identify yourself and/or vessel
   1. Ex. “HRCS Base, HRCS base, HRCS base. This is Boat 1”

**RELEASE the PTT button and wait for a response

7. 16/9 

This is a speed dial to Channel 16 (Distress and Safety Calling). In case of an emergency, hold and release the “16/9” button and wait until “16” to pops up on the LCD display. Hold the PPT button and hail for help.

1. Least threatening: Securite, securite, securite (you are towing someone and have restricted maneuverability and you want all others to avoid you or to let you know if there’s a potential issue)
2. Moderately threatening: Pan pan, pan pan, pan pan (you have grounded and believe you may be taking on water slowly or are a hazard to navigation)
3. Immediate danger and distress: Mayday, mayday, mayday (your ship is going down, you’ve lost someone overboard, your vessel is being smashed on rocks, etc)

***Make sure to state the type of your vessel, your current location and a brief description of your emergency. 

***Speak slowly and clearly.

8. WX (weather) 

This is a speed dial to Channel one (a weather channel). This channel will provide weather information from the nearest area to you. 

Use the up and down buttons to navigate around the 10 weather channels available. 

9. High/Low (frequency)

This limits the range of the transmission you will receive from a VHF transmitter. Having a low frequency only detects transmissions from a closer distance. This can silence other transmissions coming from an unknown transmitter from farther away. Having a high frequency can detect any transmissions from a greater distance.

Low Frequency → (closer distance) 1W

High Frequency → stronger signal range (more chance of hearing transmissions from an unknown transmitter)  5W 

Press and hold the “H/L” button to switch the frequency strength (from high to low or low to high) of the VHF radio. 

10. SQL (Squelch)

When you turn your radio on it will most likely start with white noise. This is the radiation around you transmitting unwanted noise to your VHF-Radio. The squelch (SQL) button adjusts the sensitivity of the VHF-R’s antenna to silence these random signals being detected. Lower level/number allows the antenna to detect as many radiations around you which can produce more static, while Higher level/number decreases the sensitivity of the antenna from radiations which suppresses more of the static.

Press the SQL button. A number, usually “1” will appear on the screen and this would mean that the squelch is very sensitive and will detect many radiations, including the static/white noise. Press the up/down button to adjust the level of the squelch.

A few details (such as placement) of the Standard Horizon HX380 VHF-R may vary depending on the brand, style, and generation of the VHF-R that you are using such as the placement of the buttons. Despite this, plenty of the information provided here is similar to any VHF-R. For instance, the channels provided are useful for any VHF-R users nation-wide and the purpose of the buttons is very similar. VHF-R is one of the best ways to call for help from an isolated or unknown location, knowing some of this basic information might help save you in case of an emergency

SOURCES: 

“Calls.” Calling for help?, Boat U.S Foundation, https://www.boatus.org/assets/img/marine-communications/calls.jpg

“How Far Can I Talk?” How Far Can I Talk? | UHF vs VHF | The Truth About Range, quality2wayradios.com/store/Radio-Range-Distance.

“Radio Protocol and Etiquette.” Coastal Boating, cruising.coastalboating.net/Seamanship/Radio/RadioBasics.html.

“Ship Radio Stations.” Federal Communications Commission, 9 Oct. 2019, www.fcc.gov/ship-radio-stations.

“U.S. VHF CHANNEL INFORMATION.” Navigation Center of Excellence, 13 Sept. 18AD, www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtvhf.

Abordo, Liberty. “Very High Frequency Radio (VHF-R).” 2020. jpg.