Re: [Paddlewise] Nobody Home. . .

At 10:40 PM 2/28/98 -0800, Dave Kruger wrote:

>>         On the other hand, [snip] There's also been times when
>> I've squawked the radio right next to the Portland International Airport
>> with airplanes and river traffic in abundant evidence. . . nothing.
>
>Huh?  Air traffic shold not be monitoring the marine freqs.

        I get the impression that channel 16 is used by CB, aviation,
sheriffs, truckers. . . I know that it's used by truckers and CB --along
with channel 9. And I got the message somewhere that you make contact on 16
and then move off to another channel. Any boat I've ever talked to I called
up on 16 and then moved to another channel. I get radio traffic on Mt. Hood
with my VHF. . . not river traffic or marine. But I've got 90 some channels
local and international that I can monitor, not necessarily broadcast on. 
>
>George raises a sticky point.  Three thoughts:
>
>1. I think areas where people USE the VHF to convey their intentions
>(shipping channels, etc.) and/or there is an "ethic" of "help the other
>guy" are places where people will listen, and respond.  Maritime
>communities are good places for that.  It also helps to hail a boat by
>name (use binocs to pick the name off the bow).  The average pleasure
>boater in metropolitan areas does not have his/her radio on -- not the
>ethic in metro areas. I would not expect to get a response on 16 in
>Portland (or any other metro area) *unless I Maydayed.*  Then I think
>I'd get the USCG up right away.  I know down here the USCG typically
>does not respond to random squawks on 16 -- they're trying to keep 16
>clean for emergency use and hailing.  (Ch 9 is also used for hailing
>down here, I think.  In some parts of coastal BC, Ch 6 is informally
>designated as the local hailing channel.  YMMV.)  "Radio checks" are not
>supposed to occur on 16.

        A scan of the traffic generally turns up a local "chat channel" that
is fairly busy. Although lots of times I find that I can pick up the
transmission, but they don't hear me. I would expect the Multnomah Co.
Sheriff's River Patrol to respond to the inquiry, "Is there a monitor on
16?" just to let someone (like a solo kayaker on the Willamette or Columbia)
know that there's someone who can be contacted on the radio. 

        I'd like to know that there's someone out there on the other end of
the emergency channel who might hear me. . . BEFORE I need to ask for help.
I know there are relay transmitters all along the Willamette and Columbia so
that getting out of range is unlikely.

        In the summer when boats are bow to stern on the river, I KNOW there
are radios being monitored. In the winter when the river is pretty deserted
I'm not confident that my call for help is going to be heard by anyone.

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