Amateur bands
Radio amateurs transmit Morse code, data including email, slow scan TV
pictures (SSTV) and phone messages to each other. Radio amateurs are not
allowed to transmit any business type information. In the UK amateurs
are allowed to transmit third party greeting messages.
Many yachtsmen use amateur radio as way of keeping in touch with each
other. INformation exchaged includes weather reports, exchange messages
and give you passage plan details to someone ashore.
| Net |
Frequency |
Times GMT |
| Weather & Cocktail Net -
Caribbean |
7086 kHz |
0730 & 1630 local time |
| UK maritime mobile net |
14303 kHz |
0800 & 1800 |
| European maritime mobile net |
14297 kHz |
1900 |
Amateur band frequencies
| Band |
Morse |
Data |
Phone |
SSTV |
| 160 |
1810 - 1838 |
1838 - 1842 kHz |
1842 -2000 LSB |
|
| 80 |
3500 - 3580 |
3580 - 3600 kHz |
3620 - 3800 LSB |
3730 - 3740 |
| 40 |
7000 - 7035 |
7035 - 7045 kHz |
7045 - 7200 LSB |
|
| 30 |
10100 - 10140 |
10140 - 10150 |
|
|
| 20 |
14000 - 14070 |
14070 - 14112 |
14112 - 14350 USB |
14225 - 14235 |
| 17 |
18068 - 18100 |
18100 - 18109 |
18111 - 18168 USB |
|
| 15 |
21000 - 21080 |
21080 - 21120 |
21151 - 21450 USB |
21335 - 21345 |
| 12 |
24890 - 24920 |
24920 - 24929 |
24931 - 24990 USB |
|
| 10 |
28000 - 28199 |
28050 - 28150 |
28200 - 29200 USB |
28675 - 28685 |
Short Wave Broadcast Stations
There are a large number broadcast stations on the HF bands, most
countries seem to transmit at some time of the day on the HF bands in
one language or another.
The most popular broadcast station is the BBC World Service which
transmits to various parts of the world at different times of the day.
| Band |
Frequency kHz |
BBC world service |
| 120 metres |
2300 - 2495 kHz |
|
| 90 metres |
3200 - 3400 kHz |
3255 kHz |
| 75 metres |
3950 - 4000 kHz |
3955 kHz, 3915 kHz |
| 60 metres |
4750 - 5060 kHz |
|
| 49 metres |
5850 - 6200 kHz |
5975 kHz, 6195 kHz |
| 41 metres |
7100 - 7350 kHz |
7160 kHz, 7325 kHz |
| 31 metres |
9400 - 9900 kHz |
9410 kHz, 9740 kHz |
| 25 metres |
11600 - 12050 kHz |
12095 kHz |
| 21 metres |
13570 - 13870 kHz |
13700 kHz |
| 19 metres |
15100 - 15800 kHz |
15100 kHz, 15310 kHz, 15360 kHz, 15400 kHz, 15575
kHz |
| 16 metres |
17480 - 17900 kHz |
17640 kHz, 17760 kHz, 17830 kHz, 17885 kHz |
| 13 metres |
21450 - 21850 kHz |
21470 kHz, 21660 kHz |
| 11 metres |
25500 - 25670 kHz |
|
| Stations are 5 kHz a part and all
transmissions are AM |
Marine SSB
The frequencies used for marine communications are internationaly agreed
by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Below you will find
a list of HF frequencies. In the main most frequencies are Duplex and
intended for ship to shore use. Some bands do have simplex channels
which can be used for either ship to shore or intership working.
Marine Distress Frequencies (Radio
Telephone (R/T) & DSC)
| Band |
R/T Frequency |
DSC Frequency |
Day Time Range |
Night Time Range |
| MF |
2182 kHz |
2187.5 kHz |
150 nm |
500 nm |
| HF4 |
4125 kHz |
4207.5 kHZ |
300 nm |
1000 nm |
| HF6 |
6215 kHz |
6312 kHz |
600 nm |
1500 nm |
| HF8 |
8291 kHz |
8414.5 kHZ |
1000 nm |
2000 nm |
| HF12 |
12290 kHz |
12577 kHz |
2500 nm |
|
| HF16 |
16420 kHz |
16804.5 kHz |
|
|
| VHF |
156.800 MHz (Ch16) |
156.525 MHz (Ch 70) |
30 nm |
30 nm |
NOTE: Range is for guidance only and will depending on your operating
conditions.
4 MHz simplex ship to ship HF
frequencies, shared with fixed services C-1
| 4000 kHz |
40003 kHz |
40006 kHz |
4009 kHz |
4012 kHz |
4015 kHz |
4018 kHz |
| 4021 kHz |
4024 kHz |
4027 kHz |
4030 kHz |
4033 kHz |
4036 kHz |
4039 kHz |
| 4042 kHz |
4045 kHz |
4048 kHz |
4051 kHz |
4054 kHz |
4057 kHz |
4060 kHz |
8 MHz simplex ship to ship HF
frequencies, shared with fixed services C-2
| 8101 kHz |
8104kHz |
8107 kHz |
8110 kHz |
8113 kHz |
8116 kHz |
8119 kHz |
| 8122 kHz |
8125 kHz |
8128kHz |
8131 kHz |
8134 kHz |
8137 kHz |
8140 kHz |
| 8143 kHz |
8146 kHz |
8149 kHz |
8152 kHz |
8155 kHz |
8158 kHz |
8161 kHz |
| 8164 kHz |
8167 kHz |
8170 kHz |
8173 KHz |
8176 kHz |
8179 kHz |
8182 kHz |
| 8185 kHz |
8188 kHz |
8191 kHz |
|
|
|
|
Primary HF ship to ship frequencies
| ID |
2 MHz |
4 MHz |
6 MHz |
8 MHz |
12 MHz |
16 MHz |
18 MHz |
22 MHz |
25 MHz |
| A |
2065.0 kHz |
4146 kHz |
6224 khz |
8294 kHz |
12353 kHz |
16528 kHz |
18825 kHz |
22159 kHz |
25100 kHz |
| B |
2079.0 kHz |
4149 kHz |
6227 kHz |
8297 kHz |
12356 kHz |
16531 kHz |
18828 kHz |
22162 kHz |
25103 kHz |
| C |
2093.0 kHz |
|
6230 kHz |
|
12359 kHz |
16534 kHz |
18831 kHz |
22165 kHz |
25106 kHz |
| D |
2096.5 kHz |
|
|
|
12362 kHz |
16537 kHz |
18834 kHz |
22168 kHz |
25109 kHz |
| E |
2214.0 kHz |
|
|
|
12365 kHz |
16540 kHz |
18837 kHz |
22171 kHz |
25112 kHz |
| F |
|
|
|
|
|
16543 kHz |
18840 kHz |
22174 kHz |
25115 kHz |
| G |
|
|
|
|
|
16546 kHz |
18843 kHz |
22177 kHz |
25118 kHz |
Listening times
The best time to listen is early morning 0600 to 0930 and in the
evenings 1800 to 2100 local time, this is when radio conditions are
ideal. You should hear a number of yachtsmen talking to each other
although in Northern Europe it is not so popular compared to the the
Mediterranean and Caribbean.
| Net Areas |
frequency |
Times GMT |
| Mediterranean Net |
8122 kHz |
0530 |
| Yachtsmens calling
channel Caribbean Net Safety Net |
8104 KHz |
1215 |
| Atlantic Net (Herb) |
12359 kHz |
2000 |
| Caribbean Weather Center |
Watch Times UTC/GMT |
|
| 4045 kHz |
1130 to 1200 UTC |
|
| 6227 kHz |
1400 to 1415
UTC |
|
| 8104 kHz |
1230 to 1330 UTC |
|
| 12359 kHz |
1200 to 1230 & 1330 to 1400 UTC |
|
| 16531 kHz |
On request |
|
Coast Radio Stations frequencies
You can make link calls (telephone calls) from your yacht via the
following Europen coast radio stations.
Duplex ship to shore ITU channels
|
Station
|
Callsign
|
4MHz
|
6MHz
|
8MHz
|
12MHz
|
16MHz
|
18MHz
|
22MHz
|
25MHz
|
WX
|
|
ITU Channels
|
|
401 to 429
|
601 to 608
|
801 to 837
|
1201 to 1241
|
1601 to 1656
|
1801 to 1815
|
2201 to 2253
|
2501 to 2510
|
|
|
DISTRESS Channels
|
|
421
|
606
|
821
|
1221
|
1621
|
1806
|
2221
|
2510
|
|
|
Olympia, Greece
|
SVN
|
424
|
|
806
|
1232
|
1640
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyprus Radio
|
5BA
|
406
|
|
807
|
1208
|
1603
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lyngby, Denmark
|
OZX
|
418
|
|
808
|
1203
1214
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monaco Radio
|
3AC
|
403
|
|
804
|
1224
|
1607
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rogaland, Norway
|
LFL
|
|
|
811
|
1228
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hefa radio Israel
|
4XO
|
|
|
810
|
|
1617
|
|
|
|
|
|
Istanbul, Turkey
|
TAH
|
417
|
|
811
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lisboa, Portugal
|
CUL
|
|
|
802
|
1203
|
1615
|
|
|
|
|
|
Madrid Spain
|
EHY
|
|
|
804
|
1201
|
1637
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rijeka, Croatia
|
9AR
|
408
|
|
810
|
1229
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roma, Italy
|
IAR
|
412
|
|
831
|
1221
|
1621
|
|
2202
|
|
|
|
Shipcom - USA Seattle
|
WLO
|
417
|
607
|
805
|
1209
|
1624
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shipcom - USA
|
KLB
|
417
|
|
805
|
1209
|
1624
|
|
|
|
1200 utc
|
|
Shipcom - USA
|
WLO
|
414
|
607
|
824
830
|
1212+
1226
|
1607
1641+
|
1807
|
2237
|
2503
|
0600, 1300, 1800, 000 utc
|
|
Barbados
|
8PO
|
|
|
816
|
1213
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jamaica
|
|
405
|
605
|
812
|
1224
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
USA
|
|
405
421
|
605
606
|
821
816
|
1213
1224
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brunei Bay Radio
|
V8V2222
|
428
|
608
|
835
|
1239
|
|
1804
|
2229
|
|
|
|
Penta Comstat - Australia
|
VZX
|
429
|
608
|
802
|
1203
|
1602
|
|
2243
|
|
|
WX = Weather reports. TL = Traffic list
MF Coastguard (MRCC) frequencies
MF Coastguards, Daytime
range 100 to 150 miles , nighttime range up to 1000 miles.
| Station |
Frequency USB |
Times GMT |
| Aberdeen Coastguard, UK |
2226 kHz |
0720/1920 |
| Clyde Coastguard, UK |
1883 kHz |
0820/2020 |
| Falmouth Coastguard, UK |
2226 kHz |
0940/2140 |
| Holyhead Coastguard, UK |
1880 kHz |
0635/1835 |
| Humber Coastguard, UK |
2226 kHz |
0740/1940 |
| Shetland Coastguard, UK |
1770 kHz |
0905/2105 |
| Stornoway Coastguard, UK |
1770 kHz |
0910/2110 |
| Yarmouth Coastguard, UK |
1869 kHz |
0840/2040 |
| Valentia Radio, Ireland , UK |
1752 kHz |
0833/2033 |
| Oostende Radio, Belgium |
2761 kHz |
0820/1720 |
| Netherlands Coastguard 0940/2140 |
3673 kHz |
3673 kHz |
| French MRCC |
1696 kHz &
2677 kHz |
0833/2033
0815/2015 |
| Madeira |
2843 kHz |
|
| Horta & Monsanto, Portugal |
2657 kHz |
|
| US Coastguard |
2670 kHz |
|
US Coastguard HF frequencies
| US Coastguard
Weather Transmissions for Atlantic |
| Station and Callsign |
Frequencies |
Times (GMT) |
| New Orleands (NMG) |
4316 kHz, 8502 kHz, 12788 kHz |
0330, 0500, 0930, 1130, 1600, 1730, 2200, 2330 |
| Chesapeake (NMN) |
4426 kHz, 6501 kHz, 8764 kHz, 13089 kHz, 17314 kHz |
0330, 0500, 0930, 1130, 1600, 1730, 2200, 2330 |
Australian Coastguard HF frequencies
| Australia Coastguard
Weather Transmissions |
| Station and Callsign |
Frequencies |
Times (CST) |
| Wiluna W. Australia (VMW) |
2056 kHz, 4149 kHz, 6230 kHz, 8113 kHz, 12362 kHz,
16528 kHz |
0300, 0700, 1100, 1500, 1900, 2300 |
| Charleville S. Australia (VMC) |
2201 kHz, 4426 kHz, 6507 kHz, 8176 kHz, 12365 kHz,
16546 kHz |
0200, 0600, 1000, 1400, 1800, 2200 |
Distress and safety (SAR) communications
| Frequency |
Comments |
| 2182kHz |
MF International distress frequency
for ship, aircraft and survival craft. |
| 3023kHz |
Intercommunications between mobile
stations engaged in coordintion of search and rescue. |
| 4125kHz |
Distress and safety traffic by
radiotelephone |
| 5680kHz |
Intercommunications between mobile
stations engaged in coordintion of search and rescue. |
| 6125kHz |
Distress and safety traffic by
radiotelephone |
| 8364kHz |
Designated for use by survival craft
stations. |
Weather Broadcasts (speech, WXFAX &
Data)
Weather Information is transmitted by speech, text and fax on the HF
bands. If you have access to a low cost SSB receiver you should have
no problem receiving any of these transmissions.
To decode weather fax and text message you will need to have a
computer and appropriate software which can be down loaded from the
Internet.
Speech Weather Transmissions Weather information is transmitted on the
Aeronautical band and gives the current weather conditions at airports
around Europe.
Frequencies are:-
| VOLMET |
Frequency |
Times |
| Shannon Volmet |
3413 kHz
5505 kHz
8957 kHz
11306 kHz
13264 kHz |
On the hour and half hour :-
 | 0:00 Frankfurt, Brussels, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Bonn, Munich |
 | 0:05 London, Amsterdam, Manchester, Shannon, Prestwick |
 | 0:10 Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Dublin |
 | 0:15 Madrid, Lisbon, Athens, Paris, Lion |
 | 0:20 Rome, Milan, Zurich, Geneva |
|
| RAF Volmet |
5450 kHz
11253 kHz |
24 hours service |
| New York Radio |
6604 kHz,
10051 kHz,
13270 kHz |
24 hours service |
Information and format of transmition for each airport includes:-
 | Station & Time recorded |
 | Wind speed & direction |
 | CAV OK = Visibility, weather and cloud good. |
 | Visibility |
 | Weather |
 | Cloud height in feet. |
 | Temperature & Due Point |
 | QNH = Air pressure |
 | NO SIG = No significant change. |
Weather Fax transmissions Weather Fax
transmissions are broadcast
| RN Northwood
(GYA) England |
Offenbach (DDH),
Germany |
Halifax (CFH),
Canada |
US Coastguard
(NMF) Boston |
| 2618.5 (2616.6)
kHz* |
3855 (3853.1) kHz |
4271 (4269.1) kHz |
4235 (4233.1) kHz* |
| 4610 (4608.1) kHz |
7880 (7878.1) kHz |
6496.4 (6494.5) kHz |
6340.5 (6338.6) kHz |
| 8040 (8038.1) kHz |
13882.5 (13880.6)
kHz |
10536 (10534.1) kHz |
9110 kHz (9108.1)
kHz |
| 11086.5 (11084.6)
kHz |
|
13510 (13508.1) kHz |
12750 (12748.1) kHz |
| 18261 (18259.1)
kHz* |
|
|
|
| (USB frequency)
Tune to the frequency in () on a USB receiver. * NOT 24 hour
operation |
Text Weather Transmissions
World-wide
NAVTEX |
US Coastguard
using Sitor (NBDP) |
German weather
service Hamburg |
| 490 (488.1) kHz |
8416.6 (8414.7) kHz |
4583 (4581.1) kHz |
| 518 (516.1) kHz |
12579 (12577.1) kHz |
7646 (7644.1) kHz |
| 4209.5 (4207.6) kHz |
16806.5 (16804.6) kHz |
10100.8 (10098.9) kHz |
| |
22376 (22374.1) kHz |
|
| International
NAVTEX is transmitted on 518 kHz. |
Transmittions
from more then 1 location. |
RTTY
Speed = 50 Baud |
(USB frequency) Tune to the frequency in () on a USB receiver.
To receive both weatherfax and text broadcast on a USB receiver you
may have to tune 1.9 kHzlow of frequencie.
E.G. For RN Northwood on 8040 kHz tune to 8038.1 kHz, NAVTEX on 518
kHz tune to 516.1kHz.
Aeronautical SSB Frequencies
Aircraft crossing the Atlantic still use SSB to communicate with the
National Air Traffic Service (NATS) in Shannon, Ireland and Gander,
Canada.
| Band |
NATS frequencies in kHz |
| 2850 kHz - 3025 kHz |
2872 kHz, 2899 kHz, 2971 kHz, 3016 kHz |
| 3400 kHz - 3500 kHz |
3413 kHz, 3476 kHz |
| 4650 kHz - 4700 kHz |
4675 kHz |
| 5450 kHz- 5730 kHz |
5610 kHz, 5670 kHz, 5598 kHz, 5616 kHz, 5649 kHz |
| 6525 kHz - 6685 kHz |
6622 kHz |
| 8815 kHz - 8965 kHz |
8831 kHz, 8864 kHz, 8879 kHz, 8891 kHz, 8906 kHz, 8957 kHz |
| 10005 kHz - 10100 kHz |
|
| 11175 kHz - 11400 kHz |
11279 kHz, 11336 kHz |
| 13200 kHz - 13360 kHz |
13291 kHz, 13306 kHz |
| 17900 kHz - 18030 kHz |
17946 kHz |
| 21924 kHz - 22000 kHz |
|
| 23200 kHz - 23350 kHz |
|
| Air Rescue |
3020 kHz, 4718 kHz, 5680 kHz, 9001 kHz |
SSB Email To use SSB Email your require a SSB radio such as the ICOM
IC-M710, a radio modem and a computer running Mircosoft Windows with
Microsoft Outlook Express.
YachtCom can supply the radio modem and all the contecting leads to go
from the ICOM IC-M710 to the radio modem and your PC.
SSB Email frequencies for Kiel Radio
(DA0)
|
Station: DAO
Location: Kiel Germany
|
| |
PACTOR-III
Ship station dial frequencies in Khz. |
Channel
ID(Callsign given in morse code) |
Status |
| RX |
TX |
| 2628.5 |
2550.0 |
DAO-2A |
ON
AIR |
| 2846.5 |
2547.0 |
DA02B |
OFF
AIR |
| 4242.5 |
4164.5 |
DAO-4A |
ON
AIR |
| 42635 |
4168.5 |
DAO-4B |
OFF
AIR |
| 6434.0 |
6257.5 |
DAO-6A |
OFF
AIR |
| 8510.4 |
8328.5 |
DAO-8A |
OFF
AIR |
| 8637.0 |
8336.5 |
DAO-8B |
ON
AIR |
| 12762.0 |
12412.5 |
DAO-12A |
ON
AIR |
| 12831.0 |
124165 |
DAO-12B |
ONAIR |
| 16978.9 |
16613.5 |
DAO-17A |
OFF
AIR |
| 17046.5 |
16609.5 |
DAO-17B |
ON
AIR |
SSB Email frequencies for MarineNet
Radio (WKS)
Station: WKS
Location: Jupiter, Florida.
|
| |
Dial
Frequency Khz.
Ship station dial frequencies in Khz. |
Channel
ID(Callsign given in morse code) |
Status |
| |
4451.3 |
WKS-4A |
OFF
AIR |
| 4593.3 |
WKS-4B |
ON
AIR |
| 5258.3 |
WKS-5A |
ON
AIR |
| 5283.3 |
WKS-5B |
ON
AIR |
| 7523.3 |
WKS-7A |
ON
AIR |
| 7568.3 |
WKS-7B |
ON
AIR |
| 9058.3 |
WKS-9A |
ON
AIR |
| 9158.3 |
WKS-9B |
ON
AIR |
| 12113.3 |
WKS-12A |
ON
AIR |
| 12163.3 |
WKS-12B |
ON
AIR |
| 13893.3 |
WKS-13A |
ON
AIR |
| 13908.3 |
WKS-13B |
OFF
AIR |
| 18188.3 |
WKS-18A |
OFF
AIR |
| 18288.3 |
WKS-18B |
OFF
AIR |
| 19808.3 |
WKS-19A |
OFF
AIR |
| 19833.3 |
WKS-19B |
OFF
AIR |
| 22868.3 |
WKS-22A |
OFF
AIR |
| 22898.3 |
WKS-22B |
OFF
AIR |
| 24508.3 |
WKS-24A |
OFF
AIR |
| 24538.3 |
WKS-24B |
OFF
AIR |
Sailmail - Global SSB Email service
| Sation location |
Callsign |
Frequencies in kHz |
| Brugge, Belgium |
OSY |
6330.0, 8422, 12580.5, 16808.0 |
| Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada |
XJN714 |
4805.0, 7822.0, 10523.0, 18234.0, 21866.0 |
| Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA |
KZN508 |
2656.4, 5876.4, 7961.4, 7981.4, 1033.01, 13992.0,
13998.0, 18618.0, 18630.0 |
| Daytona, Florida, USA |
WPUC469 |
2632.4, 2806.4, 5818.0, 5896.0, 7968.0, 8008.0 |
| Friday, Washington, USA |
WHV382 |
2794.4, 5830.0, 7995.0, 10315.0, 13940.0, 18277.0 |
| Corpus Christi, Texas, USA |
WPTG385 |
2632.4, 2806.4, 5818.0, 5896.0, 7968.0, 8008.0 |
| Pedro Miguel, Panama |
HPPM2 |
2650.0, 5870.0, 10329.0, 10337.0, 13980.0, 13995.0,
18610.0, 18651.0, 22643.0, 22653.0 |
| Palo Alto, California, USA |
WRD719 |
2661.4, 5881.4, 7971.4, 10343.0, 13971.0, 13986.0,
18624.0 |
| San Luis Obispo, California, USA |
WHV681 |
2713.4, 2800.4, 5824.0, 5861.4, 8020.4, 10320.0,
10982.0, 13915.0, 13946.0, 18296.0 |
| Pretoria, South Africa |
RC01 |
7857.4, 10335.0, 13930.0, 18264.0, 22212.0, 27880.0 |
| Brunie |
V8V2222 |
5212.0, 10323.0, 13426.0, 14987.0, 20373.0 |
| Honolulu |
KUZ533 |
2686.4, 5836.0, 7957.4, 10325.0, 13930.0, 18264.0 |
| Firefly, New South Wales, Australia |
VZX1 |
5085.8, 6357.0, 8442.0, 10476.2, 12680.0, 13513.8,
14436.2, 16908.0 |
|
SSB Email frequencies for SailMail European Station
Station
callsign: OSY
Location: Brugge, Belgium |
| Ship
station dial receive frequencies in kHz. |
Ship
station dial
transmit
frequencies in kHz. |
Channel
ID
(Callsign given in morse code) |
Status |
| 6329.0 |
6329.0 |
OSY |
ON
AIR |
| 8420.5 |
8420.5 |
OSY |
ON
AIR |
| 12579.0 |
12579.0 |
OSY |
ON
AIR |
| 16806.5 |
16806.5 |
OSY |
ON
AIR |
For further details on Sailmail visit www.sailmail.com.
For further details on Airmail client software visit www.airmail2000.com
|
| Frequency
List Notes: |
-
Dial
Frequencies have a 1.7 kHz. offset if using pactor II,
for new pactor III use a 1.5kHz offset Enter these into
your radio.
-
E-mail
service is in Upper Sideband "USB"
|
|