Radio Frequency Information
Race Control Frequencies - Always check sailing instructions!
*
* 4146 kHz
6227 kHz Position Reports and other traffic with Race Control.
As above. Additional frequency required for Category 2 events.
VHF CH 72 Position Reports and other traffic with Race Control.
Ship - Ship Working channel. Compulsory for all Events
*Denotes Compulsory Frequencies for Yachts required to carry MF/HF
WEST COAST SEA SEARCH AND RESCUE
The network includes two remotely controlled HF transceivers located at Canning Mills and Port Hedland and linked to the Water Police Coordination Centre at North Fremantle. ‘COAST RADIO PERTH’ and ‘COAST RADIO PORT HEDLAND’
*
*
* 4125 kHz
6215 kHz
8291 kHz Radiotelephony Distress, Urgency and Safety Traffic.
8176 kHz Scheduled Navigation Safety Warnings.
Perth: 1457 & 1857 HRS WST
Port Hedland 1257 & 1657 WST
VHF CH 16 Distress, Urgency and Safety Traffic
VHF CH 67 Supplementary Distress, Urgency and Safety Traffic
Perth Only: Local Weather and Navigation Safety Warnings at 0718 & 1918 HRS WST.
Severe Weather Warnings at 18 minutes past odd numbered hours.
*Denotes compulsory frequencies for yachts required to carry MF/HF
Note: additional compulsory HF frequencies 4149, 6230, 8113 and 12362 for weather broadcasts from VMW.
OPTIONAL DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING (DSC) ALERT FREQUENCIES FOR SUITABLY EQUIPPED VESSELS
MF/HF DSC ASSOCIATED RADIOTELEPHONY
4207.5 kHz
6312 kHz
8414.5 kHz
12577 kHz
16804.5 kHz 4125 kHz
6215 kHz
8291 kHz
12290 kHz
16420 kHz For sending DSC Distress, Urgency or Safety
Alerts and Subsequent radiotelephony traffic
Through Wiluna or Charleville to “RCC
Australia VIC” in Canberra
Note: VHF DSC Ch70 uses associated radiotelephony VHF Ch 16.
Water Police Coordination Centre - North Fremantle
Phone 9442 8600 Emergency and Enquiries
9442 8615 Fax
HF Radio Management
The most common problems with HF radio operation on board yachts are DC Power, Antennas & Grounding.
DC Power: An average HF radio requires 20~30 amps when transmitting and poorly charged batteries will result on very low transmitter power. This is a common problem experienced during offshore racing. Keep the radio batteries fully charged and if in doubt increase the capacity. See voltage/charge chart.
Charging the Radio Battery for 30 minutes prior to radio schedules will increase transmitter power resulting in better communications. Stopping engine/charging system during radio schedule is recommended.
Antenna: The most efficient antenna on a yacht is an insulated back stay coupled to Automatic Antenna Tuner fitted near the base of the backstay (an emergency antenna is required in case of de-masting).
Grounding: All HF yacht antennas require a grounding system to work efficiently. Many yachts have metal keels which are bolted through the hull; generally these make excellent ground point. If a metal keel is not available then a grounding plate can be installed through the hull.
Top Tips:-
1. Check & clean all antenna/battery connections.
2. Add additional grounding if suspect (aux engine can be used)
3. Keep communications battery fully charged; if possible separate from other house batteries.
4. Consider a charging method for races more than 12 hours.
5. If possible charge communications battery for 30 mins prior to radio scheds.
6. Restrict usage/demand on house batteries if is not possible.
Voltage Charge
12.7V 100%
12.4V 75%
12.2V 50%
12.0V 25%
11.9V Discharged
VHF Repeater Stations
Coastal VHF Repeaters at strategic locations significantly extend the range of VHF transmissions. A network of VHF repeater stations is developing on the WA Coast. The stations are both government and privately funded. To determine if a repeater network is available in your locality you should switch to a repeater channel and hold the microphone switch down and release it. If a brief 1 second tail (burst) of noise is heard then you are activating the repeater. If not, you are probably out of range. To discourage lengthy conversations a time restriction facility normally limits individual transmissions to 30 seconds. VHF Repeaters will operate for boat to boat and boat to shore communications when both stations are in range of the repeater station.
VHF REPEATER STATIONS FROM GERALDTON TO ALBANY
VHF Nearest town / VMR Repeater Site Name
81 Geraldton Rat Island Abrolhos
21 Jurien Bay Mt Lesueur
22 Lancelin Nilgen
81 Fremantle Rottnest
81 Rottnest Island Rottnest Island
82 Mandurah Turner Hill
22 Dunsborough Mount Duckworth
80 Cape Naturaliste Radar Hill
82 Augusta Hillview Golf Course
81 Windy Harbour Cathedral Rocks
21 Walpole Young’s Hill - Telstra Site
22 Denmark / Peaceful Bay Mt Shadforth
82 Albany Mt Clarence Green Range
81 Albany Two Peoples Bay
Name - Stations are best
called by their name Call Sign 27MHz VHF MF/HF Phone Hours
Carnarvon Sea Rescue VMR 676 88 16, 73 4125 9941 3613 0700-2030
Shark Bay Vol. Marine Rescue VMR 675 88, 90 72 9948 1201 No Monitoring
Kalbarri Sea Rescue VMR 673 90 16, 80(R) 9937 2112 24/7
Geraldton Sea Rescue VMR 670 91 72 4125 9964 3543 24/7
Port Denison Sea Rescue VMR 667 88, 91 16, 73 4125 9927 1770 Summer 0700-1700
Winter 0800-1600
Leeman Sea Rescue VMR 664 91 16, 73 2182 9953 1164 27meg & VHF 24/7
HF no set hours
Jurien Bay Sea Rescue VMR 661 91 21(R) 4125 9652 1950 27meg & VHF 24/7
HF daylight hours
Lancelin Sea Rescue VMR 688 91 16 4125 9655 1289 27 meg & VHF24/7
HF no set hours
Two Rocks Sea Rescue VMR 677 88,91 16,73 4125 9561 5777 Summer 0600-1800
Winter 0700-1700
Whitfords Sea Rescue VJ6LQ 88, 90, 91 16,73 4125 9401 3757 24/7
Fremantle Sea Rescue VN6DI 88, 90 16,73 2182, 4125 9335 1332 24/7
Cockburn Sea Rescue VH6CL 90 73 9410 1544 24/7
Rockingham Sea Rescue VN6KC 88, 90 16, 73 2182, 4125 9528 2222 24/7
Mandurah Volunteer Marine Rescue Group inc. VMR 611 91 82(R), 73 4125 0409 081 801 0600-1800 7 days Summer, Winter
W/ends & public hols
Bunbury Sea Rescue VMR 634 88 73 4125 0418 926 442 No Monitoring
Busselton Sea Rescue VMR 640 88 16 0407 755 715 No Monitoring
Naturaliste Sea Rescue VMR 631 88, 91 73 4125 9781 3030 No Monitoring
Margaret River Sea Rescue VMR 628 88 16 9755 5579 Summer 0700-1900
Winter 0700-1800
Augusta Sea Rescue VMR 625 88 16 4620 9758 1575 No Monitoring
Albany Sea Rescue Squad VMR 610 88 16, 81/82(R)
(main channel 82) 2182. 4125
6215, 8291 0427 923 557 24/7
(HF weekends only)
ACRM (Capel) VH6FKC 88 16/80(R) by arrangement 9727 2451 0700-2200
