How many useable VHF channels are there?

[chum]

I just got my unit and am alittle confused. Which ones for emergencies, which ones for just regular communication etc?

[MaxPauper]

Check this out for a primer...

http://www.tmca.nu/links.and.features/vhf.htm

[Birdman]

edit: Well, forget the below, the site screws up the formating. Email me and I'll send you a PDF, or Excel file with all channel info you need. Thom posted it here a few years ago and I edited some to look nicer. Great document.

-----------------------------------

Channel Number Frequency's Purpose
USA Int'l Canada Transmit Receive Description
1 1 156.05 160.65 Telephone
01A 156.05 156.05 Port Operations
2 2 156.1 160.7 Vessil Traffic Control
02A 156.1 156.1 Port Operations
3 3 156.15 160.75 Telephone
03A 156.15 156.15
4 4 156.2 160.8
04A 156.2 156.2 Canadian Coast Guard
5 156.25 160.85 International Waters
05A 05A 156.25 156.25 Vessel Traffic Control
6 6 6 156.3 156.3 Safety Communications
7 156.35 160.95 International Waters
07A 07A 156.35 156.35 Commercial Traffic
8 8 8 156.4 156.4 Commercial Traffic
9 9 9 156.45 156.45 Calling Channel
10 10 10 156.5 156.5 Commercial Traffic
11 11 11 156.55 156.55 Traffic Control
12 12 12 156.6 156.6 Traffic Control
13 13 13 156.65 156.65 Bridge to Bridge (Low Power Only)
14 14 14 156.7 156 Traffic Control
15 15 15 156.75 156.75 Commercial (Low Power Only)
16 16 16 156.8 156.8 Hailing Channel
17 17 17 156.85 156.85 Search and Rescue
18 156.9 161.5 International Traffic
18A 18A 156.9 156.9 Commercial Traffic
19 156.95 161.55 International Traffic
19A 19A 156.95 156.95 Commercial Traffic
20 20 20 157 161.6 Port Operations
20A 157 157 Port Operations
21 157.05 161.65 International Traffic
21A 21A 157.05 157.05 Canadian Coast Guard
21B 161.65 Continuous Marine Broadcast
22 157.1 161.7 International Traffic
22A 22A 157.1 157 U.S. Coast Guard
23 23 157.15 161.75 International Traffic
23A 157.15 157.15 U.S. Coast Guard
24 24 24 157.2 161.8 Telephone
25 25 25 157.25 161.85 Telephone
25B 161.85 Continuous Marine Broadcast
26 26 26 157.3 161.9 Telephone
27 27 27 157.35 161.95 Telephone
28 28 28 157.4 162 Telephone
28B 162000 Continuous Marine Broadcast
60 60 156.025 160.625 Telephone
60A 156.025 156.025 Canadian Coast Guard
61 156.075 160.675 International Traffic
61A 61A 156.075 156.075 Canadian Coast Guard
62 156.125 160.725 International Traffic
62A 62A 156.125 156.125 Canadian Coast Guard
63 156.175 160.775 International Traffic
63A 156.175 156.175 Traffic Control
64 64 156.225 160.825 Telephone
64A 64A 156.225 156.225 Commercial Traffic
65 156.275 160.875 International Traffic
65A 65A 65A 156.275 156.275 Port Operations
66 156.325 160.925 International Traffic
66A 66A 66A 156.325 156.325 Port Operations
67 67 156.375 156.375 Bridge to Bridge
68 68 156.425 156.425 Ship to Ship
69 69 156.475 156.475 Pleasure Boats
70 70 156.525 156.525 Digital Selective Calling
71 71 156.575 156.575 Pleasure Boats
72 72 156.625 156.625 Ship to Ship
73 73 156.675 156.675 Port Operations
74 74 156.725 156.725 Port Operations
75 75 Guard Guard
76 76 Guard Guard
77 77 156.875 156.875 Port Operations
78 156.925 161.525 International Traffic
78A 78A 156.925 156.925 Ship to Ship
79 156.975 161.575 International Traffic
79A 79A 156.975 156.975 Ship to Ship
80 157.025 161.625 International Traffic
80A 80A 157.025 157.025
81 157.075 161.675 International Traffic
81A 81A 157.075 157.075 Canadian Coast Guard
82 157.125 161.725 International Traffic
82A 82A 157.125 157.125 Canadian Coast Guard
83 83 157.175 161.775 Canadian Coast Guard
83A 83A 157.175 157.175 Canadian Coast Guard
83B 161.775 161.775 Continuous Marine Broadcast
84 84 84 157.225 161.825 Telephone
84A 157.225 157.225
85 85 85 157.275 161.875 Telephone
85A 157.275 157.275
86 86 86 157.325 161.925 Telephone
86A 157.325 157.325
87 87 87 157.375 161.975 Telephone
87A 157.375 157.375
88 88 88 157.425 162.025 Telephone
88A 157.425 157.425 Commercial Traffic

[Mumblerone]

To make a long story short;*68,69, 71, and 72 . Hailing on 16 (emergency only) and 9.* That's it.* Oh, and you can't use it on shore!*

[Mumblerone]

To make a long story short;*68,69, 71, and 72 . Hailing on 16 (emergency only) and 9.* That's it.* Oh, and you can't use it on shore!*

[BW23]

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/radio.htm#ch

[Birdman]

Channel NumberFrequency'sPurposeUSAInt'lCanadaTransmitReceiveDescription*11156.05160.65Telephone01A**156.05156.05Port Operations*22156.1160.7Vessil Traffic Control02A**156.1156.1Port Operations*33156.15160.75Telephone03A**156.15156.1 5**44156.2160.8*04A**156.2156.2Canadian Coast Guard*5*156.25160.85International Waters05A*05A156.25156.25Vessel Traffic Control666156.3156.3Safety Communications*7*156.35160.95International Waters07A*07A156.35156.35Commercial Traffic888156.4156.4Commercial Traffic999156.45156.45Calling Channel101010156.5156.5Commercial Traffic111111156.55156.55Traffic Control121212156.6156.6Traffic Control131313156.65156.65Bridge to Bridge (Low Power Only)141414156.7156Traffic Control151515156.75156.75Commercial (Low Power Only)161616156.8156.8Hailing Channel171717156.85156.85Search and Rescue*18*156.9161.5International Traffic18A*18A156.9156.9Commercial Traffic*19*156.95161.55International Traffic19A*19A156.95156.95Commercial Traffic202020157161.6Port Operations20A**157157Port Operations*21*157.05161.65International Traffic21A*21A157.05157.05Canadian Coast Guard**21B*161.65Continuous Marine Broadcast*22*157.1161.7International Traffic22A*22A157.1157U.S. Coast Guard*2323157.15161.75International Traffic23A**157.15157.15U.S. Coast Guard242424157.2161.8Telephone252525157.25161.85Te lephone**25B*161.85Continuous Marine Broadcast262626157.3161.9Telephone272727157.35161.95Telepho ne282828

[auguste]

Birdman . . . good use of new capabilities