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Marine VHF Radio tips, brought to you by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
When you are out on your boat enjoying a day on the water, Nick, a lot of people
take their mobile phones with them and that is a good thing, but you shouldn't rely on it.
Certainly, not Andrew. As a safety device the mobile phone is
a good back up, but your number one go to piece of equipment is always a Marine VHF Radio.
Now there are a few reasons why your mobile phone isn't the best option for getting an
emergency call out and that is it might be out of batteries, you might be out of
range and also when you do get a call out it is only one to one.
However, when you make a call your Marine VHF radio everybody hears, other boats
is other boats in the area, plus the guys monitoring it 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
That is especially true if you leave your VHF always tuned to Channel 16 because
unlike the mobile phone network your VHF Marine Radio uses base and repeater
stations and in many areas these are monitored by rescue services and other boats 24/7.
So when you are out in the water by all means take your mobile phone.
But just remember your VHF Marine Radio is your best chance of being heard.
For more Marine VHF Radio Information visit the ACMA website.
Communicating/Facilitating/Regulating acma.gov.au/vhfmarine