October 2006 IO HOB D AR A T R T S A O C G R T S M COAST RADIO HOBART NEWSLETTER It’s time… INSIDE THIS ISSUE This is a newsletter in a new format which we hope will be enjoyed and found to be informative by our loyal subscribers without whose support, Coast Radio Hobart would cease to exist and would This edition mostly contains some leave Tasmania without the vital communication services that we provide. The cost prevents a regular reminders about issues that have newsletter in this form but we do hope to continue keeping in touch from time to time, perhaps by come to our attention so bear with email. If you have not done so, let us have your email address. us and look forward to a more newsy edition later. We shall rely on emailing copies to Where and how it all began… you to save costs. The Tasmanian Smallcraft Marine Radio Group (TSMRG) was formed by Change of HF Frequencies… Barry McCann and Les Collins in 1975 Page 2 to establish a means of communication Seaguard Service Terminated… between pleasure craft and a shore Page 3 station. The purpose was to enhance the safety of life and property at sea. We need more subscribers… Page 3 Margaret Base went to air in July 1976 and nine years later moved to South Arm Desperately seeking radio and became Tasmar Radio. In 1987, a operators… remotely controlled base station was Page 4 constructed at Snug Tiers and this facility is still an integral part of the much expanded system that is Coast Radio Hobart today. The name change from Tasmar Radio to Coast Radio Hobart had no bearing on the self-funded and voluntary nature of this network. It was a decision made by the body that oversees the national High Frequency Radio Network, for which we operate Coast Radio Hobart. The local service we provided as Tasmar Radio, of course, still continues. In 1993, the State Government granted TSMRG control and sole use of the old Hobart Radio receiving station on Bruny Island. This station, now fully re-equipped, forms a vital back-up and provides monitoring of the international distress frequencies. Our operations room at the old Hobart Radio building on the Domain began service in May 2004, continuing a marine radio service from this site since 1912. Where we are today… Huge technical improvements have been made over the last two years with the help of volunteers Brian Muir, Andrew Boon and CRH directors, Barry McCann, Stu Braunholz and Mike Hooper. The Coast Radio Hobart radio link equipment at Snug Tiers and Bruny was in a poor state and needed replacement. Telstra PO Box 1655 and Hydro Tasmania came to our aid with the donation of surplus multi-channel and broadband radio Hobart Tasmania 7001 equipment. The Tasmania Police and DPIWE co-operated to establish a link repeater on Mt Nelson and Telephone (03) 6231 2276 Incat Tasmania provided an enclosure and power supply. CRH is constantly improving the coverage and Email [email protected] quality of our transmissions and work is ongoing. We’ll keep you posted. COAST RADIO HOBART NEWSLETTER RG numbers, they belong to you… As a subscriber to CRH you are allocated an RG number which belongs to you and not your boat. If you sell the boat, the RG number does not form part of the package. We have followed up on members who have ceased subscribing to fi nd that they have retired from boating and sold the boat and the RG number. We have taken calls from buyers of boats who have believed wrongly that they are entitled to use the RG number that came with the boat. RG numbers make it a lot easier for our operators to understand, rather than boat names which we know are sometimes diffi cult to pronounce and even harder to spell on the log sheet. More importantly, lots of boats have the same name and we could easily have the wrong information at hand if it was needed. Keep your RG number noted on a bulkhead or something close to the radio so anyone needing it has it at hand. Safety issues… being boat safe! Never leave the shore without life jackets correctly sized for all people on board and instruct any newcomers in the proper fi tting of the jackets or fl oatation devices. Check fuel, oil, water and make sure that your batteries are fresh and charged. Keep on board some emergency supplies, drinking water and some non-perishable food. Maintain your epirb, fl ares and fi re extinguisher… check regularly and observe use by dates. Make sure that you have a good torch on board and charts for the area you intend to visit. Call Coast Radio Hobart as this will give you a radio check and tell us where you are heading, your ETA and when you arrive or reach your home port again and closing, don’t forget to advise us so we can log you off. Domain Radio Console Weather sked broadcast times… Just to remind you of the regular “sked” times… Coast Radio Hobart broadcasts the latest weather forecast at the following times: 0745–1345–1903 Conducted simultaneously from transmitters at Snug, Bruny Island and Maria Isalnd on VHF channels 67 and 68 and HF frequeincies 2524, 4146 and 6227 KHz. Initial broadcasts would be made on the distress and calling channels VHF Ch 16, HF frequencies 2182, 4125 and 6215 KHz. 0833–1803 Channel 82 Repeater on Maatsuyker Island. Marine Safety Information broadcasts are transmitted daily at 1557 EST (1657 ESST). Coastal Waters Wind Warnings are broadcast as they are issued from the Met. Bureau. Pre-announcements are made to this effect on the distress and calling channels VHF Ch 16, HF frequencies 2182, 4125 and 6215 KHz, and then the warnings are transmitted on the weather sked frequencies. Notices to Mariners issued by MAST or other authorities are broadcast at sked times. Note the change to new HF working (Sked) frequencies of 4146 and 6227 KHz. COAST RADIO HOBART NEWSLETTER Keeping in touch… Change of address, telephone change, change of boat details, email address? Call us on the radio. Remember to notify CRH of any change to your address. It will save us postage and we won’t lose contact with you. Mobile, sat phone, home phones are changed from time to time… don’t forget us when you notify your other friends of any change. You now have an epirb, a new GPS, radar perhaps or brand new boat. Help us keep the records straight, advise us when changes occur. An email address makes it so much easier to communicate and it is cheap too. If you have email, tell us. Next time you are out on the water, call us on the radio. It stops our volunteer operators from falling asleep! Radio Etiquette… Please help us to help you! Sometimes the background noise and other interference makes it diffi cult for our operators to clearly understand your message. Here are a few hints when using the radio to make our lives easier. Listen for any other traffi c on the frequency before commencing. Depress the PTT button for 2 seconds before starting to speak. Announce your call sign (RG number) 3 times Speak slowly and louder than you would for normal speech. Use plain English and be concise. Always stow your mike in its proper cradle Bruny Tower and Radio Shack Not a subscriber to Coast Radio Hobart? Why not join now? Coast Radio Hobart (CRH) is a safety net for all boat users. You cannot rely on a mobile telephone to connect you to someone who knows the best way to get you out of trouble. Your radio puts you in contact with CRH and other boats. CRH broadcast weather forecasts and wind warnings and marine safety information several times each day and monitors VHF and HF frequencies. It is a reliable, friendly and professional service. Anyone of any age or boating experience can join. There is no exam but you will be advised to attend a once only new members evening where you will be allocated your unique RG radio callsign to be used when communicating with Coast Radio Hobart. The operation of the radio network, the services offered and the operation of your marine radio will all be explained to you. At about 60 cents per week, can you afford not to join? That’s it, just $30 per year and a joining fee of $10. We rely on your support to maintain this marine radio service. How do I join? Seaguard Service Simply contact Coast Radio Hobart in any of the following ways: Phone (03) 6231 2276 Fax (03) 6231 4111 Terminated… Email: [email protected] The Seaguard service offered by Coast Radio or by post: GPO Box 1655 Hobart 7001 has been terminated. It was decided to do so Leave your contact details and we will get back to you and advise for a number of reasons, one of which, Coast you of the date and time of the next new members’ meeting. Meetings are held every 4–6 weeks. Radio is now manned on a 24 hour basis and that Seaphone type radios are no longer available. Partners, friends and crew all welcome. Getting to know your operators The Directors The Technical Crew Barry McCann Brian Muir Barry’s technical career started at 7HT and whilst manager there, joined forces in Trained in telecommunications and radio communications in Hobart.