Radio Communication needs, wants and fairy tale dreams

[CharlesHarris]

The regulations governing Marline VHF on "voluntary ships," meaning noncommercial vessels and pleasure boats not required to be equipped with radio, are more lenient in the US. On inland waters boaters are encouraged to carry a portable VHF to monitor channel 16, and weather and safety bulletins to mariners on Ch. 22A and to use channels 68 and 69 for "noncommercial public correspondence." Such use is "permitted by rule" and presumes that the radios will be used properly, no illegal activity, "be an adult and play nice."

In coastal waters, bays and the Great Lakes 25 watt VHF radios may be used by pleasure boaters without a licence, subject to the same "permit by rule." Use of marine radios on land is strongly discouraged and post 9/11 the FCC, Homeland Security, FAA and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service have become quite adept at locating and identifying illegal transmissions, capturing oscilloscope traces to "RFID fingerprint" specific units and take action against wildcat taxicab companies, etc., which resulted in civil asset forfeitures.