Every Ham Shack Needs A Marine Radio - Retevis RM-20

[@n2dabloo]

I just purchased this radio for my 6 metre fishing/pleasure boat. Thanks for the detailed review. Cheers from Alabama

[@bigwill4423]

I always carry a baofeng in the glove box in my car and have a couple of the marine channels programmed into it so I can listen in to vts and pilot boats etc when I'm near the coast. Great fun and an interesting video Lewis! 😎😎😎👍

[@michaelcarey]

I've got an Icom VHF Marine radio in my shack. Living in a city that is known for its seafood and fishing industry, there is always something happening on air. We also have VHF Marine repeaters in Australia which are used a central meeting spot for professional fishing and recreational boating.

[@VickyGeagan]

We used to have them in the USA for ship to shore telephone. With modern technology they are slowly getting phased out. Also we no longer need a license to use them except for commercial vessels, and they need to be re-certified every ten years. The requirement to use a marine radio is it has to be used on or near the water.

[@dw7920]

I've got the marine channels programmed into my TTI scanner as we live close to the coast and it's always an interesting band to listen in on. Always plenty going on and occasionally you'll hear the Lifeboat and Coastguard mobile crews, as well as the Coastguard helicopter on occasions.

[@JuliettWhiskeyNiner]

Funny you have posted this Lewis! Just got back from Gibraltar - took my scanner and had pre-programmed it with different banks for different uses - so ship-ship, SAR, Port Ops, Other, on board, etc with 16 in every bank. Probably every channel was in use at some point - between Tangiers, Spain and Gib, they have to agree on channels to use! Set up a Gib-specific bank and it was constant with pilotage, bunker barges, small boats and of course the Spanish navy/customs being told to get out of British Gibraltar waters on 16! It was really an experience!

[@davidweatherill5472]

I did the RYA VHF exam a couple of years ago, You do the course and someone comes in to take the exam all on the same day. I’m not a regular boater but I bought myself a cheap marine handheld to enhance my enjoyment when I’m near the coast. With my rooftop antenna plugged into my scanner I can pick up transmissions from a port about 10 miles from my home

[@ispi_video_photo]

Marine traffic always alive in Gosport, with Portsmouth QHM and Southamon VTS among others.

[@VickyGeagan]

FYI, in the USA operating a marine radio does not require a license It was discontinued a few years ago. The only requirement is that to operate it you need to be on the water. Their are also specific channels for different operations. Commercial vessels have to be licensed, and the equipment has to be re-certified every ten years. Marine channel 9 is used for non commercial recreation boating calling. Marine Channel 16 is used for commercial vessel calling and emergency calling. Commercial calling requires a license. As well as all HF offshore marine radios require a licenses to transmit on.

[@Bartok_J]

Thames Valley Repeater Group had a batch of Key 3000 and 4000 radios they were selling at local rallies for £20. They were pre-programmed for 2m but easily reprogrammed: I bought two and have one programmed up for Marine Band and the other for 2m.

[@RedLink27]

Where I'm at, there's a fair amount to listen to. With the main industry being fishing and a busy wharf nearby, there's a good amount of local traffic. Mainly hear whale watching tours, harbour management, and routine coastguard operations. During the winter you often hear conversations between the lobster boats and sometimes in the morning on a weekend you'll hear the old timers shootin' the shit on 68. Occasionally you'll get 'freebanders' but most people around here seem to respect the band. I can hear the USCG in Maine when the weather's right too. Great radios to have in coastal areas.

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks Lewis

[@matteofazio7845]

I live on the Alps. Thanks for the advice but i don't really need a marine radio in my shack lol

[@mrbyamile6973]

My thoughts also, I'm in the US state of Colorado, located in the middle of the country. I'm over a 1000 miles (1600 Kilometers) from any large body of water/ocean.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

Voi abita nel Italia ?

[@matteofazio7845]

@@baronedipiemonte3990 i do

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

@@matteofazio7845 I thought as much from "the Alps" but you never know. I'm in the U.S. VHF Marine won't be of much use to you, but depending on your altitude, you might have good reception. Distinti Saluti !

[@jamesmahoney6009]

I lived on the east coast Hornsea 10 miles south of Bridlington just moved to Harworth near Blyth on the A1 North Notts...but every Sunday there was a net on 157.850 just like cb... now listen t9 D9ncaster Sheffield Airport 6 miles away 9n 126.225 end stops ..another great video Lewis👍👍

[@jmr]

I'm going to have to explore marine radio a bit more. I haven't heard a lot of marine traffic in the past but I might be able to get traffic from two countries. We get fairly regular Ham radio contacts from boaters checking into our nets during the summer. Most don't want to stay long because that's not what they are on the boat for.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

It's NOT a government secret and to be honest I don't know if a license is required, but in the U.S. there's four (4) UHF channels specifically for Intraship (within the ship) and ship to port/dock/wharf so that the VHF Marine channels are less clogged, and because of better signal penetration of steel and concrete. 457.600, 457.575, 457.550, 457.525.... but one would have to be almost in perfect line of sight to hear those comms. At one time Yaesu Standard Horizon made a couple of UHF Marine Hts. Now they make a couple of dual band VHF Marine/400-470 Hts (30-40 UHF LMR channels) that requires the factory, distributor, or someone with the software to program. Cobra did make a VHF Marine HT with GMRS. Icom currently produces a VHF Marine HT with the ability to have 100 VHF 136-174MHZ freqs. It's not cheap... going for as much as $500 for an Intrinsically Safe version. It's not much larger than a 100 size pack of smokes

[@jmr]

​@@baronedipiemonte3990 Still for sale by the way. Cobra MR-HH450 DUAL Combination Marine and GMRS Radio

[@morethan4mph]

This could be a game changer in the kayak. I often find a handheld struggles but this with a proper antenna on the back deck could make a real difference, especially when paddling in through Liverpool where the handheld often gets lots in the VTS section.

[@researchcapt]

Handhelds can go up to 6 watts. That is enough power to get the attention of another vessel over a mile away but not past 2 miles. Don't expect non-professionals to be monitoring CH 16 or any channel for that matter. VTS is probably not interested in dealing with a call from a kayak unless you are in immediate danger. They are concerned with commercial traffic. I see your pic. Get yourself an orange, yellow or fluorescent green lifejacket. Paint your hull one of those three colors as well, as well as your paddles.

[@morethan4mph]

@@researchcapt Hi, Mersey VTS have ALWAYS asked us to use VHF when transiting their traffic zone, especially in kayaks. We are generally instructed to notify our position every 30 minutes or passing specific buoys. In one case they waited for us to pass a dock before releasing a large vessel to the main channel. Holyhead CG do monitor 16, but you are right that most vessels don’t. I have had issues with 5W handhelds not making contact, but fixed radios with full quarterwaves, even at sea level, have had no problem. As for your suggestions of being brightly coloured, yea that can help but generally kayaks keep outside traffic zones or where vessels are constrained by draught. The picture shows coastal surfing in very safe conditions. For things like crossing the Irish Sea where large and fast vessels are encountered then bright colours are certainly the order of the day. Of course, a PLB is always carried in addition to VHF and, although rarely, kayaks have responded and provided assistance with mayday calls, many of us are quite highly trained in first aid and some of us in communications.

[@damiengirvan5020]

@@morethan4mph you should make videos.... I'd love to see someone cross the Irish sea in a kayak.... I didn't know people did that.... Very interesting....

[@morethan4mph]

@@damiengirvan5020 I can’t find an Irish Sea crossing but here is Demitri crossing North Sea - he has done it more than once! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaqVq4yOnMiohtE

[@damiengirvan5020]

@@morethan4mph cool..... Thanks man....

[@finderskeepers5343]

Yeah I monitor the more active local marine channels and the US Coast Guard. The Great Lake of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Always make for interesting listening during the warmer months here in the US. Rochester, NY.

[@MrGuzzi1100]

The Yeasu FT4E is also a great little scanner for the marine channels because the option of allocating frequencies to "bands" allows you to scan just the marine channels. I always take it with me whenever I am by the coast, mostly just to monitor the harbour control for interesting arrivals or emergency services on coastguard.

[@russellrattys6581]

Agreed! im not a radio ham, but i have noticed the difference between scanners and genuine on-band transceivers, i was at my local airport, with my scanner, talking to a friend that worked there, who had an atc walkie talkie on his belt, the tower made a call to an aircraft, both our radios chirped up at the same time, the aircraft answered, his radio chirped up, but my scanner remained silent theres so many variables with scanners, that a radio thats made specifically for that purpose i would say is better he told me that day, the reason he heard the call from the aircraft when i didnt, was due to my scanner antenna not being tuned correctly to that band, and obviously his was, which i agree on, scanners antennas are more for broad spectrum, so attenuate certain signals if im not mistaken, by being the wrong length? and seeing as you cant carry hundreds of antennas around with you, nor connect hundreds of antennas at the same time, its quite obvious, if your planning on going to an airport and wish to listen to aircraft, take an aircraft radio, if your going to the coast and want to listen to boats, take a marine band radio just dont key up!

[@twohandsandaradio]

Not really... the scanners are going to be faster. The reason you didn't hear the call had nothing to do with the antenna but your scanner wasn't programmed to the correct frequency. They receive on one frequency and transmit on another. Plug that other frequency into your scanner and you're good to go.

[@russellrattys6581]

@@twohandsandaradio my local airport is simplex...

[@dave1secondago]

fantastic vid and info

[@alangiles2763]

I always remember as a lad being fascinated by the adverts in Practical Wireless for Radio Exchange of High Street Bedford - all their radio kits (good looking if plastic), boasted of having in addition to MW/LW/SW the magic words "160 meters (Marine Band). Living not far from the Thames I bought and assembled one of the sets, and spending many happy hours listening -especially at times when all the Light Programme could offer was "Have A Go" with Wilfred Pickles or Max Jaffa & The Palm Court Orchestra at Scarborough. If you are too young to remember those programmes - be grateful.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

The American "Radio Shack" and "Heathkit" (both defunct) used to sell a variety of kits from the simplest of AM broadcast receivers to top drawer HF transceivers. The now also defunct U.S. based amateur radio sales "AES" also sold kits

[@researchcapt]

Marine band VHF is not 160 meters. HF has been replaced with satellite communications.

[@alangiles2763]

@@researchcapt Yes I know David, but it was just an association of ideas in my tiny mind. Reminded me of the times when I lived round near the Thames Estuary

[@Bartok_J]

You obviously had more joy with your Radio Exchange kits than I did. Horrible, unstable TRF things built on tagstrips - absolute rats' nests with performance to match. I had the Pocket Five (the "Trawler Band" was simply tuned by sliding in and out the ferrite rod) and the marginally less awful Roamer 6. If you remember those adverts, you'll also remember the H.A.C. one-valve receivers - a VASTLY superior product that launched many a SWL's, radio amateur's or professional radio operator's career. ☺

[@alangiles2763]

@@Bartok_J I guess I was lucky. I had a "Roamer" and a "Traveller" - no problems and they worked well for many years. I eneral I think the bigger radios were better, a friend of mine had one of the small portables and he wasn't very happy with it

[@ReefMimic]

The problem with marine band antennas is that it is based off the circle of the earth. The antenna is only as good as the height of the antenna. Easily blocked by mountains etc

[@researchcapt]

The antenna is not the problem. It is the wattage, the antenna height and the curvature of the earth at that frequency. There is also the difference between a high gain and a low gain antenna. Atmospheric conditions can also attenuate the transmission and reception.

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

I'm a bit far inland. Lucky if I get anything from Harvey's Lake or Lake Wallenpaupack.

[@Radionut]

I have a very nice marine band mobile and a handheld that I have around just in case. They’ll never been on the water they’ll never be on the water. But just in case for emergency communications I have it

[@Simon-qn5wm]

I am in the West Midlands & can still clearly receive Holyhead Coastguard on the roof mounted X50.

[@JT-py9lv]

The nearest coastline to me is 300 miles away. I don't bother. I do check into a few maritime nets such as 14.300 mhz here in the states.

[@gibbywankenobi66]

Most of my VHF ham equipment will receive marine channels. Since I just listen that is all I need. I also have several scanners that will pick up the marine frequencies. I have no need for a dedicated radio.

[@kevinmcm19]

i could pick up Holyhead coast guard from Strabane in northern Ireland which surprised me i was using a scanner as well

[@jamiemoo2000]

Yep me too and I'm inland quite a way. Think HM Coastguard Station CH.0. 156MHz is 25W RF output on max hi-power.

[@wisteela]

That is a seriously cool looking radio.

[@Subgunman]

Is the microphone fixed or removable? Hopefully the latter, its a good idea to remove microphones on certain radios to prevent accidental transmissions. This way if one happens to be the patsy for an inspection from local or national authorities, the absence of the microphone or disabling the PTT circuit will hopefully provide a safety net against a fine. There are some countries however that make it illegal to monitor most any frequency ( Greece is one fine example ). Whoever wants privacy should instal voice scrambling equipment.

[@2321brendan]

Yes in Australian regs one paragraph says its illegal to own a transmitter capable of transmitting(OPERATING) on a frequency you are not licenced for. Another paragraph says if you own a transmitter that can tx on unlic freq. Then it must be made unable to tx on those freqs. Taking a mike out and locking it in a drawer should be enough if you are a responsible person and dont be a dick on the radios. (amateurs are subject to Random station checks)So technically here ,you should not own a vhf transmitter if unlicenced. However you can use one in an emergency. I own a handheld for yacht charter holidays. I believe an exemption for yacht charterers to use vhf without lic is in place. I also kayak , so best be doing the $200 course and test soon!

[@Nick_G7IZR]

No UK channel setting? If not, there won't be any marina channels M1 and M2

[@Broadercasting]

Nice image of the Great Orme at :39

[@boilerroombob]

I've always thought a dedicated mb transceiver was a great idea Lewis Nice vid m8

[@rjy8960]

A few years back I was in the bath chatting on 2m so decided I should use /MM :)

[@proudsnowtiger]

Try finding Channel 0, though.

[@matambale]

I'm so far inland (Colorado) that it's just not a need here. Of course I can tune in marine frequencies, but there's nothing to be heard unless we get some bodacious E-Skip.

[@cockula776]

No hunters using the marine band near you? I hope that trend stopped

[@timothybrown7792]

Yes VHF marine signals fade away very quickly once you get inland but it does depend on where you live obviously. The channel owner lives in a good location for things like this but for those who live further inland like myself its a waste of time unless atmospheric conditions are exceptional and they would have to be. Iam only 40 miles south of the West Midlands say no more lol

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

The FCC and the Coast Guard go to great extent to discourage unlawful use of VHF Marine on land. The Coast Guard operates the "Rescue 21" system which is operational/pending for coastal zones and navigable waters that are affected by astronomical tide. In my six years in the Coast Guard working with the FCC we made a few seizures and the FCC levied fines.

[@timothybrown7792]

@@baronedipiemonte3990 I believe it can be used legally in the UK on inland waterways

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

@@timothybrown7792 Those would be considered "navigable". Tidal influence can be as little as several millimeters

[@Taylor7668US]

Im looking at getting one lewis if you just want to listen you could scan marine on a baofeng add them using chirp

[@Chiavaccio]

Cool video👍

[@Aron102]

Hello, would I be able to pick up anything on my baofeng ? Off to the Isle of Wight very soon. Great video once again 👍

[@NoddyAlba]

Should be able to as marine is 157 to 168 just above air band 😉

[@pulsar9716]

Dose it have Ch0 unlocked?

[@mikejmardis]

In the US, it is illegal to transmit from the land . No license necessary to transmit from a boat.

[@researchcapt]

Station license required for commercial vessels.

[@rogers8472]

Will this cover channel 0, heard Holyhead calling Rhyl which they would only normally do on channel 0 .

[@nandrews8412]

In the USA no license is needed unless you are operating (transmitting) from land as a cost station. At sea all channel use rules still apply.

[@jmr]

I believe you are correct but marine radio traffic is basically all about getting something done here in the US. There isn't any rag chewing that I'm aware of. Meeting someone somewhere or a fishing report is the closest to a rag chew I can think of. Even that has a purpose beyond talking for fun. Not that you mentioned rag chews but I thought the dry nature of it was worth mentioning (pun not intended but I'm keeping it).

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

To get a Marine Coastal Station License, you need to have a d*mn good reason to put on your license application. And you will get a phone call from an FCC engineer. It's somewhat easier if you already have an MROP (which IS a written exam), but no guarantee. Apply knowing that you better be able to give an account of yourself.

[@jmr]

@@baronedipiemonte3990 My understanding is that was meant for organizations such as but not limited to those that ran docks and government institutions with a need. Is that accurate? The rules I saw were a little unclear but I seem to remember calling in to a place we docked for a business on a river. It also seems like a restaurant was taking orders over the radio years ago. I can't swear it was in marine though.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

@@jmr My knowledge of this stems from six years US Coast Guard Port Security and Investigations. Examples of approved local, state, and federal organizations would be Army Corps of Engineers, State and City Port Control, Including Port and Harbor Police. Private business would be "mechanical rescue" eg marine version of the AAA. A restaurant taking carry out orders over the radio would find the fines enough to put them out of business. There are a few other legit marine services businesses that would qualify for a license, but I'm not going to spill the beans here. Bait shops and jet ski rental is NOT a good reason to be granted a license. Hope that helps.

[@nandrews8412]

@@baronedipiemonte3990 My only experience with land based was mobile. A friends parents had marine mag mounts on 2 of their vehicles. When I questioned him knowing it was basically not allowed I was informed of their volunteer emergency work. They may have been Red Cross affiliated.

[@emanuelsanchez3762]

Is there something like noaa for Europe areas?

[@umakanthbojanapalli3240]

Your contain information very use full knowledge andi

[@davidhooper1767]

What is the best power supply for this radio?

[@jaimz33]

Channel zero is coastguard emergency channel

[@buzzsah]

By chance, do you have any mods to open all the channels?

[@jjhendo]

Is it better than scanning the marine band on a scanner?

[@gibbywankenobi66]

I don't see how it would be. And with a scanner you can listen to other frequencies.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

No

[@spexmaniacuk]

Probably not as you can program the scanner to pick up the coast guard ops frequency that a marine radio won't.

[@ericfriend5550]

Marine radios TX power ranges from 1 watt to 25 watts switchable.

[@wigglepig115]

Marine VHF radios up to 25W yes but MF/HF are permitted to use much higher outputs (LRC required.)

[@researchcapt]

Mounted radio. Handhelds, 1 watt up to 6 watts.

[@wigglepig115]

@@researchcapt Well yes, of course.

[@richardmillican7733]

You don't get "Channel Zero" on marine vhf radios. Very interesting frequency to monitor as it's primarily used by the coastguard, RNLI and search and rescue. Obtaining a licence for Marine vhf is relatively easy. Channel zero is a duplex channel (rx 160.400 and tx 156.000)

[@sarkybugger5009]

Channel 0 is a simplex channel on 156.0 Mhz, not Duplex. The RYA short range exam is easy, but it's quite expensive. National Coastwatch Institute paid for mine, back when I was a volunteer.

[@richardmillican7733]

@@sarkybugger5009 I've got "Zero" programmed into a couple of baofengs, it is called "Zero" because of the .000, it's loads in as a duplex with a 4.600 offset. I've also manually placed both 156.0 and 160.6 and heard both sides of a conversation. My error in my original comment was the "160.4" should've read 160.6. I live in Cemaes Bay on Anglesey, and used to work for Holyhead Shipping Agency. Right next door to Holyhead coastguard. Incidentally Holyhead radio have a simplex station at 156.700 (marine Ch 14) they're effectively Holyheads VTS

[@philbridgesUK]

Channel Zero is definItely a simple channel and always has been - founder NCI Calshot and ex-HMCG

[@sarkybugger5009]

@@philbridgesUK Thanks, Phil. I thought I was correct. Former Folkestone watchkeeper. Wish I could still get up the hill... 😥

[@philbridgesUK]

@@richardmillican7733 Hi Richard, the reason you may have heard traffic on 160.600 is that that's Channel 99, a simplex channel sometimes used by HMCG for training and/or as an overflow when only HMCG themselves are working an incident

[@jamiemoo2000]

Only an idiot would randomly Tx on a Marine band transceiver, for no legitimate reason. Like owning /possessing an VHF Airband transceiver and randomly 'keying up' on it. I had an ICOM A24 for Airband monitoring. Never touched the pTT ever.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Look outside. Idiots everywhere.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

And there's no shortage of them. The FCC/Federal Criminal Courts regularly fine and/or imprison people for purposely interfering with Public Safety comms... anything from verbal abuse/hoax to just keying the repeater

[@researchcapt]

Some channels are designated for just blabbing away...CH 68 for example. You are still required to use proper radio rules.

[@Johnyrocket70]

Baefengs have those frequencies.

[@RingwayManchester]

I know… I told you in the first minute

[@shanerorko8076]

Here in Australia marine licences aren't that hard to obtain.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Neither are drivers licenses it seems 🤣

[@Beanie1984]

Would it not be quicker to phone 999? When you call that number a silent text message is sent with your longitude and latitude.

[@HarrySwettenham26]

No, a marine radio is quicker as it notifies the Coastguard of your position and issue. You also follow up with a voice message stating either mayday (urgent assistance required, boat sinking, medical emergencies, man overboards) or Pan Pan (assistance is required but not urgent at the moment, examples of this could be engine problems but your not in danger of running aground). The quickest help is the vessels already on the water in your vicinity, they can get on scene in a few minutes where it could take the RNLI 20 minutes to get on scene due to distance from their boat house. If you call 999 (or 112), no vessels in the vicinity will know you're in distress because you didn't put a VHF call out and it could take 20 minutes for the RNLI to arrive. Your boat could be smashed onto the rocks by this point and the crew in the water, possibly injured as they have been put onto the rocks as well. Marine VHF is a great tool and should be used as it will save peoples lives but a phone is a great backup in case, for any reason. Your VHF equipment is damaged.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

And unless you are within a proper distance, offshore cell service is unreliable. When I served in the U.S. Coast Guard in the 1990s, cellular service along parts of the lower Mississippi River was totally unreliable (as were the Motorola "bricks") to the point where we purchased our own Icom Marine handhelds. I understand that currently, in some EU countries that VHF Marine radios are sold with the MMSI number already programmed and it's automatically registered upon purchase. And for all the radios, once an initial MMSI is entered into the radio, it can only be changed by the factory/ someone authorized to have the software. And more radios are coming from the factory with AIS (Automated Identification System) which is similar to an aviation transponder. In busy ports, the US Coast Guard operates VTS (Vessel Traffic System) using AIS on the ship's radio in a manner similar to Air Traffic Control

[@researchcapt]

@@HarrySwettenham26 Setup your MMSI first so they know who you are.

[@wam2610]

👍

[@nicklikesradio]

So... scanner... program for marine...

[@justinperritt7035]

They cant track vhf radio users radios !

[@RingwayManchester]

Says who??