UHF / GMRS / CB / Marine Radio

USCG District 14, Hawaii/Guam

District 14 Website

UHF and GMRS Frequencies

Name Frequency Notes

White Dot 465.575 MHz GMRS

Black Dot 462.625 MHz GMRS

Orange Dot 462.675 MHz GMRS

Brown Dot 464.500 MHz Itinerant

Yellow Dot 464.550 MHz Itinerant

Silver Star 467.850 MHz

Gold Star 467.875 MHz

Red Star 467.900 MHz

Blue Star 467.925 MHz

469.500 MHz

469.550 MHz

GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICE:

GMRS is licensed 15 channels ( 1 - 7 & 15 - 22 ) limited to 50 watts with FM voice. GMRS requires a no-test license, obtainable with an application and fee. GRMS can provide greater base to mobile range with far less interference then CB and FRS. The costs may be higher but a base station with external antenna and repeaters are allowed with GRMS. Unless you plan to use a higher powered base station or repeater I see no reason to obtain a GMRS license.

Citizens' Band Radio

Citizens' Band radio (often shortened to CB radio) is a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-MHz (11 m) band. The CB radio service is distinct from FRS, GMRS, MURS, or amateur ("ham") radio. CB does not require a license in the United States and, unlike amateur radio, it may be used for business as well as personal communications. Like many other two-way radio services, Citizens' Band channels are shared by many users.

CITIZENS BAND: ( CB ) Unlicensed 40 channels limited to 4 watts for AM or 12 watts for SSB voice modulation. If you decide to use CB install a good base station antenna. Every vehicle used during a disaster should be equipped with a CB radio. A good base station has a range of 10 miles or more. A big disadvantage of CB is interference and lack of security.

CB could be used to communicate with nearby sites or groups. Every site monitors the national emergency channel 9 ( 27.065 MHz ). Place a call on channel 9 using tactical call signs or handles. If the conversation lasts longer than a few seconds move to another [pre-arranged] channel. When the call is finished all sites return to monitoring channel nine.

The maximum legal CB power output level, in the U.S., is four watts for AM and 12 watts (peak envelope power or "PEP") for SSB, as measured at the antenna connection on the back of the radio. However, illegal external linear amplifiers are frequently used. In the 1970s the FCC banned the sale of linear amplifiers capable of operation from 24 to 35 MHz to discourage their use on the CB band, though the use of high power amplifiers by lawless pirate operators continued. Late in 2006 the FCC amended the regulation to only exclude 26 to 28 MHz. Extremely lax enforcement of these regulations by the FCC has led to manufacturers of illegal linear amplifiers openly advertising their products for sale, and many CB dealers carry these and other amplifiers in their product lines and include them in catalogs.

Rules and regulations for CB operations can be found here.

Marine VHF Radio

Operating procedure

The accepted conventions for use of marine radio are collectively termed "proper operating procedure." These conventions include:

• • Listening for 2 minutes before transmitting

  • Using Channel 16 only to establish communication (if necessary) and then switch to a different channel

  • using a set of international "calling" procedures such as the "Mayday" distress call, the "Pan-pan" urgency call and "Securité" navigational hazard call.

  • using "pro-words" based on the English language such as Acknowledge, All after, All before, All stations, Confirm, Correct, Correction, In figures, In letters, Over, Out, Radio check, Read back, Received, Repeat, Say again, Spell, Standby, Station calling, This is, Wait, Word after, Word before, Wrong

  • using the NATO phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu

  • using a phonetic numbering system based on the English language: Wun, Too, Tree, Fow-er, Fife, Six, Sev-en, Ait, Nin-er, Zero, Decimal

Slightly adjusted regulations can apply for inland shipping, such as the Basle rules in Western Europe.

Marine VHF radio is sometimes illegally operated inland. Since enforcement is often the job of the local coast guard, enforcement away from the water is sometimes difficult.

Hawaii Marine Radio Frequencies

Aloha Tower/Marine Traffic Control:

Channel 12 (156.60 MHz)

Intl. Hailing & Emergency Frequency:

Channel 16 (156.800 MHz)

NOAA Weather Radio Network:

(Hilo, Honolulu): 162.550 MHz

(All other areas): 162.400 MHz

High-Frequency (HF) Single Sideband:

7080 kHz

Coast Guard Medium-Frequency (MF) Sideband:

2670 kHz

Citizens Band (CB) Radio:

Channels 9 and 23

Emergency Assistance and Vital Services Numbers:

Hyperbaric Treatment Center - Bends Treatment

(Oahu) 24-Hrs 587-3425

Oil and Hazardous Material Spills

Coast Guard (Oahu) 522-8260

24-Hrs. 927-0830

National Response Center

Toll Free 1-800-424-8802

Chemical & Oil Spill Reporting

Dept. of Health (Oahu) 586-4249

After Hours 247-2191

Time Tick

(WWVH Coordinated Universal Time) 471-6363

Harbor Police Dispatch:

Oahu 587-2076

Kauai 245-6996

Maui 877-5713

Marine Emergencies/Search & Rescue

Nearshore 0-3 miles (fire rescue) 911

Offshore 3-200 miles (Coast Guard) 1-800-552-6458

Offshore 200+ miles (Coast Guard) 1-800-331-6176

Coast Guard Toll-free cellular phone: *USCG (*8724)

Civil Defense

Oahu 523-4121

Maui 243-7285

Hawaii 935-0031

Kauai 241-6336

USCG Site for Marine Frequencies

Maritime Information (Navigation Center - NAVCEN)