Marine radio transmit

[junojoe]

I have checked with many threads. but do not see my unique (probably) issue. The Ray Marine will transmit and receive weather, but no other radio traffic. From distances, others can hear me, but I cannot hear their call back. Any help is appreciated.

[Paul Elliott]

You are going to have to provide more information before we know where to start.

* Is this a VHF radio? What model #?
* What do you mean by "transmit weather"?
* Confirm that you can hear the weather (WX-1, WX-2, WX-3 in the USA)
* Have you tried adjusting your squelch control when receiving other boats?
* What channels have you tried?

[junojoe]

Others boats can hear when I transmit, but I cannot hear when they call back. The only thing I can pick up is the weather channels which come thru very clearly. I have adjusted the squelch and still nothing

[donradcliffe]

You are not alone. I had this problem with an Icom handheld. Time for a new radio.

[pcmm]

What is your squelch set to? turn it all the way down until you hear static, then turn it just enough to stop the static. see if the problem still exists

[ka4wja]

Joe,
Thanks for somewhat clarifying...but you haven't really given us much (haven't answered Paul's questions...)
My first guess (can't do more than that, because we have no info to base our thoughts on) is bad radio....second guess is, bad coaxial cable / connectors....third guess, bad antenna...
(Usually these things turn out to be a combination of all 3...but bad cable/connectors still reigns as the #1 problem!!)

Originally Posted by junojoe

Others boats can hear when I transmit, but I cannot hear when they call back. The only thing I can pick up is the weather channels which come thru very clearly. I have adjusted the squelch and still nothing

1) First and foremost, where are you located?? (US, UK, EU, Aus, Japan, etc. etc. St. Augustine, Annapolis, Los Angeles, etc. etc.)
Going to assume US, as you mention "weather reception", but where???

Where is your boat??? (marina, mooring, house, etc. etc.)
Going to assume marina??

Where do you sail??? (Chpk Bay, San Fran, Bahamas, New Zealand, Eastern Med, etc. etc.)
???

Have you tested this only in marina? only at sea? both?
Have you tested with more than one "other boat", and at more than one location??
Have you tried SeaTow's Automated Radio Check system?? (in the US ONLY)
https://www.seatow.com/tools-and-edu...ed-radio-check

Have you tested this radio system with everything else on-board turned off/disconnected?? And done so when away from other boats??
Do you have any LED light fixtures near the VHF antenna, near its coaxial cabling, or near the VHF radio itself?? (are these "new", and/or "internet-sourced" / "made-in-China")

What radio do you have??
How old is it??
Have you personally ever used it and had it work perfectly?? (someone else telling you so, is not what I'm asking) And, when was that?
When was the last time the radio worked perfectly??

What boat are you sailing??? Sail or power?? Size, year, etc.??

Where is you VHF antenna located??? Mast top, cabin top, etc???
What type of antenna is it?? Brand, model, size, etc.
How old is it??

How long of run is the coax cable between radio and antenna???
What type/size is this coax cable??
How old is this cable and connectors??
Are there any splices in this cable?? Including connectors at the mast step in the bilge??
Have you checked the integrity of all of the coax connectors??

How far away are you from these "weather stations"??
How far away are these "other boats"??

Can you hear the guy on the boat in the slip next to you??
If not, buy a new radio...new antenna...and all new coax and connectors (and do NOT use the crappy "Shakespeare" connectors!)



If you can answer all of the above, completely....and with as much detail as possible...we should be able to help you out....
But, without that info....well, it's all going to be guessing!


BTW, if your radio, coaxial cable/connectors, and antenna, are more than 8 - 10 years old, and you're in the US....just pony-up and buy a new radio, new cable/connectors, and new antenna....and either keep the old as spares, or determine what parts of them work, and sell that on Criagslist!
You'll probably be out a net couple hundred at best...and you'll have reliable VHF comms!


I hope this helps...

Fair winds...

John

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by junojoe

...The Ray Marine will transmit and receive weather, but no other radio traffic......

It will receive weather, however since the issue is reception its moot anyway.

Originally Posted by junojoe

.... From distances, others can hear me, but I cannot hear their call back.

Can you clarify 'from distances'? Does this mean it works close range?

A vessel far enough away could hear you if you are set to 'HIGH', however if they are set to 'LOW' you might not hear their response.

Or you might be at just the right distance where their antennae can pick you up, but you can't pick them up.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by ka4wja

Joe,
Thanks for somewhat clarifying...but you haven't really given us much (haven't answered Paul's questions...) ...

Great set of questions. I'd add one other:

Is you radio set to use US or International channels and what channel(s) you are trying to send/receive on?

(Ok, that's two )

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by StuM

Great set of questions. I'd add one other:

Is you radio set to use US or International channels and what channel(s) you are trying to send/receive on?

(Ok, that's two )

Yep, that occurred to me as well, Stu... a mixup with duplex vs simplex channels, or possibly just trying to go boat to boat on duplex frequencies. Happens all the time down here in Tasmania, where the local maritime radio service has a duplex working channel and folks keep trying to do boat to boat on it

Jim

[junojoe]

Thanks everyone for the input. The radio is 12 years old. With the feedback, its time to shell out a few hundred for a new one.

[Shrew]

Well, ok. I'm not sure how you arrived at that conclusion. There seem to be more questions than answers. Best of luck, I guess.

[ka4wja]

Well, Joe....
You're very welcome..

But, not sure a new radio will solve your problem (cuz none of us know the answers to any of the questions we asked you)

Originally Posted by junojoe

Thanks everyone for the input. The radio is 12 years old. With the feedback, its time to shell out a few hundred for a new one.

But, if you don't mind a suggestion from a fellow sailor (and someone that has made my living running my own electronics firm), in the future please provide as much info as you can and this will allow you to get much better info back!!
I mean, we still have no idea what radio you have, nor where you are at, etc....

(and yes, Stu I also thought of the "US/INT" switch, but ch. 16 is the same everywhere and I had to assume he tried that, but since he provided no real info to us, it's a guess!


Fair winds..

John

[junojoe]

Gentlemen

I am in the Chesapeake Bay. Its An older Ray Marine. I just replaced the chord to the microphone. The distance that others can hear me is far. But I cannot hear anything other than weather. Which is really clear. Does this help

[Shrew]

So people can hear your broadcast when you are closer to them?

That is really the key piece of the puzzle here. Does it not broadcast at all, or just not beyond a certain distance?

[junojoe]

I am not certain of the distance, but if I had to make a guess, I would say that maybe its not very far. Mile or so, but cannot be certain because I cannot hear them back with a radio check. I fumbled with the connection to the radio for the antenna and did get someone saying they heard me. I went out an bought a new connection to splice into the wire, but it appears it needs to be melted into the connection. Not sure how to do that, so I did not try. Certainly do not want to blow the boat up.