Coast Station WLO/KLB returning to the-air (but may have different callsign)

[Jammer]

Thanks, John.


Is there a list of the public MF/HF coast stations still in service worldwide?

[ka4wja]

Jammer,
You're welcome!

Originally Posted by Jammer

Thanks, John.

Is there a list of the public MF/HF coast stations still in service worldwide?

And, yes there are lists of coast stations...and if venturing offshore you should have them written down (and/or their MMSI's stored into your radio's memory)

{Of course, you will need a modern MF/HF-DSC-SSB radiotelephone....such as the Icom M-802, in order to signal / call them...
(or if equipped with a 24vdc electrical system, you could choose the much more expensive, and fully-GMDSS-compliant MF/HF-DSC-SSB Radiotelephones from Sailor, Thrane&Thrane, Furuno, JRC, etc..) }

The problem is that even though the GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) has been with us now since the 1990's (established in 1992, modified in mid 90's, and fully implemented by Feb 1999), with 162 nations signed on, and 1000's and 1000's of SOLAS-grade merchant ships compliant with some part of the GMDSS, plying the world's oceans...
(also, in the US, no fixed-mount maritime radios have been certified for sale in the US now for the last 19 years, without DSC capability...)
Even with all of that over the past 20 years, many US-based sailors have been told little about the GMDSS, and therefore unfortunately are not too conversant in the GMDSS...

So...

So, back to your question...

Yes, there are lists....

And, aside from WLO/Shipcom, Brunei Bay Radio, Monaco Radio, Non-Gov't / Private Australian HF Networks, etc. (and a few other private / non-gov't stations)...most of the rest of the MF and HF Coast Stations worldwide are part of the GMDSS (whether "shared stations" doing both "public correspondence"/ telephone/teletype comms and "safety/distress" comms....or simply dedicated GMDSS stations providing "safety/distress" comms)

ShipCom LLC :: Marine HF Radiotelephone and HF Single SideBand Email
Brunei Bay Radio - HF/SSB radio email for isolated locations in SE Asia, the North West Pacific and Indian Oceans. The low-cost and reliable alternative to satellite email for isloated or remote locations, islands, communities, tourism, conservation,
http://www.naya.mc/fr/frequence-radio.cfm

HF-oZ Home Page • Future Systems Future Systems
https://vks737.radio/


The main lists that I use, are from the GMDSS Master Plan (which I download an updated version, as needed), and/or from the USCG...

But, to be clear these stations (approx 85 HF-DSC coast stations worldwide, and approx 450 MF-DSC coast stations worldwide) are part of the GMDSS, and therefore are either located with/in that nation's Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) or linked directly to it...and many of these coast stations are for "safety" or "distress" comms, not "public service" (public telephone or teletype) comms...although some (like Olympia Radio in Greece), still do HF Voice public correspondence comms, many are dedicated GMDSS stations doing "safety"/"distress" comms....
But, whichever....you will still need a MF/HF-DSC-SSB Radio to signal/call them via DSC....and then SSB Voice comms will be done on other freqs...

{note that most of the MF-DSC (2mhz) stations in the 3rd world areas are in fact "public service" comms stations that also do duty as part of their nation's GMDSS service for "safety" and "distress" comms....but, as has been written about here on Cruiser's Forum (and SSCA, as well as other sites) it is an unfortunate fact that many of these 3rd-world nation MF coast stations (and their search and rescue abilities, and communications capabilities in entirity) are not all that reliable....
(see discussion on this topic here....a recent one dealing with the unfortunate lack of response to an EPIRB signal off of the Philippines, resulting in the death of an Australian, who died in life raft....) }

So...
So, while having 2mhz MF-DSC (2187.5khz DSC) capability is important to signaling other vessels in your area, as well as HF-DSC to do the same and signal coast stations, the simple fact is that most offshore sailors / cruisers will not have too much need for signaling a 2mhz / MF Coast Station....(so, I generally do not include them in my discussions of DSC Coast Stations)

Also, please take note that Australia never had any 2mhz/HF capability, instead using HF (4, 6, 8, 12, and 16mhz) to cover all of the waters of their responsibility....and since 2013, the US has done the same --- USCG discontinued all 2mhz/MF operations....and like Australia, declared no SeaArea A2 at all....just SeaArea A1, A3, and A4...
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=cgcommsCall

So, again....having 2187.5khz DSC is important to connect with other vessels in your immediate area (as are 4207.5khz; 6312.0khz; 8414.5khz), it is usually going to be 8mhz or 12mhz for the longer-range connections to coast stations, with 4mhz, 6mhz, and 8mhz, for the more regional communications paths...

Quotes from US Pub 117, and USCG SAR Manuals, might be helpful:

DSC allows mariners to instantly send an automatically

formatted distress alert by one touch of a button to rescue

authorities and vessels anywhere in the world.

Digital selective calling also allows mariners to initiate, receive or

relay calls to or from any similarly equipped vessel

or shore station, without requiring either party to be near a

radio loudspeaker. [meaning no "Voice radio watch needed"]

Coordination. DSC is unique in that distress communications are initiated by digital data bursts that are widely distributed, but all follow-up communications after initial
acknowledgement are typically handled by voice.

As for a list of coast stations, you can see that list in the GMDSS Master Plan...

https://www.iho.int/mtg_docs/com_wg/CPRNW/WWNWS_Publications_&_Documents/English/GMDSS_Circ22.pdf


Just 2 weeks ago, when helping Charlie troubleshoot a radio transmission problem, I suggested that he also check his DSC transmission/reception...and with him being in the Canary Islands, I looked up the stations and gave him their MMSI#'s...

Originally Posted by ka4wja

6) You should also verify the DSC transmission / reception functions...
I assume you DO have a DSC receive antenna connected to the your M-802??

Have you made DSC contact with other vessels and/or coast stations??

Your regional Sea Area A2 MF-DSC stations in Canary Islands use
MMSI# 002241026 (on MF-DSC on 2187.5khz DSC)
That would be an easy contact to make...

And, of course you can also try other vessels on DSC...both MF-DSC and HF-DSC...

Originally Posted by ka4wja

or try Madrid on HF-DSC (8414.5 or 12577), at MMSI# 002241078.
Or anyone of > 80 HF-DSC coast stations world wide???

Please be aware that All GMDSS DSC signaling to/from any GMDSS coast station (of which there are 162 nations signed-on....and 100's of these stations) or any GMDSS equipped vessel (all SOLAS vessels are required to have such equipment)....
All of these DSC calls will be on one of the six int'l GMDSS DSC freqs =
2187.5khz
4207.5khz
6312.0khz
8414.5khz
12577.0khz
16805.5khz

Of course, for "Distress" signaling, these go out to everyone, so you do not need to enter a station's MMSI#....
But, if you require some specific assistance other than "distress", then it is best to signal a specific station....although, I do still occasionally get "all-ships" Safety Calls (what we'd call a "Securite" call)...

And, an FYI....when we talk about 1000's of vessels monitoring....I don't have an exact count of the number of SOAS vessels plying SeaAreas A3 and A4, but according to the IMO, as of 2017 they have 52,183 merchant ships registered for international trade....of course some small number of those would be local/coastal int'l trade, where they'd probably have only VHF-DSC-FM and MF-DSC-SSB....that still leaves many 1000's of ships at sea that are equipped with MF/HF-DSC-SSB...
Now, we all know some will have poorly operating gear, or even non-operational radios...and some might ignore alerts, etc...but, the vast majority of these vessels will have the capability to receive and respond to your DSC call, and they've been so required to do so now for almost 20 years....as have 100's of coast stations worldwide...


Finally, please have a look at these YouTube videos, regarding HF-DSC Comms....they will explain this even better....and take less time...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ga2zYuPozhUXZX


So, Jammer...you thought you'd ask a simple question and get a simple answer, huh??
Well, sorry about the long-winded answer...just wanted to get you the straight scoop...

One last point....please have a look at this thread....'cuz knowing the gist of what's there may save your life someday...
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ds-146617.html


Hope this helps.
Fair winds..

John

[Jammer]

John,


Thank you for the insightful and detailed reply.


I believe I understand the role of HF in GMDSS although your post provides detail and color.


I do continue to ponder the utility of HF for those matters that are not life threatening but nonetheless urgent, including much of the traffic once handled by WLO during its heyday.

[Clamdigger]

For those of you who read this thread and thought, 'what the heck are these guys discussing?' Do yourself a favor and check out sea-tech.com and Richard will gladly answer your electronic questions! I inquired and found him to be extremely helpful. Lots of free useful info for electronic newbies lol!

[ka4wja]

Clamdigger, et al,
I gotta' smile here..
Because Clamdigger did make a nice subtle point....I sort of got off into the weeds a bit, huh?

Originally Posted by Clamdigger

For those of you who read this thread and thought, 'what the heck are these guys discussing?' Do yourself a favor and check out sea-tech.com and Richard will gladly answer your electronic questions! I inquired and found him to be extremely helpful. Lots of free useful info for electronic newbies lol!

So....

So, for those of you that were a bit stymied by the abbreviations and acronyms, like GMDSS, DSC, MF / HF, etc., I've got some basic info for you here, as well as links to very easy-to-understand videos and discussions of these things...
All for free...that you can peruse at your leisure....and if you desire to do so, you can download the videos, store 'em on your computer, and watch them whenever you need to (like when you're in front of your radio and aren't sure what to do)

{FYI, all of the videos are done with layperson sailors as the intended audience, not techo-geeks....so, there may be some repetition or "over-splaining", but if you find that's the case, just simply watch that video (or part of a video) in 2x speed...
Also, please note that all of these videos were made by me alone on-board, LIVE, as it happens, with no script, extemporanaiously...all demonstrations are LIVE as it's happening, in the real world, on-board a real offshore cruising boat (that I had personally sailed across the Atlantic, multiple times), sitting at the dock in S. Florida....
So, please forgive a few abrupt edits, etc...
Hey, it's all Free, after all!!
Thanks...}


For clarification and definitions...

GMDSS = Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
(first implemented in 1992, updated/modified in mid-90's, fully operational Feb 1, 1999)
It establishes the way all SOLAS-grade vessels ("big ships") and all the signatory nations (~ 162) communicate from ship-to-shore, ship-to-ship, shore-to-ship, etc., for all safety and distress matters....as well as establishes procedures for routine communications...

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=GMDSS
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) - CCG - Search and Rescue

Have a look here:
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=cgcommsCall

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ga2zYuPozhUXZX

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ZDo_Jk3NB_Bt1y


And...some further definitions that may help:

SSB = Single-Side-Band = Used to denote typical maritime Voice communications...(although "technically" it's an actual "mode" of communication, most sailors just use "SSB" to refer to Long Range Marine Radio, as to differentiate it from the similar long-range "ham" radio communications)


SSB Radio = MF/HF-DSC-SSB-Radiotelephone....for the past 20 years, this is a MF/HF-DSC-SSB Radiotelephone....such as the Icom M-802....
(in decades long past, "SSB Radio" was just a marine "Voice" radio, but since the implementation of the GMDSS in the 1990's "SSB Radios", are actually "DSC" and "SSB" radios, covering all MF and HF maritime frequencies / channels)

M802 Single Side Band (SSB) - Features - Icom America
Icom SSB Radio Kits & Components


MF = "medium frequency" = Used to denote the "2mhz marine band"

MF-DSC = 2187.5khz (the GMDSS "Safety and Distress" MF-DSC frequency...although other MF-DSC freqs exist for other uses, few are used)

MF-SSB = 2182khz (the GMDSS "Safety and Distress" MF-SSB frequency....although other MF-SSB freqs exist for other uses, and are especially used with many MF Coast Staions)


HF = "high frequency" = Used to denote the majority of the maritime long-range communications frequencies between "4mhz (4000khz)" and "26mhz (26000khz)"....also referred to as "shortwave")

HF-DSC = 4207.5khz; 6312.0khz; 8414.5khz; 12577.0khz; 16804.5khz; are all the GMDSS HF-DSC Safety and Distress Calling freqs....(although other HF-DSC freqs exist for other uses, few are actually used)

HF-SSB = Used to denote typical maritime Voice communications freqs...(although "technically" it's an actual "mode" of communication, most sailors just use "SSB" to refer to Long Range Marine Radio bands/freqs, as to differentiate it from the similar long-range "ham" radio bands/freqs)

4125khz; 6215khz; 8291.0khz; 12290.0khz; 16420.0khz;
Are all the GMDSS HF-SSB Safety and Distress freqs....

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=cgcommsCall

Popular HF-SSB freqs are:
4.146mhz; 4.149mhz; 4.417mhz (4a, 4b, and 4c)
6.224mhz: 6.227mhz; 6.230mhz (6a, 6b, and 6c)
8.294mhz; 8.297mhz (8a and 8b)
{8.176mhz well used as AMSA/BOM offshore weather freq}
12.350mhz;
12.353mhz; 12.356mhz; 12.359mhz (12a, 12b, and 12c))
{12.362mhz and 12.365mhz are well used as AMSA/BOM offshore weather freqs}
16.528mhz: 16.531mhz; 16.534mhz (16a, 16b, and 16c)

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=rtchansi

Some well-used / popular freqs:
8.294mhz: 12.359mhz; 12.350mhz; Offshore / long-range nets and weather reports
4.045mhz; 8.137mhz Regional weather reports
8.104mhz SSCA Net
8.152khz Doo-Dah and Cruiserhiemer's Nets...


USCG HF Voice
NWS Radiofax
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/rfax.pdf
USCG HF SITOR


SSB Nets & Frequencies
Weather-FAX Down-loads & SSB Voice Forecasts


In this YouTube Playlist is an old (1990's) video, video #13...
It shows the GMDSS design....there are a few errors in its narration, and it does show a few devices that are no longer used (but these errors/devices are noted in the explanatory description of the video...

HF-DSC Comms
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ga2zYuPozhUXZX

(I will not post the video here on its own, as these errors would be confusing....I encourage all of you to watch the entire Playlist, so that you will have a complete understanding of the GMDSS and MF/HF-DSC comms)

In a nutshell....regarding the GMDSS:
Many of my fellow sailors use various parts of the GMDSS "system" on their boats today (VHF-DSC-FM Radios, NAVTEX, MF/HF-DSCX-SSB Radios, etc.) and some have more parts that they hope they'll never need to use (EPIRB), but will be glad they have it if need arises...
And, while most find the ~ $3000 cost of INMARSAT-C to be objectional, there are some experienced world cruisers that do have a "sat-C" system on-board, for weather, distress signaling, and 100% reliable low-speed sat comm data...

Parts of the GMDSS system that most find easy/affordable/useful (all within easy reach / affordable parts of the GMDSS for cruising boats...):

--- 406mhz EPIRB's (relatively inexpensive at $300 - $700, and easy to "sell" to cruising sailors..)

--- Marine VHF-DSC-FM (cheap and almost ubiquitous now-a-days...anyone that doesn't have a Class D VHF-DSC, REALLY needs to spend the few hundred dollars now!!!)

--- Marine MF/HF-DSC-SSB (HF-DSC is a VERY robust/reliable means of signaling.....and with reasonable costs of ~ $1800 new, ~ $1000 used, for an Icom M-802 MF/HF-DSC-SSB Radiotelephone....and simple-to-use, robust and reliable...it is an easy "sell", almost a no-brainer!!)

--- NAVTEX (inexpensive and very useful for most coastal sailors and/or those plying the Med, etc., with typical forecasts for waters out to 150 - 200 miles....but in some areas the forecasts are only for the next 24 hours, so other weather sources, such as HF-WeFax are recommended...) (and in US waters, the VHF-based NOAA Weather Radio system is widely used, so NAVTEX hasn't caught on in the US, as it has in Europe and the Far East...)
- WeFax....And while HF WeFax was not adopted officially as part of the GMDSS, according to a 2012 survey by the Joint WMO/JComm group, HF comms, DSC, voice, and data are used daily by a majority of ocean going vessels, and HF wefax being reportedly used daily by > 85% of them....so, for offshore/hi-seas weather info/forecasts beyond the "text" weather info provided via INMARSAT-C and some HF coast stations, HF WeFax still rules as the predominate "1st choice" when offshore, even in 2012, even for large ships / SOLAS vessels....)

--- Please note that while AIS transponders aren't officially part of the GMDSS, they are being considered and evaluated, and soon might be....

--- Further, AIS-SART's (AIS - Search And Rescue Transponders), are (since 2010) a part of the GMDSS....and there are some AIS-SART's GMDSS-certified....and these can replace the larger, more expensive, and less effective "SART" (X-Band Radar SART)...

So, some that have AIS transponders, AIS-MOB systems, or AIS-SART's now, might actually have another part of the GMDSS on-board, already...


Parts of the GMDSS that are a bit more expensive:

--- INMARSAT-C,
While INMARSAT-C might seem to some to be a bit pricey, at ~ $3000 - $3500, is a VERY viable communications tool to have on-board long-range cruising boats...as it gives, thru its FREE "SafetyNet" service, offshore/hi-seas weather info/forecasts (in plain text), position reporting and weather reporting thru NOAA and AMVER, and Distress Signaling....ALL FOR FREE....
NO monthly/annual subscription, NO Fees at all, until/unless you use it to send regular e-mails, and then you're just billed by the character/letter....
(and it is very robust/reliable....many orders of magnitude better than a handheld sat phone!!)


--- INMARSAT Fleet systems (such as F77) are pricey at $15,000 - $20,000 and are big/heavy, and use significant amounts of electrical power....
So, here if cruiser's desire hi-speed data / broadband internet access / etc., Iridium Pilot (and/or the new Iridium Certus system) or INMARSAT FleetBroadband systems (at ~ $4500 - $5000) are usually the typical choices....

--- Please note that some new INMARSAT FB ("Fleet Broadband") systems and Iridium Certus (running on the new IridiumNEXT network) are undergoing testing and are due to be GMDSS certified soon (2019?) and should be available for GMDSS installations in 2020....


--- SART's (X-band radar Search And Rescue Transponders) are reasonably priced at $600 - $800.....but are often over looked by many cruising boats, as they figure a working EPIRB in their liferaft will do them better...
And, if deciding between a second 406mhz EPIRB and a SART, I'd choose the second EPIRB!!! (but, if you're cruising in heavily-trafficked areas, with poor visibility, such as UK/North Sea, etc. then a SART would be a GREAT idea, and I'd recommend one before a second EPIRB...)



For further info / explanation of this topic here, and marine communications and weather services, etc., please have a look here at these YouTube Playlists, and these discussions...

Maritime HF Comm
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ZDo_Jk3NB_Bt1y

HF-DSC Comm
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ga2zYuPozhUXZX

Offshore Weather
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...zdjTJjHlChruyY


Icom M-802 Instruction Videos
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...rC-8QKVyMb4tVr

VHF-DSC
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...J6QugtO2epizxF

Offshore Sailing (just for enjoyment!)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...KgTCj15iyl6qoY


EPIRB's --- how to better understand them --- and how to improve your rescue odds!
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ds-146617.html


DSC Explanation...
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...on-169164.html

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...os-141406.html


Marine SSB Stuff...
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tc-133496.html

Specific to installation
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tc-198305.html



I do hope this helps clear up things?

Fair winds..

John

[ka4wja]

A clarification / correction..

The folks that contacted me, and told me of the plans to bring the Coast Station back on-the-air, are former employees/engineers of Shipcom / WLO...and principals of a new company that are endeavoring to bring "WLO" back, but with a new name and callsign ("Mobile Radio", perhaps?)

This was not altogether clear earlier.
Please note that all of the above info was just what I was told...I have no involvement in this, nor first hand knowledge, other than what I was told by them.

And, while I do wish them well, and am hoping all happens as they describe, so far all of the info they've given is great, but it is just words....and we'll see what actions come...




Fair winds.

John