Can you still make phone calls with VHF

[xluke]

Hello,
Is this service still available? If so, where can I find details about cost, procedures, etc?

Thanks!

[Tingum]

A ting of the past, easier now to use voice over internet. Skype is great! The bad thing about VHF is that everyone could listen in.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by xluke

Hello,
Is this service still available? If so, where can I find details about cost, procedures, etc?

Thanks!

Yes - you can. I had the Canadian Coast Guard patch me through to the charter company to send me a spare alternator when I was in an area with no phone service, hence no Internet or Skype. Yes, there are places like that.

[Dsanduril]

You don't say where you are located. If you are in the US:

It used to be so simple. Last century () all of the "marine operator" public coast station licenses were bought by Maritel. They are still in business and claim to offer VHF "solutions", but details are scant on their website. If you still want to investigate:

MariTEL, Inc.
4635 Church Rd, Suite 100
Cumming, GA 30028-4084

Give us a call at (888) 989-3339 or visit our Web Help Desk.

if you're outside the US then someone else will have to answer.

[tbodine88]

If you are on lake powell, no problem from Colorado River, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and Lake Powell information

Below are some guidelines to operating a marine radio on a houseboat at Lake Powell, Mead or Mohave. If you don't know these procedures and protocols, print this page and let your crew members read it so everyone knows how to call for help, properly.

10. You may make telephone calls from your boat via your VHF radio. Switch to channel 26 and call for the “Marine Operator”. The charges can be billed to your home number, telephone credit card, or you may call “collect”. A nominal cost for this service in addition to the long-distance call from Window Rock, AZ will be reflected on your telephone bill.

I used Maritel back in 1999 on the Texas coast. It was kind of a pain.

[DeepFrz]

If you go to Maritel's other web site there is more information on the service they provide. http://maritelusa.com/

[Dsanduril]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

If you go to Maritel's other web site there is more information on the service they provide. MariTEL

That's the one I thought was pretty useless. There's about 6 paragraphs of stuff under "Solutions", and none of it answers questions like how to set up an account, how much does it cost, what is the full range of service available...