29mhz or vhf

willem wikkel spies

Moderator
Staff member
Guys.

Your input please.

we all know, that 29mhz radios are going to be phased out. "midterm"

do we have more on this?

i need a new radio "base", i do have a 29mhz hand held.

i normally fish up from richardsbay north.

but could always decide to go down the shelly route.

 

i dont wanna buy now, and later have to buy again "within a 6 months period"

the north coast, are the mostly using 29mhz or vhf.?

having 2 x 29mhz radios could be better where the launch site is uncontrolled, thus one could call in "family" to ask if the beeching area is clear.

just wanna know.

thanks for the input.
 
North coast, Vidal / Sodwana is 29 Meg.

To be honest, there is very little chance that 29 Meg will be phased out. It's all hearsay!
 

willem wikkel spies

Moderator
Staff member
yes it might just be talk.
vhf are beter then the 29mhz.

the down side of 29mhz is, that should you get excited, your voice reaches new tones and heights.
that tone and wave height, is too high and is lost in transmission.
therefore, when you do get in trouble, try to keep your voice down, so that the whole message is transmitted and not pieces thereof.

ok, will get myself a new 29mhz
 

Serra Moz

Sealiner
Fair enough, if you are going to fish mostly in areas where 29mhz is the flavour of the day, then it will best to get one, should you have some spare cash, chat to Killerdeals and get a handheld VHF too, that way you are covered should you want to fish in an area where a VHF is required, about 4 yrs ago I bought a pair (I think Cobra - not at home now to give name/specs) anyway they were pretty cheap, keep them or one sealed in a waterproof pouch. When not in use, remove batteries - they use rechargable batteries.
 

renier8

New member
Hi,

We have also been getting bits and pieces of info as far as this is concerned, over the last two years. So if and when it is actually going to happen is anyone's guess.

Until then, as far as I know, according to SAMSA, it is still law to have a 29Mhz radio.

Renier
Killerdeals
 

dugongboy

Sealiner
benniejordaan wrote:
North coast, Vidal / Sodwana is 29 Meg.

To be honest, there is very little chance that 29 Meg will be phased out. It's all hearsay!

Bennie, its not hearsay, I have been speaking to a few 'in the know' people and they are trying to get it done, it just takes time. The general consensus from the clubs is for it to go and I agree 100%.

This is a letter from SAMSA.

 

SAMSA letter:
Samsa Comments on 29Mhz radios – dated 24 October 2011
As a guideline, Category A to C vessels should be provided with a fixed radio installation while, Category D vessels could be provided with either fixed or hand-held radio’s – The owner/skipper should however motivate regarding his/her choice at the time of survey.
 
Regarding the continued use of 29 MHz radio’s it should be noted that these are no longer in commercial use and it is therefore extremely unlikely that distress communications will be received from passing ships. The use of 29 MHz should therefore be limited to area’s where specific shore stations are manned.   
 
It is thought that 29 MHz radio’s will be phased out in the short to medium term, however, numerous stakeholders need to be consulted as part of this process – SAMSA will endeavour to communicate any planned changes to the public in this regard in good time.
 
Yours in safety 
 
Greg Dirksen
Naval Architect - Surveyor : Cape Town Office
South African Maritime Safety Authority [SAMSA]
 
 

willem wikkel spies

Moderator
Staff member
Ok, a step further;
for a mhz radio, you need a licence "icasa" obatainable at the post office.
enige jan rap en sy maat kan een kry, al weet jy nie hoe behoorlike radio spraak gedoen moet word nie.

for a vhf, you need a operators licence,
here one needs to write a exam "me thinks" so that everyone knows, how to do proper radio procedures.

phasing the one out, means many would have to get the propper licence "operators"

now, i know shelly does 29mhz, do they do vhf too?

st lucia does 29mhz,
vidal not controlled
maphelane, not controlled
sodwana?? weet nie.

going down south towards durban, what do they use down there?
richardsbay,
mtnunzini
balito
durban

can someone just complete the list, if i may ask.
 
dugongboy wrote:
benniejordaan wrote:
North coast, Vidal / Sodwana is 29 Meg.

To be honest, there is very little chance that 29 Meg will be phased out. It's all hearsay!

Bennie, its not hearsay, I have been speaking to a few 'in the know' people and they are trying to get it done, it just takes time. The general consensus from the clubs is for it to go and I agree 100%.

This is a letter from SAMSA.

 

SAMSA letter:
Samsa Comments on 29Mhz radios – dated 24 October 2011
As a guideline, Category A to C vessels should be provided with a fixed radio installation while, Category D vessels could be provided with either fixed or hand-held radio’s – The owner/skipper should however motivate regarding his/her choice at the time of survey.
 
Regarding the continued use of 29 MHz radio’s it should be noted that these are no longer in commercial use and it is therefore extremely unlikely that distress communications will be received from passing ships. The use of 29 MHz should therefore be limited to area’s where specific shore stations are manned.   
 
It is thought that 29 MHz radio’s will be phased out in the short to medium term, however, numerous stakeholders need to be consulted as part of this process – SAMSA will endeavour to communicate any planned changes to the public in this regard in good time.
 
Yours in safety 
 
Greg Dirksen
Naval Architect - Surveyor : Cape Town Office
South African Maritime Safety Authority [SAMSA]
 
If you read that carefully. It reads as the opinion/recommendation by Greg Dirksen. And he is saying that it should be limited to areas where it is manned and he says "It is thought that 29 MHz radio’s will be phased out" He isn't saying it will be phased out.

I don't think anything will change for a while. Besides, 29Meg radios only last a year or 2.

Wouldn't ICASA be the ones to make the final decision?

I would also be very happy for 29Meg to be dropped. Can the clubs not make their own decisions? Do they need to apply for a dedicated VHF channel?
 

Mariusvj

New member
I have just posted something on Starboard regarding re application for radio licenses.

Natal is 29 mHZ country and if you are going to operate there, go that route.

If you operate out of a harbour, especially P.E. then VHF is the only one they use and Noordhoek SC also went that route, because of dual membership with the harbour club PEDSAC, but Noordhoek also has 29meg in addition to VHF.

ICASA is the radio authority in SA.

SAMSA decides which radio system will be used by us all.

All ICASA does is to issue the radio frequency spectrum license.

IF SAMSA decides that VHF is the communication system for small craft, then that is the way it will be.

Greg is in charge, basically of what happens with small craft legislation and I will believe what he says will become the law.

Koos Arnold is the SAMSA radio guy for the EAstern Cape and he is on the same page as Greg

They have already told us at the last surveyors course that VHF is the route and if you operate more than 1 mile, only a fixed istallation will be acceptable.

If you buy a VHF, make sure it is a DSC (digital slective calling ) set.

@ Bennie, I will ask our club how the achieved the license for VHF

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET ?
 
Mariusvj wrote:
I have just posted something on Starboard regarding re application for radio licenses.

Natal is 29 mHZ country and if you are going to operate there, go that route.

If you operate out of a harbour, especially P.E. then VHF is the only one they use and Noordhoek SC also went that route, because of dual membership with the harbour club PEDSAC, but Noordhoek also has 29meg in addition to VHF.

ICASA is the radio authority in SA.

SAMSA decides which radio system will be used by us all.

All ICASA does is to issue the radio frequency spectrum license.

IF SAMSA decides that VHF is the communication system for small craft, then that is the way it will be.

Greg is in charge, basically of what happens with small craft legislation and I will believe what he says will become the law.

Koos Arnold is the SAMSA radio guy for the EAstern Cape and he is on the same page as Greg

They have already told us at the last surveyors course that VHF is the route and if you operate more than 1 mile, only a fixed istallation will be acceptable.

If you buy a VHF, make sure it is a DSC (digital slective calling ) set.

@ Bennie, I will ask our club how the achieved the license for VHF

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET ?
Thanks. Would DSBC for example have to use a dedicated chanel?
 

Mariusvj

New member
We use 68 and NSRI uses 67.

The harbour uses 11 for working and 12 for calling in and out.

Normally when the allocate a working channel to an area, it goes by degrees of longitude in our area.

St Francis 24

PE 25

Bird island area 26
 

renier8

New member
Hello Psy,

We have a range of VHF and 29Mhz radios at Killerdeals.
Have a look over here: http://www.killerdeals.co.za/radios-c-230_258.html
Feel free to drop me a line for assistance.

Renier
 
Psy wrote:
What brand/make VHF radio's are most cost effecient?

Im willing to spend R2000 ~ R2500
Try killer deals or Skiport.

If you shop around you can get a Lowrance Link-5 for R2500. They are brilliant radios. If you cant find one, PM me.
 
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