Requirements
Operating HF marine radio requires:
The HF marine radio equipment and the service it provides is under the authority of the master or skipper, or the person responsible for the safety of the vessel.
Transmissions should be kept brief and consistent with the requirements under which a station is licensed. Non-essential remarks, offensive language and unnecessary conversations should be avoided.
It is an offence to use a transmitter in a manner that is likely to cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed or affronted, or for the purpose of harassing others.
Using an HF marine radio
HF radio operators should:
- listen before transmitting to ensure a frequency is not already in use
- use the minimum transmitting power necessary for reliable communications
- strictly observe the purpose for which a frequency is assigned
- keep test signals to a minimum.
When reception is doubtful or conditions difficult spell out words and figures using the
International Phonetic Alphabet and figure code when transmitting a message.
Each transmission should end with the word ‘over’ to indicate you are expecting the other station to reply.
Always end the exchange of communications with the word ‘out’.