VHF Marine Radio (Very High Frequency) Relatively cheap $200, compared to HF Radio Operation license required ( One-day course : Cost around $70) Line of Sight transmission : 5 Watt = 11NM     25 Watt = 30 - 70 NM Frequency around 156 MHz SIMPLEX : single frequency for transmitting and receiving All Emergency calls are SIMPLEX Always be on Dual mode : listening to 2 channels, CH16 and your Working channel Channels you should know   NT Marine Coast Radio Channels CH 10 = Darwin Harbour CH 11 = Cullen Bay Lock CH 16 = Emergency & Calling channel CH 67 = Australian Search & Rescue CH 70 = for Distress, Urgency and Safety ONLY CH 72 = Public channel CH 73 = Public Channel CH 16 Always listen in on this channel Radio checks also in CH16 Your Calling channel to contact others > to your Working Channel (72 or 73) Radio silence during 0-3 minutes and 30-33 minutes of every hour, to listen for faint distress calls RADIO CHECK Signal Strength Readability 5 = Loud 4 = Good 3 = Weak 2 = Very Weak 1 = Fading 5 = Clear 4 = Readable 3 = Unreadable 2 = Distorted 1 = Intermittend or Interference