Radio Operation Instructions (amended Dec 2022)

Download a copy of the document here.

For general use, bar crossings and open ocean activities

Coast Guard Noosa – Channel 22 or if cannot be raised Channel 16

Inter Canoe communications river or ocean Channel 73.

  1. Every multi-paddler canoe (including 3 man) in river training and/or with the intent of crossing the bar and opera ting in open water must carry a portable VHF radio.
  2. The responsibility of carrying the radio and of its operation is the steerer of each canoe and on leaving Chaplin Park should be tuned to Channel
  3. When about to make an outward crossing, one steerer on behalf of all canoes making the crossing will change to Channel 22 and contact Coast Guard Noosa and provide the following information using the following format:
  • Coast Guard Noosa, Coast Guard Noosa, Coast Guard Noosa this is Noosa Outriggers, Noosa Outriggers, Noosa Outriggers………over.
  • When Coast Guard Noosa responds………. go ahead
  • Coast Guard Noosa this is Noosa Outriggers. We have 5 (number) canoes with 30 (number)paddlers on board making an outward crossing of the bar and will advise again when we have successfully crossed the bar……….over
  • Coast Guard Noosa may require some clarification which should be given using the same format.
  • Coast Guard Noosa will acknowledge
  • This steerer should either verbally or on Channel 73 advise all other canoes they are clear to make an outward bar crossing.
  • Once all canoes have successfully crossed the bar, call up Coast Guard Noosa again using 3 pattern ………over
  • When Coast Guard Noosa responds………. go ahead
  • Coast Guard Noosa this is Noosa All 5 (number) canoes have successfully crossed the bar with the intent to train in the (state area eg. Laguna Bay) area, returning in 2(number) hours and we will advise again before we attempt an inward crossing ………over.
  • Coast Guard Noosa will acknowledge and this steerer should change up to channel 73 so that communication can resume with all canoes.
  1. After completing training and before any canoe attempts an inward crossing, one steerer on behalf of all canoes will change to channel 22 and contact Coast Guard Noosa and provide the following information using the following Should canoes return to the river in smaller groups this MUST be repeated to fully account for all canoes that originally went out.
  • Call up Coast Guard Noosa using 3 pattern ………… over.
  • When Coast Guard Noosa responds………..go ahead
  • Coast Guard Noosa this is Noosa Outriggers. We have 5 (number) canoes about to make an inward crossing of the bar and will advise once we have successfully done so ….. over
  • Coast Guard Noosa will acknowledge
  • This steerer should either verbally or on channel 73 advise all other canoes they are clear to make an inward bar crossing.
  • Once all canoes are safely inside the bar, call up Coast Guard Noosa again using 3 pattern……….over. This MUST be done for each group of canoes.
  • When Coast Guard Noosa responds………..go ahead
  • Coast Guard Noosa this is Noosa All 5 (number) canoes have returned to the river ……. over.
  • Coast Guard Noosa will acknowledge
  • Coast Guard Noosa this is Noosa Please log us off and thanks for your coverage today. Noosa Outriggers out.

This should end this communication.

 

This steerer should once again return to channel 73 so that communications in the river can resume.

 

Make sure transmit button is fully depressed before speaking.

Don’t forget to release transmit button but only after sentence end.

 

Emergency assistance procedure

  1. In the event that assistance is required during any ocean paddling activities the steerer of the canoe in question must make an immediate assessment of the situation and determine whether assistance from another canoe is both safe and likely to be sufficient – Level 1, or whether some form of outside assistance is necessary – Level 2.
  2. In the case of a Level 1 Emergency the following radio procedure should be followed:
  • Noosa Outriggers, Noosa Outriggers, Noosa Outriggers this is……name of Steerer 1 ( John ) repeat 3 times
  • Any listening steerer can respond…… .name of Steerer 1 (John) this is…. name of responding Steerer 3 (Peter)
  • This is Steerer 1 (John). We have (state circumstances and current position as clearly as possible ) and we require some immediate assistance…….. over
  • This is Steerer 3 (Peter). We can respond Stand by. Other canoes in the area please acknowledge and also stand by ………….. over.
  • All other canoes in the vicinity should acknowledge the emergency simply by communicating the following and then proceed to the area and stand off at a safe distance.
  • This is… (state name of Steerer) ………roger……over. This is… name of Steerer 4 (Ted)………roger……over. etc
  1. During the period the emergency is dealt with radio communications should be kept to the essential conversation only.
  2. Presuming the emergency is successfully resolved, radio communications can return to If it is not resolved then Steerer 1 must make a decision to escalate the response to Level 2 in a timely manner.
  3. Bearing in mind that there is a time factor in receiving outside assistance, if there is a situation involving severe injury, heart attack, stroke, broken limb or similar event there may be no other option.
  4. In the case of a Level 2 Emergency or where a Level 1 has escalated to level 2 the following radio procedure should be followed:
  • Steerer 1 must announce on Channel 73 that he/she is escalating the emergency to Level 2 and all canoes must change to Channel 22 so they can monitor the communication with Coast Guard Noosa.
  • Coast Guard Noosa, Coast Guard Noosa, Coast Guard Noosa this is Noosa Outriggers, Noosa Outriggers, Noosa Outriggers…………over
  • When Coast Guard Noosa responds……….go ahead
  • Coast Guard Noosa this is Noosa Outriggers. We have an emergency where… ( state what the emergency is and what immediate assistance is being requested) and our current general position is (at this stage a clear general position is sufficient)……over
  • Coast Guard Noosa will respond and during this interchange it would be helpful to be able to provide GPS co-ordinates if available and other information requested by them with clarity.
  1. If the emergency occurs around the headland south in the Alexander Bay or the Sunshine Beach area it will be necessary for another canoe to move to a line of sight position between the distressed canoe and the river mouth to act as a relay station to establish and/or maintain communications with Coast Guard Noosa.
  2. Noosa Surf Club may also be on a listening watch or be able to respond more quickly than the coast guard under some circumstances and this position will enable communication with this service also.
  3. Keep communications brief but clear unless detail is requested.
  4. Any accompanying canoes should remain in the area as long as necessary, revert to normal bar crossing procedure when returning over the bar and log off with Coast Guard Noosa only after each/all has safely re-entered the river.

 

Radio Care, Use and Maintenance

Care, use and maintenance including charging of the club radios is the responsibility of any user and the following simple instructions should see them last a reasonable period of time and be serviceable when needed.

When taking a radio for use:

  1. Make sure it is fully (Refer battery icon) It should still have the charging cable attached.
  2. Remove cable and attach the DC Jack Cap firmly (rotate clockwise) This needs to be a waterproof seal.
  3. If not already attached, attach antenna This also needs to be a waterproof seal.
  4. Turn on by holding down Power Key and tune to channel 73.

Radio is now ready for use.

 

When returning the radio after use:

  1. Once ashore, turn the radio off (hold down Power Key) and rinse in fresh water, shower or bucket NOT pressure.
  2. Pad dry particularly around DC Jack Cap and once dry remove (rotate anticlockwise).
  3. Insert DC charger cable into DC Jack and position radio in charging

Thank you. The radio will now be in sound condition for the next user.

 

  • Please report any US/damaged radio to the Safety Officer
  • Don’t forget to turn the radio OFF before it’s returned to
  • SALT and WATER is the enemy, so never attempt to open the battery compartment and always ensure the DC Jack Cap and
  • Antennae are firmly attached to make a waterproof seal.

 

Safety Officer John Henry Mob 0419000938.

Radio Care, Use and Maintenance (Supplementary Oct 2018)

Specific to Uniden MHS75 Radios

 

The same care responsibilities apply with these radios however they are a more manual operation than the previous I-COM radios and should be managed as follows.

When taking a radio for use detach it from the charging cradle by depressing the clips each side and withdrawing.

  1. Turn radio on by rotating the righthand knob at the top of the set, clockwise. This is also the volume adjustment knob.
  2. Make sure it is fully charged (refer battery icon left centre screen).
  3. If not showing it is tuned to channel 73 on screen, correct by up/down buttons on righthand side of set. It can be locked there by pressing and holding U/C LOCK button until a double blip sounds.
  4. Squelch adjustment, left hand knob at top, should be rotated anti- clockwise until a static sound occurs and then carefully rotated clockwise till the static sound just stops and then leave it in that position.
  5. Insert the radio into the waterproof carrying case and ensure the sliders are placed firmly in the locked NOTE:- This should not be forced as that is likely to compromise the integrity of the seal.

Radio is now ready for use. Attach radio to body.

Once ashore and radio is no longer in use wash down entire waterproof carrying case with fresh water and shake excess water away.

  1. At the charging station pad dry remaining water particularly around carry case opening, open and remove radio and turn OFF, rotating the righthand knob at the top, anti-clockwise.
  2. Insert the radio into an available charging cradle and ensure the clips snap shut each side then rest radio back in the charging station.

Thank you. The radio will now be in a sound condition for the next user.

  • Remember, to unlock channel, hold U/C LOCK until a double blip is heard to enable changing from channel 73 to 22 or visa versa.