VHF SRC Radio
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Explore the Radio
Explore the Radio. Practice maritime VHF scenario.
This scenario is part of the full library.
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Scenario briefing
Key teaching points
- Channel 16 is the calling and distress channel — keep dual watch on it whenever you are on a working channel.
- Squelch (SQL) sets the noise threshold — too low and you hear background hiss; too high and you miss weak signals.
- Volume (VOL) sets reproduction level — set so you can comfortably hear at the helm without distortion.
- SCAN cycles through pre-programmed channels; DUAL monitors Channel 16 while you are on a working channel.
- HI/LO sets transmit power — HI (25 W) for general use, LO (1 W) for marina/close-range to avoid blanking other stations.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Setting SQL to maximum to silence noise — also silences weak distress and routine calls.
- Forgetting DUAL when on a working channel — leaves you off-watch on Channel 16.
- Transmitting on HI in close range — overloads nearby receivers.
Why it matters
Free-mode VHF practice — channel switching, volume/squelch, DSC menu navigation — is where you build the radio fluency that makes the procedural scenarios automatic. Without this fluency, even a perfectly-memorised MAYDAY format fails because your fingers hesitate on the radio.
Exam relevance
Radio operation fundamentals (squelch, volume, SCAN/DUAL, power) are examined in the VHF SRC theory paper and the practical oral.
Related scenarios
About SkipperCheck simulators
SkipperCheck offers two browser-based maritime training simulators:
- ARPA · AIS · COLREG Bridge Simulator — 54 scenarios covering Rules 2, 5–10, 12–19, 23–30, 34 and 35.
- VHF SRC Radio Simulator — 15 scenarios: voice Mayday, DSC distress, Mayday Relay, Pan-Pan, Sécurité, routine.
Both run in any modern browser, on desktop or mobile. No install, no plugins.