Long Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency Cheat Sheet

These are my notes taken from the Marine Radio Operator's Handbook, in preparation for the LROCP exam.

Marine Radio Spectrum

Marine Radio bands

All radio bands

Agencies

Coast Stations

Marine Communication Stations (MCS)

• Located in Wiluna, WA and Charleville, QLD
• Controlled by Network Control Centre in Canberra
• SAR operations, continuous watch on HF DSC distress frequencies, automated BOM weather forecasting and alerts
• Identity shared by both stations. MMSI: 00503001, Callsign: "RCC Australia" or "RCC Australia Victor India Charlie"
• Covers Australia's SAR region

HF Coast Radio

• Operated by States and Territories
• Continuous watch on HF voice distress frequencies: 4125 kHz, 6215 kHz, 8291 kHz
• Covers 200 nautical miles from coast
• Some stations may use VHF - continuous watch on CH 16, weather broadcasts on CH 67

Limited Coast Stations (LCS)

• May use MF, HF and/or VHF
• May supplement Coast Radio
• No requirement to operate continously or watch distress channels

VHF Repeater

• Operates in Duplex mode on VHF CH 21, 22, 80, 81 or 82
• Won't relay DSC (CH 70)

Radio Hardware

Batteries

• Lead acid batteries are made up of 2 volt cells.
• Lead acid batteries use sulphuric acid, and produce hydrogen gas during operation.
• The electrolyte in lead acid batteries can be topped up with distilled water.
• The hydrometer reading for a fully charged lead acid battery is 1.250.
• Connect batteries in parallel for higher capacity at the same voltage.
• Connect batteries in series for the same capacity with higher voltage.

Antennae

• A VHF radio antenna is a short vertical whip or rod.

Radio controls

• Mute - Stop background noise or radio interference.
• Squelch - Prevent constant background roar when the radio is not receiving a transmission.
• Antenna Tuning Unit - Ensure maximum transfer of transmitting power to the antenna at different frequencies.
• Clarifier - Fine-tune distorted incoming Single Side Band transmissions.

EPIRB

• An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) broadcasts its position when activated to assist search and rescue operations.
• Transmits on 406 MHz or 121.5 MHz, for a minimum of 48 hours.
• AMSA is responsible for registering EPIRBs in Australia.
• 406 MHz transmissions are received by the COSPAS-SARSAT system, consisting of GEOS and LEOS.
• Five geo-stationary satellites over the equator relay to Local User Terminals on earth
• Four Low Earth Orbiting satellites (LEOS) relay to Local User Terminals on earth, such as at Albany, WA, Bundaberg, QLD and Wellington, NZ.
• LEOS complete their orbit in around 100 minutes, and cover an area 4000 km across.
• 121.5 MHz transmissions can be received by aircraft.

MMSI

• Maritime Mobile Service Identities (MMSI) are issued in Australia by AMSA, to uniquely identify stations.
• MMSIs are always included in Digital Selective Calling (DSC) transmissions.
• The first 3 digits of a MMSI indicate the country of registration.
• 00 prefix indicates the MMSI belongs to a coast station.
• 111 prefix indicates the MMSI belongs to a search and rescue aircraft.

Important Frequencies

Distress, Urgency, Safety

Signals

Distress call and message

MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY  
THIS IS  
[Vessel] [Callsign] [Vessel] [Callsign] [Vessel] [Callsign]  
[MMSI (if DSC alert sent)]  
MAYDAY  
[Vessel] [Callsign]
[Position]  
[Nature of distress]  
[Other information]

Example Distress call and message

MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY  
THIS IS  
Aurora Australis VNAA Aurora Australis VNAA Aurora Australis VNAA  
503043000
MAYDAY
Aurora Australis VNAA
--Example position--
--Example Distress--
--X people on board--
--EPIRB Activated--

Distress Acknowledgement

MAYDAY  
[Vessel in distress] [Vessel in distress] [Vessel in distress]
THIS IS  
[Vessel] [Callsign] [Vessel] [Callsign] [Vessel] [Callsign]  
RECEIVED MAYDAY