Topic: Canadian Coast Guard Continuous Marine Broadcast

[miraculon]

I was wondering if my new 2 meter Ham radio could received marine communications from the shipping out on nearby Lake Huron. Sure enough it can. I was tuning around and discovered a marine weather broadcast on 161.775MHz. It is run by Environment Canada.

It turns out that this is the "Continuous Marine Broadcast" aka CMB.

This particular frequency is the one I can receive, but I am not certain where the transmitter is located.

Wikipedia shows the following:

CMBs are transmitted on several frequencies:

    161.65 MHz (Channel 21B)
    161.75 MHz (Channel 23B)
    161.775 MHz (Channel 83B)
    161.85 MHz (Channel 25B)
    162 MHz (Channel 28B)

So, this is channel 83B. It comes in very well with the outdoor 2 meter antenna mounted on my anemometer mast.
I wasn't aware of this being available, so I though that I would share my find.

Greg H.

[miraculon]

From a search, it seems that it might be this one:

Silver Water MCTS

It is on Manitoulin Island just across Lake Huron from Rogers City, so it is fairly close 52 miles or so.

Greg H.

[corwyyn]

So something similar to the NWS transmitters, just geared toward the folks who are out on the lakes? 

[miraculon]

Pretty much the case. It seems to be like a version of NWS (EC actually) tailored for marine purposes.
Although NWS Weather Radio has marine observations and forecasts for off-shore waters, this is specifically targeted at boating. Although we do have a lot of recreational boating around here, there are many freighters that pass by during shipping season.

Still good info though and a worthwhile addition to weather radio listening.

Greg H.

[Otis]

I have spent a fair amount of time boating on the Big Water (Michigan, Huron, & Superior).  The marine VHF weather channels are geared specifically towards boaters.  It is similar to the All Hazard Radio but repeats marine weather observations, forecasts, current conditions, air temp, wave height, winds, and also climate.  I would never be on the water without it.

Very cool you picked up the EC.  We picked it up when in Georgian Bay and North Channel, it is very similar to US marine weather.