WLO (KNN, KLB)
Washington. The stations broadcasts news,
WLO is operated by ShipCom (a company
weather, media content and more. In addi-
based in Mobile, Alabama) and covers the
tion, ShipCom provides HF voice, data and
Pacific through towers stationed in Seattle,
e-mail services.
Area Times of Broadcast (GMT)
Gulf of Mexico 0400 1300 1600 2200
SW N Atlantic 0500 1300 1700 2300
Caribbean Sea 0600 1300 1800 0000
East Pacific 0300 1400 2000
Alaska Offshore 0800 1500
ITU Channels
WLO(Atlantic, Caribbean): 405, 414, 607, 824, 830, 1212, 1226, 1607, 1641, 1807, 2237, 2503
KLB/KNN (Pacific): 417, 805, 1209, 1624
NAVTEX
adio
NAVTEX is an internationally coordinated of stations farther away occasionally occurs
method of broadcasting distress, urgent and at night. In the U.S., the Coast Guard is the
safety messages, as well as weather forecasts responsible agency for NAVTEX operation. am R
and warnings, using small, low-cost printing To receive these broadcasts of notices and
receivers designed to be installed in a vessels marine weather, mariners need a special
pilothouse. A series of coast stations transmit NAVTEX receiver. Mariners who do not have
NAVTEX radio teletype safety messages on NAVTEX receivers but have SITOR radio
medium frequency 518 kHz during preset equipment can also receive these broadcasts A
VTEX/H
time slots. Routine messages are normally by operating it in the FEC mode and tuning
N
broadcast four to six times daily. Urgent mes- to 518 kHz. There are also techniques for
sages are broadcast on receipt, provided that receiving NAVTEX with a SSB or shortwave
an adjacent station is not transmitting. The radio and a computer. All NAVTEX trans-
coverage of NAVTEX is reasonably continu- missions are prefaced by a four-letter code
ous out to 200 nautical miles from the trans- that allows operators to specify exactly what
mitting station. Interference from or receipt types of messages they would like to receive.
omms
Sydney, NS, VCO, Identifier Q (English),
C
0240, 0640, 1040, 1440, 1840, and 2240 GMT; Identifier J (French), 0255, 0655, 1055, 1455, 1855,
and 2255 GMT.
Yarmouth, NS, VAU, Identifier U (English), 0320, 0720, 1120, 1520, 1920, and 2320 GMT;
Identifier V (French), 0335, 0735, 1135, 1535, 1935, and 2335 GMT.
Boston, MA, NMF, Identifier F, 0445, 0845, 1245, 1645, 2045, and 0045.
Portsmouth, VA, NMN, Identifier N, 0130, 0530, 0930, 1330, 1730, and 2130 GMT.
Savannah, GA, Identifier E, 0040 GMT .
Miami, FL, NMA, Identifier A, 0000, 0400, 0800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 GMT.
New Orleans, LA, NMG, Identifier G, 0300, 0700, 1100, 1500, 1900, and 2300 GMT.
Isabella, PR, NMR, Identifier R, 0200, 0600, 1000, 1400, 1800, and 2200 GMT.
St. George’s, Bermuda (ZBM), Identifier B, 0010, 0410, 0810, 1210, 1610, and 2010 GMT.
Ham Radio
Although there are many amateur (“ham”) age some distances from home waters. It can-
radio stations on boats, this is a communica- not be used for business purposes, but it can
tions service entirely separate and distinct be a means of keeping in touch with family
from other forms of marine communications. and friends and for getting weather and port
It is probably most useful to cruisers who voy- information for destinations yet ahead.
827