Marine Radio Telephone Service

Located on a mountaintop near the northwest end of Trinidad, North Post Radio is a powerful public coast station, which allows calls to be made to the land telephone system from the sea. North Post Radio monitors VHF: 16 and MF 2182 USB, then uses VHF: 24, 25, 26, or 27.

VHF Marine Band

Trinidad and Tobago, like most countries of the world, is one of the signatories of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which has established the purpose, rules, and procedures, on the use and allocation of the radio spectrum. The marine VHF radio band, which is in common use on commercial and recreational boats, has been designated specifically for the safety and communications of ships at sea, for navigation of ships at sea, and movement of vessels in harbours. Under the ITU regulations, the marine VHF band is not for use by vessels docked or at anchor except for ship movement traffic, neither is it for use by land-based stations without a special licence. It is not permitted to use the radio in lieu of a land based telephone service. We should guard the radio usage privilege we enjoy in Trinidad. Be brief, be polite and be patient with other users.

The significant increase in the number of recreational boats visiting T&T places a large demand on the VHF Marine Band. Operation of transmitters in close proximity causes interference (often called “cross channelling” or “bleed over”) due to the presence of signals that are far stronger than radio receivers were designed to handle. To reduce this type of interference, everyone is asked to:

• Use proper VHF channels for the intendedcommunication.
• Restrict traffic to marine related communications and keep it short.
• Use proper operator procedures in all communications.
• Use low power when possible.
• Check for an unoccupied channel before asking another station to switch to that channel.
• Wait until traffic on other VHF channels abates.

VHF Channel Assignments

68 Trinidad Working & Cruisers Hailing Channel
16 International Distress & Hailing

VHF USA Channels

Available for cruisers use
04A, 05A, 07A, 18A, 19A, 21A, 22A, 23A, 63A, 65A, 66A, 78A, 79A, 80A, 81A, 82A, 83A

VHF Non-USA Channels

Available for cruisers use 06 (International-USA compatible)
67 (Low Pwr USA, Hi Pwr Int’l)
71 (International-USA compatible)
73 (International-USA compatible)

06 (International-USA compatible)
67 (Low Pwr USA, Hi Pwr Int’l)
71 (International-USA compatible)
73 (International-USA compatible)

VHF Channels for Chaguaramas Business

69 Peake Yacht Services
72 Power Boats
77 CrewsInn

VHF Channels for Commercial Marine

Not available for cruisers use:
08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 24-28, 84-88
Government Use Marine Telephone Digital Selective Calling (only); not for voice communications.

NOTE 1: “Advertisements” (for restaurants, marine services, tours, taxi services, etc.) for local businesses, either directly or indirectly, is considered misuse of the VHF radio.

NOTE 2: VHF: 68 is the unofficial hailing channel that is used by the recreational vessels and a number of coastal stations in Trinidad & Tobago. VHF: 68 is also a working channel for commercial vessels which have a right to use this channel; therefore, boaters MUST NOT instruct others to cease usage of VHF: 68 as a working channel. For the exchange of information between the visiting recreational vessels, an informal daily radio net has been in operation over the past fifteen years, which meets daily at 8am on VHF: 68.

NOTE 3: Net controllers that operate the VHF: 68 Morning Net are all volunteers providing an excellent service for the convenience of the visiting cruisers located in Chaguaramas and its environs. Volunteers are encouraged to join the Net Controller group by contacting one of the current Net Controllers. Ask for a copy of the official Net Controller Script which is kept on file at the Boca Office along with "Frequently asked Questions", guidelines and general information. Any suggestion for updating of the Script should be directed to The Boca Office.

NOTE 4: “A” or Alpha indicates a USA simplex channel (send and receive on the same frequency). Many European yachts are not equipped with alpha channels. For example, VHF: 66 Alpha can be used for simplex ship-to-ship communications. VHF: 66 International however, is duplex (send and receive on different frequencies) and can only be used for shipto- shore communications. Much needless confusion arises when USA yachts ask European yachts to meet them on one of the alpha channels without specifically stating they are going to an alpha channel. The result is a very unsatisfactory one-way conversation!

NOTE 5: VHF business channels are not exclusive. Several businesses monitor specific channels to relieve excess traffic on VHF: 68. Users are asked to use other channels if possible for private traffic.

Amateur Radio

Visitors holding amateur radio licences may obtain the privilege of operating their ham radios in Trinidad & Tobago. Amateur radio operators that are citizens of signatories of the International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) may operate in Trinidad without obtaining a reciprocal license in Trinidad and Tobago. The IARP signatories are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Operators from these member countries should use the “9Y4 slash” identifier before your full country call sign. Amateur radio operators that are citizens of signatories of the European Union CEPT Agreement or not included in the IARP agreement must obtain a reciprocal privilege to operate in Trinidad & Tobago.

US hams can operate in Trinidad & Tobago according to the privileges of their License Class. Technician Class can operate on 2 meter but cannot use HF. An International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) can only be obtained from the ARRL in the USA.

To obtain a reciprocal privilege to operate in Trinidad and Tobago one must present an original amateur radio licence (with copy), a passport (with a copy of the identification page), and a description of the radio equipment to:

Local Repeater Frequencies

NOTE 6: If you use the local 2-meter repeaters on a regular basis, you may consider contributing to the local “Radio Society” to help in the operation and maintenance of their equipment.

NOTE 7: Please avoid email transmissions in the HF band (SSB) between 0630 and 0930 to prevent interference with numerous voice nets and weather reports.

Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society (TTARS)

Meetings are held at Boy Scout Headquarters, St. Ann’s, Trinidad, West Indies. Visitors are invited to stop in on Sunday mornings 9:30 to 10:30.
URL: http://www.ttars.org
Call the TTARS secretary 731-5439 (9Y4KLF)
Call sign for Sail Mail in Trinidad is : 9Z4DH

Radio Nets for Weather, Safety, Emergencies, etc.