OnAirDecode Marine VHF with an SDR
Marine VHF: channel picker, scan, 16 watch, whole-span activity list, recording; regional plans (ITU, Europe, Baltic, USA, Canada).
- Group
- Maritime
- In the mode list
- Voice, channels 1-88
What Marine VHF is
Marine VHF voice, channels 1 to 88 at 156 to 162 MHz: narrow FM with squelch, a channel picker with names and uses (16 distress, 70 DSC, 13 bridge to bridge ...), up / down, scan with a priority watch on 16, every channel of the span at once with an activity list, a call log and a recording per channel.
Frequencies and settings
OnAir takes any frequency you type; the numbers above are the mode's starting point and the range its table describes. In the app the shortcut label is Voice, channels 1-88.
What OnAir shows
Marine VHF voice, channels 1 to 88 at 156 to 162 MHz: narrow FM with squelch, a channel picker with names and uses (16 distress, 70 DSC, 13 bridge to bridge ...), up / down, scan with a priority watch on 16, every channel of the span at once with an activity list, a call log and a recording per channel.
Limits and what it was checked with
Checked with generated signals and impairments; recordings of real signals welcome.
Which radio you need
Any radio that tunes this range works. An RTL-SDR covers roughly 24 MHz to 1.7 GHz, and every other radio in the radio guide reaches it too. Antenna height and a clear view of the transmitter matter most.
Receiving and the law
Questions about Marine VHF
Can I decode Marine VHF with an RTL-SDR?
Usually yes for narrowband signals, as an RTL-SDR tunes roughly 24 MHz to 1.7 GHz at up to about 2.4 Msps. Wide signals such as TV channels need a faster radio, and OnAir says next to the source what the selected radio can do.
Is it legal to receive Marine VHF?
Receiving ship and coast-station broadcasts is legal in many countries, with limits on using or passing on private traffic. OnAir is a receiver. Check the rules where you live.
Can I try Marine VHF in OnAir without a radio?
Yes. Most modes include a built-in synthetic test signal, so you can open the screen and try the controls before you own a radio.