January 9, 2005
Cell phones unreliable on the ocean
Boaters in distress are increasingly using their cellular phones to call for help, but U.S. Coast Guard officials are urging people who venture out on the open ocean to take VHF-FM radios along, reports The Honolulu Advertiser.
While it might seem logical to use a cellular phone for emergency communications, it may not always work, said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Wesley Stech, if you're in the dead zone where you don't have any towers offshore, then it's of no use," he said.
More people now call the Coast Guard for help by cellular phone than by radio, but there are advantages to calling for help on Channel 16, the VHF-FM hailing and distress frequency, Coast Guard officials said.
The radios work where phones won't, and distress calls can be overheard by other mariners in the area who may be able to provide help more quickly than the Coast Guard."
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2005/01/006690.htm
| Tweet |
