NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCTS VIA
COMMERCIAL MARITIME COAST STATIONS and WEATHER NETS
Commercial maritime coast stations, which provide communications
services, broadcast weather information to ships at sea as a public
service, or make forecast information available on demand, either free
or for a nominal fee. These transmissions are most commonly performed using
HF SITOR and Pactor/E-Mail, however, several of these stations
also offer service via Inmarsat satellite and other means. Within North America these include
Globe
Wireless ,
KKL Radio , ShipCom LLC (WLO/KLB), and SailMail.
There also exist a number of maritime weather "NETS" operating on commercial marine VHF, MF and HF frequencies, where weather information is exchanged. These nets are extremely popular in areas of the world which have a large yachting population and where weather is dynamic, such as in the Caribbean and typically incorporate volunteers ashore. These include South Bound II/Herb Hilgenburg and the
Marine Weather Center. Similar nets are conducted using Ham Radio.
ShipCom LLC (WLO/KLB) Marine Radio Weather Broadcast Schedule.....WLO voice sample
Marine Weather Center SSB Net Schedule
South Bound II/Herb Hilgenburg SSB Net Schedule
Note to Net Operators - It would be helpful for nets to each establish a webpage so that we might be able to inform mariners of your activities.
Operation of a shipboard radio installation requires a license and is regulated
by the FCC. The exception to this is the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which permits recreational boaters to have
and use a VHF marine radio. For further information, see the
FCC's Wireless Telecommunication Bureau's Maritime Mobile Service Webpage
Licensing is not normally required
when receiving only. For further information on this topic, visit
the U.S. Coast
Guard Maritime Telecommunications Information webpage.
Schedules and information on commercial maritime coast stations worldwide may
be found in publications including NGA Publication 117 and the British Admiralty List of Radio Signals.
All NWS marine forecasts rely heavily on the Voluntary
Observing Ship (VOS) program for obtaining meteorological observations.
Note: Any reference to a commercial product or service does
not imply any endorsement by the National Weather Service as to function
or suitability for your purpose or environment.
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