🔍 Key Concepts

• VHF marine radio power settings (1W vs 25W) for short-range vs long-range communications • Purpose of low power on VHF (reducing interference and limiting your signal to the local area) • Difference between routine voice calls and DSC (Digital Selective Calling) distress/safety calls

💭 Think About

• For a station only 1 mile away, do you want your signal to travel as far as possible, or just far enough? How does that affect your power choice? • Which power setting is normally recommended for routine local communications on Channel 13 or 16 when the other vessel/station is very close? • Does the recommended power setting change based on time of day (day vs night), or is it based on distance and purpose of the transmission?

✅ Before You Answer

• Check standard guidance in your VHF radio manual or exam study materials on using low power (1 watt) for close-range communications to avoid unnecessary interference. • Confirm whether time of day (day/night) has any role in selecting power, or if that’s a distractor in the choices. • Think about whether DSC use by itself necessarily changes the basic power recommendation for a routine, short-range communication.