Subelement A: VHF-DSC Equipment & Operation— Topic :
Question 5A3
Element 9 (GMDSS Maintainer)Which of the following procedures may be used in many U.S. ports as a quick field test to determine if a shipboard VHF receiver is operating properly?
Explanation
Tuning a shipboard VHF receiver to 162.550 MHz, 162.400 MHz, or 162.475 MHz allows you to listen for broadcasts from the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR). These frequencies are dedicated to continuous, local weather and hazard information broadcasts, which are widely available in U.S. coastal areas and many inland waterways. Hearing a clear, strong signal on these known, continuously transmitting channels provides a quick and practical field verification that the receiver section of your VHF radio is functioning properly.
Option A is incorrect because 158.6 MHz is not a continuous broadcast frequency for the U.S. Coast Guard; you would have to wait for traffic, which is not a quick, reliable test. Option B tests the *transmitter* section of the radio, not the receiver, which is the focus of the question. Option D, connecting test equipment, is a more involved diagnostic procedure rather than a "quick field test" performed by an operator.
Related Questions
5A1 What condition may cause a significant loss in VHF receiver sensitivity?5A2 Which of the following test procedures may be used to determine a VHF receiver’s minimum discernible signal?5A4 What ohmmeter reading may indicate a faulty component in a VHF receiver?5A5 What condition may indicate a VHF receiver fault?5A6 What condition may cause noisy operation of a VHF receiver?