Marine VHF channels for CHIRP
The international marine channels (ITU Appendix 18) are in the table below — duplex channels set to hear the coast station, simplex channels on the ship frequency, channel 16 and the two AIS channels. The US channel plan is in “Add ready-made channels”.
Listening only
Transmitting on marine VHF needs a marine radio and a ship or coast licence, so every channel here is receive-only. On duplex channels the radio listens to the coast station (ship frequency + 4.6 MHz).
US channels
In the US most channels are simplex on the ship frequency — the “A” channels — and only 20, 24–28 and 84–86 stay duplex. The US list follows the US Coast Guard’s channel table.
Before you load it into a radio
The file is for CHIRP, the free programming software — not for the radio itself. CHIRP is what writes the channels to the radio, and CHIRP and the radio decide what they accept; we cannot check that without your radio. Before uploading, download the radio’s current memories in CHIRP and save them as a backup, then look through the channels. Transmitting on some frequencies needs a licence or an approved radio — check the rules where you are. You use the file and program your radio at your own risk.