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Cruisin' Threads => sailFar.net Discussion => Topic started by: Captain Smollett on April 19, 2019, 08:08:26 PM

Title: USCG Safety Alert on LED Interference
Post by: Captain Smollett on April 19, 2019, 08:08:26 PM
Apologies if this has already been posted; did a quick search and did not find a reference.

Not surprisingly, Craig was ahead of the game and mentioned this basis of this issue in an earlier post from 2017. (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=3652.msg53509#msg53509)  Sailfar remains ahead of the curve.  :)

In August of 2018, the USCG Issued a Safety Alert (http://saltwatercentral.com/modules.php?name=SaltwaterCentral&op=sw_article&id=4880) referencing potential VHF, DSC and AIS interference from LED lighting.

The interference can impede these radio systems and represents at least the possibility of a safety hazard.  The article references a simple test boaters can perform to determine if their installed LED lighting equipment is causing interference.

The test is highly technical: set the VHF squelch with LED's off, turn LED's on and see if the radio detects a signal from the lights.