Radio check procedure on VHF typically uses which channel?

• A. Channel 16
• B. Channel 22A
• C. Channel 9
• D. Channel 6

Answer: (C)

Testing a VHF radio is about confirming that your transmission and reception work on a channel set aside for routine, non-emergency communications. Channel 16 is the distress, safety, and hailing channel, so it should be kept clear for emergencies. For a normal radio check, you use Channel 9, which is the general calling channel used for non-emergency testing and casual exchanges.

So you’d make a quick call on Channel 9 to another station (or a shore station), identify yourself, and request a radio check. The responding station should acknowledge on Channel 9 with a clear signal message, confirming your radio can be heard well enough. This process proves the radio setup—transmitter, mic, and antenna—are functioning and that your communications path is reliable without tying up the emergency channel. If the check isn’t heard on Channel 9, you can try again or proceed with caution, keeping Channel 16 available for emergencies.