5 December 2005 - 31 March 2006

Attachment A: Survey Questionnaire

HF (high frequency) Radio - Marine Weather Broadcasts User Survey

The Bureau of Meteorology is conducting a survey to gather information on the usefulness of its HF (high frequency) marine weather broadcasts and ways to improve the service. Thank you for taking the time to participate in this survey, which should take about 5 - 10 minutes to complete.

Q1. What HF frequencies (kHz) do you use to receive Australian weather information? (enter at least one 4 or 5 digit number)

Q2. What type of watercraft do you normally operate in? (tick as applicable)

1 commercial
2 professional fishing
3 yachting
4 other please specify _________________________________________________

Q3. Apart from the HF radio service, what other ways are available to you to obtain your marine weather forecast and warnings whilst on the water? (tick more than one if appropriate)

1 No other method – go to Question 5
2 CB radio
3 VHF radio
4 Inmarsat satellite C (GMDSS compliant)
5 satellite phone
6 Mobile telephone
7 AM / FM radio
8 Internet / email
9 Other please specify _____________________________________________

Q4. Which of these do you use most frequently to receive your weather? (tick one)

1 CB radio
2 VHF radio
3 HF radio
4 Inmarsat satellite C (GMDSS compliant)
5 satellite phone
6 Mobile telephone
7 AM / FM radio
8 Internet / email
9 Other please specify _____________________________________________

Q5. For VMC/VMW HF voice broadcasts, please rate the broadcast quality (tick one)
Please note that the question does NOT refer to the quality of the weather content. It refers to how well can you hear it?

1 Very good
2 Good
3 Poor
4 Very poor

9 Not used – go to Question 7.

Q6. How do you think the VMC/VMW HF voice broadcast service could be improved?

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Q7. For the VMC/VMW HF radiofax broadcasts please rate the broadcast quality. (tick one)
Please note that the question does NOT refer to the quality of the weather content. It refers to how easily read the charts are when received?

1 Very good
2 Good
3 Poor
4 Very poor

9 Not used – go to Question 10.

Q8. How do you think the VMC/VMW HF radiofax broadcast service could be improved?

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Q9. Are there any other charts you would like to see in the HF schedule? Please give details:

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Q10. Approximately what percentage (%) of your sea time is

a) within 30 nautical miles of the coast? ________
                                                                                                    (note: a + b = 100)
b) beyond 30 nautical miles of the coast? ________

1 New South Wales
2 Victoria
3 Queensland
4 Western Australia
5 South Australia
6 Tasmania
7 Northern Territory

Q12. For the time you spend beyond 30 nm of the Australian coast, please specify the areas you operate in? (tick more than one if appropriate)

1 Northeastern Australian waters (e.g Coral Sea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, PNG)
2 Southeastern Australian waters (e.g. Tasman Sea, New Zealand, Tasmania, Victoria)
3 South and Southwest Australian waters (e.g. Great Australian Bight, Western Australia)
4 Northwest and Northern Australian waters (e.g Northern Territory, Arafura Sea)

5 Other please specify ______________________________________________________

Q13. From time to time the Bureau conducts marine weather surveys. Would you be interested in participating in future Bureau of Meteorology marine surveys?

1 yes
2 no

Q14. If you answered “yes” to Question 13, please enter your name and contact details including email address.

Email address: ________________________________________

Phone number with STD (optional) ________________________

First name: ____________________

Surname (optional) _________________________

Vessel name/callsign (optional) ___________________________