Radio

[codthumper]

mates getting new boat(second hand) on monday,its got a vhf radio on it. question is do we need some sort of licence for this, and how do you go about getting one.
i think this has been asked before, but can,t remember the answer.
any help will be appreciated

 

[codseeker]

ya dont need a liscense as far as i know

 

[beano]

Marine Radio (SRC) | Specialist Short Courses | Courses | Learning | Courses & Training | RYA

You'll require one to use one

 

[gypsyjabber]

no licence needed

 

[beano]

Also this one for your reference


Licences for VHF radio - in UK you need two licences. You need a licence for the radio, called a Ship Portable Radio Licence. That's obtainable (free) from Ofcom on-line once you've registered. To get started, click here. Basically you first need to Register - they send you your Log-in details and then you can apply on-line. That licence is valid for your lifetime, but does have to be revalidated every 10 years. To operate the VHF legally you also need a Marine Radio Short Range Certificate - which requires you to pass a short test to get one. That is valid for your lifetime. The link takes you to the RYA which has details of centres where you can get training. (Look for "Marine Radio Short Range Certificate Course"). It's also worth asking your local CG for details of courses in your area - see the Coastguard Operating Areas above. Annoyingly, quite a lot of the course will be devoted to the DSC aspect, but it is nevertheless an excellent (essential) course to learn to use the set properly. Currently (2011) there are few DSC handhelds available in UK, the Standard Horizon HX851E being one such. Some concerns are being voiced over battery life though.

 

[northeast1]

As stated above YOU DO need one by law, i have not heard anyone being checked for one but like car insurance and anything else that is law and you dont follow.....

"you pay your money, you take your chance"


The above post is good info and as stated it is very easy once you follow the OFCOM link's

 

[codseeker]

oh reet so if i have a radio and shout for help from the rnli and no liscence ..sorry sir we carnt help ya have no liscence for your machine

 

[Ian Alexander]

Hello,
You have to have an OFCOM licence, this is free from OFCOM Ofcom

Then to operate the radio you have to have a Certificate Of Competance. To get this you have to do a one day operators course.

Marine Radio (SRC) | Specialist Short Courses | Courses | Learning | Courses & Training | RYA

They used to run them at Roker and Friars Goose I think.

Regards Ian

 

[codthumper]

thanks lads, some good info there,and i,ll look into it
many thanks

 

[Norman]

A little confusion on Licence ...... hope this helps ... (see also beanos post above)

Note there are Two licences:-
The first licence is to cover the equipment and it being on board to transmit VHF signals (similar to car Road Tax - but cheaper), this Licence is tied to the boat by way of a calling Code given to the owner on application to OFCOM This is FREE... (it used to cost £22 per year until a few years ago but is now FREE on application)

The second licence is for the person operating it and is a one time hit similar to a driving licence, this is a day or half day course which is fairly straight forward and I know of NO-ONE that has ever failed it.
It is illegal to transmit on VHF either without this licence or without the assistance of a person with this licence. (It is legal under the asssistance of a licenced person to transmit as either an emergency or as training)
This licence applys to the operator and is valid for whichever vessel he or she is on.

Straightforward I think , book the day course and get your operators licence then apply to offcom and receive callsign and vessel licence
Thats it ... for life.

hope this helps ....... see beanos post above for good links

norm

ps when listening in it's obvious when your hear calls from people who have NOT done the course .... they are just so .. wrong, in the format

 

[codthumper]

thanks again lads ,thought you needed one but was,nt to sure.had a licence for CBradio years ago.

 

[tilly]

Im sure the licence does run out eventually!!
I deal with the Epirb registry on a regular basis and many emails received from them states that the owners of the vessel has an expired vhf licence could i please check!!!
Errrr no love its not my job...i supply the epribs not the licence so check yourself!!!
But its amazing what vessel owners licence's have expired and also the companies who have not registered there epirbs!!!

 

[harry barker]

Im sure the licence does run out eventually!!
I deal with the Epirb registry on a regular basis and many emails received from them states that the owners of the vessel has an expired vhf licence could i please check!!!
Errrr no love its not my job...i supply the epribs not the licence so check yourself!!!
But its amazing what vessel owners licence's have expired and also the companies who have not registered there epirbs!!!

Once you sit the vhf course and obtain your licence this is for life,unlike the old vhf licence that you had to pay and renew.

If you have radar,and any Epirb on board then this equipment needs to be reg onto you vhf licence and does have a time out date.(5 years I think)

I would recommend anyone going to sea to sit the vhf course and obtain there licence as this would also give you call sign to use.

With this call sign you then can use a radio with DSC automatic call and rescue
system built into the radio,this is a great step forward to safety at sea as all that need to be done is to press a big red button on the vhf set and this will alert the rescue services to your position via GPS satellites as long as you have your vhf radio connected to your GPS.

One of the advantages of DSC that anyone one board if a emergency arises at sea can just lift the flap and press the red button,so the crew could do this if the skipper is disabled in some way.

The DSC system once activated sends out your location in lat/long and also calls for the rescue services to attend your vessel.