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VHF RADIO LICENCE


mrsmelly

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Hi all

 

I need to get a personal vhf licence so I think its a one day course and test from memory. My question is does anyone know of an establishment near Oxford I could do this please ?

 

RYA Website is a good place to start:

 

http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/specialist/Pages/default.aspx

 

Tim

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Quick Question: I have a Aviation (CAA/FAA) VHF License and a hand held transmitter for my Aircraft. Can I use that or do I have to resit the VHF course?

I bet the Marine VHF frequencies are different.

 

Bob B

Yes,

 

The marine VHF frequencies are unique to Marine VHF, (you probably wouldn't have wanted boaters talking over you when flying, any more than you would have wanted me as a Radio Amateur).

 

It's a unique certificate, specific to marine use, and nothing else is a substitute for it.

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Quick Question: I have a Aviation (CAA/FAA) VHF License and a hand held transmitter for my Aircraft. Can I use that or do I have to resit the VHF course?

I bet the Marine VHF frequencies are different.

 

Bob B

Well I hold a Certificate of Competence In Radiotelephony and Authority To Operate Granted by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications ( Restricted) Issued 12/1971. Updated 8/1983.(long before the RYA came on the scene) I have never been informed that this is out of date, so will continue to use the VHF aboard my boat,which by the way is also fully licensed (unlike some) unless told otherwise by the MCA.

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Well I hold a Certificate of Competence In Radiotelephony and Authority To Operate Granted by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications ( Restricted) Issued 12/1971. Updated 8/1983.(long before the RYA came on the scene) I have never been informed that this is out of date, so will continue to use the VHF aboard my boat,which by the way is also fully licensed (unlike some) unless told otherwise by the MCA.

 

The present regs require that the person is licensed if the VHF is a portable set. If the set is fixed then the boat is licensed.

Roger

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I had a VHF license many years ago, when it had to be renewed regularily. I asked if it was still applicable when the non renewal regime came in but apparently not. Becides which it is now DCS or something. Don't rely on your 60's license being current, it's not.

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The present regs require that the person is licensed if the VHF is a portable set. If the set is fixed then the boat is licensed.

Roger

The operator needs a licence, whether operating a handheld or a fixed set.

 

The fixed set also needs a ships licence (which can be got online, for free) but the hand held can be used on any vessel.

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The operator needs a licence, whether operating a handheld or a fixed set.

 

The fixed set also needs a ships licence (which can be got online, for free) but the hand held can be used on any vessel.

 

This is correct - you need an operator's licence, which you get after a test to demonstrate you can use vhf correctly and which lasts for life. You also need a ship's radio licence - a licence which identifies a particular vhf set on a particular craft. Obviously if you have a fixed set that is what will be recorded, but if you have a portable set which you use regularly on board it should have note of that as well, especially if you propose to boat on the continent. Germany, Belgium and Holland in particular are quite fussy about the use of hand-held appliances and a hand-helt set is likely to be confiscated unless it is identified on the ship's licence. There used to be an annual renewal fee for this licence, but it is now free if done on-line.

 

On continental inland waters you must now have two vhf radios, fitted with ATIS which identifies which vessel is broadcasting each time it is used. One set is tuned to the ship-ship channel (10), and the other to the local navigational channel (mostly 18/20/22). Also on the continent channel 16 is just used for chat, if at all - it is NOT used for calling and distress as at sea. Can take you by surprise when you first come inland from the sea, especially if you have a dual watch set. These lock onto a broadcast on Ch16 if they detect one, so you suddenly get all this weird chat on the radio and it takes a while to work out what on earth is going on.

Edited by Tam & Di
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The operator needs a licence, whether operating a handheld or a fixed set.

 

The fixed set also needs a ships licence (which can be got online, for free) but the hand held can be used on any vessel.

 

Yep, I was talking about the licence for the equipment not the operator's licence to use it. I have a portable licence for my handheld and a ship's licence for my fixed set..........in addition to the operator's licence to use both :lol:

Roger

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This is correct - you need an operator's licence, which you get after a test to demonstrate you can use vhf correctly and which lasts for life. You also need a ship's radio licence - a licence which identifies a particular vhf set on a particular craft. Obviously if you have a fixed set that is what will be recorded, but if you have a portable set which you use regularly on board it should have note of that as well, especially if you propose to boat on the continent. Germany, Belgium and Holland in particular are quite fussy about the use of hand-held appliances and a hand-helt set is likely to be confiscated unless it is identified on the ship's licence. There used to be an annual renewal fee for this licence, but it is now free if done on-line.

 

On continental inland waters you must now have two vhf radios, fitted with ATIS which identifies which vessel is broadcasting each time it is used. One set is tuned to the ship-ship channel (10), and the other to the local navigational channel (mostly 18/20/22). Also on the continent channel 16 is just used for chat, if at all - it is NOT used for calling and distress as at sea. Can take you by surprise when you first come inland from the sea, especially if you have a dual watch set. These lock onto a broadcast on Ch16 if they detect one, so you suddenly get all this weird chat on the radio and it takes a while to work out what on earth is going on.

 

Tam, unfortunately this is not the advice that I was given when I specifically asked Ofcom about this in an e-mail. I already possessed a portable VHF and a Ship Portable Radio Licence. I then also acquired a fixed set in the new boat. I enquired whether the portable should be shown on the Ship Radio Licence for the boat and was told that it wasn't required, that my portable licence was OK. I did need to get a Letter of Variation from Ofcom for my Ship Radio Licence to cover the addition of ATIS to the set.

Roger

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Tam, unfortunately this is not the advice that I was given when I specifically asked Ofcom about this in an e-mail. I already possessed a portable VHF and a Ship Portable Radio Licence. I then also acquired a fixed set in the new boat. I enquired whether the portable should be shown on the Ship Radio Licence for the boat and was told that it wasn't required, that my portable licence was OK. I did need to get a Letter of Variation from Ofcom for my Ship Radio Licence to cover the addition of ATIS to the set.

Roger

 

I'm sure Ofcom will have given you correct information for UK registered vessels using VHF within UK jurisdiction. However hand-held sets are not looked upon favourably on the continental mainland, though France does not have a lot to say about VHF other than that all craft on the Seine through Paris must use them.

 

When Belgium introduced new regs re VHF last January they originally stipulated that all craft over 7.5m must have two fixed ATIS enabled sets, though they subsequently relented under pressure and do now allow hand-held ones. Holland also requires two ATIS enabled sets, and only allows hand-held appliances for use between a tug and barges under tow, restricted to ch17 if I recall correctly. I have certainly seen reports of hand-held sets being confiscated in Belgium because they were not identified on the ship's licence.

 

I've not been back into Holland for some time, nor so far (touch wood) have I ever been subject to being boarded for an inspection of any kind. However I do have one fixed set and one hand-held. They are both written onto my ship's licence.

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I'm sure Ofcom will have given you correct information for UK registered vessels using VHF within UK jurisdiction. However hand-held sets are not looked upon favourably on the continental mainland, though France does not have a lot to say about VHF other than that all craft on the Seine through Paris must use them.

snipped

 

I specifically mentioned that I would be using the sets in France and, in any case, they would have known that for the fixed set as I had to get a Notice of Variation for the ATIS use (not mandated in the UK as you know). I hope that they got the info right as all one can do is to ask the issuing authority :(

I have no intention of doing Holland and Belgium anyway so hopefully won't be affected by their regs.

There is something niggling in the back of my mind about radios not being required below a certain length (although this may be something to do with your Belgian example of below 7.5m). Am I imagining it or is there something in the regs about it? Could easily be memory failure of course :(

Roger

Edited by Albion
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I had a VHF license many years ago, when it had to be renewed regularily. I asked if it was still applicable when the non renewal regime came in but apparently not. Becides which it is now DCS or something. Don't rely on your 60's license being current, it's not.

The current "Marine Radio Short Range Certificate" training (1 day) does indeed spend a lot of time on DSC ("Digital Selective Calling"), and many other matters related to things that might be highly appropriate if you were going to sea.

 

Sadly, for people who's ambitions don't extend beyond using VHF on the relevant inland canals and rivers in the UK, I would say that the largest part of the course has little relevance, (for example if you go the hand-held route, what you buy will not even have DSC as a feature).

 

But that is the certificate we are now required to pass, and it ain't hard, so if you want the qualification, you need to go and understand the (say) 80% you will never use, as the (maybe) 20% you will.

 

Obviously if taking it outside these shores, you get into the kinds of thing Tam is discussing.

 

If you use it on the Thames, for example, don't expect the professionals to use the kind of language used on the course. The use of "over" or "out" at the end of a transmission seems to pigeon-hole as someone who has just been trained - those who have been doing it a while seldom say these words, in my experience!

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If you use it on the Thames, for example, don't expect the professionals to use the kind of language used on the course. The use of "over" or "out" at the end of a transmission seems to pigeon-hole as someone who has just been trained - those who have been doing it a while seldom say these words, in my experience!

 

Not sure about the Thames, but certainly on the Trent, Ouse and the Humber the "proper" procedure of using "over" or indeed "out" is still used by the commercial operators as well as the majority of leisure boats. Although you do get the occassional muppet who has obviously had no training and insists on using the term "over and out" :angry:

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I'm sure Ofcom will have given you correct information for UK registered vessels using VHF within UK jurisdiction. However hand-held sets are not looked upon favourably on the continental mainland, though France does not have a lot to say about VHF other than that all craft on the Seine through Paris must use them.

 

When Belgium introduced new regs re VHF last January they originally stipulated that all craft over 7.5m must have two fixed ATIS enabled sets, though they subsequently relented under pressure and do now allow hand-held ones. Holland also requires two ATIS enabled sets, and only allows hand-held appliances for use between a tug and barges under tow, restricted to ch17 if I recall correctly. I have certainly seen reports of hand-held sets being confiscated in Belgium because they were not identified on the ship's licence.

 

I've not been back into Holland for some time, nor so far (touch wood) have I ever been subject to being boarded for an inspection of any kind. However I do have one fixed set and one hand-held. They are both written onto my ship's licence.

 

Thank you of putting us staight on yet more Eurogrief! (not as though it will worry me in Ireland for the next few years)

I was vaugely aware this was coming in.

Both my existing ICOM M-71 transportable and M-411 fixed DSC VHF bought for Maurice A would appear, from the ICOM website to still be current models and can be ATIS enabled (IFAICS for UK reg craft this is the boats 9 digit MMSI number, with a 9 in front)

This is what ICOM says about getting them ATIS enabled:

ICOM .pdf

I have just read the original Basel Agreement:

Basel Agreement .pdf

...and nearly lost the will to live! :captain:

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If you use it on the Thames, for example, don't expect the professionals to use the kind of language used on the course. The use of "over" or "out" at the end of a transmission seems to pigeon-hole as someone who has just been trained - those who have been doing it a while seldom say these words, in my experience!

 

As there are a handful of people on CW who are contemplating taking their boat to the continent and particularly to France I would add to my earlier info and note that Alan's comment on "over" and "out" applies over here as well (at least it avoids the basic error of using them together in one phrase noted by Phylis!). The conversation generally ends instead with wishing the person you called "bonne route", but the French seem determined to get the last word in and come back with something like "à vous la même". If you don't resist the temptation to continue, and add "merçi" you can be involved in a game of verbal conkers for quite a while.

 

I'm in the UK just now and my copy of the Règlement Génèral de Police for France is on the boat. So I can't check those, but the basic CEVNI rules state that vessels other than small craft should have two VFH sets; small craft are those under 15m or 20m, dependent upon which country you are in. The logic behind having two sets is that it is often important, particularly at locks when you are in company with other (usually commercial) vessels, to be able to hear skippers talking to each other (or to you) on ch10 but also communicate with the lock operator on the navigational channel. The commercial skippers will generally sort out the jigsaw puzzle of who is going where in the lock and let you know where you fit in. Use of the navigation channel lets you call the lock a few minutes or kilometers in advance to announce your arrival and find out if the lock is ready for you or not, and what traffic you might meet in the immediate future. So unless they intend to stay firmly on the Burgundy canal or the Midi I would strongly advise relatively slow lumbering vessels such as a barge, wideboat or narrow boat to be fitted with at least one VHF, and if they propose to cruise north of Paris to any extent to have two. (and to learn at least rudimentary French!!!!!)

 

Ch16 is not used for distress, and the ship-ship channel 10 should be used in the same way as ch16 is at sea, i.e. for navigation information only. If you want to chat you switch to something like 8 or 71 once you've made contact.

 

 

edited for minor tidying and clarity

Edited by Tam & Di
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