VHF radio licence

[George94]

I think an EDIT may have saved you there!

 

This will probably not impress you then!

 

(Don't know any more - its what a bit og Googling just turned up...)

 

Dead right!

 

One of the problems is that the course has to include certain Continental systems like ACIS that are irrelevant to the UK. As a consequence, they are either covered at length, which is a complete waste of time, or skimmed over, which seems even more pointless.

 

A Leisure boaters' version of the certificate, telling you the etiquette and how to issue a Mayday or Pan call would take very little time and would be no less useful, because you will soon forget the bits you don't need and will never use.

[Tim]

Heard both 'roger' and 'over and out' on the G&S at the weekend!!

[howardang]

Heard both 'roger' and 'over and out' on the G&S at the weekend!!

Good to hear Roger is still boating!

 

Howard

[Aunty_Rinum]

.... I'd dispute the claim you can "learn all you need to know in 15 minutes", but it is certainly true that most of what you are taiught and tested on over the day you will never need to use on most of our inland navigations.

It's over thirty years since I got my VHF Operator's licence and, in those days, the "course" was completed in a single morning with the exam in the adternoon. To pass though you would have already needed to be up to speed with the phonetic alphabet. The "exam" entailed being able to switch on the set, adjust the volume and squelch, and broadcast a mayday.

Has it changed much?

[saltysplash]

It's over thirty years since I got my VHF Operator's licence and, in those days, the "course" was completed in a single morning with the exam in the adternoon. To pass though you would have already needed to be up to speed with the phonetic alphabet. The "exam" entailed being able to switch on the set, adjust the volume and squelch, and broadcast a mayday.

Has it changed much?

still the same except with the addition of DSC instruction

[frangar]

Heard both 'roger' and 'over and out' on the G&S at the weekend!!

We had that from a lockie on the Severn.....made me chuckle...no harm done tho.....some of my radio conversations probably make no sense too and I use radio Comms for a living!!

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

[Naughty Cal]

Good to hear Roger is still boating!

 

Howard

Who is Roger though?

 

He seems to spend a lot of time on the Trent.

It's over thirty years since I got my VHF Operator's licence and, in those days, the "course" was completed in a single morning with the exam in the adternoon. To pass though you would have already needed to be up to speed with the phonetic alphabet. The "exam" entailed being able to switch on the set, adjust the volume and squelch, and broadcast a mayday.

Has it changed much?

You still need to learn the phonetic alphabet.

 

Have only had to use it once since at Ocean Lock. The lockie on that day decided to be a knob and insisted all boats waiting outside the lock had to relay their boat names to him phonetically as we waited for the commercial to clear the lock and enter the river. Luckily we know ours but as you can well imagine it was a mockery of a sham with some of the crews

[George94]

I seem to remember that I learned the old Alpha Bravo at school, so those years of formal education were not entirely wasted.

[alan_fincher]

One learns about use of "over", "out" etc then stands out like a sore thumb when you are rigorouslu trying to do allthat but those who have used VHF on a daily basosbasis for yrarsyears seldom bother!

 

Even London VTS operators seem fairly lax on occasions.

[Ssscrudddy]

Well I know the phonetic alphabet & I've had training for police radios (over 10 years ago). So according to that I need to do the course while it's £100 instead of £200

[carlt]

still the same except with the addition of DSC instruction

Yes, this is my original course book (64 pages, no pictures) compared to the one I got when I retook the course a few years ago (95 pages with loads of pretty pictures, ads and a few blank "notes" sheets at the back) so there isn't a great deal of new content.

 

 

That said I found redoing the course as a refresher (after years in the ditch away from lumpy water and VHF) very useful and worth the £65 it cost me even though I was under no obligation to do so as the certificate is valid for life.

Edited September 26, 2013 by carlt

[Boaty Jo]

It's worth learning a bit about waterway communication,,,,,,,

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR0lWICH3rY

[ditchcrawler]

It's over thirty years since I got my VHF Operator's licence and, in those days, the "course" was completed in a single morning with the exam in the adternoon. To pass though you would have already needed to be up to speed with the phonetic alphabet. The "exam" entailed being able to switch on the set, adjust the volume and squelch, and broadcast a mayday.

Has it changed much?

You got off lightly

Well I know the phonetic alphabet & I've had training for police radios (over 10 years ago). So according to that I need to do the course while it's £100 instead of £200

They use a different one, or should I say they did

Good to hear Roger is still boating!

 

Howard

Worked with a chap and we called him Roger Rat because at the end over everything you said to him he replied "Roger That"

[arcsyst]

Google Ray Cullis, sterling fellow based in Nottingham I think.

[bozlite]

Google Ray Cullis, sterling fellow based in Nottingham I think.

Yes - Trent Boat Handling (http://www.trentboathandling.co.uk).

[Chris83]

If Marlow is any use, I can put a course on for £50 / head, plus a £30 licence fee.

[geoffwales]

I booked mine for November with seavoice in preston. The guy is really helpful and knowledgeable

[jelunga]

Ray Cullis does courses in Nottingham. E keeps threatening ti retire. Not sure if he has yet. CRT use him.

His email is : ray@trentboathandling.co.uk

[Smudge]

i did helmsman and VHF with Ray hes a top man and makes courses fun as well

[The Pipe]

I booked mine for November with seavoice in preston. The guy is really helpful and knowledgeable

I did mine with Seavoice in Preston Marina and your right he is very good.

[RichardN]

Try Andrew Phasey: http://www.theoldmainline.co.uk/info2.cfm?info_id=14225

 

Also keep a look out on the circulars from the BCNS as last year he did I think 2 courses at Longwood Boat Club for I think £60 plus whatever the RYA Certificate Fee is (£30?)

[john6767]

Found it:

 

http://www.hoeoca.org.uk/

I have booked on a course with the trainer that the above use, Vic Stuthridge of 2nd Meridian Training (vic@2ndmeridian.org.uk). Of course no idea how good it will be yet, but the date worked, 23 Nov, and it is in Coventry. It is £65 + 30 if anyone else is interested. Their one at the end of Oct is full, so the November one may be their last one under the current regeime

[mrsmelly]

Google Ray Cullis, sterling fellow based in Nottingham I think.

I was with Ray today and he assures me that he has DEFINATELY retired this time. He does retire quite often but I think he realy has after our conversation today.

 

Tim