ATIS--- info from ICOM

[sailorman]

So what is ATIS?
ATIS, stands for Automatic Transmitter
Identification System, not to be confused with
AIS). The ATIS system is used on inland
waterways in various countries in mainland
Europe. At the end of every transmission the
radio sends out a unique FFSK data signal,
heard as a scratchy noise at the end of every
transmission. This signal contains the user or
ship’s unique ATIS call sign which identifies you
to marine coast stations and inland stations.
Do I need a new radio or can my
current equipment be upgraded?
Icom’s current range of VHF Handheld and
VHF/DSC fixed marine radios are ATIS
(Automatic Transmission Identification System)
capable.They can be simply programmed by Icom
UK or your local dealer to work on this system.
How will my Icom marine radio
work once it has my new ATIS
number programmed into it?
Your Icom VHF marine radio has two channel
banks (or groups) ‘USA’ and ‘INT’. UK sets
have two additional channels pre-enabled in the
‘INT’ group, these are known as channels M1 &
M2. The USA group is used in American waters
and has many of the same channels
as the UK’s (‘INT’) group, but some
channels (although they have the
same channel numbers) have
different operating frequencies,
hence the need for two groups.
Having been programmed with
your new ATIS number, your radio
will now have three channel
groups; INT, USA & ATIS.
The ATIS feature will be enabled on the radio
while the ATIS group is selected, when
travelling into European waters.To make sure
ATIS is enabled, you simply need to toggle the
radio into the ATIS group.When you travel
back to UK waters you just need to toggle
back to the ‘INT’ group and the ATIS features
will be disabled.
PLEASE NOTE, IT IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT
ATIS-ENABLED RADIOS MUST BE PROGRAMMED
WHEN ENTERING AND LEAVING MAINLAND
EUROPEAN WATERS. IT IS SIMPLY A MATTER
OF SELECTING THE CORRECT GROUP.
Will existing DSC functions work
if I have my radio reprogrammed
with ATIS?
Your DSC will work and will not be affected by
being programmed for ATIS. You are advised
that DSC use is not permitted or supported
on inland waterways throughout Europe. Also
scanning or dual/tri-watch is not permitted,
these features must not be used in ATIS mode.
Can I get my handheld VHF
programmed if I don’t have an
MMSI number?
Unfortunately ATIS numbers will only be given
to boat owners who have an MMSI number. If
you are sailing to Europe it may be appropriate
to consider purchasing a VHF/DSC radio, as all
European countries will recognise this.
What do I need to do to comply?
Before contacting ICOM UK, simply e-mail
OFCOM at: licensingcentre@ofcom.org.uk
with your name, vessel name, vessel callsign
and MMSI number (which will be sent to the
Belgian Institute of Postal Services and
Telecommunications (BIPT). OFCOM will then
check their records and issue you with a
Notice of Variation (NOV) to your licence, this
may be sent to you electronically.You can then
contact us, or your local Icom dealer, with your
newly issued ATIS number and have it
programmed into your radio.
PLEASE NOTE:
• As part of this process your data will be
given to the BIPT. You must print a copy of
the Basel Agreement from:
www.rainwat.bipt.be/rainboat.html -
and keep it with the NOV and your boats
radio licence.
• You must familiarise yourself with the Basel
Agreement.
• The UK is NOT acceded to the Basel
Agreement.
• Whilst overseas you will be under the
jurisdiction of the authority in that country.
• RAINWAT is the “Regional Arrangement
Concerning the Radiotelephone Service on
Inland Waterways” which, through the Basel
Agreement, has introduced the Automatic
Transmitter Identification System (ATIS) for
vessels making VHF transmissions whilst on
the inland waterways of the signatory
countries: Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia;
Czech Republic; France; Germany;
Hungary; Luxemburg; Moldova;The
Netherlands; Poland; Romania;
Slovakia; Switzerland; Serbia &
Montenegro.
ATIS-Upgrade for your ICOM VHF!
If you are a UK boat owner planning to sail on European inland
waterways this year, your VHF radio transceiver may need
reprogramming with a valid ATIS number.
Icom UK Ltd.
Sea Street, Herne Bay,Kent CT6 8LD.
Telephone: 01227 741741. Fax: 01227 741742.
e-mail: sales@icomuk.co.uk website:www.icomuk.co.uk

 

[jerryat]

Hi Sailorman,

Very interesting, but I want to know and have tried to find out from both the RYA and Ofcom, is whether one can use the French Canal system for example, WITHOUT a VHF radio on board at all. or with one's VHF clearly disabled, i.e. not just switched off. Neither was able to give me an answer.

We have never once used our VHF during our trips up and down to the Med using this route, and have no intention of buying DSC radio just have it sat there unused. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Hopefully someone here will have better info than I've been able to get. I posted questions I emailed to Ofcom and their reply on one of the earlier ATIS threads here, but I can't find that thread for some reason. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Robin]

We just bought a Navmam 7100 on sale at Force 4 for just £89.95 which is (menu) switchable between DSC and ATIS. This is a real beauty IMO especially for the price because the same menu options allow either DSC or ATIS or BOTH to be disabled. I bought it not for the ATIS function but for the abilty to a) shut off DSC when I get tired of being screamed at b) so that it will actually talk to our Navman GPSs which the old NASA set flat out refused to do, with each side saying it was the other's fault. I installed it last weekend and have already proved that it does exactly what I wanted as I ran it alongside another set on a friend's boat and he received a DSC alarm when ours remained blissfully silent! It is a matter of about 4 seconds to re-enable DSC and I've put a Dymo label up to say how if needed. The set BTW is fully EU/UK Type approved and has the UK marina channels already installed.

We still have the NASA but this set is now relegated to a backup and connected to our reserve VHF aerial on the gantry.

 

[LadyInBed]

When I tried using a VHF on the canal the French lock keepers don't /won't speak English so it was a waste of time for me.
It is unneccery anyway, as the lock keepers radio / phone ahead to the next lock to let them know what is coming.
If it was a requirement, it would be a good excuse to buy an emergency aerial if you don't have one!

 

[jerryat]

Hi Robin,

Yes, I saw your previous thread/post re this radio, and I agree it does appear to cover all the bases. But we haven't used our vhf for at least six years, wouldn't use it on the canals and don't want to bother going on a course to get the relevant licence upgrade.

If our old Husun 60 does go to the Great Propagation in the Sky, we do not intend replacing it unless carrying one is made compulsory. We are considering replacing our recently deceased HH vhf but probably won't bother this year.

As I mention above, I want to know whether one HAS to carry a vhf at all in those countries signed up to ATIS not just whether if one DOES it must be so enabled.

Frankly I don't think any UK authority has a clue as to the answer to this question ...... yet!

 

[jerryat]

Hi LadyinBed,

Tee hee! You are quite right! Stoney silence is the usual response we've found, UNLESS you do have a go in French. Back in '97 when we did our first trip up from the Med. I did try in English, then switched to to using my excruciating French. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The latter did elicit a reply on occasion, but we couldn't understand the 'rapid' French (our fault) they relied with, so stopped. It made not one jot of difference to the use of the locks or anything else.

Incidentally, we have carried our emergency VHF aerial tied to the (horizontal mast) on all the trips. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ctelfer38]

Robin, can I ask did you have to pay extra to have the radio programmed with your ATIS ID?

 

[Robin]

The radio comes as standard with ATIS function installed and the ATIS number is easily entered by the user as a once only entry in the same way that you put in your MMSI number.

I've only entered our MMSI number as I don't have an ATIS one and don't intend going where I will need one, but I think it might be just the MMSI preceeded by a '9' once you get Ofcom's OK to use it and a variation of the licence to allow it's use.