ATIS numbers & radios

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ditchcrawler

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Following on from the posts on R2R & Scutbut re ATIS numbers I posted some information from a dealer which has now been updated by a reply to me by Offcom as follows.If you have your VHF reprogrammed to operate on the ATIS system your DSC is uneffected by ATIS & will work in either mode.Once programmed the radio will be switchable between INT(UK mode) & ATIS (European mode) It will not need reprogramming when you return to UK & DSC will function in both modes contrary to what I was informed by an Icom dealer.
Icom will do the reprogramming for about £35 but a dealer could be cheaper.
By the way gold star to Offcom.I applied for my ATIS number & documentation was E mailed to me 2 days later.I apologise to people who know this info but I thought it may help some.
 
Yes but are you still REQUIRED to carry a VHF when on the European waterways? I posted this plea on one of the earlier threads, then followed up every link given by others and a few of my own, but still can't find an answer. We would be more than happy to ditch ours as we hardly ever use it, and never have on the French canals.

I'm inclined to agree with one of the previous posters who wondered whether this ATIS thingy really only applies to 'ships' on the arterial rivers. Then one reads it applies to boats over 7 metres in length who probably wouldn't carry 'em anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Unlike some, at the moment we're only at the 'inside/outside' route decision making process for next year, and although we've done both at least three times, we'd still like the option.

This business is a real pain! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
It seems that it is now MANDITORY on all vessels over 7m on inland waterways of France and Holland etc to carry a vhf radio and it has to be ADIS .


(IMHO Go for the outer route and enjoy some real cruising of the French west coast and the north coast of Spain. )
 
[ QUOTE ]
It seems that it is now MANDITORY on all vessels over 7m on inland waterways of France and Holland etc to carry a vhf radio and it has to be ADIS .


(IMHO Go for the outer route and enjoy some real cruising of the French west coast and the north coast of Spain. )

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi,

Yes, I feared that carrying a vhf would be mandatory, though I still can't find anything that confirms that. Does seem likely though. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I agree re the outside route and we've cruised the north coast of Spain from Pasejes westward, the rias and down the Portuguese coast three times now - lovely! But we've also cruised the French canals to/from the Med three times and thoroughly enjoyed that too!

As we particularly dislike the Spanish Med coast from Gib to say Cartegena/Alicante, and would be heading for Greece/Turkey/Croatia anyway, there's some merit in popping out into the Med at Port St Louis de Rhone and cracking on. On the other hand, we're a sailing boat .................... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

We really do not want have to buy a new radio, get it 'ATIS'd, get our licence updated and so on, just for one trip down the canals, as our projected return trip will, we hope(!) be via the Caribbean again.

In a way, it's the knowledge that even if we did go through all the hassle and expense, we still wouldn't use it that galls, and I see NO indication in the stuff I've read that says you must USE the ATIS enabled vhf. I suppose that'll be the next regulation to come in though, and would definitely be a show-stopper for us using the canals.

I really do hope all this is properly clarified, perhaps by the RYA, very soon. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I think you over state the costs a bit. If your radio is reasonably recent (which probably means a DSC one) and from a good make, then I would expect that it is possible to add the ATIS facility without too much pain or cost. The "paperwork" side is relatively painless and free (I can only speak from experience as a UK registered radio license). While I also dislike bowing down before legislation which seems inappropriate or unnecessary, I wouldn't want it to force decisions on me, especially as complying with it is reasonably easy. As you say, you don't have to use the radio. I see it as pretty much a "box ticking" exercise.

Regards,
Jeff.
 
Hi Jeff!

Oh no, my faithfull (but virtually unused) Husun 60 vhf was bought in 1979 so definitely NOT DSC!!!!

Even so, I accept that the costs are not massive, but if one never (well perhaps twice a season at most) uses the thing, it does seem a waste of money to me. We have always said that if our vhf died, we'd either stick with our handheld only, or buy another non-DSC radio. I'm personally not convinced of all the 'benefits' of DSC, many on here seem to find them a noisy pain.

Just a thought, I wonder if a modern HH vhf can be converted to ADIS, would it have to be a DSC type which I don't think are readily available yet?

Bearing in mind the height of one's aerial on a lowered mast going down the canals, a HH would have at least the same range.

Just a thought. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jerry
 
Re: ATIS numbers & radios

As usual the problem will be mainly felt by liveaboards and cruisers already in transit and have been away from the UK for some years. The boats that are closing a circumnavigation by entering the Med from the Red Sea will not even know of this latest requirement. Many of these yachts will hope to take the scenic route home via the canals.

They will face the same problem I do. My boat is British registered which means that I must have a current British radio licence. I would have to fly to UK pass the tests, get a licence from Ofcom, buy a radio I have no use for, get the codes, etc etc and so forth. Its a pain. I don't have a VHF and had no plans or desire to get one. With mobile phones sat comms, and internet why are we being forced back into 1970's VHF technology for INLAND waters. I mean to say, the shipping world closed down marine SSB years ago.

I also have been that way three times with no VHF. I feel sure that the French will not bother, but even knowing that I dare not risk it without jumping through their hoops because the big Rhone Locks may get bloody minded and deny passage. Its the sea route for me unless the RYA or Cruising association can extend the derogation to UK USA and OZZy boats among others.
 
Re: ATIS numbers & radios

Hi B,

Yes, the whole damned business infuriates me! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I rang the RYA today to get the latest, and hopefully accurate info, but the person I apparently needed was unavailable and I can't get hold of them until Monday.

I get onto them then and post any sensible info here - IF I can understand it!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Cheers

Jerry
 
Re: ATIS numbers & radios

I've obviously missed something....
What is ATIS or ADIS? Google doesn't make sense, the best I can guess is "automatic terminal identification system" Which, I assume, means that the radio will have a programmed 'roger bleep' containing its unique id number - yet another (on top of the MMSI)to be held in a database somewhere. WHY?? the monitoring infrastructure will cost euros, and what does it do to further the safe and speedy flow of water-born traffic? If you want to "ID" every transmission, why not use MMSI and modify the radios?
Let's face it, the rush to take up all these new inovations isn't exactly a tsunami...
somebody who understands - please explain, and justify.
 
Re: ATIS numbers & radios

Google "RAINWAT agreement" and download the latest version in English. Legally you have to have ATIS in the RAINWAT agreement area (most of Europe's inland waterways). But you will probably get away without it.

You can have the ATIS feature added to any old VHF, my Sailor RT144B is 32 years old and has ATIS added. You just need someone who knows how to do it. He will probably be Dutch.
 
Re: ATIS numbers & radios

Having quickly read the RAINWAT agreement it strikes me that we can have our radios altered for ATIS & comply with that part but then they're going to get you on the fact that we're unlikely to have the correct VHF licence to operate it in the RAINWAT area - ie "THE OPERATOR’S CERTIFICATE FOR THE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICE ON INLAND WATERWAYS".

Think I'll leave my radio as it is & take a chance /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
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