Call sign

[billyfish]

Got a new to us boat. Re registered the SSR to my name got the MMSI number from the vhf. But cant find a call sign number should I use the one that I had with the last boat.

 

[edsailing]

You need a licence in your name, for which you'll need to have a VHF certificate, then apply for the ships radio licence which will have a call sign attached.

I think the mmsi will also be reissued in your name and the Rado will need to be reprogrammed to reflect the change of ownership details..

 

[ithet]

You need to go to the Ofcom website and apply for a new licence (free) in your name, but keeping the existing MMSI number for the vessel. The licence will have the call sign on it.
Ofcom Amateur and Ships Radio Licensing Portal

You can probably look up the existing call sign on the ITU station lookup using the previous owner and vessel name.
Ship Station List

 

[ithet]

You need a licence in your name, for which you'll need to have a VHF certificate, then apply for the ships radio licence which will have a call sign attached.

I think the mmsi will also be reissued in your name and the Rado will need to be reprogrammed to reflect the change of ownership details..

You do not need an operators certificate to licence the radio installation, although you do need one to operate it in a non-emergency.

The MMSI belongs to the boat and the radio will not need to be reprogrammed.

 

[PaulRainbow]

You need a licence in your name, for which you'll need to have a VHF certificate, then apply for the ships radio licence which will have a call sign attached.

I think the mmsi will also be reissued in your name and the Rado will need to be reprogrammed to reflect the change of ownership details..

There is no requirement to have "a VHF certificate" to get a ships radio licence. There ia also no need to reprogram the VHF.

Post #3 is correct. Get a new ships radio licence from Ofcom, enter the current MMSI and the new licence will show the call sign.

 

[billyfish]

Cheers guys . I Have a operative license so will apply for it

 

[Bodach na mara]

I remember getting a call sign when I got a ship's radio licence but I can't remember it now as I have never had to use it.

 

[TernVI]

If anybody actually uses their 'call sign' instead of their boat name, everyone else tends to assume they are the military or something.
More of a short wave thing generally?

 

[prv]

If anybody actually uses their 'call sign' instead of their boat name, everyone else tends to assume they are the military or something.
More of a short wave thing generally?

The Coastguard use it when calling a boat they haven't previously been in contact with.

Years ago I heard the old Solent Coastguard demand callsign and SSR and anything else they could think of, from someone who'd called them to file a passage plan from Lymington to Yarmouth or some equally piffling "voyage". The elderly public-school voice on the other end got increasingly flustered as he didn't have any of it to hand. You'd think if someone wanted to play bureaucracy they'd be better at it ?

Pete

 

[LittleSister]

I've heard the Coastguard asking for callsigns. I imagine it makes it easier to differentiate the numerous boats with the same common names, and is easier than verbally checking the spelling of obscure names, or the long MMSI number.

I remember getting a call sign when I got a ship's radio licence but I can't remember it now as I have never had to use it.

Every boat I've owned has had a label with the callsign on or near the VHF (placed there by me or previous owner) With that in place I've always found the callsigns short enough and distinctive enough (using the phonetic alphabet conjures a 'story') to remember, even though I've rarely used them.

 

[Graham376]

If anybody actually uses their 'call sign' instead of their boat name, everyone else tends to assume they are the military or something.
More of a short wave thing generally?

In the past I only remember one UK coast guard station asking for call sign but it's quite normal abroad. I have it on Dynatape next to radio which is used so infrequently, I can't remember it.

 

[TernVI]

In the past I only remember one UK coast guard station asking for call sign but it's quite normal abroad. I have it on Dynatape next to radio which is used so infrequently, I can't remember it.

I can remember two from previous boats, in phonetic speak.
Can't remember the current one.

I sail with someone who is a bit dyslexic, OK with actual words, but meaningless strings of numbers or letters tend to come out wrong.
Could make life interesting?

 

[mattonthesea]

I can remember two from previous boats, in phonetic speak.
Can't remember the current one.

I sail with someone who is a bit dyslexic, OK with actual words, but meaningless strings of numbers or letters tend to come out wrong.
Could make life interesting?

I wondered what that callsign thing was for! Clue in the title but more honoured in the breach.

Bit of thread drift but, on a charter, years back, one of my dyslexic friends volunteered to read out the inventory check. Apart from being amusing, it made us realise how much she'd overcome. And my reduced heat transfer receptacle is now forever referred to as my 'insult mug.'

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I used it as my laptop password for a while which aided in committing it to memory. I tried doing the same with the mmsi but it didn't stick.

 

[starfire]

My ham radio callsigns are still memorable, even after years of not using them. I could probably still do them on a morse key.
My portable marine licence, not a clue without looking it up.