Dutch marine vhf radio tweak

Marlene

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Hi
I am going to venture onto the Dutch canals later this year, I have been told I have to send in my radio to be enables for Holland. I thought my modern DSC radio would be suitable for uk and Holland frequencies.
 
we have a non dsc icom, spent 6 weeks in The Netherlands last summer, we saw no officials what ever.
The only issue is some marinas have Ch 31 that our set doesnt have, this means to book in one must used the intercom on the meldstiger
 
The only issue is some marinas have Ch 31

this probably is the reason for what OP has been told that the VHF needs to be send in,
as VHF units delivered in UK don't have CH31 enabled,
but afaik the dealer can enable that chanel on most modern VHF radio's.

all Marina's I know in south holland are on VHF CH31,
most Marina's have a "meldsteiger" = visitors pontoon with a fixed radio,
but it is handy if you can reach the marina on CH31 before arrival.
 
Isn't this more to do with having your vhf set up for ATIS transmission? Its the little squelchy noise at the end of your transmission which identifies your vhf, therefore you? IIRC it is compulsory in Holland. We had to pay to have our vhf updated when we went to Holland. The menu for the VHF seemed to have the ability for a user config of ATIS but it would not work so we had to take it to a dealer..
Constant gabble on VHF in Holland - non stop - had to switch it off.
 
Atis, thanks that's the word, thanks. But also thanks for other replies, will also get channel 31 enabled.
 
Isn't this more to do with having your vhf set up for ATIS transmission? Its the little squelchy noise at the end of your transmission which identifies your vhf, therefore you? IIRC it is compulsory in Holland. We had to pay to have our vhf updated when we went to Holland. The menu for the VHF seemed to have the ability for a user config of ATIS but it would not work so we had to take it to a dealer..
Constant gabble on VHF in Holland - non stop - had to switch it off.

Atis is for usage on inland canals and rivers, only applicable in the coutrys around the Rhine, so NL, B and Germany
IIRC you can only get a atis code in one of these country's and only if you have there a permament adress,
(correct me if I"m wrong on that)
but IIRC there was a issue that foreigners couldn't apply to that law if they pass thse water, I don't know the recent outcome on this,
to be honest, I wouldn't bother about such a very specific issue if you are only passing NL for a short time. Where is Europe ? ;-)
perhaps on the raggie forum someone might know more about Atis in NL
 
Don't bother. If you need to use the VHF who will know it's you. You hardly need to use it. Most marinas are just turn up, stop on a visitors pontoon and go and see the harbourmaster. Pick up a Delta Guide at your first stop - gives you all the phone numbers so just ring them if you want to. Much ado about nothing IMO. I did have my SH handheld reprogrammed with an ATIS channel but I wonder why. 2014 I was there for a month and never used it.
 
Atis is for usage on inland canals and rivers, only applicable in the coutrys around the Rhine, so NL, B and Germany
IIRC you can only get a atis code in one of these country's and only if you have there a permament adress,
(correct me if I"m wrong on that)
but IIRC there was a issue that foreigners couldn't apply to that law if they pass thse water, I don't know the recent outcome on this,
to be honest, I wouldn't bother about such a very specific issue if you are only passing NL for a short time. Where is Europe ? ;-)
perhaps on the raggie forum someone might know more about Atis in NL

It can be done in the UK; apply to Ofcom for an ATIS Notice of Variation, quoting your Ship's Licence details etc. Ofcom will send you a couple of documents that you will need to show your radio service centre before they will add ATIS capability, or as has been written above, at least one radio make allows you to DIY. I think that adding extra channels is a separate thing but it could be done at the same time as adding ATIS.
 
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With Icom equipment ATIS number is a simple software fix.Any additional channels you are entitled to use can the programmed at the same time.
It probably a sensible addition to your radio as you are in foreign waters and it may be useful at some point.
£100 quid sounds outrageous to me.A proper dealer would charge a great deal less than that,however if you purchased from the interweb getting it back to the retailer will be fun.
 
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On my new(ish) Standard Horizon, ATIS can be turned on and off at will from one of the menu options. Spectrum Licenceing/Ofcom will issue your number - iirc it's your DSC number with a prefix???
 
Dutch Ch 31 is the same frequency as Ch 0 here

No it isn't :)

Ch 0: 156.000 MHz
Ch 31: duplex 157.550 MHz / 162.150 MHz

I believe 31 is a private channel licensed to the RNLI for internal comms, which is why you can't use it in the UK, but it ain't ch0.

Pete
 
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