GMDSS exam

[Blackfeather]

Is it now compulsory to do the whole VHF and DSC bits together even if you've already got the VHF licence. If not, does anyone know any courses that just do the latter. The thought of having to sit through another day of phonetics and may-day procedure does not make me moist in the underpants.

 

[BrendanS]

no, you can do short upgrade courses. Just about anywhere that runs radio courses will run DSC upgrade courses. There are loads, what location would you prefer?

 

[Blackfeather]

Thanks Brendan,

I was trying to get on a course at Bisham Abbey here in Berks but they say they only do the full course because 'even experienced people's radio procedure is usually very poor and they need to go through the whole thing as a refresher' !!!!!!

 

[Gludy]

That is the same situation in most places - the GMDSS part of it is very small and simple so it has to be padded out to a full day.

 

[hlb]

I've just done it. It's all a bit of a rip off. No one learns very much, not that theres much to learn. Every one passes. They do advertise short courses for GMDSS but I doubt if you will find one.

 

[BrendanS]

They are definitely out there, like this one
http://www.marineradio.co.uk/Upgrade.html

and a few google searches like this
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=dsc+upgrade+course+rya
or
http://www.google.com/search?q=src+upgrade+course+rya&hl=en&lr=&start=10&sa=N

will throw up places that run them

 

[timgriffin]

[ QUOTE ]
I've just done it. It's all a bit of a rip off. No one learns very much, not that theres much to learn. Every one passes. They do advertise short courses for GMDSS but I doubt if you will find one.

[/ QUOTE ] Actualy you can fail. I run the full course and the half day for the DSC upgrade on both you will be expected to pass a practical and theory exam . We also advise people if they have not used their Vhf on a regular basis then it's best to do the full course ( no extra charge) . If you have a complaint about the course you attended then contact the RYA . As a matter of interest what equipment did you use .
Live Radio's or Computer Simulators or both
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

 

[hlb]

Ah so. You agree. No extra for the full course, so nothing off for the......Well this is what it looks like, just like a mobile phone really. If in big trouble you just press this big red button!! Oh and radio them anyway, just in case!! Ang on, it's good for speeking to folk direct, but then you have to know there wotsit number, but then if you knew that, you would not be using the radio in the first place. Tell me about the one that failed???

No complaints about the course, except it's an utter waist of a day and 50 quid.

 

[timgriffin]

I don't charege extra but some schools do (Full course £65 upgrade£30), if people fail we arrange a resit , we are trying to educate people to the benifit of using DSC and the more people that use it the better. It is only like calling a friend on their phone and does cut down on channel 16 use . It is also an excellent way of sending a distress and the voice procedure is your back up for all the many vessels out their that are not fitted with DSC radio's yet, remember its voluntary fit for leisure craft.
Regards Tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

 

[trev]

I spent five days doing the GOC cert at Southampton - what a waste of time and money that was !! More like something to provide jobs for obsolete R/Os than anything of real value.
The whole system was outmoded before it got off the ground.

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
Ah so. You agree. No extra for the full course, so nothing off for the......Well this is what it looks like, just like a mobile phone really. If in big trouble you just press this big red button!! Oh and radio them anyway, just in case!! Ang on, it's good for speeking to folk direct, but then you have to know there wotsit number, but then if you knew that, you would not be using the radio in the first place. Tell me about the one that failed???

No complaints about the course, except it's an utter waist of a day and 50 quid.

[/ QUOTE ]Well, you obviously did not pay attention and you did waste your £50. There is a bit more to the course then "press the red button" but what can one expect from a MoBo'er /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I agree that the course is padded out to a full day and is "expensive" for what you get out of it but I for one found it interesting especially when an anomaly in the procedures came to light - the text book answer to one of the questions is WRONG. For anyone interested I have the full list of all questions complete with answers (verified by the RYA instructor) which I would be more than happy to email to anyone contemplating sitting the exam.
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