handheld vhf licence query

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uny1965

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hi all, could anybody tell me whether i need a vhf radio licence.
i'm thinking of getting a handheld for my sib just for emergencies /monitoring the channels for dolphin sitings etc.
we would not be transmitting except in an emergency and we always take a mobile phone with us.
have been told that you can go to the ofcom website and apply for a paperless licence free of charge or pay £20 and get one through the post.
could anyone clarify.
many thanks in advance
 
uny1965 said:
hi all, could anybody tell me whether i need a vhf radio licence.
i'm thinking of getting a handheld for my sib just for emergencies /monitoring the channels for dolphin sitings etc.
we would not be transmitting except in an emergency and we always take a mobile phone with us.
have been told that you can go to the ofcom website and apply for a paperless licence free of charge or pay £20 and get one through the post.
could anyone clarify.
many thanks in advance
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yes you can get the licence free online and if you aren't actually transmitting, no one really will bother about you not having an operators licence, nor if you transmit in a real emergency
 
uny1965 said:
hi all, could anybody tell me whether i need a vhf radio licence.
i'm thinking of getting a handheld for my sib just for emergencies /monitoring the channels for dolphin sitings etc.
we would not be transmitting except in an emergency and we always take a mobile phone with us.
have been told that you can go to the ofcom website and apply for a paperless licence free of charge or pay £20 and get one through the post.
could anyone clarify.
many thanks in advance
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Just be aware that there are two types of ships licence. You need to apply for the portable licence for a handheld.

http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/ships-radio/

You should do the operators course as well - 1 day.

You say you are going to be using a SIBS and that you have a mobile. I would venture to suggest that the two do not go well! Water and mobiles do not make good bedfellows.
 
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Just be aware that there are two types of ships licence.
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For a hand held radio there are two options.

1. It can be listed on a "Ship Radio licence" as a portable radio along with a fixed radio and any other equipment that the Ship Radio licence covers.

A call sign is issued to the vessel and the radio is only licensed for use on that vessel.

2. It can be licensed with a "Ship Portable Radio Licence" That is not associated with any particular vessel, No callsign is issued just an identification number beginning with a "T" . It can then be used on any vessel even if that vessel does not have its own Ship Radio Licence.

I actually have both of the above.
My Hand held is listed, along with the fixed radio, on my Ship licence.
I also hold a "T" licence so that I can legally use it on any other vessel
 
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elton said:
Though there's not a lot of point in having a radio if you don't know how to use it correctly. Which is the whole point of operator licencing I would guess.
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the point of any such course is to cost the consumer money. How much "training" does one need to work a radio??? An explanation from anyone would do, without this obligatory "course" nonsense, so that you can wave another pointless "certificate" handed down by the powers that be...after you have paid for it.
 
zarathustra said:
the point of any such course is to cost the consumer money. How much "training" does one need to work a radio??? An explanation from anyone would do, without this obligatory "course" nonsense, so that you can wave another pointless "certificate" handed down by the powers that be...after you have paid for it.
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So call your mayday on channel 6 for all I care. And don't worry about pan pans and securité and all that nonsense. Just use it like a mobile phone.
 
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zarathustra said:
the point of any such course is to cost the consumer money. How much "training" does one need to work a radio??? An explanation from anyone would do, without this obligatory "course" nonsense, so that you can wave another pointless "certificate" handed down by the powers that be...after you have paid for it.
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The point of any such course, is so you can use a vhf radio very basically, and you understand that there are voice procedure rules whilst using this radio, they will also teach you how you need to use the radio for emergency uses, mayday, pan pan.

If we were just allowed to get a radio and use it willy nilly, without rules and procedures, then it would be chaos and would be a risk to anyone in a life threatening emergency blocking their ability to get help using the vhf to contact the coastguard or anyone at sea who could help them.

(how many times do you hear of leisure fishermen blocking channel 16 chatting about how big a fish they have caught and what bait there using and also not using a mic clip to safely stop the pressel switch to be inadvertantly pressed, therefore blocking the channel)

A mobile phone is no substitute for a vhf radio at sea.

the majority of people have no idea how to use a vhf radio correctly and that is why a course is the correct way to get a basic teaching in its use.


And licensing is just part of the rules for you to be authorised to use a vhf.
 
zarathustra said:
the point of any such course is to cost the consumer money. How much "training" does one need to work a radio??? An explanation from anyone would do, without this obligatory "course" nonsense, so that you can wave another pointless "certificate" handed down by the powers that be...after you have paid for it.
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Failed the course then .
Tim
 
vhf radio licence query

hi and many thanks everyone for your speedy responses, have been on the ribnet forum and asked the same question, one of the guys there suggested a local recreation centre that does a one day course for £90 so i'll prob do that.
SORRY ! i didn't mean to cause a heated debate, wanted a vhf radio for monitoring the channels and for use in emergency only (not transmiiting). cheers everyone.
 
zarathustra said:
the point of any such course is to cost the consumer money. How much "training" does one need to work a radio??? An explanation from anyone would do, without this obligatory "course" nonsense, so that you can wave another pointless "certificate" handed down by the powers that be...after you have paid for it.
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Hey, that's a neat hole you've just shot in your foot! :eek:

Now hobble off into a corner & think about what you have just said. :rolleyes:

VHF radio is a SAFETY device, it has certain limitations & requires standard procedures to be effective. It isn't PMR or CB radio - the course isn't just about switching it on or pushing the button - it's about the best ways of getting help if in trouble or how best to help others who ask for aid. It also ensures that you know the International phonetic alphabet.
 
harstonwood said:
Does any one know if a CAA ( Aircraft ) RT License would allow a marine license without doing the course?
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No, you will need to do the marine VHF course. Although you could find somewhere that runs the assessment and exam. I have offered to run assessments on several occasions providing there are at least 4 people - but so far no takers.
 
What Solataire just said is true.

I asked a similar question a couple of years ago as I am also an HLO (Helicopter Landing officer) for our company.

Had one funny incident a while back when XXXX XXXX Charlie Alpha Papa suddenly became XXXX XXXX Romeo Whisky India half way through an approach, due to a subsitute pilot being flown in for holiday cover. He thought that he was in his "normal helo" same make model and age, he just totally forgot that he was in adifferent bird (despite a large call sign label right in front of him)
Shows that any one can make mistakes.

Back to the original thread, I have the same set up as VicS:

I actually have both of the above.
My Hand held is listed, along with the fixed radio, on my Ship licence.
I also hold a "T" licence so that I can legally use it on any other vessel
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