How useful is the RYA online VHF Short Range Certificate (SRC) course?!

[Mark-1]

The mnemonic RSPV was a useful guide when I stated on the wireless telephone This was, as near as I can recall:

R RHYTHM Natural rhythm of speech with pauses.
S SPEED Slower than usual conversation.
V VOLUME As for normal conversation
P PITCH The voice should be pitched slightly higher than for normal conversation.

I think we've just identified some significant "training needs' in my kids. ??

...and to a far lesser extent, me.

 

[dankilb]

In terms of (flight) radio procedure, the most useful thing I was ever taught was:
1) who you are
2 where you are
3) what you want
I’m not sure how that translates to marine procedure, though?

 

[steveeasy]

Just done the online course. thought it was awful. The handbook has everything in and is clear and concise.

Steveeasy

 

[creeks]

Just done the online course. thought it was awful.

... and wrong, or at least it was three years ago as explained in this thread:
Online VHF/SRC Course

 

[Slowboat35]

In terms of (flight) radio procedure, the most useful thing I was ever taught was:
1) who you are
2 where you are
3) what you want
I’m not sure how that translates to marine procedure, though?

It often translates into two or three minutes of semi-coherent ramblings, blether and platitudes that leaves all exhausted, none the wiser as to what the exchange was all about and with enough superfluous verbiage to bury/derail/obfuscate any intent or meaning altogether.

I know of a lock operator not a million miles from Harwich who asked us (once in the lock) which one of us was a pilot and chastised me for using such blunt RT, archly informing me that 'this isn't the way we do it here, we are a bit more relaxed and polite".
What a pompous fool!
There's the problem, people who forget it's a tactical communications system, not a bloody telephone for idle chit-chat.

 

[dankilb]

I know of a lock operator not a million miles from Harwich who asked us (once in the lock) which one of us was a pilot and chastised me for using such blunt RT, archly informing me that 'this isn't the way we do it here, we are a bit more relaxed and polite".

Funny to come across such ‘RT procedure nationalism’!

Even with the most ‘machine gun’ aviation RT procedure (which isn’t always the best, of course), it’s usually possible to remain ‘polite’. You hear plenty of ‘thank you’s, ‘good day’s etc. Although there are some frequencies busy that even such platitudes would prolong others’ delay while on ‘standby’.

I always liked ‘ground’ frequencies at medium-sized airports because they tended to be more relaxed. You’d often be welcomed warmly, wished a nice flight, asked about the weather, etc.

During a week spent building hours out of Jerez in Spain I had unusually convivial chats with the female ATC who was usually on their quieter ‘tower’ frequency when I was setting off first thing in the morning. On my last day, she suddenly asked me whether I was the British pilot who, it transpired, had made quite an impression on her during a visit to the tower a week before. Of course, it was another chap, but she had assumed it was me all along!

 

[Bilgediver]

In terms of (flight) radio procedure, the most useful thing I was ever taught was:
1) who you are
2 where you are
3) what you want
I’m not sure how that translates to marine procedure, though?

You have missed out the most important detail and position in the message.
This indicates an strained or ex CB,Dr.

To attract a professional such as the coastguard or a commercial ship the first thin g transmitted load and clear is the call sign or name of the station being called. In a busy station THAT is what they are listening for. Not Saucy Sue calling ********,. which they might ignore.

 

[dankilb]

You have missed out the most important detail and position in the message.
This indicates an strained or ex CB,Dr.

To attract a professional such as the coastguard or a commercial ship the first thin g transmitted load and clear is the call sign or name of the station being called. In a busy station THAT is what they are listening for. Not Saucy Sue calling ********,. which they might ignore.

Absolutely. I used that to structure my procedure after I’ve raised the station I’m calling (which I’d omitted to say - sorry!).

In aviation (especially in general aviation, when operating without submitting a flight plan), the ‘who you are’ relates to details about you and your flight. So things like: Aircraft type, departure and destination, persons on board, VFR/IFR (and any other pertinent info).

I’d imagine this could be simplified when sailing to something vessel type and destination? (Adding persons on board during an urgency/emergency?)

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'm not sure I dare ask this...! But I'm weighing up whether it is worth the £60 for the online course component of the RYA VHF SRC.

As someone who writes teaching material, both printed and online, for part of my living, I would say that the only added value online brings is well-designed interactive questions to help the learner assess their learning. Done well, as I do it (natch) that's a huge bonus. Done badly or not done at all and you might as well read a book.

 

[dankilb]

Just spoke to SeaVoice. Very helpful (as expected - had heard good things) and knew straight away what I was asking about. They confirmed that a valid license with the FRTOL component does make you eligible, in the RYA's eyes, for the exam. They have to have sight of the physical license and pass copies/details the RYA.

We also discussed the risk of pilots just showing up and expecting their flight RT procedure to get them through (duly noted!)! But it sounds like I'm okay to book an exam in the near-ish future and seek out some study opportunities (whether with SeaVoice or solo) in the meantime.

Not bad. Think this may even be the first (and only?!) routine marine expense I'm able to 'swerve'! ?

 

[Bilgediver]

Just spoke to SeaVoice. Very helpful (as expected - had heard good things) and knew straight away what I was asking about. They confirmed that a valid license with the FRTOL component does make you eligible, in the RYA's eyes, for the exam. They have to have sight of the physical license and pass copies/details the RYA.

We also discussed the risk of pilots just showing up and expecting their flight RT procedure to get them through (duly noted!)! But it sounds like I'm okay to book an exam in the near-ish future and seek out some study opportunities (whether with SeaVoice or solo) in the meantime.

Not bad. Think this may even be the first (and only?!) routine marine expense I'm able to 'swerve'! ?

One way to be sure is to brush up on the maritime proceedures so that at the test you can wizz through correctly.

Some years ago I had a discussion about taking a Boat Operators Licence in British Columbia and was told I had to first take the course. To the horror of the Invigilators I intended turning up at the exam centre having paid the full fee but just to take the exam. I had studied the course here in the UK . They could find no reason to exclude me and time had not allowed me to be present for the course in B.C.. 97% was the score. I cant see how they can stop you taking the VHF exam which is not difficult and few if any ever fail however the whole thing is usually done as a single entity. Maybe talk to the local examiner. Knowing the various procedures Off Pat would help if you managed to get into an exam . These procedures are well detailed in various manuals and RYA did do a questions and answers booklet. We use all of these to introduce rowers in our club on how to operate should they need to call the coastguard etc prior to them eventually going for the VHF license.

 

[Bilgediver]

I think we've just identified some significant "training needs' in my kids. ??

...and to a far lesser extent, me.

One thing most people forget that the first thing you utter especially to the coastguard for normal messages is the name of station ie Coastguard you are calling not Daisy May calling.

There is a good reason for this. When you are calling into a busy radio station and this even applies to calling ships then there is one thing the professional radio operator is doing all the time and listening for the call sign or name of his station coming out of a speaker. There is always a chance that if a call is incorrectly sent and the first thing the operator hears is the name of another station then it might be missed while other correctly transmitted calls are dealt with.

 

[capnsensible]

Oh no, if the biggles brigade take it over, everyone will be talking like Chuck Yeager on the radio!

 

[JNKScot]

One thing most people forget that the first thing you utter especially to the coastguard for normal messages is the name of station ie Coastguard you are calling not Daisy May calling.

There is a good reason for this. When you are calling into a busy radio station and this even applies to calling ships then there is one thing the professional radio operator is doing all the time and listening for the call sign or name of his station coming out of a speaker. There is always a chance that if a call is incorrectly sent and the first thing the operator hears is the name of another station then it might be missed while other correctly transmitted calls are dealt with.

I know it is a hangover from my aviation R/T procedure but I would use, "XX Coastguard, good morning/evening (whatever) this is (yacht or whatever) XX"

 

[Bilgediver]

I know it is a hangover from my aviation R/T procedure but I would use, "XX Coastguard, good morning/evening (whatever) this is (yacht or whatever) XX"

Just accept sometimes going on the back burner. There is a different working environment in a Coastguard station to that in a control tower. Their procedure is the better for theirs. That is why we are instructed along with other mariners to do it their way which is similar around the world when on the water. Just check the manuals.

 

[capnsensible]

'Solent coastguard lookout, bandits at Angel's ten, wizard prang'.

 

[Mark-1]

Oh no, if the biggles brigade take it over, everyone will be talking like Chuck Yeager on the radio!

"Our altitude is sea level"

 

[capnsensible]

"Our altitude is sea level"

That's Sully.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Just accept sometimes going on the back burner. There is a different working environment in a Coastguard station to that in a control tower. Their procedure is the better for theirs. That is why we are instructed along with other mariners to do it their way which is similar around the world when on the water. Just check the manuals.

The "official" way is "Coastguard, coastguard, coastguard this is Yacht Daisy, Yacht Daisy, Yacht Daisy, over" and wait for a response which will tell you to go to a working channel (Usually "Yacht Daisy, this is Coastguard, Go to channel 6 (or whatever)"). Channel 16 (despite the chatter you will hear on it), is intended for hailing and for emergencies only.

 

[JNKScot]

'Solent coastguard lookout, bandits at Angel's ten, wizard prang'.

If you tried R/T procedure like that in an aviation scenario you would be politely, maybe, requested to contact the Tower by landline on arrival; such requests are never ignored.