I learnt a lot today.

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burgundyben

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I had long wanted to do the DSC radio course, I did VHF and SSB in 1988 and I had no real idea of what DSC was or how it worked despite having had it on the boat for 9 years!(not sure I ever read the manual)

I also wanted Lorna to do it, incase I need her to operate it at anytime, I knew a few others in the Fairey owners club and chums so I spoke to Dave Luetchford, Solitaire of this forum, who runs http://www.5starmarine.co.uk/

We organsied a day and 6 of us when to his school, Dave does this course really well, over laid onto the theory is Dave's experience and pragmatic approach.

We all passed, depsite some comedy errors in the role play.

If you need anykind of powerboat, rib or theory training, I'd reccommend 5star.
 
It can be a bit daunting,having not done an exam for 45 years to submit to this short of thing,however normally an enjoyable day with like minded people,and everybody comes away with a bit more knowledge.
Bit like the speed awareness courses,know some hard bitten road warrior (a la skool of Clarkson) types who commented that the course was not what they expected at all and came away with a different view of things from when they went in.
Ps.My daughter recently did one.:)
 
Searush said:
I sincerely hope he DIDN'T teach you that! "OVER & out". or "Listening 16" will do thank you.
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I sincerely hope you don't say "over and out"! They only do that on bad American cop shows.

"Over", if you've temporarily ceased transmitting in order to listen to the other side, "out" if you've finished the conversation and are returning to 16. Not both.
 
QUOTER


I sincerely hope he DIDN'T teach you that! "OVER & out". or "Listening 16" will do thank you.[/QUOTE]

No I didn't - In fact the guys were very aware of my views on "Over and Out", and radio checks on 16!!

Oh, and they were taught the new Mayday procedure as well.
 
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Scarron said:
Hear hear, excellent day, well worthwhile might actually use the thing now.

Roger and out.
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Glad you enjoyed it. Particularly well done to Lorna who, despite being a bit daunted by the initial concept, passed the exam with top marks - WELL DONE. If anybody else needs to to a VHF course I have a special rate for one this coming Friday (24th) and on Sunday 26th!

PM for details.
 
Having looked into the VHF/DSC radio course i have noticed that on top of the price for the course is the requirement for an additional payment of £30 (payable to the RYA) will be required on the day of the course for the issue of your VHF/SRC Operators Licence.

Is this £30 cost a one off payment required initially to purchase the licence, as i seem to remember a previous post stating that licences can be re-newed free via the "ofcom" website ?

Apologies to the OP for slight thread drift.
 
sharpness said:
Having looked into the VHF/DSC radio course i have noticed that on top of the price for the course is the requirement for an additional payment of £30 (payable to the RYA) will be required on the day of the course for the issue of your VHF/SRC Operators Licence.

Is this £30 cost a one off payment required initially to purchase the licence, as i seem to remember a previous post stating that licences can be re-newed free via the "ofcom" website ?

Apologies to the OP for slight thread drift.
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You are confusing the operators certificate fee with the ship's radio licence - two different things. The ships radio licence is free if applied for on line.
 
Having done the VHF course inc DSC, I have no issue with the price, I just struggle to see why it needed to be a day? What we learnt in real terms could have been taught in 2 hours and we could have then left and had a few beers....

BTW that was 5 years ago...
 
SteveE said:
Having done the VHF course inc DSC, I have no issue with the price, I just struggle to see why it needed to be a day? What we learnt in real terms could have been taught in 2 hours and we could have then left and had a few beers....

BTW that was 5 years ago...
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Think yourself lucky! There is great pressure on the UK by Europe to have it extended to two days minimum. So far the MCA and RYA have resisted such moves. When I did mine it was in a day and half.

So let's not get back into that debate.
 
Solitaire said:
You are confusing the operators certificate fee with the ship's radio licence - two different things. The ships radio licence is free if applied for on line.
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Thank you for that, makes sense now. I assume doing a VHF course prior to boat purchase, and then applying for ships radio license when a boat has been purchased is an acceptable route to take?
 
sharpness said:
Thank you for that, makes sense now. I assume doing a VHF course prior to boat purchase, and then applying for ships radio license when a boat has been purchased is an acceptable route to take?
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Jon, there are different options really. You are required to have an operators certificate if you want to use the VHF on board. Are you buying new or used? If used, then the boat may already have a ships licence and this can be transferred to you as the "new" owner. Oddly enough, you don't have to have the operators certificate before you buy a boat with a radio on it - you just can't use it! Check if you are buying a used boat that it has a licence.

If you buy new, then you just apply on line. You will be told about that on your radio course.

Good luck - if I can be of any further help PM ME.
 
Solitaire said:
Jon, there are different options really. You are required to have an operators certificate if you want to use the VHF on board. Are you buying new or used? If used, then the boat may already have a ships licence and this can be transferred to you as the "new" owner. Oddly enough, you don't have to have the operators certificate before you buy a boat with a radio on it - you just can't use it! Check if you are buying a used boat that it has a licence.

If you buy new, then you just apply on line. You will be told about that on your radio course.

Good luck - if I can be of any further help PM ME.
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Well, you can't use it legally for general comms, but you won't get asked for your Op's Cert if you need to make a Mayday. There are a LOT of unlicensed users out there, which is a pity really, the airwaves are a limited resource & it's a shame that they are frequently abused by people behaving unprofessionaly - altho that doesn't necessarily mean that they are unlicensed or even leisure users.


BTW, sorry about the Over & Out, it wasn't intended that they be used together, but as one of the 3 listed options as in "Over, Out or Listening 16".
 
Installed a SH 2100 E last year. Read the book but did not really pay attention.

I bought the RYA booklets and read them slowly form cover to cover.

I learned a LOT... then took the exam without any further ado. :D:D

Now to teach my stubborn GF...:rolleyes:
 
Monique said:
Installed a SH 2100 E last year. Read the book but did not really pay attention.

I bought the RYA booklets and read them slowly form cover to cover.

I learned a LOT... then took the exam without any further ado. :D:D

Now to teach my stubborn GF...:rolleyes:
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Very possible to do that - where did you do the "practical" radio assessment? At the school where you did the exam?
 
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