Icom 802 SSB

I echo that - Jon you were extremely useful when choosing my DSC VHF (Standard Horizon 1500E - excellent choice!!), and your advice re SSB sets is to the letter of the law (a position I appreciate you must take).

However, what is the reality of the situation - do people ever get fined/boats impounded/locked up? Does anyone ever check to see if your set is EU approved?

People have been using SSB sets for years, yet only in the last couple of years have EU approved sets been available - does that mean everyone with a 10 year old set (non-EU approved) must replace it? If not, then why can't people buy the 802 and claim they bought it before the 801E was released?

I appreciate the legal aspects, but surely they can't be policed / enforced practically?

Jonny
 
I am not clear how that can be so.

[ QUOTE ]
By wide banding the unit you have made it no longer approved for marine use.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. But surely you agree that it IS legal to use it as a ham radio.

Therefore mere posession or proper operation on ham bands cannot be illegal if you hold a ham licence.

Use of such a set on marine freqs is obviously illegal.

Unless there is some legal nicety about the difference between being capable of transmitting on marine bands and intending to do so, I don't see how it can be illegal per se.

I use a widebanded Yaesu ham set. I have never transmitted on marine freqs, but I would like to have that option if an urgent need arose. I know I would be breaking thelaw if I ever did this and would only do so in extremis.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I echo that - Jon you were extremely useful when choosing my DSC VHF (Standard Horizon 1500E - excellent choice!!), and your advice re SSB sets is to the letter of the law (a position I appreciate you must take).

However, what is the reality of the situation - do people ever get fined/boats impounded/locked up? Does anyone ever check to see if your set is EU approved?

People have been using SSB sets for years, yet only in the last couple of years have EU approved sets been available - does that mean everyone with a 10 year old set (non-EU approved) must replace it? If not, then why can't people buy the 802 and claim they bought it before the 801E was released?

I appreciate the legal aspects, but surely they can't be policed / enforced practically?

Jonny

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you may of missed the point that the 801e needs 60amps (max) on transmit.
Every other set icom do draw 30amps (max)

And as someone said before if you wideband a marine set it loses it's type approval so you would be in the same postion as if you had an 802

Rob
 
Jonny,

I am not in a position to say how many have been warned or fined.
I also don't know how Ofcom are policing this now.
This would have to be questions for them or the MCA.

I am fully aware of the reality when it comes to SSB and yes there are many who don't follow the letter of the law.

Whipper,

Yes you as a Ham can use any radio you chosse for Ham use and rightly so.
The issue is when you try to have a radio for dual use.

Once a marine SSB has been wide banded to cover the Ham frequency's it is no longer operates within the spec it was made for.
This then makes it no longer approved for "marine" use.
It is fine for Ham use but in the eyse of the law not fine for marine use.

As I mentioned there are no legal dual use SSB units.
Some have wide band RX but not both RX and TX.
As you are, I am sure aware, it is not legal for you to have a radio tuned to anything that you are not licenced for.

IMHO the confusion here is that you may think that as you have a licence for both you can leagally have both.
Yes you can but not in the same radio.

I am not sure this has made things any clearer!

Best regards
 
[ QUOTE ]
As you are, I am sure aware, it is not legal for you to have a radio tuned to anything that you are not licenced for.


[/ QUOTE ]

I don't agree with this, I think your general comments, while well intentioned, are adding to the confusion. There is nothing to stop you having a general broadband receiver. Your comment above implies this would be against the rules. There is also nothing to stop a licenced radio amatuer from constructing a transmitter to experiment with. This is the entire point of the ham licence.

It is against the regulations to transmit on frequencies for which you are not licenced.
 
Joe,

With all due respect you are not correst.
Scanner users used to follow this line but it is wrong.

You may only listen to frequencies that you are licence to or broadcast radio and Ham broadcast.

Please find info direct from the Ofcom website:-

"This sets out the legal position about the reception of personal or business radio transmissions by unauthorised persons or groups.

A licence is not required to use a radio receiver or scanner as long as it is not capable of transmission. It is not illegal to sell, buy or own a scanner or any other receiver but it must only be used to listen to transmissions meant for general reception. The services that can be listened to under the definition of general reception are:

a) licensed broadcasting stations
b) amateur and citizens' band radio transmissions
c) weather and navigation transmissions

It is an offence to listen to any other radio services unless licensed to do so, this includes listening to illegal radio stations (pirates) by virtue of the fact that they are not licensed radio stations."

Hope that helps.
I try not to confuse /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
With respect, I still disagree.

The original poster asked about the use of an unapproved device, no mention of whether or not he was licenced. If he does have a long range licence, then what?

The Ofcom website states that it is illegal to listen to anything other than general reception transmissions. The mere fact that 2 vessels would be using SSB possibly mid Atlantic suggest that it *would* be a general transmission. If confidentiality was required they would use another means.

Further, and more importantly, the webpage states quite clearly "Guidance", it does *not* state that it is an authoritative statement of law. So it is only their interpretation of the law, are you aware of any authorities, has it been tested in the Courts?
 
Joe

Everything is open to interpretation.

I think we should agree to disagree, as I think we are adding confusion now.
It would seem tht the fact the statement clearly states a what the term "general communication" covers and it is clear that your interprtation of the meaning is nothing like what Ofcom state that we have reach an empath.

Their site also clearly states that it is illegal to listen to anything you are not licenced too.

With regard to the lack LRC this would not stop you from owning a SSB radio just using it legally
Owing the unit or having it fitted to your vessel is covered by the Ship Radio Licence.

All the best
 
"it is not legal for you to have a radio tuned to anything that you are not licenced for."


How does one go about getting a license to tune a receiver to anything.
 
Most if not all of this stuff is untested in the courts

For example Jon says you can listen to broadcast stations without a license.

He goes on to say that Amateur transmissions are covered by this.

It is stated very clearly in the amateur license that "broadcasting" is not permitted. The RSGB have a dispensation to make "broadcasts" to amateurs for news and for morse training.

Equally you cannot obtain a license to listen to amateur radio other than one that permits you to transmit.

If you go into the detail there are plenty of other contradictions.

Jon has invariably tried to push the most draconian and difficult interpretation of these regulations - I do not know why - but in the real world provided you don't do anything that causes other people a problem I very much doubt if anyone will bother much.

Puzzled why, if you can't use the 802 why did Icom make it and who buys it?
 
One of your previous posts in this thread stated;

[ QUOTE ]
Both carry a fine of about £5k, possible confiscation or the radio and they can impound you vessel.

There is also the chance thay you get to spend 18 months in a small cell with a big bloke fancies you and wants to make you his wife!

The use of Ham radio is the same

[/ QUOTE ]
This contradicts your last post.

What about this scenario, I am a licenced radio amateur and have a ham radio fitted to my boat. The radio is a wide band receiver and able to transmit on all ham bands. I am able to listen to marine broadcasts, most of them are started with "All stations" this implies it is a general broadcast. I have also tweaked the set so that if necessary I can transmit on the marine bands *for emergency purposes* which if there was grave and imminent danger to life I would be very entitled to do.

Here's the question, is my radio station legal, yes or no
 
Ok ok lets take a step or two back.

Oh am not sure how it contradicts?
Could you explain?
Think I am being think.

Joe/Berg,

No point attacking/flaming me really.
All I have tried to do is provide that facts as I know them and understand them.
I don't male or enforce them.
I was just trying to ensure a balanced view.
I may agree with the rules on the other hand I may not but I have to give the view that I do.

Oh the M802 is built for the US market where it meets their spec and rules so they buy it.

The reason I post on here is to ensure people have all the right facts and help to the best of my knowledge.

All the best
 
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