robavery
Well-Known Member
Am considering fitting an Icom 802 SSB. Has anyone, using this model ever been questioned for using non EU approved equipment on a UK flagged vessel? If so what are the implications?
Icom 802 SSB
- Thread starter robavery
- Start date
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
Going through the same process.
My conclusion was that only the M801E is approved, and therefore all others (802, and the older 700 / 710 / 706 etc) are technically not allowed. However, how many UK flagged boats have an SSB, then consider how many have an 802/700/710/706 and how many have the 801E...?
Be interested to hear what others have to say
Jonny
My conclusion was that only the M801E is approved, and therefore all others (802, and the older 700 / 710 / 706 etc) are technically not allowed. However, how many UK flagged boats have an SSB, then consider how many have an 802/700/710/706 and how many have the 801E...?
Be interested to hear what others have to say
Jonny
robavery
Well-Known Member
My thoughts entirely. Awaiting others comment.
JonBrooks
Well-Known Member
The Icom M801 is the EU approved marine SSB from Icom.
The M802 is the US unit.
There are also approved units from Barret and I thin Furno have one.
Ofcom or they MCA may give an idication of how many have.
The implications are the same as fitting a US spec VHF.
There are two offences:-
Having the radio available for use.
Using the radio.
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.
To the letter of the law a ham unit is not approved, anywhere in the world, as a marine radio.
This means if you have a wide band Ham set and use it on the Marine bands for marine use you end up in the same place as using a non approved marine SSB.
With all that it mind it is a choice that you and you can only make.
I would always recommend you follow the law and the rules.
Better safe than sorry.
Cheers
The M802 is the US unit.
There are also approved units from Barret and I thin Furno have one.
Ofcom or they MCA may give an idication of how many have.
The implications are the same as fitting a US spec VHF.
There are two offences:-
Having the radio available for use.
Using the radio.
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.
To the letter of the law a ham unit is not approved, anywhere in the world, as a marine radio.
This means if you have a wide band Ham set and use it on the Marine bands for marine use you end up in the same place as using a non approved marine SSB.
With all that it mind it is a choice that you and you can only make.
I would always recommend you follow the law and the rules.
Better safe than sorry.
Cheers
jonic
Well-Known Member
Jon
Thanks for that, what if the set is to be used outside the EU? i.e on a circumnavigation.
Do you know why such a draconian punishment?
Thanks for that, what if the set is to be used outside the EU? i.e on a circumnavigation.
Do you know why such a draconian punishment?
Skents
Well-Known Member
In the real world we all know plenty of people with M802 SSBs - bought in UK, used worldwide, etc. Great bit of kit...just make sure you a get a good earthing system in. No need for expensive kit either - lots of copper strip used in the right way gives great propagation. PM if you want info on how we fitted our system.
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
Any one ever heard of such extreme punishments handed out?
Would a customs officer actually know whether the set was EU approved by glancing at it (other than removing it to examine the EU symbol on the rear)?
Surely if someone was looking into the boat in this much detail there would be plenty of 'niggles' besides the radio they would find (flare / fire extinguisher dates, licenced computer software etc)
Jonny
Would a customs officer actually know whether the set was EU approved by glancing at it (other than removing it to examine the EU symbol on the rear)?
Surely if someone was looking into the boat in this much detail there would be plenty of 'niggles' besides the radio they would find (flare / fire extinguisher dates, licenced computer software etc)
Jonny
Nigeldownes
Well-Known Member
Re;
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!
As long as he makes me feel secure. Lol
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!
As long as he makes me feel secure. Lol
steveallan
Well-Known Member
As seems normal on this forum lots of theories but no one with any experience. So as always comes down to your own jugdment,
Skents
Well-Known Member
Would hate to quibble and be guilty of pompous forumism but I think two Atlantic crossings with SSB might qualify as mild experience. Only trying to help as people helped us with advice before our trip.
Bergman
Well-Known Member
Perhaps a more pertinent question is:-
If using the set gets you locked up why is not not equally illegal to sell the things?
You know like drugs - where dealing in them always brings a higher sentence than just possesing them.
If using the set gets you locked up why is not not equally illegal to sell the things?
You know like drugs - where dealing in them always brings a higher sentence than just possesing them.
Boatman
Well-Known Member
I think I have a 710 can't remember (but it is not EU approved) but also have a Ham rig which I find is better. I have never been questioned about either. Just take out the mike and the units (most I think) will not work so no offence and no small room.
The licencing laws are a bit of a spidders web of complications.
The licencing laws are a bit of a spidders web of complications.
purplerobbie
Well-Known Member
I have an 802 on my boat. I havent had it long it replaced a 700 pro. The 802 is quite a small size which fits my boat better. So far i quite like it but it isnt as user friendly as an Ham set.
The licencing is a can of worms
I have an amateur licence and as such i can use any radio on amateur bands and use my callsign maritime mobile.
Icom told me if i fit an 802 to my boat it is against the rules because it's not type approved
The RSGB told me i can fit any radio i want and as long as i dont transmit out of band.
So who is right?
If icom are right why do they sell the 802 to the uk market?
I'll take a chance an keep the 802 i think i have a half decent argument as to why i can use it
Does anyone know of anyone who has ever had there radio equipment on the boat checked by ofcom?
Most of the people i have spoken to say all the rules tend to fade away when you get away from our shores
The last thing i would like to say on this is if you look at icoms website at the 801e it draws 60amps at 12v on transmit!!! and 6 on recieve which is far to much for a small boat ssb
Consider some of the Ham sets too. They are better to use and are half the price of the "marine" sets. If you are going to break the rules you may as well do it in style
Rob
The licencing is a can of worms
I have an amateur licence and as such i can use any radio on amateur bands and use my callsign maritime mobile.
Icom told me if i fit an 802 to my boat it is against the rules because it's not type approved
The RSGB told me i can fit any radio i want and as long as i dont transmit out of band.
So who is right?
If icom are right why do they sell the 802 to the uk market?
I'll take a chance an keep the 802 i think i have a half decent argument as to why i can use it
Does anyone know of anyone who has ever had there radio equipment on the boat checked by ofcom?
Most of the people i have spoken to say all the rules tend to fade away when you get away from our shores
The last thing i would like to say on this is if you look at icoms website at the 801e it draws 60amps at 12v on transmit!!! and 6 on recieve which is far to much for a small boat ssb
Consider some of the Ham sets too. They are better to use and are half the price of the "marine" sets. If you are going to break the rules you may as well do it in style
Rob
jerryat
Well-Known Member
""Consider some of the Ham sets too. They are better to use and are half the price of the "marine" sets. If you are going to break the rules you may as well do it in style""
Entirely agree. I used different marine sets on long passages before deciding, when setting off on our own adventures, to get a Ham rig. My Icom 706 MkII is small, light and much easier to use than the marine equivalents (Icom) I'd tried out.
Entirely agree. I used different marine sets on long passages before deciding, when setting off on our own adventures, to get a Ham rig. My Icom 706 MkII is small, light and much easier to use than the marine equivalents (Icom) I'd tried out.
JonBrooks
Well-Known Member
In my position I can not condone the use of the wrong kit I can only offer you the "right" advice.
It does not matter where you are in the world you "should" carry the right kit for the flag of your vessel.
Whilst I know what does go on and that there is some good Ham kit out there that will do the job for you, without DSC, it would be totally wrong of me to recomend you go that route.
As I said look at the information provided and see which route suits you best with all the attached risks.
All the best
It does not matter where you are in the world you "should" carry the right kit for the flag of your vessel.
Whilst I know what does go on and that there is some good Ham kit out there that will do the job for you, without DSC, it would be totally wrong of me to recomend you go that route.
As I said look at the information provided and see which route suits you best with all the attached risks.
All the best
whipper_snapper
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The licencing is a can of worms
I have an amateur licence and as such i can use any radio on amateur bands and use my callsign maritime mobile.
Icom told me if i fit an 802 to my boat it is against the rules because it's not type approved
The RSGB told me i can fit any radio i want and as long as i dont transmit out of band.
So who is right?
[/ QUOTE ]
RSGB is right Icom is wrong.
With a full amateur licence you can carry and use absolutely anything you like, including home made and modified kit. It is your responsibility to USE it legally.
That is also true in international waters and presumably in alll CEPT nations' waters.
The licencing is a can of worms
I have an amateur licence and as such i can use any radio on amateur bands and use my callsign maritime mobile.
Icom told me if i fit an 802 to my boat it is against the rules because it's not type approved
The RSGB told me i can fit any radio i want and as long as i dont transmit out of band.
So who is right?
[/ QUOTE ]
RSGB is right Icom is wrong.
With a full amateur licence you can carry and use absolutely anything you like, including home made and modified kit. It is your responsibility to USE it legally.
That is also true in international waters and presumably in alll CEPT nations' waters.
JonBrooks
Well-Known Member
You can mod a Marine SSB for Ham you.
Once you do this it should then only be used for Ham use and not as a marine SSB.
By wide banding the unit you have made it no longer approved for marine use.
If you follow to the letter of the law you CAN NOT have dual use radio's.
Technically you can legally you can't.
No matter what licence you hold.
Once you do this it should then only be used for Ham use and not as a marine SSB.
By wide banding the unit you have made it no longer approved for marine use.
If you follow to the letter of the law you CAN NOT have dual use radio's.
Technically you can legally you can't.
No matter what licence you hold.
robavery
Well-Known Member
Jon
Thanks for your comments. As this is your area of expertise can you answer why the Icom 801e, is EU approved but the 802 remains non approved. Are they not essentially the same unit? Is it now just a case of red tape gone bonkers??
Thanks for your comments. As this is your area of expertise can you answer why the Icom 801e, is EU approved but the 802 remains non approved. Are they not essentially the same unit? Is it now just a case of red tape gone bonkers??
JonBrooks
Well-Known Member
Rob,
Whilst the head units look the same the main guts of the radio are very different.
A lot of it has to do with CE testing and marking.
There was a number of design and construction changes to get the M801 to market and a big gap between the two units getting to market.
Like Icom we don't make the rules we are just bound by them.
I think it is important to ensure to you have all the facts, to the best of my knowledge, to allow to you to make an informed choice.
Hey we don't even make a marine SSB................yet!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
All the best with this one.
Whilst the head units look the same the main guts of the radio are very different.
A lot of it has to do with CE testing and marking.
There was a number of design and construction changes to get the M801 to market and a big gap between the two units getting to market.
Like Icom we don't make the rules we are just bound by them.
I think it is important to ensure to you have all the facts, to the best of my knowledge, to allow to you to make an informed choice.
Hey we don't even make a marine SSB................yet!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
All the best with this one.
jerryat
Well-Known Member
Hi Jon,
Yes I do understand your position and that you can only offer the 'best' advice, however we both know the reality.
I'm sure I'm one of many on here who highly value your expertise and advice in the radio field.
Regards Jerry
Yes I do understand your position and that you can only offer the 'best' advice, however we both know the reality.
I'm sure I'm one of many on here who highly value your expertise and advice in the radio field.
Regards Jerry
