I'm still illegal . . .

[webcraft]

I\'m still illegal . . .

I still can't find anyone local to offer me a half day upgrade to my SR VHF cert so I can legally use my radio.

Puffin Diving in Oban wanted £120 plus the fee to the RYA. Ho Ho HO!

I think I'll just go to jail. I've already got separate VHF licences for both yachts and aircraft, neither of which were particularly cheap to obtain. It's a total rip-off and just about impossible unless you live Darn Sarf.

Any other illegal DSC users out there? And what exactly is illegal? Do I have to be caught actuallyusing a DSC function? (Because lets face it, 99% of the time it functions like a non-DSC set).

- Nick





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[snowleopard]

Re: I\'m still illegal . . .

if you have a Short Range Certificate it covers DSC. more likely you have a VHF Restricted cert. in that case you can use the non-DSC functions legally. there is an exemption for emergency use so you can transmit a GMDSS mayday. you can also receive DSC alerts. the only things you can't legally do without the full SRC is make individual or all ships calls.

is that a problem?

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[LadyInBed]

Re: I\'m still illegal . . .

That makes me feel better. If I were ever to become DSC’d I would hate to have to pay to pass a test to do something that I would never wish to do /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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[webcraft]

Re: I\'m still illegal . . .

Yes, VHF Restricted Cert.

Oh bugger, I can't use my VHF as a mobile phone . . . guess I'll just have to use my mobile phone then.

I did kind of think this was probably the position legally - although I had heard instances of people refusing to sell DSC radios unless you produced the appropriate piece of paper.

- Nick




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[boomerangben]

Re: I\'m still illegal . . .

This radio thing really annoys me. Why is it the RYA charges for the exams when the license is issued by someone else? Why is it a holder of an aviation license (even an instructor) which is valid worldwide not permitted to use a simple marine radio?

Rant over


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[chrisb]

Re: I\'m still illegal . . .

i did the conversion course only to find that 90% of ot was a rehash of the restricted vhf. i teporarilly mislaid my certificate and when i asked my examiner for a duplicate he replied that he did not think the rya kept a record simply sent him a batch of certificates to complete.if one is competent to use the restricte d vhf i do not this this course adds very much. simply makes money for rya and sailing schools. incidentally my course 2002 was taken with divers and port authority employees and cost £55

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[ashanta]

Re: I\'m still illegal . . .

As you say it only relates to 1% of the use. In an emergency you would use it. whatever the subsequent penalty may be it would be worth the prevention of a tragedy. I took the conversion course and I wish i hadn't as it was a rip off and did not provide much more than the standard VHF course. As an ex soldier I have been conversant with radio communications procedures and I fully appreciate the requirement for training in this area and the need to regulate and license but there is no respect for previously qualified signallers and the RYA are making fortune out of us all because they have assumed a role as our legal representatives. I stopped being a member two years ago in protest and I give my subscription money(and more) to the RNLI.
In my view stay illegal.

Regards.

Peter.

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