jonEewer
New member
Does anyone know if an American bought handheld VHF radio that is 'compatable' with Canadian and 'international' channels is UK compliant???
International VHF
- Thread starter jonEewer
- Start date
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Guest
Guest
i dont know the answer to your question for certain, but in the absence of a reply from someone who does know, here is my best guess.
i would have thought that it was useable in the uk. i believe that the uk channels and the international ones are the same frequencies. its the us ones that are out of line. not completely sure about M1 and M2
if it were to be sold new for use on a uk licensed boat by a uk license holder, then it would have to comply with uk and ec type approval and in this case would have to carry the appropriate ec marks. i doubt that it would carry these marks - but then when did you last hear of a boat being boarded and the vhf kit being checked out for compliance.
you would get an official answer to the question by phoning the msa on 01703329463 or radio comm agency on 01712110211
bit like not taxing your car. a copper was telling me yesterday that they believe there are more than 1 million untaxed and uninsured cars out there. why do the rest of us bother?
one final point. i think that if i were stuck on rocks somewhere, with my main vhf out of action, i would be more interested in the effectiveness of my handheld rather than a minor difference in purchase cost.
i would have thought that it was useable in the uk. i believe that the uk channels and the international ones are the same frequencies. its the us ones that are out of line. not completely sure about M1 and M2
if it were to be sold new for use on a uk licensed boat by a uk license holder, then it would have to comply with uk and ec type approval and in this case would have to carry the appropriate ec marks. i doubt that it would carry these marks - but then when did you last hear of a boat being boarded and the vhf kit being checked out for compliance.
you would get an official answer to the question by phoning the msa on 01703329463 or radio comm agency on 01712110211
bit like not taxing your car. a copper was telling me yesterday that they believe there are more than 1 million untaxed and uninsured cars out there. why do the rest of us bother?
one final point. i think that if i were stuck on rocks somewhere, with my main vhf out of action, i would be more interested in the effectiveness of my handheld rather than a minor difference in purchase cost.
philip_stevens
Active member
.............in purchase cost..............or CE compliance, so long as it worked.
I had (no longer) a Standard handheld bought in Aussie. It had International and US channel selection, and was also sold under the Communique label. It was not CE stamped, and I didn't normally use it, but if all else failed.....................
regards,
Philip
I had (no longer) a Standard handheld bought in Aussie. It had International and US channel selection, and was also sold under the Communique label. It was not CE stamped, and I didn't normally use it, but if all else failed.....................
regards,
Philip
johnsomerhausen
New member
The main differences betwen the US and Intternational VHF frequencies are i the "duplex" frequencies for public communication" (channels 27, 28, etc.) so that you wouldn't be able to use those. The US sets don't have the "M" channel, but all VHF sets in the world still have the same frequencies for channel 16 and 6 so that you'd still have contact in an emergencuy. My old Radio Shack handheld had the "USA/Int'l" switch, my new cheap Chinese handheld doesn't seem to have it, but the manual is on the boat and maybe hitting three buttons at the same time would produce the international channels and "God save the Queens" at the asame time.... (unless I get music to the glory of Mao Tse Tung !)
john
john
dickh
New member
As has been said, it will be useable in the UK, assuming it can get all the international channels, but it will almost certainly NOT be CE approved, so cannot legally be sold in the EC. However, if it is a well known make like ICOM, the chances are it will be compliant but has never been offered for sale in the EC so will not have been submitted for approval, so will not have the CE mark.
dickh
I'd rather be sailing...
dickh
I'd rather be sailing...
charles_reed
Active member
Usable in UK - and providing the manufacturer has lodged the neccessary compliance certificate - will comply with UK and EC requirements.
The old compliance testing by national bodies is in the process of being replaced by manufacturer certification and started last year.
Unfortunately only the most recently designed and produced sets will be certified so yours will probably fall into the grey-area and the picture be sufficiently confused for the licensing authorities to let it pass.
The old compliance testing by national bodies is in the process of being replaced by manufacturer certification and started last year.
Unfortunately only the most recently designed and produced sets will be certified so yours will probably fall into the grey-area and the picture be sufficiently confused for the licensing authorities to let it pass.
Mike_Martin
New member
Hi Jon,
It is incredibly unlikely that a set produced by a US manufacturer for the US market will be either Marine Equipment Directive (MED) type approved or Radio & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE)Directive compliant.
Those that are, will be on sale within the UK and Europe from outlets in the relevant countries and their packaging will show that they are legally uasble.
Only equipment that is either MED (wheelmark) or R&TTE (CE marked) can legally be licensed on British or European vessels.
Just for information the R&TTE Directive is Europe-only legislation meant to open up markets within Europe for European manufacturers. Hence the reason why US kit is unlikely to have been CE marked.
Mike.
Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Section,
Radiocommunications Agency
It is incredibly unlikely that a set produced by a US manufacturer for the US market will be either Marine Equipment Directive (MED) type approved or Radio & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE)Directive compliant.
Those that are, will be on sale within the UK and Europe from outlets in the relevant countries and their packaging will show that they are legally uasble.
Only equipment that is either MED (wheelmark) or R&TTE (CE marked) can legally be licensed on British or European vessels.
Just for information the R&TTE Directive is Europe-only legislation meant to open up markets within Europe for European manufacturers. Hence the reason why US kit is unlikely to have been CE marked.
Mike.
Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Section,
Radiocommunications Agency
Mike_Martin
New member
I personally would check this statement with ICOM UK.
Mike
Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Section,
Radiocommunications Agency
Mike
Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Section,
Radiocommunications Agency
numenius
New member
Short answer is YES.. except for what has correctly been said about the M channels. This is as long as you have it on Intl or International setting. (Mr Martin is the man who knows the facts on the full legal position of course and has provided excellent advice on this aspect of the subject before).The U.S have specific weather channels etc, which obviously do not apply here. The main difference in your radio is as said, the M channels, and the fact that the manufacturer probably has not paid the brib... I mean testing fee for it to be certified for use here in the UK. This was why we had the situation a while ago whereby if you wanted a DSC radio certified for use in the UK you were looking at £600 plus or even more, and two bulky units, but you could get an all in one unit from the U.S for under £200 which was half the size, but could not legally use it (even though the spec was quite often superior). Now DSC prices are coming down here its not so bad, but as ever an example of how we run things here in the UK - a policy of stuff or scre* the consumer.. even on what is essentialy a life saving item.
http://members.lycos.co.uk/boaty1965/index.htm
http://members.lycos.co.uk/boaty1965/index.htm
pugwash
New member
I just bought a US-made Uniden in New Zealand and it works fine but lacks a few channels such as 37 and M. So does M have a channel number? Is it the same as 6 or 80 or something?
VMALLOWS
New member
Channel 'M', the 'old' Marina Channel, is the same as Ch37. (it is 157.850 MHz simplex). This is not an internationally recognised channel, but is regarded as a 'private channel' in UK, so will not be fitted to your set.
On older sets (eg SEALINE 2) the private channels could be programmed quite easily by adding/removing some diodes.........once you'd worked out the synthesiser multipliers! Modern sets will have the channels defined in some form of non-volatile memory, and it is unlikey you'll be ablbe to change them without specialised knowledge. (and it would invalidate any approvals the set has).
Channel 80, now the 'prefered' Marina channel is international..........however in US (and maybe some others like Aus/NZ??) it is simplex channel (157.025) while everywhere else it is duplex (157.025/161.625). The effect of this is that if the set is working in US mode, a Marina will hear you but you won't hear the reply.
Likewise vise-versa.
On older sets (eg SEALINE 2) the private channels could be programmed quite easily by adding/removing some diodes.........once you'd worked out the synthesiser multipliers! Modern sets will have the channels defined in some form of non-volatile memory, and it is unlikey you'll be ablbe to change them without specialised knowledge. (and it would invalidate any approvals the set has).
Channel 80, now the 'prefered' Marina channel is international..........however in US (and maybe some others like Aus/NZ??) it is simplex channel (157.025) while everywhere else it is duplex (157.025/161.625). The effect of this is that if the set is working in US mode, a Marina will hear you but you won't hear the reply.
Likewise vise-versa.
