MMSI Number changing cost

dgadee

dgadee

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I was quoted £114 to change an MMSI number today. Astonishing given that you can buy a whole new VHF radio for less than that.

There must be an awful lot of DSC VHF's out there with incorrect MMSI numbers - I certainly wouldn't pay that.
 
dgadee said:
I was quoted £114 to change an MMSI number today. Astonishing given that you can buy a whole new VHF radio for less than that.

There must be an awful lot of DSC VHF's out there with incorrect MMSI numbers - I certainly wouldn't pay that.
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I've got one of those. :o
Now sent to ICOM to have the correct number programmed.
£45 + P&P
 
ghostlymoron said:
That's expensive. If you've got the kit, it only takes a few minutes. I think I paid about twenty quid.
I should try somewhere else.
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I was swapping a Standard Horizon which had cost me £36 to change numbers when I bought the boat a year ago for a Navicom RT-650 (which I prefer as a radio) from another boat since I was making a new panel anyway. Local agent was £95 plus VAT, so I called up supplier who said £50 plus Vat plus postage (around £80). I went back to local agent and he said he had to pay postage to send it to them anyway. I said he was trying to charge me for being a postman rather than an electronics engineer and why didn't he just tell me to send it directly to them?

I know the arguments about not allowing easy changing of MMSI numbers for prevention of theft, but don't really find them convincing.
 
dgadee said:
I was swapping a Standard Horizon which had cost me £36 to change numbers when I bought the boat a year ago for a Navicom RT-650 (which I prefer as a radio) from another boat since I was making a new panel anyway. Local agent was £95 plus VAT, so I called up supplier who said £50 plus Vat plus postage (around £80). I went back to local agent and he said he had to pay postage to send it to them anyway. I said he was trying to charge me for being a postman rather than an electronics engineer and why didn't he just tell me to send it directly to them?

I know the arguments about not allowing easy changing of MMSI numbers for prevention of theft, but don't really find them convincing.
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I agree what a load of boll ox the argument. When any body can get a car radio reset anywhere what is the point of hiding the method of changing MMSI numbers?
I was chided for sharing the method of getting in to Silva radios a few years back. I reckon we should get a thread going where we can share these methods for others!
S
 
I think it should be made possible for the MMSI number to be changed or wiped easily but with a large fine from Ofcom if a UK resident does not update them with the new details.
 
ianj99 said:
but with a large fine from Ofcom if a UK resident does not update them with the new details.
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No! No more "information crimes"! The statute book is full of them at present.

It's surely a safety issue and would be better dealt with in an encouraging rather than an punishing manner.
 
dgadee said:
No! No more "information crimes"! The statute book is full of them at present.

It's surely a safety issue and would be better dealt with in an encouraging rather than an punishing manner.
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The reason for suggesting the 'punishing manner' is because in the event of an incident, it is important to link the number to the correct vessel and owners details & their home address, next of kin etc.
 
ianj99 said:
The reason for suggesting the 'punishing manner' is because in the event of an incident, it is important to link the number to the correct vessel and owners details & their home address, next of kin etc.
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Surely not important enough to make it a criminal act?
 
ianj99 said:
I never mentioned criminalising it. Have you not heard of civil penalties - TV licence fine, parking fines, late payment of tax etc?
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No, you didn't. But Section 46 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 already does.
 
dgadee said:
No, you didn't. But Section 46 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 already does.
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That section covers the actual sending of a message.

I'm commenting on a failure to notify Ofcom of changes to the ship's radio equipment and the owners of an MMSI number. Not quite the same thing - until the equipment is used to in an emergency.
 
ianj99 said:
I never mentioned criminalising it. Have you not heard of civil penalties - TV licence fine, parking fines, late payment of tax etc?
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You said "fine", which is always a criminal penalty. Fines for non-payment of TV licences and parking have to be imposed by courts. You'll notice that a civil parking ticket says "Penalty charge", not "fine".

Anyway, there are already far too many many ways in which government departments can charges us for failing to meet their arbitrary requirements, made all the more galling by their general incompetence. Charging individual civil servants, or SERCO employees, £100 if they fail to respond to queries within a predetermined timescale might concentrate their minds.
 
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Left my DSC VHF on the last boat when I sold her. Present boat has an ancient Sailor VHF that suits me fine. I don't miss the DSC nuisance nor the MMSI calls when I'm having a nap at all and, until and unless they become mandatory for pleasure craft I will not bother to have them again.
 
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