Ofcom radio license....Radar question??

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Windway

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I have just been applying online for my ships radio license and not having done this before, was asked if I had radar? I do as it happens, do I have to pay a license to operate the radar? Also I tried to enter the details of my PLB beacon serial number and hex number, but it kept rejecting it so I gave up and sent an email to Falmouth Coastguard requesting they register the PLB.
Any info on the Radar license would be appreciated.
 
Windway said:
I have just been applying online for my ships radio license and not having done this before, was asked if I had radar? I do as it happens, do I have to pay a license to operate the radar? Also I tried to enter the details of my PLB beacon serial number and hex number, but it kept rejecting it so I gave up and sent an email to Falmouth Coastguard requesting they register the PLB.
Any info on the Radar license would be appreciated.
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penfold said:
Since when did you need a radar licence?
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Basically you need a licence for all the radio transmitters including the radar and PLBs etc. (except CB etc)
But sorry I do not know how long the requirement to license a radar has existed... but not something new I am quite sure

You can put most of them all on the same Ships radio licence for free if you do it on line

Id suggest you get the VHF licence sorted out first, then add the others to the licence.

If you have any queries that are not answered online or if you have any problems with the application ring OFCOM on 020 7981 3131 or 0300 123 1000

They always seem to be helpful on the phone.

Your PLB should also be registered with the Coastguard
 
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Just add all relevant equipment using the web-site and it appears on the lic. that you can print. That means you are covered if anyone asks to see it (extremely unlikely tor happen of course).

It doesn't cost anything to add kit to the list so no fee for radar, handheld, PLB etc.

I didn't have any problem adding my EPIRB to the list of radio equipment. I did register it first via Falmouth but don't think that had anything to do with it.

UPDATE: I see that others have beaten me to it. Good point about just registering the VHF and then going back and adding items later. Software might be glitchy and at least you know that you have the basic record before adding extras.
 
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Windway said:
Excellent thanks for the heads up. Registered online. How long does it usually take for the paperwork to come?
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I did not think you had to wait for any paperwok now.

When the online scheme first started you had to register and wait for your user name to come by snail-mail. I took a while sometimes although mine was pretty quick.

I thought that part of the procedure had been cut out and that you could register, and straight away do the application and then print the licence.

Wrong about that am I ?
 
Yes quite right. I was able to print out the license. I had thought that a small round disc rather like a tax disc would wing its way to me in the post.
 
Windway said:
Yes quite right. I was able to print out the license. I had thought that a small round disc rather like a tax disc would wing its way to me in the post.
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They stopped issuing those when they introduced the online system ( maybe even earlier??)

Funny because when they started issuing the discs there were howls of protest because it was said that the discs would advertise the fact that you had a VHF radio to thieves ... as if the aerial was not a giveaway!


Then when they stopped issuing them there were howls of protest because you could no longer show evidence ( to persons in authority) that you had a licence without them actually asking to see the document itself.


BTW print an extra copy in double-sided A5 format to keep on the boat. Cut the amount of paper from 12 or 13 A4 pages to 6 or 7 A5 pages .
 
VicS said:
Basically you need a licence for all the radio transmitters including the radar and PLBs etc. (except CB etc)
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As you say, you need a licence for most devices that transmit on radio frequencies. Some years ago we had problems with other cats using our cats' cat flap so I fitted one which required a radio transponder on the cat's collar to allow it in. As a result, our two cats had their own radio licence!
 
>except CB etc

I don't know about CB but I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted it listed if it is on a boat, since it's a tranceiver. Other things we added not mentioned above were SSB and an Inmarsat transceiver. Ham radio must also be listed.

The funny thing is when we got our licence it said SSB/MF. I pointed out to them that SSB is MF and HF, they subsequently changed it.
 
KellysEye said:
>except CB etc

I don't know about CB but I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted it listed if it is on a boat, since it's a tranceiver. Other things we added not mentioned above were SSB and an Inmarsat transceiver. Ham radio must also be listed.

The funny thing is when we got our licence it said SSB/MF. I pointed out to them that SSB is MF and HF, they subsequently changed it.
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I am not aware of any requirement or provision to include CB on a ships radio licence. I am pretty sure there was not when applied for mine.

Ham radio requires its own licence ... does it have to be included on the Ships licence as well
 
VicS said:
Ham radio requires its own licence ... does it have to be included on the Ships licence as well
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Nope, but you should have written permission from the ships captain to install, use or change a ham installation onboard. And the captain can request radio silence. So you can tell yourself to shut up :D

In ham land it's the operators who need the license, not the radios. For maritime mobile beyond the low water line you need the full license.
 
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