One boat: two DSC radios?

l'escargot said:
Handheld DSC radios must be have a portable radio licence and their own MMSI ...
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How very odd! I just logged into the Ofcom site to check what was on my licence, and it seems we already have a licence for a DSC handheld, and a MMSI for it. I guess I must have done this some time ago when got confused trying to register a PLB; there was no PLB box to tick, and I may have selected something else in error.

I'd quite like to double check that the MMSI is valid before I program the radio, there's a site somewhere that does a look-up I think.
 
I have had this set up for nearly 10 years now, the fixed vhf dsc has its own number and the handheld dsc has its own completely different number also.

Fixed starts with 2350, and the handheld 2359.

Mine is on my ships licence, but i think that ofcom have changed the process and now requires a portable licence, but i am not sure if i would be unlicensed now. as my licence has been updated since the revalidating 10 year rule.
 
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nigelmercier said:
Yes, that the one, thank you.

I put in my fixed DSC (2350...) and it came up with the boat name. Then I tried the portable DSC (2359...) but it didn't find anything. So what do I do?
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Could it be that you have to go onto the OFCOM site and add your boat name to the hand held licence details?
 
l'escargot said:
I would be inclined to give Ofcom a ring and let them sort it out before inputting any number.
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I've actually had an email from them:

"Should you wish to add a VHF/DSC Portable radio, then you will be required to apply for a Ship Portable Radio Licence. You must have a separate Ship Portable Radio Licence for each hand held VHF DSC radio. This is because each individual radio is given a separate identity.

Please find Form Of347a attached for application for a portable radio licence. If you should to complete the paper based application, there is a fee of £20.00. Alternatively you may wish to apply on line free of charge... "

I think this email is confusing, surely a Ship Portable Radio Licence is the "T" licence, and applies to me, not the boat? If this is the case, why does she say: "Should you wish to add a VHF/DSC Portable radio..."

Anyway, any ideas how I apply online for a Ship Portable Radio Licence? I can't find anything on the Ofcom website :(
 
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You apply online in just the same way as you apply for a ship fixed radio licence. Log in as normal, choose "Apply for Licence" from the left hand menu, then "Ship Portable Radio Licence" from the drop down menu.
 
ostell said:
The OFCOM site is http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/ships-radio/ You will need to create a user ID

I recollect that at one time you could have a portable and a fixed on the same licence number but that option seems to have gone away.
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that is still the case but not for dsc mmsi, many people still have the vhf restricted licence for fixed and portable vhf non dsc sets, which a ships licence would be appropriate for ....

For instance, i still have a fixed vhf set, (for when my dsc set might stop working) and a vhf dsc set which is used all the time, a vhf dsc handheld, which has a duff battery (£120) which i have just replaced with new vhf handheld (non dsc). so i still have all four sets on my licence due to fact, i would not have the authority to use the vhf, if the vhf dsc radio broke.
 
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colvic987 said:
that is still the case but not for dsc mmsi, many people still have the vhf restricted licence for fixed and portable vhf non dsc sets, which a ships licence would be appropriate for ....
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It's not to do with the operator's licence, the international regulations specify that a portable dsc must not be attached to a specific vessel because by definition it is portable.

You can still have a non dsc portable on the same licence as your fixed radio.
 
colvic987 said:
Thats what i had said.....
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Don't dispute it but Ostell said "I recollect that at one time you could have a portable and a fixed on the same licence number but that option seems to have gone away." That's why I started a new paragraph in my post before I made that comment, to seperate it from the previous one. You seemed to be suggesting that you needed a seperate dsc portable licence if you had a "restricted" licence which isn't the case, you need it because of international regulations.
 
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I have my (non DSC) portable listed on my ship's radio equipment licence, and it also has it's own seperate Ship Portable Radio licence. This means its use is covered when onboard if I am only carrying the ship's papers, and I am also able to use it on other boats such as the club ribs.

As the licences are free when applied via the web it seemed an obvious thing to do.

With a DSC portable I suppose the issue is whether to have the flexibility of a totally seperate MMSI, or one that is linked to the mothership for easy ID on a DSC Mayday.

- But here/ it clearly states that DSC must have Portable licence and seperate MMSI.
 
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ithet said:
...With a DSC portable I suppose the issue is whether to have the flexibility of a totally seperate MMSI, or one that is linked to the mothership for easy ID on a DSC Mayday.
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You must have a seperate MMSI for a handheld DSC, ofcom specifically say it mustn't be programmed with the same one issued to a fixed set - it is a condition of the licence.

Handheld VHF DSC FAQs
 
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l'escargot said:
You must have a seperate MMSI for a handheld DSC, ofcom specifically say it mustn't be programmed with the same one issued to a fixed set - it is a condition of the licence.

Handheld VHF DSC FAQs
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Hi l'escargot, i agree with, and you are correct in what you say.

i have a handheld dsc which has its own mmsi number, and a fixed vhf mmsi number both are different, but i dont have a portable dsc licence as when i registered (2002) this legislation was not devised, they added it to my ships licence, with two separate mmsi numbers.

I will most probably have to either surrender my dsc handheld radio to the bin, or get a portable licence when i have to revalidate my ships licence...

They were the facts i was tried to explain. although they are not legally covered by current legislation.
 
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