Radio Licence Any Prosecutions ?

[simonfraser]

has any one been fined for not having a licence, or is it just a red herring ?

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[Koeketiene]

I've never even been asked for it in the UK; but twice in Belgium, twice in France and once in Spain. Guess good old "laissez-faire" is only alive over here.

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[William_H]

Here in Oz we use a variation on CB band 27mhz which is cheap and not so formal as VHF international however I knew a guy some years back fromk the licensing authority who told that they believe 70% of all marine radios are not licenced and the situation is probably far less % licenced now. I guess they see it as in the public interest to have radios on boats and as the licence costs about 40% PA of the cost of a new radio so there is not much incentive. Incidently here in West Oz it is mandatory to have a marine radio if you go more than 3NM from shore and the marine authorities do check on safety gear frequently But not licence. (different department) regards will

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[William_H]

Wrote the above before reading the following thread so a few morer comments relating to both. The 27meg in Oz is exclusively used by pleasure boaters. The coastal safety for pleasure boaters is done by a volunteer organisations supported by state government and monitor the 27m emergency channel ( there are about 12 channels available) There is no provision usually for contacting harbour authorities there are very few HMs you justy keep out of the way of big ships. VHF of the international strain is used by HMs, commercial and international shipping. I wouldn't try operating without a station licence or operator licence there in the same way as HF SSB regime. The licencing of operator and station are by international agreement ITU and all signatories are obliged to follow the guidelines. No it is not surprising the US does not require licence it is surprising just how out of step with the rest of the world US can be especially in radio. ITU are notoriously behind the state of the art when it comes to keeping up with things like mobile phones. I think you would find the phone operator would have a licence for his system. As suggested operator licences are becoming redundant as systems become more specialised and knowledge required is less. regards will


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[Ships_Cat]

Hi Will

On the <<<they believe 70% of all marine radios are not licenced >>> in Oz, I don't know if you are aware but there is no longer any requirement at all for a ships licence for:

VHF and 27Mhz marine radio equipment;
mobile and satellite phones;
Inmarsat communications equipment;
marine radar;
low power on-board UHF equipment;
EPIRBs; and
Citizens Band radio equipment

That is similar to here in NZ. Don't know when it came into effect but relatively recently - I found out by getting a surprise a while back on a just launched boat in Australia, no radio licence. I checked with ACA and proved to be so.

Maybe WA have gone their own way, would be interested to hear if that is so.

Regards

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am only a cat. I am only 6.