SRC / GMDSS Long Range Certificates???

[Nick_Pam]

Hi All
I've been doing some digging around (all right - I've been surfing the Internet whilst I'm supposed to be at work!!) and it seems that although I have been operating radio, both MF/HF and VHF/UHF in both a professional and amateur capacity for nearly 20 years, I am still expected to sit through a full day(SRC) or 4 day (GMDSS LRC) course and an exam to prove my capability........I've been licenced as an amateur in both the UK and at technician level in the US and although I'm not trying to be big-headed, I've perused a couple of course manuals on both subjects and feel that I could pass both exams without going through the pergatory of one or other of the courses.

My questions.....
Is there any way that previous radio licences count as sufficient proof of capability for marine radio use, thus meaning that I can just get a licenced issued?
Failing that, is there anywhere where I can turn up with my photos and my cheque and simply sit the exam, thus saving myself course fees of either £80 or £380 depending on the course?

Any help/assistance/comments would be gratefully received

Nick

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[Mike_Martin]

Hi Nick,

This is not an unusual question although it normally comes from Pilots who hold a Flight Radio Telephony Operators Certificate and question the need to take the Maritime equivalent.

The bottom line is that in certain radio sectors where the syllabi are actually spelled out (in the Radio Regulations) there isn't a read-across. However, you should try approaching the Association of Marine Electronic & Radio Colleges (AMERC http://www.amerc.ac.uk/ ) who will send you out the Long Range Certificate syllabus. If you are certain that you've covered everything ( I'm assuming that the "technical work" you refer to actually included GMDSS radio operation and procedures as I know that Amateur doesn't) then ask them about the possibility of attending for the exam alone.

Hope this helps,
Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[Benbow]

"Failing that, is there anywhere where I can turn up with my photos and my cheque and simply sit the exam, thus saving myself course fees of either £80 or £380 depending on the course?"

Yes, that is what I did for my VHF, I can't see why the LRC would be any different. Just contact a centre which is running a course and tell them this is what you would like to do.

For the VHF I would recommend readiing through the syllabus, it is pretty trivial, but there are significant differences from radio procedure in other worlds, especially the radio ham world !


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[steverow]

Me too Nick...
Been an Amateur for 20 years, and a qualified radio engineer for 30.
Ive repaired/installed PMR/Marine radio for years as well as MF and HF systems of all types. Even contracted to the old H.O.W.D. at one stage. Also a Radio Instructor in various establishments.
Still we have to do this silly course and exam. I often wonder why I spent four years at college!!.
Surely there should be a fastrack for people like us, maybe on production of ones C&G/ONC/HNC or equiv certificates or something.
Mind you, as it's a Certificate of Competence they would, I'm sure, have to prove that you were "incompetent" to mount any successful prosecution...and that 'aint gonna happen is it..

I had an answer to the SRC at least...I sent the wife to do it, as it only requires one of us to hold it. At least she may have got something out of it. As she has been around radio since we married, even she found it less than useful. Anyway she now enjoys supervising me using it...and constantly reminds me...

As for the LRC, I'm not going to bother. I'm just going to install an IC706 which I will use mainly for amateur. If I ever have to use it from the middle of the Celtic sea in anger, then I will be past caring whether I have a LRC or not.

Steve.
g1fip



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[snowleopard]

have you tried approaching a radio school and asking if they will examine you? (of course they may want to fail you for your presumption in not paying for the course!!)

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[Mike_Martin]

Quote "Mind you, as it's a Certificate of Competence they would, I'm sure, have to prove that you were "incompetent" to mount any successful prosecution...and that 'aint gonna happen is it.." End quote.

Fraid not, it is a requirement of the Radio Regs that you hold the relevant Certificate of Competence, the offence therefore is not holding one. Worth remembering that such a prosecution would result in revokation of your Amateur Radio licence as well.

Mike


<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[Mike_Martin]

I would assume that the course fees support the business.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[Mike_Martin]

As mentioned the best way to start is to contact AMERC and get your hands on the syllabus. A very different animal to the "entry-level" SRC (radio propogation was a laugh I felt).

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[rogerthebodger]

Mick
I am currently in South Africa and my marine radio certificate was issued there is this ok to use in the UK and what about other parts of the world

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[Mike_Martin]

If you are a SA citizen or on a SA registerd boat we would expect to see SA documentation. However if you're going to be on a UK vessel you'll need to check with the MCA just to ensure that SA uses the International syllabus.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[Gunfleet]

I've done these courses because I wasn't as well up on radio as you before I did them. I benefited from them, though you may not. I think you have to ask yourself what is it you want? VHF working is different for maritime and amateur use. So for VHF you need to do the course if you have no maritime experience, even if you have the amateur licence. You don't need an operator's licence to have a maritime vhf on the boat, you only need it if you use it (except for distress, see below). People do listen though and if you insist on using the vhf without the operator's licence or without someone with an operator's licence supervising you, you may get caught out. Standards of operation on marine vhf are so poor that I personally think this is unlikely. How the coastgaurd can tell the difference between a licensed nit and an unlicensed nit is beyond me.
For SSB (yes Mike Martin will give you the official government rule) if you have a full amateur licence you are entitled use an SSB on a boat in the amateur bands. If you really needed to make calls on the marine bands and you already had an amateur ssb on board, well you are probably capable of making your own arrangements. You'll have the ship's call sign because it's the same as for your vhf. What I'm not sure about is what the marine ssb calls you will be making will be... apart from distress, which the rules say you are entitled to use any means to notify, qualified or not, and Sailmail which you won't need to use anyway because you're entitled to use the Ham version. With regard to the LRC exam, you won't pass it without doing the course because it's obsessed with dsc working and remembering particular sequences of words and actions and you won't have used that in amateur radio.

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[Nick_Pam]

John

I think you've probably hit the nail on the head......

So I bite the bullet and do the one day course/assessment to get the SRC - at least it's under £100 I suppose.

(Mike I would never intend to operate unlicenced and jeopardise anything - haven't done that since the halcyon days of 11m SSB on the old Citizens Band in the late 70's, which is what got me to study the RAE in the first place!!)

So then I use my already installed Icom IC-706 on the amateur bands and if a major league problem ever springs up and I have to use Marine HF, then I am covered anyway under the terms of my ship radio licence.

Thanks all - interesting exchange of views.
Nick

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[trev]

I'm afraid if you want a GMDSS certificate you will have to do a GMDSS course AND pass the exam.
My commercial GOC certificate was a five day course of mostly nonesense and instantly forgetable unpractical facts, but even after almost thirty years of qualified VHF and MF use I had to bite the bullet.
If you can get a course for the price you quoted you are doing well - my course cost in excess of £1000.

<hr width=100% size=1>Trev