SSB in the UK

ip485 said:
Do you need a long range certificate?
Click to expand...

Not sure about how it works in the UK, but in a lot of other European countries, **before** DSC radios were introduced, a single "radio operator certificate" was awarded and it allowed to operate both VHF and MF/HF radios (which of course were *not* DSC).
This "old" operator certificate is still valid in many countries to operate non-dsc VHF or non-dsc MF/HF radio.


The SRC and LRC were introduced to grant permission to operate VHF and MF/HF **DSC** radios. Actually, non commercial DSC radios (commercial certificates are ROC and GOC).

Maybe worth checking with Ofcom what is their position with regards to the old radio operator certificate, whether it is still valid for non-dsc HF radios ?
 
Last edited:
ip485 said:
Do you need a long range certificate?

I was told for marine channels you need a radio operators licence and the equipment to be detailed on the ships list but no additional qualification to operate on the marine channels. I Am beginning to wonder now albeit it is interesting those companies that sell long range certificates seem careful not to state it is a legal requirement.
Click to expand...
To get a radio operators licence for ssb frequencies you need a long range certificate, seems to be a 5 day course and £500.
http://www.rya.org.uk/infoadvice/regssafety/Pages/licensingelec.aspx

Not sure about the old licence, probably worth asking ofcom if that is what the op has.
 
Has anyone ever been prosecuted for using a marine based radio on ssb or ham frequencies when not holding the correct piece of paper? I've sailed on a few boats that have ssb transmitters, in my experience they are very useful, but far more effective when well clear of land, reception in marinas was always pretty bad. The nets only really work for me when I'm on passage, as you are always near the radio and can call in at the same time every day .
 
Another vote for training with Yachtcom.

Whilst SSB may be little used here for inter-yacht communication, the addition of a Pactor modem and registration with Sailmail (at least until 2 years ago $240pa) enables you to email from the boat at no further charge and gives you access to a wealth of weather forecasts, weather faxes and grib files.
 
Another vote for Amateur radio route.
3 exams , not too arduous (no morse code ) Join a radio club and all you pay is the minimal exam fee.
Then free emails and gribs via winlink free

Most marine radios will receive all frequencies but will only transmit on marine frequencies unless modified by an expert.
 
Neil_Y said:
Has anyone ever been prosecuted for using a marine based radio on ssb or ham frequencies when not holding the correct piece of paper?
Click to expand...
Not sure about prosecutions or ssb, but on the ham bands no one will talk to you if you haven't passed the exams and posess a valid call sign. And they'll know straight away, even if you know a bit of the jargon probably most hams will be online and log your call sign which will instantly come up with the details of whoever has that call sign. You'll be found out and ignored.
The good side is the license isn't that difficult to get and you learn loads. :)
 
HunterWanderer said:
Another vote for Amateur radio route.
3 exams , not too arduous (no morse code ) Join a radio club and all you pay is the minimal exam fee.
Then free emails and gribs via winlink free

Most marine radios will receive all frequencies but will only transmit on marine frequencies unless modified by an expert.
Click to expand...

The op already said he has just bought a marine ssb, so unless he wants to spend a few thousand more he doesnt need a ham licence. A ham licence wont allow him to use his marine ssb
 
Stevev2 said:
The op already said he has just bought a marine ssb, so unless he wants to spend a few thousand more he doesnt need a ham licence. A ham licence wont allow him to use his marine ssb
Click to expand...

A full ham licence will allow him to modify the marine SSB to cover the ham bands and operate it there. Doing so will, probably, invalidate its use under a marine licence, though it would be difficult to detect that you have done it. In most cases, the modification will be trivial.
 
>Do you need a long range certificate?

Yes and you need a an SSB MF/HF marine licence. When I got mine it said MF, I pointed out SSB is HF as well and they changed the licences.

On the subject on short and long range 2/3Mhz covers 250 miles 20Mhz+ you can talk to Australia.

>Most marine radios will receive all frequencies but will only transmit on marine frequencies unless modified by an expert.

Our ICOM transmitted on all frequencies including Ham but we only listened to Ham weather forecasts.
 
Last edited:
blenkinsop said:
Another vote for training with Yachtcom.

Whilst SSB may be little used here for inter-yacht communication, the addition of a Pactor modem and registration with Sailmail (at least until 2 years ago $240pa) enables you to email from the boat at no further charge and gives you access to a wealth of weather forecasts, weather faxes and grib files.
Click to expand...

If he goes the Ham route then all these services are free using Winlink which can either operate in Sound Card mode....No Modem or many Winlink Stations also scan using Pactor 1,2,3,4 so you have the best of both worlds however a high end Pactor modem can cost 1200 gold plated beer tokens :)


Sound card mode is slowish so need to watch Grib file size if going this route however emails are fine.

http://www.winlink.org/
 
+1 for Amateur Radio

Having just been through the 3 license stages... the only real challenge is the final stage (Advanced), the first 2 (Foundation and Intermediate) are ridiculously easy... as stated already, at Intermediate you are tested on wiring a 3 pin plug...oh please !... When I did the Foundation course there was an 8 year old doing the course, and she very nearly passed !! Had she done so, the testing of the aforesaid plug wiring becomes important I guess... anyway...

It's all as cheap as chips, run by the most enthusiastic and incredibly knowledgeable amateurs and opens up all of the ham frequencies on your SSB set. If nothing else it'll teach you all about radio which will help you with standard VHF.

I also hold a LRC, which again is well worth while... mainly I think because it teaches you about GMDSS and radio procedure... if you listen to the usual solent radio traffic, you know why this is useful...

Just my twopenneth...
 
>So what's the difference between a Long Range operator's certificate and an "SSB MF/HF marine licence"?

The course is called the Long Range Certificate and once you have passed you get a SSB MF/HF marine licence. It's the same process as getting a VHF licence after the VHF course.
 
In the UK we have 2 different licenses for marine use... the standard VHF one that is strictly speaking called SRC (Short Range Certificate) and LRC (Long Range Certificate) and that's it (at our level)... so every other reference to a license will refer to one of these... The LRC covers MF and HF frequencies being about 3MHz to 30MHz.

There are actually commercial licenses called ROC and GOC... but let's not confuse the matter...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top