U.S. version VHF on a U.K. flagged yacht?

Dockhead said:
Thanks for the information.

I am surprised that you say that the DSC function is different. I thought DSC was a global uniform standard.

I am not concerned about ATIS; my 2.35 meter draft sailing vessel (with 75 foot air draft!) is not going to be going up any canals, I'm afraid.
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And that is what pisses me off about some advice here, tooth suckers I call em, weve all met them, ask a question and its a long intake of breath, welll you know!, etc etc. The man from Icom, hmm I have my thoughts about him, the other one was the same.
Bottom line, I bet you have USA and Int choice. Just chose Int and it will work fine. Who gives a ****! about CE? Just a scam to try and protect european firms from the mass market of the USA where everything is priced about half of what we have to pay!
Whos going to check that the radio is CE approved? Does it squawk "I am illegal!" does it buggery!
And as I said American boat visiting, does it stop working? again he just switches to INt and carries on.
Stu
 
Ch 31 marina channel in Holland

Yes you require a Variation of License from OFCOM giving authority for Ch 31, before dealer will program your radio. One condition is not to be used within 31 nm of UK low water line. I believe ch31 is allocated in UK for RNLI shore rescue use.

Don't know what's got up Skipper Stu's nose, unnecessarily vitriolic responses.
 
I know a guy whos had one fitted to a boat for years and he hasn't died or been put in jail
(is there a reward for shopping him)
 
Stork_III said:
Don't know what's got up Skipper Stu's nose, unnecessarily vitriolic responses.
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Because he is 100% right and feels as I do that vested interests and a herd-instinct of following their obfuscation on the subject is active here.

I bought a Icom set years ago from a US on-line store for half the European price. It has performed perfectly in the Med where I do not need the M1 and M2 frequencies. So it doesn't have the 'CE' label somewhere on the back of the set - "perhaps it fell off" I could always say to the hypothetical bureaucrat who has boarded and asked me to dismount my equipment ... some chance.

CE labelling is just as Skipper Stu says, nothing but protectionism that the EU preaches so piously against.
 
Barnac1e said:
Because he is 100% right and feels as I do that vested interests and a herd-instinct of following their obfuscation on the subject is active here.

I bought a Icom set years ago from a US on-line store for half the European price. It has performed perfectly in the Med where I do not need the M1 and M2 frequencies. So it doesn't have the 'CE' label somewhere on the back of the set - "perhaps it fell off" I could always say to the hypothetical bureaucrat who has boarded and asked me to dismount my equipment ... some chance.

CE labelling is just as Skipper Stu says, nothing but protectionism that the EU preaches so piously against.
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I suspect the set may well have a CE mark on it somewhere, CE marking after all is a self certification process so not that expensive. Much kit these days is built to meet world standards so it is very unlikely that it will not meet EU standards even if it has not been submitted for Type Approval. Some manufacturers list all their type approvals in the manual but Icom do not seem to do that though there may be a document with the radio that does list them.

At the end of the day as long as it is set to the International Channels I suspect no official is going to bother unless they already have you in deep poo for something else and are looking for more charges to add to the sheet.
 
oldharry said:
CE labelling has a VERY important function - it confirms Brussels has checked that our toys are safe for us to play with without hurting ourselves.
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It does not mean Brussels has checked anything, it is a self certification system. It is a declaration by the manufacturer that the item does meet basic safety standards, like sticking fingers in through holes and touching high voltages (mains) or that approriate paints have been used etc etc. I certainly would not in general like to have any stuff in my boat or home that could not get a CE mark.
 
Dockhead
A lot of sometimes contradictory answers above, but to summarise:

1/ The US channels are different fromj the international ones you will want over here, but your radio will be switchable between US and Int. See the manual.
2/ The UK uses 2 channels M1 and M2 for yacht clubs. The International set of channels includes M1 which is channel 37. It might not include M2. But unless you race your boat you are unlikely to talk to a yacht club on VHF
3/ The set wont be CE marked. It's illegal to sell non CE marked kit in the EU but whether it is illegal to install it, only Ofcom will know. However, the chances of being caught in the UK must be close to zero. Might be different if you take the boat to Froggie land where they are institutionally anti Anglo Saxon.
4/ Can't comment about ATIS but it looks from the above as if it can't be programmed into your radio. Its as well since its illegal to use ATIS in the UK and illegal in continental inshore waters not to use it!!! So much for a common market.
 
Stork_III said:
Yes you require a Variation of License from OFCOM giving authority for Ch 31, before dealer will program your radio. One condition is not to be used within 31 nm of UK low water line. I believe ch31 is allocated in UK for RNLI shore rescue use.

Don't know what's got up Skipper Stu's nose, unnecessarily vitriolic responses.
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Pedants get up my nose! AKA toothsuckers!
The radio will work fine here is the point I am making. Thats it, bottom line! We dont need part of the marine industry using carefully chosen words to try and scare peeps! The other one was good at that, I used to have the same run in with him!
Stu
 
Stu is right if rather aggressively so. But I for one am not prepared to tell the OP to ignore the law even if that is what I would do.

And I would be a bit more nervous about using it on the Continent where they seem to be more effective at implementing these sorts of regs. For example, the Dutch even fine people for not using the colregs shapes correctly. Motor sailing cone anyone???:eek:
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Stu is right if rather aggressively so. But I for one am not prepared to tell the OP to ignore the law even if that is what I would do.

And I would be a bit more nervous about using it on the Continent where they seem to be more effective at implementing these sorts of regs. For example, the Dutch even fine people for not using the colregs shapes correctly. Motor sailing cone anyone???:eek:
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Mea Culpa!
Stu
 
awol said:
If you really care about the CE labelling, may I suggest http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/...)&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&N=4294954936&Nty=1?
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Beautiful!
Says it all really, I get computer components, goods etc in with big CE stamps all over the boxes, I look at the manufacturer "names" and think hmmm, Ill bet these aint real! Pragmatist, aggressively so. Tooth suckers beware!
One other point, who polices this? Mostly council trading stds, as the former lead member in a local authority for trading stds amongst other things, I can assure you that there are more pressing things than a CE stamp on a frigging marine radio to worry about!
(aggressive!!)
And before the tooth suckers jump in and say "Ooh insurance, wont be covered la di da la di da" when was the last time any one who had a claim was asked for proof of CE compliance on any article involved when a claim was made?
I rest my case
Stu
 
skipper_stu said:
Beautiful!
Says it all really, I get computer components, goods etc in with big CE stamps all over the boxes, I look at the manufacturer "names" and think hmmm, Ill bet these aint real! Pragmatist, aggressively so. Tooth suckers beware!
One other point, who polices this? Mostly council trading stds, as the former lead member in a local authority for trading stds amongst other things, I can assure you that there are more pressing things than a CE stamp on a frigging marine radio to worry about!
(aggressive!!)
And before the tooth suckers jump in and say "Ooh insurance, wont be covered la di da la di da" when was the last time any one who had a claim was asked for proof of CE compliance on any article involved when a claim was made?
I rest my case
Stu
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CE is a self certification system so the stamps on your boxes may well be as genuine as the next one, they only cover basic H&S stuff so in no way suggest the product has any quality just some safety.

HMRC may occasionally check for the existance of the mark on imported goods but I suspect that apart from things that are type approved in EU labs the only tome the CE marrk may be checked is if there is a fatal or noticeable accident when the validity of the mark may get checked. On a 12V powered radio I suspect there are only a few boxes to tick on a CE form.
 
Dockhead said:
I was given a new Icom M604 VHF for Christmas, a beautiful radio. But it is a U.S. version radio and I supposed it lack certification for use on my U.K. flagged yacht. Any of you radioheads know whether this will cause me any problems? As far as I know the frequencies are all the same (?) and the DSC works exactly the same, right? Any other problems I might have?

I am aware of the fine points of the use of U.S. version SSB's on U.K. yachts, but have no idea what the deal is with VHF radios.

Cheers, Dockhead
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AS I said way back not stressed about it Us channels (marked A) use diferent frequencies .I didnt have a ofcom licence for a number of years but I didnt use the radio much just weather and no dsc . if you wants to use the dsc will need an mmsi number you you need ofcom to get one fill form in online and is free to do someone may notice you wont get licence or may not notice and you will get licence unlikely to have problem in uk.
/
I did once have a visit from licencing office(wells next the sea) on boat they left a note to contact them with my licence number, I didnt bother.


Uk very laid back with regard to radio use us radio with no prob but if you use a "A us" channel could cause interference with other channels unlikely to cause accident/problem but might.

However in france holland germany other eu country they have a very jobsworth attitude and are always looking for ways to fine ,some big fines aswel ,they have allsorts of odd things, germany no handsets for example.They will fine you for out of date flares,who hasnt got some onboard! almost impossible to get rid of!

so ce mark or no ce mark channel 16 will get the coastguard for rescue or get the weather If you want dsc,mmsi number and the advantages that convey well you takes you choice .No stress. fair winds to all
 
maxi77 said:
It does not mean Brussels has checked anything, it is a self certification system. It is a declaration by the manufacturer that the item does meet basic safety standards, like sticking fingers in through holes and touching high voltages (mains) or that approriate paints have been used etc etc. I certainly would not in general like to have any stuff in my boat or home that could not get a CE mark.
Click to expand...


Like I said - making sure our toys cant hurt us.
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Dockhead

2/ The UK uses 2 channels M1 and M2 for yacht clubs. The International set of channels includes M1 which is channel 37. It might not include M2. But unless you race your boat you are unlikely to talk to a yacht club on VHF
.
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Well he might be have a bit of fun in the Irish sea as in Holyhead for one the marina and the club launch run on M1/37 -he wont find it in the standard international channel set as it is a UK specific
 
Channel use

I know and care little about the legal/technical aspects of the question and can only report on usage in the area in which I sail.
In Scotland the majority of marinas which are not in designated harbours use VHF channel 80 (M2) examples- Kip Rhu Holy Loch,Portavadie, Kerrera
others list 37 and 80 (M1 and M2) examples Troon, Largs, Croabh.
Some just 37, example Dunstaffnage, Rothesay, Dallens Bay.
Others like E.L. Tarbert, the canals etc. have designated channels, all Highland Council Council marinas use the harbour frequency, often 12. Canals use 74 but not monitored continuously
In practice if you need to call them you can still use 16 and they tell you which they want to use, though obviously it is better if you call on 37 or 80 as appropriate.
Race organizers still use 37, I have no experience of them using 80 but they may.
Clyde Cruising Club and others use a private channel for committee boat deliberations they don't want the fleets to hear.
 
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Sorry to be pedantic but M2 and Ch 80 are not the same M2 is UK only and is 161.425MHz and 80 is a Duplex Channel (Port Control) with the Ship transmitting on 157.025MHz and Shore Station transmitting on 161.625MHz and a standard International Channel. 80 shouldn't be in use for race control! only M2
 
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