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

[Quandary]

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

Of course you are right, apologies for adding confusion, third week icebound so I am now posting on subjects I obviously know nothing about. I promise to exercise more self control. I am away to look for a thick book but not one on wireless telegraphy.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

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

Technically I think you are right but every set I have tried, and I've messed with a few, includes 37 amongst the International list. I'd be interested to know if you have any different experience

 

[earlybird]

Technically I think you are right but every set I have tried, and I've messed with a few, includes 37 amongst the International list. I'd be interested to know if you have any different experience

FWIIW, my Icom manual says that MI & M2 are included in the international list, but only for UK radios. Also, it refers to M1 as 37A, and M2 as P4

 

[Dockhead]

just for ref if you go to holland the marina channel is channel 31 most of the marinas use it wont be fitted on a us vhf of a uk set i think you have to get ofcom authority to have it fitted

Then I have the same problem whether I use my Christmas present, or buy a U.K. version M603. Guess I'll have to use my mobile, in case I drift into Dutch waters accidentally and need a marina.

 

[Dockhead]

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.

Certainly, one would hate to have his fingers chopped off by an evil non-CE radio set, as happens all the time to U.S. yachtsmen. Everone knows that there are no safety regulations at all in Yankland; thank God for CE. Something to think about.

 

[Dockhead]

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

I guess I'll have to use my UK-model handheld VHF if I'm ever in Holyhead. Or my mobile.

 

[Dockhead]

Technically I think you are right but every set I have tried, and I've messed with a few, includes 37 amongst the International list. I'd be interested to know if you have any different experience

Actually, he's right -- the M604 does not have Channel 37 (wonder if it can be hacked?).

 

[Bosun Higgs]

FWIIW, my Icom manual says that MI & M2 are included in the international list, but only for UK radios. Also, it refers to M1 as 37A, and M2 as P4

Thanks for that. You learn something new every day - and I'm an SRC instructor!

Presumably these channels are programmable by ICOM since all the channels are sofware drive.

 

[dratsea]

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

A sensible question and I apologise for some of the armchair aggression you have received. I have an American boat, fitted with an American ICOM (though it is 18yrs old so cannot promise that the same will apply to your M604). To switch to int channels I have to press 16 and Hi/Lo simultaneously. I then get extra channels the most interesting of which is 80A. As correctly pointed out above in USA 80 is simplex i.e. you and shore use same frequency. In Europe it is duplex with the boat transmitting on one frequency and shore on another. You call up marina on one frequency and once you release transmit you are listening on another paired frequency (which is why you cannot hear the other chaps also trying to get the lock gate opened!) all you can hear is the transmitted signal from the shore station (or both of them as we have on the Mudway). Out of choice I use the handheld to call up the lock but if the battery is dead I can use the main set, transmit on 80A then manually swith to 80 for reply (can get a bit tiresome for more than shortest conversation). However the one unexpected benefit is that if I leave the main set on 80A and the handheld on 80 I can hear both sides of the conversation and in particular all the other punters calling the lock gate and plan my manouevres appropriately. It is also pointed out above that frequencies are software controlled so you may find that things have moved on in the last 18 years.

John

(I have found one big problem: I cannot get 37 on the set so I am stuffed if the handheld is flat and I want to listen to the safety boat. Oh and with tongue in cheek: what is DSC?)

 

[maxi77]

Certainly, one would hate to have his fingers chopped off by an evil non-CE radio set, as happens all the time to U.S. yachtsmen. Everone knows that there are no safety regulations at all in Yankland; thank God for CE. Something to think about.

You will actually find that many products in the wonderful USA do have CE marks. Almost all elecrical and electronic stuff intended for the US is also sold in the EU and it is easier and cheaper to only make a single version. I suspect CE marking is a lower safety standard than many US ones.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I suspect CE marking is a lower safety standard than many US ones.

Why do you suspect that? All US legislation is subject to private interests to a far greater degree than it is over here.

 

[maxi77]

Why do you suspect that? All US legislation is subject to private interests to a far greater degree than it is over here.

On the other hand much product safety legislation has bee Naderised and as a result is often stricter than ours. Equally the pack of ambulance chasing lawyers on no win no fee contracts has a serious impact on standards. Just think back to the Mclaren buggy problem when yank owners got safety kits on request whilst Brits had to create more of a fuss because the buggies still met UK, and thus EU standards.

You must also take into account the reality that CE marking is a self assessment by the manufacturer and as far as I am aware will not be checked unless there is an incident that warants investigation. Not that draconian a system

 

[BrianH]

You must also take into account the reality that CE marking is a self assessment by the manufacturer and as far as I am aware will not be checked unless there is an incident that warants investigation. Not that draconian a system

This is very true. I once worked for a respected Swiss manufacturer of high-priced cash-handling equipment for banks. When an order arrived from a Spanish bank (previously we had only supplied non-EU Swiss banks) we blithely added the CE label to a new product for years before someone 'remembered' that it should be self-checked for the actual CE compliance.

 

[Dockhead]

Follow up: I have been happily sailing in UK waters with my Icom M-604 set. I have not yet encountered a marina I could not talk to with the installed "INT" channel set. The quality of the radio is amazing -- once I tried to call Yarmouth harbour from outside the harbour, and got someone in Portsmouth instead; they thought I was inside Portsmouth harbour and couldn't believe I wasn't calling them, so clearly we heard each other.

I have applied to Ofcom for my ship's license; they didn't ask for the model of the radio. If I ever have a "missing channel" problem (apparently, just M1 and M2), I've got a UK version handheld on board.

Thanks to all for all the good advice.

P.S. -- the set does have the (meaningless, as others have demonstrated) CE mark so I don't think there is anything even technically illegal about using it. You would have to pull the radio set out of the instrument panel to check for the CE mark; surely this is a purely academic discussion in any case.