VHF - back to basics

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Seagul

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We all start somewhere, and in this thread its VHF radios.
What does the VHF training involve? I don't really feel that for pottering about a few hundred yards off shore with a fishing rod a Garmin GPS and a waterproofed charged mobile phone that I actually need to go as far as getting a VHF radio - but I am curious about the training and licensing. Is it classroom style, with role play and playing with dummy radios or is it more serious than that? Is the licence for the radio, or for the owner/operator of a neamed craft?
And dare I say it, and cue the immediate replies, what stops someone just buying a non-licenced VHF radio for the never to happen emergency situation? Now, guys an gals, be kind, I did say this was back to basics!
 
The training is classroom and simple. It is worth doing just to understand the correct procedure. That gives you an operator's licence. You then have to apply for a ship's licence but this is free to get on the Ofcom web site. You don't need to have a licence to operate a VHF in an emergency but it you find yourself in that position it would be good to know hoe to do things properly IMHO
 
Even for pottering around I would suggest that a handheld VHF be a suitable safety tool. It is reassuring to be able to contact the MCA etc at any time, if not for your boat, then there may be another near you in distress, and you would not pick a message up on your mobile.

At sea, we are all in it together!

I did the course in a classroom with about 10 others. While my own view was it could have been completed in a couple of hours, I actually quite enjoyed the day, with like-minded people.

Total cost about £100 inc the license. I now know how and when to call for help, confident that my message will be heard.
 
When you're sinking fast, how will you phone that mobo you can see 1/4 mile away ?

When you're in the drink, how well will your mobile phone work ?

Get a proper VHF and do the course. The course is in a classroom and only takes a day, cost is circa £100. It'll teach you the basics and stop you looking a numpty if you have to use it :)

The course gives you a "certificate of competence" to use the radio. You will also need a free "ship radio licence" from Ofcom.

https://services.ofcom.org.uk/

Even if you decide to risk looking/sounding like a numpty by not taking the course, please get a radio.


EDIT Must type faster
 
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rafiki_ said:
<snip> if not for your boat, then there may be another near you in distress, and you would not pick a message up on your mobile.

At sea, we are all in it together!

<snip>
Click to expand...

Excellent point, that i'd forgotten about. I could be 5 minutes away from the OP's boat, gasping my last breath and as i don't know his mobile number, i'm stuffed :eek:
 
Seagul said:
Thanks for the replies - I hadn't even considered the scenario of others in distress. Just for starters, how would you guys rate this unit from ebay?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cobra-MR-...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item3cc60b9cbb
Click to expand...

I've got one as a 2nd backup/spare. It's Ok for the price, but you get what you pay for. It isn't waterproof for starters (just "splashproof"), and isn't very powerful even for a handheld. You'd be better of with one rated to IPX-7 (Protected against water immersion - Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter).
 
Ditto to all the above but aside from anything eslse...it's a good day tbh (as long as you have an instructor with a good sense of humour!..we did and it was a giggle :) ).
Lisa
 
elton said:
I've got one as a 2nd backup/spare. It's Ok for the price, but you get what you pay for. It isn't waterproof for starters (just "splashproof"), and isn't very powerful even for a handheld. You'd be better of with one rated to IPX-7 (Protected against water immersion - Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter).
Click to expand...

I used to have a Standard Horizon H/H that was rated like that

It was in my pocket when I fell in.

It was useless when I got out

I reckon those ratings aren't worth the electons used to print them.
 
ICOM radios are very good, a bit more expensive but it might just save your life or you save someone else. It's one of the few things that if you have to use it, it absolutely must work!

Do the course, you will be surprised and probably enjoy it. Did mine with a lifeboat skipper - eye opening to say the least.

Just an illustration, I towed a boat back in on the clyde. His single engine had failed and he couldn't restart it. he didn't have a radio and had been waving at passing boats that waved cheerily back. Fortunately someone must have seen him and called the coast guard. Tide was going out and it was going dark. Judging by the amount of single malt whiskey and wine he brought around to my boat later on grateful doesn't cover it. P.S. he was two miles from the marina.
 
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"Only going a few hundred yards off shore".

Yep, I've heard it all before.

As said, a mobile phone is as much use as a chocolate tea pot at sea. Little better is a HH radio. Even with a good one, you can be lucky to get two miles.

Get a proper fixed radio and learn how to use it. the courses are a bit boreing but hopefully a bit of a laugh, best thing is, no one ever fails.

As posted before, you may just find yourself, half way between a sinking boat with a dodgy radio and the coast guards, maybe only you can hear their distress.

Which you wont be doing on yer phone.
 
I enjoyed the day I did my VHF course: turned up at an old seadog's house, practised for a bit. Had a pie and a pint in the nice local and then did a quick test.

For anyone who doesn't know the standard phonetic alphabet, it's worth doing the course just for that. Dead handy when you're trying to buy something over the phone and have to give your postcode.

Unlike my swmbo. I called HQ this pm to get the registration of her new car for the RAC cover and it was all "D for Derek" and "F for .... off" (that was after I started to tease her about it, though). :D
 
On the emergency theme

A bit more of the same....

A fishing boat, with 10 people on board, had his engines pack up off Beachy Head last saturday pm. He called Solent CG, requesting assistance (not a mayday), Eastbourne lifeboat was tasked to pull him in but another boat nearby was able to standby in case assistance was needed before the lifeboat arrived. I was within 15 mins travel if needed. No fuss, no drama but people using the VHF properly minimised any risk.

This must be played out dozens of times a week. The course gives you the confidence to press the button when you need to, not just in an emergency.
 
I would like to add my comment to this issue,

Many years ago when visiting Southampton boat show we visited the RNLI stand and a look around the Weymouth life boat, (she a beauty) in a discussion i entered the hand held vhf subject and asked for their opinion on using and obtaining a cert. I mentioned that we never go out of site from land and mostly coastal hopping, to my amazement he advised me not to bother with a license as the intended use was for emergency only and not general chit chat.

I asked why he advised this and his reply back was: we see to many people frightened to use a VHF radio in emergency situations due to the looming law that says you must not use a vhf if unqualified and you may incur a hefty fine.
All we asked is people to carry one fully charged or fixed and get used to using it, ie radio check and permission to enter a harbour, there are plenty of books that you can read to brush up on basic vhf skills.
From that time onwards i always have my midland 5w handheld on the boat and i have only used it as per my last sentence, I have read books and asked for advise from harbour authority to which they have been very happy to help and put me right in those odd slip ups (over and out):rolleyes:

My last 2011 RNLI sea check this topic was encountered again and the same reply given, that in an emergency the RNLI we would rather have some one with a vhf radio who can be saved and contacted via a vhf, than someone drowning/in distress/dying because there were worried about having a vhf radio on board with no license, they even supplied me a nice sticker with the full mayday calling conversion.

My opinion would be get a vhf, learn the basics ie reading/internet, ask for help from fellow boaters, and just have the confidence in an emergency to use the radio, Please just have one on board for your safety and any others around you or with you, it may save your life/it will save your life and some one elses.

To date i have never encountered any form of aggression or law issues while using my vhf, so just please as the RNLI will tell you, have a vhf on board.:):):)
 
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markcw said:
I would like to add my comment to this issue,

Many years ago when visiting Southampton boat show we visited the RNLI stand and a look around the Weymouth life boat, (she a beauty) in a discussion i entered the hand held vhf subject and asked for their opinion on using and obtaining a cert. I mentioned that we never go out of site from land and mostly coastal hopping, to my amazement he advised me not to bother with a license as the intended use was for emergency only and not general chit chat.

I asked why he advised this and his reply back was: we see to many people frightened to use a VHF radio in emergency situations due to the looming law that says you must not use a vhf if unqualified and you may incur a hefty fine.
All we asked is people to carry one fully charged or fixed and get used to using it, ie radio check and permission to enter a harbour, there are plenty of books that you can read to brush up on basic vhf skills.
From that time onwards i always have my midland 5w handheld on the boat and i have only used it as per my last sentence, I have read books and asked for advise from harbour authority to which they have been very happy to help and put me right in those odd slip ups (over and out):rolleyes:

My last 2011 RNLI sea check this topic was encountered again and the same reply given, that in an emergency the RNLI we would rather have some one with a vhf radio who can be saved and contacted via a vhf, than someone drowning/in distress/dying because there were worried about having a vhf radio on board with no license, they even supplied me a nice sticker with the full mayday calling conversion.

My opinion would be get a vhf, learn the basics ie reading/internet, ask for help from fellow boaters, and just have the confidence in an emergency to use the radio, Please just have one on board for your safety and any others around you or with you, it may save your life/it will save your life and some one elses.

To date i have never encountered any form of aggression or law issues while using my vhf, so just please as the RNLI will tell you, have a vhf on board.:):):)
Click to expand...
Poppycock and piffle.
 
markcw said:
I would like to add my comment to this issue,

Many years ago when visiting Southampton boat show we visited the RNLI stand and a look around the Weymouth life boat, (she a beauty) in a discussion i entered the hand held vhf subject and asked for their opinion on using and obtaining a cert. I mentioned that we never go out of site from land and mostly coastal hopping, to my amazement he advised me not to bother with a license as the intended use was for emergency only and not general chit chat.

I asked why he advised this and his reply back was: we see to many people frightened to use a VHF radio in emergency situations due to the looming law that says you must not use a vhf if unqualified and you may incur a hefty fine.
All we asked is people to carry one fully charged or fixed and get used to using it, ie radio check and permission to enter a harbour, there are plenty of books that you can read to brush up on basic vhf skills.
From that time onwards i always have my midland 5w handheld on the boat and i have only used it as per my last sentence, I have read books and asked for advise from harbour authority to which they have been very happy to help and put me right in those odd slip ups (over and out):rolleyes:

My last 2011 RNLI sea check this topic was encountered again and the same reply given, that in an emergency the RNLI we would rather have some one with a vhf radio who can be saved and contacted via a vhf, than someone drowning/in distress/dying because there were worried about having a vhf radio on board with no license, they even supplied me a nice sticker with the full mayday calling conversion.

My opinion would be get a vhf, learn the basics ie reading/internet, ask for help from fellow boaters, and just have the confidence in an emergency to use the radio, Please just have one on board for your safety and any others around you or with you, it may save your life/it will save your life and some one elses.

To date i have never encountered any form of aggression or law issues while using my vhf, so just please as the RNLI will tell you, have a vhf on board.:):):)
Click to expand...

Hi Mark

IMHO may as well get the licence if you have a vhf on board and learn the many other facets and useful aspects of the radio from proffessionals because thankfully maydays are rare but other forms of comms are often needed. just my penneth worth.
Mike
 
yeh agree mike,
I recently inquired locally to us at burnam on sea and there is a local guy in the yacht club who is qualified to train vhf but im waiting for him to contact me to do training, he takes quite a few in one lesson to keep the cost down 50 quid:), but i was warned there could be a wait:(, ive inquired at other locations and the price is like 100 to 200 quid:mad: which to me is a rip off 2-400 quid for me and misses to do the course no way.

mark
 
markcw said:
....I asked why he advised this and his reply back was: we see to many people frightened to use a VHF radio in emergency situations due to the looming law that says you must not use a vhf if unqualified and you may incur a hefty fine....
Click to expand...
A very good argument for doing away with a law that is already largely ignored. But you're swimming against the tide: the requirement for an operator's certificate is international, and the UK system is already being reviewed because a number of other countries regard it as "too easy".

markcw said:
... ive inquired at other locations and the price is like 100 to 200 quid:mad: which to me is a rip off 2-400 quid for me and misses to do the course no way....
Click to expand...
Quite a few clubs run SRC courses as a service to their members, some make a modest profit from it.

But is £100 per person really a "rip-off"?
(1) How much is at least eight (often more like ten) hours of an instructors' time worth?
(2) How much is the use of a classroom worth?
(3) How much did the simulators cost -- and isn't it reasonable to amortise them over a reasonable period?
(4) How much did the instructor spend preparing his course and on hand-outs etc?
(5) Does the course fee include the certificate fee (which the instructor doesn't keep!) or any reference materials?

Just for comparison, I looked up the price of a training course to learn to use Excel. Plucking a training provider at random, I found public courses available for £249 per day.
Residential Landlord Association runs "Lettings for landlords" courses for £130 per "day" (very short day 09:30 to 15:30!)
And the British Traditional Molecatchers Register runs Molecatching courses for £160 per day.
 
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