VHF DSC Online Course

[D and G]

Hi all, found a local sailing club I can sit the VHF/DSC
Exam, I thought that you had to do the training Classroom based but their website says you can do the course online?

Are the online courses all much the same or are some far better value or does the RYA set the price.
Course wise I'm a radio ham so have a great understanding of radio but any tips welcome.

 

[jaminb]

Just redone mine. The online course is written by the RYA so it is the same where ever. you purchase Examiner came to my home for the test.

 

[D and G]

Just redone mine. The online course is written by the RYA so it is the same where ever. you purchase Examiner came to my home for the test.

Thanks for your input,sounds like you got the Rolls Royce treatment, it's a yacht club in Pembroke suggested by Rudders who I'm doing my pb2 with, it's £70 for the exam suspect this is set by RYA?

 

[jaminb]

The online course and exam was £160 and then £70 for the licence.

 

[D and G]

The online course and exam was £160 and then £70 for the licence.

Thanks for that just wanted a feel for the price incase there are any rip off merchants around lol.

 

[Rappey]

I did the classroom tuition. We all had a radio set and a boat name. We had to do all sorts of tasks on the radio calling each other.
A different guy examined us, a rya examiner.
I could see a interactive dcs course working online ?

Did mine years ago but i can't remember much of it

 

[D and G]

I did the classroom tuition. We all had a radio set and a boat name. We had to do all sorts of tasks on the radio calling each other.
A different guy examined us, a rya examiner.
I could see a interactive dcs course working online ?

Did mine years ago but i can't remember much of it

Would be more fun in the classroom but just keen to try and get it done as quick as I can. I know once you pass you get the mmsi number for your boat,but the boat we are fingers crossed buying already has a number so from the research I have done that number will stay with her and the owner has to transfer it to me?

 

[Daverw]

Would be more fun in the classroom but just keen to try and get it done as quick as I can. I know once you pass you get the mmsi number for your boat,but the boat we are fingers crossed buying already has a number so from the research I have done that number will stay with her and the owner has to transfer it to me?

Also for your reference this will be show as an additional license that you log on to ofcom with the same as your Ham one

 

[jakew009]

Would be more fun in the classroom but just keen to try and get it done as quick as I can. I know once you pass you get the mmsi number for your boat,but the boat we are fingers crossed buying already has a number so from the research I have done that number will stay with her and the owner has to transfer it to me?

Don't over think it, anyone can get an MMSI from Ofcom for free in about 30 seconds. It's all a bit of a farce but the actual training is worth doing.

 

[Daverw]

Worth checking first as the boat may already have ships licence and mmsi number as this stays with the boat

 

[D and G]

Also for your reference this will be show as an additional license that you log on to ofcom with the same as your Ham one

That saves trying to remember yet more log in details and passwords lol

 

[D and G]

Don't over think it, anyone can get an MMSI from Ofcom for free in about 30 seconds. It's all a bit of a farce but the actual training is worth doing.

Good ole offcom eh lol, looking forward to it to be fair

 

[D and G]

Worth checking first as the boat may already have ships licence and mmsi number as this stays with the boat

She has got a callsign and mmsi and registered on the SSR so should make things easier ?

 

[Daverw]

You will find the course easy as it’s about operating technique which like me you will have from Ham working, the DSC stuff will be new but easy to grasp, the course is all based on the RYA training book, we did ours in the yacht club classroom in same day

 

[D and G]

You will find the course easy as it’s about operating technique which like me you will have from Ham working, the DSC stuff will be new but easy to grasp, the course is all based on the RYA training book, we did ours in the yacht club classroom in same day

I bought the book when working in Portsmouth and popping into the Chandlers to play with their plotters, need to read it now lol

 

[wonkywinch]

I've got an amateur radio licence and pilots licence but still found the classroom practical beneficial to learn the nuances of marine comms, channel numbers and DSC.

When I did mine, the classroom and online were the same price. Still have to cough up an additional fee to the RYA to issue the licence. Your VHF/SRC is not managed by OFCOM but your vessel licence is (on the same log in as your ham radio licence).

 

[D and G]

I've got an amateur radio licence and pilots licence but still found the classroom practical beneficial to learn the nuances of marine comms, channel numbers and DSC.

When I did mine, the classroom and online were the same price. Still have to cough up an additional fee to the RYA to issue the licence. Your VHF/SRC is not managed by OFCOM but your vessel licence is (on the same log in as your ham radio licence).

Amazing how many hams are also into boating, I was just about to start learning to fly when we had to leave Libya, so think that's one box I won't get to tick lol. Thanks for the license info,think I would prefer a classroom set up so will see if any local clubs are running a course.

 

[Bilgediver]

Would be more fun in the classroom but just keen to try and get it done as quick as I can. I know once you pass you get the mmsi number for your boat,but the boat we are fingers crossed buying already has a number so from the research I have done that number will stay with her and the owner has to transfer it to me?

You require two licenses for your boat. The one we are discussing here is the operators licence.
You also have to apply to Ofcom for a Ships radio licence for your VHF and other equipment such as Marine HF if you fit it. This is when the MMSI and call sign are issued by Ofcom.

 

[shanemax]

The online course and exam was £160 and then £70 for the licence.

Even though I passed my license 40 years ago with Essex sailing school, out of Maldon while on my day skipper at sea course I have never been asked for my license, do not know of anyone who has been asked for their license, and have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for not having one. You do not need to produce a license when you buy a transceiver so obviously the powers that be are not too bothered.
Obviously someone at sometime some where will misuse a marine radio but that also applies to a license holder who is pissed as a parrot anchored up, and enjoying him/her self on the boat. The fact you can buy one over the counter with no checks means they are not a threat to national security. There are apparently more unlicensed radios out there than licensed. Ofcom says that since the advent of jet skies, paddleboards, day fishmen, kayakers etc they seem to buy a small hand held without taking the license. As they are an emergency piece of equipment, and could save lives I don't suppose
Ofcom will use enforcement, plus it would be very expensive, and taking them off hundreds of people could result in a drowning.
I think the license will disappear one day as it probably cost more to collect than is collected. Just a thought.

 

[shanemax]

A person with a license while on a boat may supervise someone who does not hold a license to make radio calls, In an emergency anyone, whether supervised or not ,may make radio calls.