VHF on non tidal Thames

Apply free online for the Ships Radio Licence.

Then go on a one day course either over at Marlow or perhaps Solitaires course down in Southampton.

I did mine at Marlow and James did his with Solitaire in Southampton.

You will not use it much on the Thames (although us sea going boats do have it when on Thames) but its an education and you will need it if you go through London.
 
You dont need anything to go through London . They like you to have a mobile phone but i have gone through London many times without anything .
 
Radio is easy to use and with a day's training, most pass the exam. Best to go for it and be legal and confident in correct usage. Never know when you might actually need help urgently. :cool:
 
Cuchilo said:
You dont need anything to go through London . They like you to have a mobile phone but i have gone through London many times without anything .
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Yes, and you also don't need radios to go to sea either but if you get into problems they take a dim view of not having kit on board. The problem with a mobile phone is that they do not know your number, so have to wait for you to call them rather than them being able to call you.
 
No 'they' don't call you very often, but could if there was a need.

Guess it's a bit like wearing life jackets! It's quite possible that you may never need it, ............ BUT if you did!:(
 
Elementary my dear Watson............

Taking a course is not some admission of failure,rather more a sign of being willing to learn.
Prevention is better than cure and believing you can learn nothing more probably means you no longer have an interest in boating.
Go and do the course,you will almost certainly meet half a dozen "new " friends to wave at on the river and recall the shambles of watching someone trying to send their first practise "Mayday" and thinking you can do better and then promptly being struck mute when its your turn.
It can add a bit of confidence when you do finally come round to see us on the Medway :) knowing which channels to monitor to keep an ear out for ships in our area (locally ch 74) and knowing exactly what information to give if there is a sudden problem,remaining in control of situation and aware of the procedures taking place as you call ,rather than sobbing down the microphone shouting help,desperately wishing you had bothered to get off your arse and spent half a day drinking coffee while having some new mates take the mick out of you.:)
 
Worthwhile doing, I did mine at Bisham Abbey. Met some good people, learned some things and a thoroughly enjoyable day.

OG sums it up perfectly! :)
 
+1 for Bisham.

Wherever you go it's helpful to familiarise yourself with the basics in advance (Bisham sent us the RYA book when we booked the course) but at a minimum learn the phonetic alphabet beforehand. The exam is hardly taxing but if you already know your Alpha Bravo Charlie it's one less thing to cram on the day.
 
No, B1 would take his message to the telegraph office where the Marconi company Radio Officer would send it using the spark-gap transmitter....:D
 
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