ds797
Well-Known Member
Can anyone tell me do you need a radio licence for a handheld VHF for use in a sailing dinghy?
Thanks.
Thanks.
VHF Radio for sailing dinghy?
- Thread starter ds797
- Start date
Stork_III
Well-Known Member
Yes, for HH and yourself.
Brian blue bear
Well-Known Member
Yes
You have to do a vhf course 1 day for a operators, licence, and have a Hand held radio licence free, downloadable from the Ofcom website.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Yes you need to hold a certificate of competance to allow you to operate the radio. As said.
There are two possible choices as far as the licence for the radio is concerned.
One is a "Ship Radio Licence" which licenses the boat as a radio station and which will include a fixed and/or portable radio as equipment for which the licence is issued and will give you a unique callsign for your boat.
The other is a "Ship Portable Radio Licence" which is issued to you personally. No callsign is issued but the licence has an identifying number beginning with the prefix T. (hence sometimes referred to as a "T" licence). You as the licence holder can then use a H/H set on any vessel.
I'd suggest that the second option would be the more appropriate for use in a sailing dinghy
Ofcom website for applying for the radio licence is http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/
There are two possible choices as far as the licence for the radio is concerned.
One is a "Ship Radio Licence" which licenses the boat as a radio station and which will include a fixed and/or portable radio as equipment for which the licence is issued and will give you a unique callsign for your boat.
The other is a "Ship Portable Radio Licence" which is issued to you personally. No callsign is issued but the licence has an identifying number beginning with the prefix T. (hence sometimes referred to as a "T" licence). You as the licence holder can then use a H/H set on any vessel.
I'd suggest that the second option would be the more appropriate for use in a sailing dinghy
Ofcom website for applying for the radio licence is http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/
bbg
Well-Known Member
Only if you're caught. And convicted.
dylanwinter
Well-Known Member
hand held license
before starting my UK circumnavigation I worked out that this was the only peice of paper I had to have
for my raymarine hand held radio
I did the one day course....
but no-one has ever asked me for a license - and the only time I have used the thing was for getting into Dover harbour and through the thames barrier
most harbour masters and marinas seem to prefer the phone - and I have never yet been out of phone signal
so,,,,
if I were doing it again...
I wouldn't bother
just keep it there for safety reasons
unless you want to be one of those people who spends all day yakking on the thing and mithering the coast guard to give them a radio check
now lets see how many people come out to attack me for being irresponsible...stupid... antisocial...ugly
Dylan http://www.youtube.com/user/dylanwinter1
before starting my UK circumnavigation I worked out that this was the only peice of paper I had to have
for my raymarine hand held radio
I did the one day course....
but no-one has ever asked me for a license - and the only time I have used the thing was for getting into Dover harbour and through the thames barrier
most harbour masters and marinas seem to prefer the phone - and I have never yet been out of phone signal
so,,,,
if I were doing it again...
I wouldn't bother
just keep it there for safety reasons
unless you want to be one of those people who spends all day yakking on the thing and mithering the coast guard to give them a radio check
now lets see how many people come out to attack me for being irresponsible...stupid... antisocial...ugly
Dylan http://www.youtube.com/user/dylanwinter1
elton
Well-Known Member
I've never heard that. Our marina says quite catagorically that priority is given to VHF. The phone can ring and ring.
or had a flat phone battery? Or a wet phone?
If I hadn't had a VHF and known how to use it, I'd have been fish food. Absolutely no doubt at all about it.
reginaldon
Well-Known Member
Not really that much of an achievement to 'know how to use it' or to remember the phonetic alphabet - for the sake of a handfull of calls a year on a HH. Exam & Course just a nice little earner for someone. OK happy to pay a nominal fee for a licence.
Brian blue bear
Well-Known Member
I could agree with this very loosly, If you only use the HH for emergency, Information broadcasts etc, (never Broadcast) you're unlikley to attract any attention, Indeed I have heared the RNLI would prefer an unlicenced user rather than a Casualty in trouble without a HH because of a license. The Problem is, on the course you are taught channel uses, the Importance of keeping channels clear, (high Power on Channel 16, could hinder a Mayday for example),and how and when to call... VHF is only ment to be used for reasons above and Navigational uses, clubs and race officials also use dedicated channels, but I think they would not be happy if you use thier Channel without Permission..Only if you're caught. And convicted.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
if you dont have a user licence its "Against the law to Transmit" but not to just listen.
if you have a serious prob but no licence & you request help my guess is you are unlikley to go to jail.
T
timbartlett
Guest
OK, Before Toad of Toad Hall jumps on me, I have to declare an interest: I have written a book about VHF radio. But I haven't taught an SRC course since I moved to a new area, a couple of years ago. So, personally, I would prefer it if people did not do the course, because then more of them might buy the book. (Of course, in an ideal world they would do both )
But there are plenty of other threads on this forum and others about antisocial misuse of VHF. That (far more than the phonetic alphabet or how to specify a position) is what the course is all about. And if you've never used a radio before, it's quite useful to be able to role-play it on a simulator before you do it for real.
(Some of the old hands may not realise that times have moved on a bit, and all SRC courses now use hardware simulators, not PCs. And the old matchbox-and-cornflake-packet "simulators" went out years ago.)
I've never yet heard of anyone getting fined for not having an "Authority to Operate" (an SRC) but in today's money-grubbing target-driven climate, it can only be a matter of time. The course is only one day, it doesn't cost much, it's (almost) unheard of for anyone to fail the assessment, and it keeps you legal for life.
The Ship Radio Licence is a different matter. People do get fined for not having them. Apart from saving the (faint) risk of a fine, it is worth every penny of what you pay for it
. It's high time we dumped it -- like the USA has. But it's free, so you might as well get one.
)But there are plenty of other threads on this forum and others about antisocial misuse of VHF. That (far more than the phonetic alphabet or how to specify a position) is what the course is all about. And if you've never used a radio before, it's quite useful to be able to role-play it on a simulator before you do it for real.
(Some of the old hands may not realise that times have moved on a bit, and all SRC courses now use hardware simulators, not PCs. And the old matchbox-and-cornflake-packet "simulators" went out years ago.)
I've never yet heard of anyone getting fined for not having an "Authority to Operate" (an SRC) but in today's money-grubbing target-driven climate, it can only be a matter of time. The course is only one day, it doesn't cost much, it's (almost) unheard of for anyone to fail the assessment, and it keeps you legal for life.
The Ship Radio Licence is a different matter. People do get fined for not having them. Apart from saving the (faint) risk of a fine, it is worth every penny of what you pay for it
. It's high time we dumped it -- like the USA has. But it's free, so you might as well get one.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
OK, Before Toad of Toad Hall jumps on me, I have to declare an interest: I have written a book about VHF radio. But I haven't taught an SRC course since I moved to a new area, a couple of years ago. So, personally, I would prefer it if people did not do the course, because then more of them might buy the book. (Of course, in an ideal world they would do both
But there are plenty of other threads on this forum and others about antisocial misuse of VHF. That (far more than the phonetic alphabet or how to specify a position) is what the course is all about. And if you've never used a radio before, it's quite useful to be able to role-play it on a simulator before you do it for real.
(Some of the old hands may not realise that times have moved on a bit, and all SRC courses now use hardware simulators, not PCs. And the old matchbox-and-cornflake-packet "simulators" went out years ago.)
I've never yet heard of anyone getting fined for not having an "Authority to Operate" (an SRC) but in today's money-grubbing target-driven climate, it can only be a matter of time. The course is only one day, it doesn't cost much, it's (almost) unheard of for anyone to fail the assessment, and it keeps you legal for life.
The Ship Radio Licence is a different matter. People do get fined for not having them. Apart from saving the (faint) risk of a fine, it is worth every penny of what you pay for it
It is of course possible to take the exam without paying for a days course
VicS
Well-Known Member
In the old pre DSC days it was not only possible but a "piece of cake".
I did mine just with the aid of the RYA booklets G22 and G26 (under £10 for both ... even less to members) If i was doing it now I would use The RYA's VHF Handbook, G31 .... only around £12 (By Tim Bartlett)
I cannot believe the addition of DSC and GMDSS has made things significantly more difficult.
Tim, does your book include the exam syllabus or would obtaining G26 still be advisable/necessary.
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Neil_Y
Well-Known Member
I have a licence but many sea kayaks carry a vhf hh for coastal trips for emergency use so I would say it might be a good idea if you are out without a club safety boat. A set of small flares is also useful.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
I applied in France for a VHF license. They said that as I wear a British Flag I need to apply to the UK. The UK said that as I was based in France I need to apply to France. I'm still waiting. 20 years later.
John
John
T
timbartlett
Guest
Yes, it certainly is.It is of course possible to take the exam without paying for a days course
But the certificate fee is £25 for assessment during a course, or £65 for the exam alone. (Both going up by £5 in April). Even on the south coast, I know of at least one place that is offering the course for £35, so it's actually cheaper to do the assessed course than to do the exam. This is probably an exception, but cash wise, there's not a lot to be gained by doing the exam alone.
And before anyone jumps up and down claiming that it's a rip-off intended to force people into doing the course, I should point out that the RYA's share of the exam-only fee is less than from an assessment conducted as part of a course: the main difference is to pay for the examiner's time.
The exam is longer than the multiple-choice question paper at the end of a course, and the result is nowhere near as predictable. The proportion of people who choose to go this route is tiny.
It hasn't, particularly as all the stuff about making telephone link calls through coast radio stations has been taken out.
My book (thank you for the plug!!) includes the syllabus, but not the practice questions that are in G26.
Fire99
Well-Known Member
Just to throw a little more salt in the dinner, I did my VHF course when I got my first boat and I don't regret doing it. Considering the money we waste on trivial stuff, it wasn't a vast sum of money.
Regarding the rules etc, as far as I remember, you need a license to operate a VHF Radio for normal communications.
However, you don't need a license to send a Mayday distress message. Makes sense too. You wouldn't want some wally to let their boat sink because they were scared of getting told off for using the radio.
I'm not 100% certain but i'm about 99% sure.
Regarding the rules etc, as far as I remember, you need a license to operate a VHF Radio for normal communications.
However, you don't need a license to send a Mayday distress message. Makes sense too. You wouldn't want some wally to let their boat sink because they were scared of getting told off for using the radio.
I'm not 100% certain but i'm about 99% sure.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Its Alledgedly more important
to have a Ships licence than a opp licence Im told.
but who would risk it
to have a Ships licence than a opp licence Im told.
but who would risk it
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
My exam was great fun. We were tested by an proper Marconi man, one at a time. Everyone came out with stories of the horrors of the simulator: getting a Mayday with bad reception while trying to send a Mayday Relay while other vessels woudn't shut up and so on.
Then it was my turn. He was sitting at a desk. No simulator in sight. Asked me a few questions, grumbled about the used of Mayday for MOB, passed me, and sent me out.
With instructions to tell the remaining candidates about the horrible simulations awaiting them...
