VHF Radio licence

Mark-1

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  • VHF Radio's aren't hugely intuitive, what do you think the odds are of someone with zero training are on picking up the radio, and making a transmission which goes out, is on the right channel and is sufficiently understood.

Since they were five I've been able to unexpectedly throw a handheld at my kids and them turn it to CH16. As much as possible I get them to ask for the lock out so they're familiar with the PTT button, changing channel and talking on it. They aren't even eligible for professional training for years to come and have never had any professional training. They don't understand the squelch on one of the two radios but I never need to touch it myself. Would they be understood? That's up to the skill of the receiving station. Let's hope so.

If we're going to say you need professional training to work a VHF they need to remove the needless age restriction. Also it's highly likely that in an emergency the person on the VHF is going to be the least capable person on the boat so professional training is probably moot.
 

dunedin

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No argument from me but this subject does seem to get some people on their high horses.


So how about a quick explanation of how to press the red button.
As in the type you give to your passengers.
That’s what I give my crew - just in case I fall OB or ill and leave them without a functioning skipper. Also a reminder of how to get VHf Ch16 via the other smaller red button on the handset.
Although I have the standard laminated sheet with MMSI, Callsign (never used) etc, I suggested if things are tricky, firmly refuse any CG requests for such details and instead repeat vessel name, point out we are visible on AIS and on their database#, but give location (primarily description but also Lat/long if have time).
The SafeTrx database that replaced CG66, though seems to be rarely referred to by CH.
 
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ylop

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Since they were five I've been able to unexpectedly throw a handheld at my kids and them turn it to CH16.
As much as possible I get them to ask for the lock out so they're familiar with the PTT button, changing channel and talking on it.
But someone showed them? Someone who knew what they were doing. I’m not saying it’s hard - but doing what you’ve done and familiarising them with it as early as possible is completely the right way.
They aren't even eligible for professional training for years to come and have never had any professional training. They don't understand the squelch on one of the two radios but I never need to touch it myself. Would they be understood? That's up to the skill of the receiving station. Let's hope so.
I think they probably would be. Should receiving stations be trained to know what to do with a message they hear? Because that’s part of the training!
If we're going to say you need professional training to work a VHF they need to remove the needless age restriction.
I agree that is odd; but there are lots of things we have age restrictions for. They can use one under supervision at any age.
Also it's highly likely that in an emergency the person on the VHF is going to be the least capable person on the boat so professional training is probably moot.
I’m not so sure about that. To me an effective distress call is too important to delegate to the least capable person.
 

ylop

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Oooooh! I have a license! From 20 years ago.
So what is your complaint then?
Training is a cash cow but you’ve paid your money 20 yrs ago and are still covered.
Radios are too clunky; but you won’t buy one that’s designed not to be, and it’s not rocket science anyway.
You only need a few channels anyway.
The time for the course/exam is too much - but you’ve spend hours on this thread!
I’m getting dizzy.
 

Daydream believer

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No one has suggested that before sending distress message using the red button there is also the facility to add the type of distress which should, in theory, be added, If the set is set to the wrong section it may give the wrong info which , if for some reason the call is cut then the receiving station may have the wrong info. One should not have to repeat position as this should be automatic via the dsc.
I did call the coastguard on my DSC once to test it & check my radio. No one answered. An hour later I made a routine call to them & mentioned my dsc call. They did say that they had received it but gave no excuse for not bothering to reply. I can only assume that because so few contacted them in this way they thought it was just a mistake
 

Birdseye

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It is a legal requirement that both the vhf radio, and the operator, are separately licensed. The SRC applies to the operator. So for someone to operate a VHF without having the licences is a technical breach of the law (except in a distress situation or under the direction of a licence holder onboard at the time) . That said, in UK waters there is minimal chance of being checked.

My own view is that the training that precedes the SRC, which instructs you how to use the radio effectively, is a vital piece of knowledge that could save your life one day.
How is it a Technical breach as opposed to a straightforward breach? Whats the difference?

When I last looked , absolutely no one had ever been prosecuted for not having a licence and using a radio. Admittedly yhat was a few years ago when I was an SRC instructor, but I doubt that the situation has changed.
 

Birdseye

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The time for the course/exam is too much - but you’ve spend hours on this thread!
I’m getting dizzy.
Interesting to relate, the Germans threatened not to accept the SRC issued in the UK initially because the UK course was too short and the same person marked the exam as did the training. I really struggled to make a class last more than half a day but they wanted a full day at least. Maybe its the way they look at things and its us that are too casual?
 

Alicatt

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I attached a laminated sheet (with practical procedure, mmsi, phonetic alphabet, etc) in the toilets at eye's height, both my daughters learned it all when they were 5-6yo and 15 year later still know it by heart. :)

View attachment 189090
Printed out and laminated a cheat sheet in English and in Dutch for the radio on my last boat, not got round to doing it yet on the current one,

Instead of the instructor/examiner on the practical part of the SRC course acting as the "other station" on the linked radios, he got my wife to act as the other station and he trained her in how to use the radio even though she was not doing the course, I was left to figure it out myself ;) ... It is a slow process getting my wife to do new things, she wants the results but is not so inclined to do any training to get there.
 

dgadee

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Time for a refresher, I think. A 20 year-old qualification is worth nothing.
What makes you think that? I've always viewed a qualification as the start of learning, and not the end result. But you may be more expert in educational matters than am I.

But some of the trainers posting here aren't in the real world. I would imagine many, many sailors who keep to local waters don't have licences. And part of that will be the cost. Less likely to be the complexity because they will be using VHF anyway without the paperwork. I know I did. And I never bothered with the radio licence fee when it was around. As was the case with many others at my club at the time.

I suppose it's a nice little earner doing one day courses with little content and setting silly examinations. Why would RYA trainers want things to change?
 

capnsensible

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Capsensible is being unusually insensible. Keep taking the courses!
Cmon, what do you think your post should be treated like? Nice little earner. Silly exam. Hardly a 'sensible' argument, is it?

Trainers aren't in the real world? Ridiculous statement. You give the impression that anyone who knows something you don't is seen as a threat.

' I never bothered.....' Well how dumb is that?

Some posters who've had their own boat for a while seem to creep into a know it all state of mind. I had my VHF operators certificate probably 20 years before getting up to date with DSC. I'm not too proud to learn new stuff from people who actually. know what they are talking about.

Also something that some posters forget in subjects like this is that they were new to boats once. That's generally the kind of people who wish to learn properly all aspects of our sport. Plus, of course, the thousands every year who wish to be commercial operators from small ferries to windward vessels, RTC instructors, fishermen, yadda yadda.

You are always gonna get the smart a@@se who thinks of themselves as above the rest of the herd. Go9d luck to them, but they will always be in the minority. Thankfully.
 

dgadee

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We have evidence (above) that young children are capable of using VHF effectively. Level of P7? I think you over estimate your contribution to the world of education.

And, of course, anyone who disagrees with you is called names or "lazy".
 

capnsensible

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We have evidence (above) that young children are capable of using VHF effectively. Level of P7? I think you over estimate your contribution to the world of education.

And, of course, anyone who disagrees with you is called names or "lazy".
I do not overestimate my contribution to the world of education. I leave that kind of attitude to those that sneer.

I've shown literally hundreds of people how to operate a marine V H F radio to the standards required in the RY A Day Skipper syllabus. Not one single person has ever decided it was unnecessary and many of them have gone on to obtain an operators certificate. So who is out of step here?

You said yourself that you 'couldn't be bothered'. You've called yourself lazy. :rolleyes:
 

Marsali_1

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We have evidence (above) that young children are capable of using VHF effectively. Level of P7? I think you over estimate your contribution to the world of education.

And, of course, anyone who disagrees with you is called names or "lazy".
May I suggest that you give up the argument. Most silent readers got your point ages ago and either agree with you or not. With one or two exceptions, you are probably being ignored at this stage.
 

Mark-1

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We have evidence (above) that young children are capable of using VHF effectively.

This.

It kind of scuppers the argument that beginners need quals when beginners are specifically excluded from quals. My kids borrow the tender to rag around but can't do PB2 until they're 12. They could really do with using the VHF on channels other than M1/M2 but they can't get a qual in that until they're 16. I look forward to the day then they borrow the big (well small) boat without me and I would guess that might happen in their mid teens - but they can't do YM until they're 18.
 
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