VHF Radio licence

[Frogmogman]

Whether or not people get fined for not having a radio licence, I have to say that I have no regrets about doing the course and passing the exam for the French Certificat restreint de radiotéléphonie a couple of years ago.

Communication technology has moved on so much from when I first did an RYA VHF course in the 80s that I learned a great deal.

 

[david_bagshaw]

I'm curious. Has anyone on here ever been asked for their vhf license? in 40-odd years, I've never been asked, either in the UK or elsewhere in the world.

I have been asked to produce it in Rotterdam, Netherlands, (on a British reg and flagged motor yacht), and in Ireland, during a routine customs check.

 

[david_bagshaw]

But nobody does anything about it. I've never heard of anyone being fined. I bet all the abusers you speak of have licenses though.

A few years ago Ofcom turned up at Gloucester lock. Every one who called the lock keeper on VHF was asked to produce the appropriate paperwork for ship and operator. Fines were issued for non compliance.

 

[Bobc]

A few years ago Ofcom turned up at Gloucester lock. Every one who called the lock keeper on VHF was asked to produce the appropriate paperwork for ship and operator. Fines were issued for non compliance.

Not according to the Ofcom statement above.

 

[wonkywinch]

Maybe it's a symptom of becoming a grumpy old man, but I don't understand the premise that the risk of getting caught is so low or the penalty so small that it's OK to break the law.

The average TV licence evasion fine is less than the cost of the licence but it wouldn't stop me buying one if I needed it although in my case, I don't watch live TV, iPlayer etc so I choose not to have a licence.

I have friends who view speeding fines as a small tax that covers all the times they did it and never got caught.

The law says you require a piece of paper to operate one, so I do. The non licence holders identify themselves and their boat name every day on the Solent by calling "Solent CG, Radio Check", perhaps there should be a £10 fine donated to the RNLI for each time this occurs

 

[david_bagshaw]

Not according to the Ofcom statement above.

My recollection goes back to before their present records...

 

[Never Grumble]

Whether or not people get fined for not having a radio licence, I have to say that I have no regrets about doing the course and passing the exam for the French Certificat restreint de radiotéléphonie a couple of years ago.

Communication technology has moved on so much from when I first did an RYA VHF course in the 80s that I learned a great deal.

I'd agree it's about knowing how to get the best out of something as opposed to not. Like you I have two vhf certs one from before and one after DSC came into being. In the scheme of things the cost of the VHF course and exam is pretty small, I dont understand why someone wouldn't want to learn.

 

[Greemble]

The non licence holders identify themselves and their boat name every day on the Solent by calling "Solent CG, Radio Check", perhaps there should be a £10 fine donated to the RNLI for each time this occurs

I suspect that many, if not most of the "Radio check" brigade are likely to have a licence, just because it makes them feel more 'maritime' to say they have one.

I doubt very many have done a course, though - breaching the 'competent person' requirements...


Make it £50 donation, increasing by a factor of two for each following check.

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

The licence and MMSI number must be issued by the Telecom National authority of the country of register (Poland or Netherlands), they would also participate in the SAR chain should need be, epirb and all. Beware of people selling OfCom/UK licences (which among other things are free) for boats of every possible flag, just saying

That would be the boat licence. If the operator licence worked like that then foreign charter wouldn't work.

 

[greeny]

When I changed the new boat ownership over to myself on Portuguese registration I had to change the boat VHF registration over as well. They insisted on seeing my personal VHF license before they would change the boat radio license over to me.

 

[Frogmogman]

When I changed the new boat ownership over to myself on Portuguese registration I had to change the boat VHF registration over as well. They insisted on seeing my personal VHF license before they would change the boat radio license over to me.

That’s how it is in France too.

 

[Whaup367]

I'm curious. Has anyone on here ever been asked for their vhf license? in 40-odd years, I've never been asked, either in the UK or elsewhere in the world.

Yes, not for a yacht but for a rib: asked to confirm possession ahead of providing safety cover at a large junior regatta at Weymouth in 2015.

 

[Mark-1]

Yes, not for a yacht but for a rib: asked to confirm possession ahead of providing safety cover at a large junior regatta at Weymouth in 2015.

Which is weird because every Dinghy sailing event I've ever been involved in that used/uses VHFs used M1 or M2. Are you sure it was a deal breaker if you didn't have it? Maybe they were just asking.

Before I had my VHF license, charter contracts sometimes asked for VHF but you could just cross out that clause and not use the Radio which suited me fine.

 

[Whaup367]

Which is weird because every Dinghy sailing event I've ever been involved in that used/uses VHFs used M1 or M2.

The email from the safety officer stated:

IMPORTANT - WE WILL REQUIRE THAT THE USERS OF VHF RADIOS ON EACH RIB CONFIRM TO US THAT THEY HAVE A VHF RADIO LICENSE. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY LICENSED TO USE A PORTABLE VHF RADIO, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU CAN OBTAIN A LICENSE ONLINE FROM OFCOM IMMEDIATELY VIA THE FOLLOWING LINK - HTTPS://services.ofcom.org.uk/REGISTER [1] . THE LICENCES TAKE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES TO COMPLETE AND WILL ALLOW YOU TO USE CHANNEL M2 WHICH WE WILL BE USING FOR MAIN FLEET SAFETY. IT IS ADVISABLE FOR THOSE OF YOU IN SAFETY IN THE TRANSITIONAL/REGATTA SAFETY FLEET DO THE SAME AS A BACKUP, BUT WE CURRENTLY INTEND TO USE PRIVATE CHANNEL RADIOS.

Are you sure it was a deal breaker if you didn't have it? Maybe they were just asking.

No, not sure of that. Obviously they were asking for a declaration, so any attendee could have lied. I suspect that the organisers were concerned about the event being targeted for enforcement, probably after a warning.

My experience on some of these bigger events was that several channels were wanted for coordinating mark-layers, starts and safety/coach cover across different courses and ashore. Probably quite inconvenient for other users in the vicinity, hence the aggro.

We were, however, asked for it which was Bobc's question... albeit asked nearly a year ago, now!!

 

[Mark-1]

The email from the safety officer stated:

IMPORTANT - WE WILL REQUIRE THAT THE USERS OF VHF RADIOS ON EACH RIB CONFIRM TO US THAT THEY HAVE A VHF RADIO LICENSE. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY LICENSED TO USE A PORTABLE VHF RADIO, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU CAN OBTAIN A LICENSE ONLINE FROM OFCOM IMMEDIATELY VIA THE FOLLOWING LINK - HTTPS://services.ofcom.org.uk/REGISTER [1] . THE LICENCES TAKE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES TO COMPLETE AND WILL ALLOW YOU TO USE CHANNEL M2 WHICH WE WILL BE USING FOR MAIN FLEET SAFETY. IT IS ADVISABLE FOR THOSE OF YOU IN SAFETY IN THE TRANSITIONAL/REGATTA SAFETY FLEET DO THE SAME AS A BACKUP, BUT WE CURRENTLY INTEND TO USE PRIVATE CHANNEL RADIOS.

I think that means a license for the installation rather than SRC License. So presumably it was because you were using your own RIB, not a club boat. As you'll know, M2 doesn't require an SRC Licence.

That explains it.

 

[winch2]

In reality scooters are not a problem at all,

I do beg your pardon what parallel universe are you in. They are an absolute flippin nuisance due to there speed and peculiar skinny vertical profile, and in the main used by yoof who have no regard for anything, least themselves and especially other road users. Anyway as you were.
Regarding 'Marinas'. Is it actually a legal requiement that you have to call them on the wizzer as you approach. How about the mobile phone?

 

[capnsensible]

I do beg your pardon what parallel universe are you in. They are an absolute flippin nuisance due to there speed and peculiar skinny vertical profile, and in the main used by yoof who have no regard for anything, least themselves and especially other road users. Anyway as you were.
Regarding 'Marinas'. Is it actually a legal requiement that you have to call them on the wizzer as you approach. How about the mobile phone?

What is a 'wizzer'? Do I need one?

 

[lustyd]

They are an absolute flippin nuisance due to there speed and peculiar skinny vertical profile, and in the main used by yoof who have no regard for anything, least themselves and especially other road users. Anyway as you were.

Compared to cars they are far safer in every way, better for the environment, better for health, cheaper, and they don’t get stolen like bikes (except by the police, who steal them from kids while ignoring bike theft entirely).

 

[Greemble]

As you'll know, M2 doesn't require an SRC Licence.

Are you sure about that?

According to Ofcom:

3.5 The equipment covered by the two types of ship radio licences* may operate only on international maritime frequencies. Additionally, both licences authorise the use of equipment on the marina Channels ‘M’ (157.850 MHz) and ‘M2’ (161.425 MHz), which are not international maritime channels. However, these two channels may not be used beyond the extent of UK territorial seas.

My emphasis and asterisk.

*Ship Radio Licence and Ship Portable Radio Licence.

 

[Laser310]

The US does not require either a station license or an operator license for recreational VHF use.

Licenses are required for some other recreational radio usage.

The FCC will provide an operator license for people using radios abroad - i have one, but I have never been asked for it.

There is no class or test required to get that license; just pay the fee.