VHF short range certificate

[Observer]

My local navigation school advises that I have to sit through all of a one day course, and then the exam, to obtain the short range certificate (needed because we are expecting to buy a DSC enabled boat). As I already have an existing certificate, this seems like a waste of time and money (£90).

Does anybody know of a school in the Solent area or west London/western home counties where I can just sit the exam? I'm perfectly sure I can fill any gaps in my knowledge by studying one of the several manuals available.

Thanks.

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[tcm]

Re: boat show

i think the appropriate authority has/had a stand at the SBS just walk, take a test?

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[byron]

The extra bit for your DSC is a piece of piss. I wondered what all the fuss was when I upgraded. The questions are all logical and seemed to me to be common sense to anyone used to VHF procedure.

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[Observer]

.. as I rather suspected would be the case. Which is why I'm not very enthusiastic about spending £90 and, more important, wasting a day on what will be mostly repetition. Did you do a 1 day course or exam only?

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[byron]

I was supposed to do a different one to you involving a 3 week course or something like that. This is because it had to cover me on ships too. However, I at and did the regular one, no courses, just sat down and answered the questions, I got one question wrong but even then it was only sort of wrong if you know what I mean. If I can do it... so can yu.

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[terryw]

When I did my course earlier this year, which was 1.5 days, we had people attend only on the 2nd day (the 1/2 day part) for upgrading their existing cert.
This was at Southend Activity Centre, and the whole course only cost £35.00

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[BrendanS]

Complete b*****ks, they're talking through their...

You can do an upgrade course to DSC if you have an existing licence , usually half day or less. You can also just read up and take exam. RYA site might show places you can take exam?

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[JMM]

Southampton Water Activities Centre in Floating Bridge Road (Under Itchen Bridge) will do either the upgrade half-day course or just let you take the exam.

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon M.

 

[Mike_Martin]

Re: boat show

Some training schools used to do the test, usually at London rather than Soton. However, this had to stop as it used to cause major congestion problems for visitors as huge queues used to form up in their areas.

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any that still do it.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Services Section,
Radiocommunications Agency

 

[BrendanS]

Re: boat show

Congestion could be overcome by timed ticketing system? - ie given ticket for exam at 9:00 or 9:15 or 9:30 etc.

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