Why is the minimum age for Marine Radio Short Range Certificate SRC 16 years?

[awol]

I'd much rather they have the proper thing and are trained in its proper use from day one.

Nothing to stop them paying the money and doing the course - just no CofC at the end.

 

[Adios]

Nothing to stop them paying the money and doing the course - just no CofC at the end.

Actually I think they can have the CofC but just can't apply for the licence. Anyway I'd bought this software Nautical Software » VHF Marine Radio Training Course » Bargain CD Tutor & Simulator just before I realised they weren't allowed to use it. Haven't tried it yet. Should be fun though and can practice as much as we want.

Worth mentioning you don't actually have to do the course to get the CofC, can teach yourself and just go for the test for £25 i think it is. Worth knowing for someone on a tight budget.

 

[Adios]

Actually I think they can have the CofC but just can't apply for the licence.

No thats wrong, from the RYA "There is no age limit for taking the SRC course although exam candidates must be 16 years old on the day of the exam. " Again that seems daft, if you allow them to take the course why not allow them to do the exam and get a bit of paper to be proud of. It will cement the knowledge, encourage respect for the system and complete the day. They still can't have a licence if thats the law but let them finish the course at least. This area needs a rethink IMO

 

[prv]

Actually I think they can have the CofC but just can't apply for the licence.

The license is for the station, not the operator. I don’t know if there’s technically an age limit, but it’s something you apply for online at Ofcom and print out after it’s automatically granted.

So far this thread has been about the operator’s certificate of competence, not the station license that requires it.

Pete

 

[Capt Popeye]

I expected better ?


I've ordered a pair of Motorola T92 H20 to see if they are any better than the ones I tried a few years back. If not i'll put them back on ebay. That will do for most scenarios maybe and get them used to using a radio but I think it will teach bad habits knowing they can mess about on them. I'd much rather they have the proper thing and are trained in its proper use from day one.

is not the point that training in its proper use on a VHF is surely that for general chatter is its proper training medium; surely a Walky Talky will be adequate training in procedures with the benefit of not actually taking up VHF air time

 

[penberth3]

is not the point that training in its proper use on a VHF is surely that for general chatter is its proper training medium; surely a Walky Talky will be adequate training in procedures with the benefit of not actually taking up VHF air time

You don't even need a radio to learn the procedures. Two people sitting at a kitchen table would work. Tap out some morse at the same time!

 

[Bodach na mara]

I started out thinking of several times when I have heard "Mayday" or "distress" calls that were often the result of kids mucking around as was obvious from the giggles in the background, then another question occurred to me.

Is Athomson a troll?

 

[Adios]

The license is for the station, not the operator. I don’t know if there’s technically an age limit, but it’s something you apply for online at Ofcom and print out after it’s automatically granted.

So far this thread has been about the operator’s , not the station license that requires it.

Pete

The thread was not specifically about either or, just that under 16s can't use VHF.

But of course its 2 things. The RYA who administer handing out certificates of competence and Ofcom who hand out licences (for a ship or a hand-held) to applicants who hold a CofC. It makes no sense that either should deny a CofC or licence to someone in a position where they own and operate a boat which could well be before they are 16 but if this comes down from the UN as previously suggested then it will be Ofcom following that so don't issue licences and that has then influenced the RYA to not award CofCs. But I'd still think it would be possible for the RYA to grant a CofC to a keen kid who can then operate one only under supervision as per the law, while Ofcom maintains not issuing licences to applicants under 16. If as per the Powerboat level 2 kids have to retake it when they reach 16 then so be it.

 

[Adios]

is not the point that training in its proper use on a VHF is surely that for general chatter is its proper training medium; surely a Walky Talky will be adequate training in procedures with the benefit of not actually taking up VHF air time

good point, i can take the role of policing proper use as per VHF even while using the non-licence radios and they get practice before moving onto that. It will fall down if i allow 2 of my kids to play with them, then bad habits would be sure to creep in and might be hard to shake later.

 

[Adios]

I started out thinking of several times when I have heard "Mayday" or "distress" calls that were often the result of kids mucking around as was obvious from the giggles in the background, then another question occurred to me.

Would formal training and certification make that more or less likely?

Is Athomson a troll?

Twitter seemed to think so last week when they banned me but its a very low bar over there these days. Fortunately there are other places to while away some winter hours

 

[awol]

A couple of tin cans with string are ideal for teaching simplex radio techniques. Also has the advantage that you can pull the string to recover the little darlings who have not yet mastered the arts of sailing but are, in your opinion, mature enough to be trusted with a marine vhf radio.

 

[Gary Fox]

When I did my ham radio Foundation exam, the instructor informed us that the previous group had all passed with top marks. They were primary school kids

 

[Adios]

A couple of tin cans with string are ideal for teaching simplex radio techniques. Also has the advantage that you can pull the string to recover the little darlings who have not yet mastered the arts of sailing but are, in your opinion, mature enough to be trusted with a marine vhf radio.

We used to have an open fire in the house. My oldest would help me load it and light it from when he was 2 or 3 (I forget). Fire went from being a fascinating thing to becoming mundane and then a chore. You can burn fascination out of kids by exposing them to it, a few hurt finger tips along the way also helps put them off. Otherwise natural curiosity and not being allowed would end up with them exploring matches when I wasn't there. I would be much more confident in kids who have been trained and use a VHF regularly to not twat about with one they came across.

 

[Mark-1]

We used to have an open fire in the house. My oldest would help me load it and light it from when he was 2 or 3 (I forget). Fire went from being a fascinating thing to becoming mundane and then a chore. You can burn fascination out of kids by exposing them to it, a few hurt finger tips along the way also helps put them off. Otherwise natural curiosity and not being allowed would end up with them exploring matches when I wasn't there. I would be much more confident in kids who have been trained and use a VHF regularly to not twat about with one they came across.

My kids also light the woodburner and have done since they were 3. Now for them it's a mundane tool and I no longer fear they will cause a conflagration because of a naive fascination.

Because the 9yo uses the VHF when we leave the marina and to keep in touch with me when she's off the boat she can reliably select a working channel, 80, or 16 and make a transmission. It's second nature to her. In an emergency that's invaluable if I'm busy or incapacitated.

It's literally the most (only?) genuinely useful contribution she can make in an emergency and it can be done from safely below. Essentially giving her the radio job gets them both in a place of safety, doing a task they can usefully perform. That leaves me to helplessly panic like Corporal Jones heroically manage the situation, without tripping over a reception class escapee.

I can't think of a single reason you wouldn't want your least capable crew member fluent in the radio at the youngest age possible and the best way to do that is lock requests as soon as they can talk (with Daddy holding the button in at first) + general comms with the mothership around and about. I admit they have both made transmissions that literally couldn't be understood but the lockie just asks for a repeat and I'd rather they made their mistakes talking on Ch80 to a lockie (who I'm paying) than to Hayling Rescue on ch16 while I'm fighting off Somali Pirates with a boathook.

As a final point I think that kids (including mine) have way less responsibility than previous generations had. I walked to school with my mates in primary school. There isn't a single kid in my children's primary school who walks alone to school. Far from allowing too much responsibility we allow far too little IMHO.

*I accept Somali pirates *may* not be as high as risk in Chichester Harbour as I suggest.
** But if they were, Hayling Rescue would see them off, no doubt.

 

[Adios]

{everything he said}

100% seconded

*I accept Somali pirates *may* not be as high as risk in Chichester Harbour as I suggest.
** But if they were, Hayling Rescue would see them off, no doubt.

Nigerian stowaways quite possible!

 

[Gary Fox]

+1

 

[Bodach na mara]

Gawd talk about Fred Drift.

 

[Adios]

In case anyone finds this thread in the future and wonders about the licence free option I received a pair of these yesterday TALKABOUT T92 H2O Waterproof Two Way Radio - Motorola Solutions - Europe, Middle East and Africa and they are much better than an older model I had. We can hear each other clearly (not tested range yet), I tested their waterproofing and floating and they seem ok, flashing light comes on if in the water. Night vision friendly red light option and more powerful white torch. Clip or its easy to attach a lanyard. Emergency function works well. Channel lock so kids can't accidentally change it. Sort of a privacy function. Recharges from a regular micro-USB that we all have laying around and therefore by regular cigar lighter chargers etc which i find a very big plus point. The whistle belt clips are almost dog whistle high and pretty useless. I threw it at the ground as an accidental test and it seems pretty sturdy. All in all for a lake or estuary use its probably sufficient if one boat has VHF and are decent enough quality for £60 new delivered via ebay.

The kids soon learned the need to follow some protocol saying over to avoid talking over each other. And to press the button for a second before talking. It is a useful learning tool i think that will translate ok to VHF.

 

[awol]

May I refer you to post #8?

 

[Adios]

May I refer you to post #8?

You could do, but I'm likely to refer you to post #6:

I've tried even the better 500mw walkie talkies a few years ago and they were not up to the standard of a decent marine radio. Plus DSC position monitoring etc. Another level of functionality altogether.

I would still rather have 2x DSC handhelds which as I have one already wouldn't have cost much more to get a second one than this pair of very inferior ones.