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RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 08 12:43 pm Post subject:

So to clarify you can :-

buy & use the radio for 999 stuff if you have a boat / ship licence (free online) without any test or training.

buy & use for any purpose only if you take a test & have a boat / ship licence.

Better people know that they dont need to take a test & have a radio if needed than be put off by the test & not have one if needed. I guess for small local harbours & inshore stuff for me ï¿½200 is to much as it would never be used for any other purpose. If you are in a busy harbour (or a unknown one) & need to communicate boat to boat (or water taxi etc) then you need a test / training.

Also I think there are some other rules for the newer radio gear with identification carried on the back of the signal. Not sure what that is. They were planning on turning off the older service but think it got shelved.

Justme

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 08 2:01 pm Post subject:

Justme wrote:

buy & use the radio for 999 stuff if you have a boat / ship licence (free online) without any test or training.

I'm not sure that that is correct. From my reading, you cannot get the licence in the first place without taking the test. I assume that the reason why you can use it in an emergency is to enable an untrained person on a boat to use the radio without any training without fear of prosecution, rather than have someone not use it in an emergency for fear of prosecution.

Quote:

buy & use for any purpose only if you take a test & have a boat / ship licence.

Yes

Quote:

Better people know that they dont need to take a test & have a radio if needed than be put off by the test & not have one if needed. I guess for small local harbours & inshore stuff for me ï¿½200 is to much as it would never be used for any other purpose. If you are in a busy harbour (or a unknown one) & need to communicate boat to boat (or water taxi etc) then you need a test / training.

That is my personal view, but it's not for me to suggest what is safe or reasonable for others. Likewise, one could buy a vhf cheaply and keep it for emergencies without great expenditure. As this isn't strictly legal it's not something we could recommend in an article.

Quote:

Also I think there are some other rules for the newer radio gear with identification carried on the back of the signal. Not sure what that is. They were planning on turning off the older service but think it got shelved.

Justme

Not a clue!

Just to clarify, my fishing takes place within visual sight of the harbour/lifeboat station and within mobile phone range, plus I always carry flares. And as it's a drying harbour I always know the tide conditions and weather forecast, and I have an alternative harbour 3 miles down the coast, plus a gently shelving beach in an emergency.

If i was thinking of fishing anywhere near a busy ferry port or more exposed sea my choice of boat, traing and safety equipment would probably be completely different. this isn't a one size fits all thing.

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 08 9:00 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Justme wrote:

buy & use the radio for 999 stuff if you have a boat / ship licence (free online) without any test or training.

Just found this

Quote:

Q Do I need an operatorï¿½s certificate to have a Marine radio transceiver on my boat?

A No, a marine radio can be installed on a boat with a ship radio licence alone. However without the operatorï¿½s certificate the radio can only be legally used for receive-only purposes unless you are in a DISTRESS situation.

from here https://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/maritime/airwaves/airwave2/airwaves.htm

Justme

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 08 10:06 pm Post subject:
I'm still confused, when I follow any of the online applications it's asking me for licence details

VSS

Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2845
Location: Llyn Peninsula, North Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 08 10:36 pm Post subject:

if you are going out in a boat, then act responsibly and get the license and the radio. life is too short and too fragile, particularly at sea to split hairs over ï¿½20!

we fished semi commercially for lobsters for four years while living on an offshore island cut of from the mainland in any thing over a force 4-5. it teaches you huge respect for the sea and the loss at sea of the best boatman i ever knew reinforced that respect.

the sea must be treated with extreme respect. get a VHF, get the license, and preferably get some experience boating with others before you venture out on your own. its not worth the risk otherwise.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 08 10:41 pm Post subject:
It's not about ï¿½20 It's about whether you need to pass the certification course first.

VSS

Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2845
Location: Llyn Peninsula, North Wales

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 08 10:45 pm Post subject:
from what i remember the answer is yes. although it is possible the regs may have changed since then. ask the local harbourmaster, coastguard, or contact the RYA - they will know the answer.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 08 10:48 pm Post subject:
Hopefully someone will, ofcom doesn't appear to.

happytechie

Joined: 24 Jan 2006
Posts: 408
Location: Surrey (at the mo.)

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 08 9:35 pm Post subject:

whilst I think the efforts to abide by the letter of the law are admirable I don't think anyone is going to throw the book at you for calling the coastguard if you're in trouble. It goes like this

sinking boat: select channel 16 and say 'holyhead coastguard holyhead coastguard this is fishing vessel jonnyboys boat I am sinking and in ugent need of assistance over'

sinking boat: I am about 3 miles SW of wherever

coastguard: (they have already hit the lifeboat pagers and the crew are on the way) We are DFing your exact position now please stay on air.

At no stage will they refuse to talk to you for not having a radio license or report you to the police for not having one.

Of course when you call them on a cell phone via 999 you need to know where exactly you are or the lifeboat and helicopters will take ages to find you in the fog!

It's just my 2p as an ex lifeboat man who has undertaken several searches for boats in the fog after calls to the coastguard from a mobile.

All that said, I am a hypocrite as I sailed with another lifeboat crew for years with no radio (and I even have a license).

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 08 9:42 pm Post subject:

happytechie wrote:

We are DFing your exact position now

Thats interesting as they say that the reason for all the new radio's is that it gives your current position (and boat name) in a carrier signal under the voice signal. But sounds like they can just DF a standard signal.

Justme

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 08 9:43 pm Post subject:
What's DFing stand for?

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 08 10:19 pm Post subject:

happytechie wrote:

'holyhead coastguard holyhead coastguard this is fishing vessel jonnyboys boat I am sinking and in ugent need of assistance over'

Good range from Virginia Water, going to take ages to get to you though.

I took my VHF course a couple of years ago, have forgotten almost everything.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46209
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 08 10:30 pm Post subject:
another thing to do ps im still looking for a good boat (maritime so to say ) solid ,good range ,self contained and most importantly easy to use

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 08 7:58 am Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

What's DFing stand for?

Direction Finding

Justme

deanowales

Joined: 17 Jun 2006
Posts: 28

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 08 12:04 pm Post subject:
Not sure if this has been mentioned but one thing I noticed in the video was the adult wearing waders!! THATS A DEFINATE NO NO sure way of drowning if going overboard waders fill with water and theres no way back...sorry if has been mentioned but its very important...you can have all the VHF Radios you like but you have to be alive to use them

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