vhf radio licence

ollie · 08 September 2003, 18:56

what are the up to date rules on vhf radio ie do you have to have a licence do you need to regeister with the coast guard how long your licence last do you need your own call name ect ect i have a radio and know what to say but thats about it have not took it out to sea yet sorry to ask silly question like this but a don't want a big fat fine landing on my door mat

Ian · 08 September 2003, 19:46

Ollie, you should have, by law, a license for either fixed or handhelf marine VHF. It can be obtained from the Radiocommunications Agency, Wyndham House, 189 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SX. Tel: 020 7211 0215/0217 or e-mail AMS@ra.gsi.gov.uk.
It cost me £20 for 12 months and you do require a callsign when you complete the application. My license came through in a week complete with a windscreen holder similar to a car road fund license holder.

Hope this helps.

P.S. If you get into trouble and haven't got a license, USE the radio.

Biggles · 08 September 2003, 20:55

I just got myself a VHF Mobile Radio Licence at £15 per year. I think its the wrong licence but It says it can be used with any mobile Radio iregardless of the state of the ships licence. By the way I got my course on 27 Sept so I suppose I will find out then.

Ian · 08 September 2003, 20:58

Ship Radio Licence costs £20. Not sure which one you have, where did you get it from?

ollie · 08 September 2003, 23:31

it looks like to me that the £15 is for hand held and the £20 is for fix found this web site and it looks like it answers most of my questions http://www.radiolicenceforms.co.uk/ so it looks like will have to get on a radio corse then get a licence only problem is where do i do the corse there are lots of places is the rya the beast people to teach this

gtflash · 09 September 2003, 07:40

do you still get a call sign with a handheld. ive got a handheld licence and dont think i have a callsign? if so how do i find out

MeMe · 09 September 2003, 09:55

I'm not sure about the law however, I have a handheld and use it all the time. If you look on the Coast Guard web site (sorry don't know it off the top of my head) you'll find a form (GC66 I think) to complete and send to your local station. You give your name address etc along with all your boat details, description , cruising area, safety equipment etc etc etc along with a photo.
They record these datails to be used if they are ever searching for you !
Last weekend I received an "all ships" request from Holyhead CG requesting assistance with a leisure craft in distress with 2 kids and a dog on board. I responded with my call-sigh MeMe following which and during several pieces of dialogue they advised me that they had received my details and I was "on-screen". There was no mention of licences etc. As long as you don't abuse the airways and pick up the basic etiquette I'm sure Her Majesty and her Coast Guard would turn a blind eye.

DM · 09 September 2003, 10:08

Quote:

Originally posted by MeMe
I'm sure Her Majesty and her Coast Guard would turn a blind eye.

Lizzie tells me that she would certainly not turn a blind eye as she gets a bit p*ssed off with the plebs using her airways without paying for the priviledge. At the risk of a beasting from Gingercoastie, I think she uses her thugs from the Radio and Communications Agency for licence enforcement, not the Coastguard.

DM

MeMe · 09 September 2003, 10:12

Right, I'll get a licence and post a copy of it on here to demonstrate I'm not one of the "plebs".

Charles · 09 September 2003, 10:29

Continue using an unlicensed VHF, be it h/h or fixed without a license and you WILL get caught - £5000.00 fine - that's a new engine right there!!

MeMe · 09 September 2003, 10:48

Right, I've just spent 15 minutes on line completing the Licence form which, was painless even though it cost £20.

For those interested it can be found at www.radiolicencecentre.co.uk

I'm now legal.....

19 -19 a copy com'on

Jono Garton · 09 September 2003, 11:28

so meme

do you have a operater license?

if not give this guy a call on 01758 612685 think they do radio courses at a a very good winter price. I think the guys called jono or somthing like that.

MeMe · 09 September 2003, 11:34

I've heard bad things about that Jono bloke. All he likes doing is collecting fast expensive toys, cruising around the bay in £50k plus "hard shells" waving at us lesser mortals as we take the spray over the sponsons !

Good idea, I would like to do a course. Lets talk and get us booked in. If I bring a few others do I get mine FOC ? Seriously....I'll catch you this weekend an get some dates from you. G..

Brian · 09 September 2003, 15:29

On my course I was required to supply a passport sized photo (of me!) which then got attached to my license. (or was it 2 photos??)

Charles · 09 September 2003, 15:43

Quite right Brian - 2 passport photos.

Tekkie · 09 September 2003, 20:25

Hi All,
You require by Law two Licences! One for the boat or handheld to allow it to be carried on board £20.00 & £15.00 per year and one to operate it Currently £20.00 for life. You need to do a SRC course which is one day. We are running such a course on 22 Nov Try [URL=http://www.ashbypower.fsnet.co.uk ] for more details.

Don't be caught!! it can prove V expensive.

Have fun boating.

Be Safe

Brian

Jono Garton · 10 September 2003, 09:55

Only 1 passport photo needed, i did my restricted license when i was 13 had to keep that picture with me til last year when i did my dsc update.

MeMe, Going back to that Jono bloke, he tells me he is up for doing Winter Specials , aparently needs to keep the money coming in through the winter to put the fuel in the toys.

He also says it makes a great picture looking down on your rib from a gyn palace, in fact when he passed you at the weekend his customer/student commented what a great little tender you have got.

gtflash · 10 September 2003, 09:57

im still unsure, is your callsign your boat name? (applying to handheld)??

Jono Garton · 10 September 2003, 10:07

Hi ALL - THIS IS HOW IT WORKS

1/ You need a Operator license. Simply get your self on a Short Range Certificate (VHF Radio) course.

2/ You then need -

a/ ShipsRadio Licence - Call Sign would be the boats name and you would also have another call sign ed gh1234 in case of two boats in the same area with the same name involved in the same situation (unlikely i know), if you have a DSC you would also have a MMSI number.

or

b/ Portable Ships Radio License - Call Sign would then be whatever boats name you are on and you would also have another call sign ed gh1234 for the same reason as above.

You may have a ships radio license for your boat but only have a handheld on board, which is fine if you only use it on that boat.

Hope this helps!

MeMe · 10 September 2003, 10:47

I've just doubled my uptake of LOTO tickets...."nice little tender" is it ! Just you wait, once that £6 million hits they'll have to deepen the harbour entrance to get me in !