Have you ever be cited for using VHF?

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

The rules for Canada.

In a nutshell, Canadians must have their operators licence (easy 2-night course via Power Squadron or CYA). preferably with the DSC endorsement.

Correct. Since the demise of the "ship station licence" 20 years or so back, very few people bothered to get a licence for VHF only...and it showed in decling radio etiquette and proper usage.

The "DSC endorsement" and the increasing use of MMSI numbers, added to the requirement of this licence to use marine SSB, has renewed interest and numbers of people with the certification.

If you have decent radio etiquette, Newt, and simply want VHF for emergencies, I would just keep quiet on the topic unless you want to "get legal" with the Full Monty of MMSI number (a real one, not the fakey ones), SSB certification and so on. It's not really a Wilco Tango Foxtrot situation...a couple of nights' work at most and you feel very clever at the end of it!

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

So,

20 posts in, and only one mention of the idea that one "might be checked" in Europe....

The OP asked the right question, has anyone ever been cited... And so far the answer is no

Funny how in earlier threads, the "experts" jump all over folks and demand compliance, with dire threats if you should abroad without one (i think the last thread was taking about going to the Bahamas)...

People seem to want to enforce compliance on the behalf of others.. What gives with this?

Bottom paint, overboard discharge, radio licenses, what is the interest in the (sometimes passionate) desire to see others follow rules that do not affect others?

.

Dont you

(a) want to have a proper call sign

(b) want a real MMSI , you know one that works all over the world , inc the Bahamas

(c) Maybe want actually learn how to use a VHF, use DSC , proper etiquette , how GMDSS works etc

its more then just bits of paper.
Dave

[northoceanbeach]

Canada doesn't require foreign vessels to have a license when operating in their waters. The USA requires it, but they don't have the authority to enforce it in Canada. So nobody gets ticketed.

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Dont you

(a) want to have a proper call sign

(b) want a real MMSI , you know one that works all over the world , inc the Bahamas

(c) Maybe want actually learn how to use a VHF, use DSC , proper etiquette , how GMDSS works etc

its more then just bits of paper.
Dave

Having a station license does NOTHING to accomplish any of these, other then "b" which means very little.... The station license is a form with a fee, as is the restricted operator liscence required to use a VHF abroad...

... Unless you count "a", but what does a call sign do for a VHF user?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

Having a station license does NOTHING to accomplish any of these, other then "b" which means very little.... The station license is a form with a fee, as is the restricted operator liscence required to use a VHF abroad...

... Unless you count "a", but what does a call sign do for a VHF user?

I was talking about it in general , ie a ships license and a proper operators license.

Dave

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

Having a station license does NOTHING to accomplish any of these, other then "b" which means very little.... The station license is a form with a fee, as is the restricted operator liscence required to use a VHF abroad...

... Unless you count "a", but what does a call sign do for a VHF user?

Call sign , allows you to be uniquely identified to coast stations, or anyone with the ITU directories on board. I mean how may ' knotty buoys' etc are out there!

dave

[s/v 'Faith']

Use a call sign on the VHF much? Ever?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

Use a call sign on the VHF much? Ever?

I use mine in all communications all the time, but especially with coast stations around the UK and Ireland.

dave

[s/v 'Faith']

"All communications, all the time...."

Interesting.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

"All communications, all the time...."

Interesting.

its the way my mummy brought me up

dave

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

Use a call sign on the VHF much? Ever?

Been many years. Of course not required anymore. For once the Fed got something right... maybe they asked themselves: Is this enforceable (NO), Do we care/is it important? (NO) How is it different than people calling each other on t he Cell phone? (NOT)

"Dont you

(a) want to have a proper call sign

(b) want a real MMSI , you know one that works all over the world , inc the Bahamas

(c) Maybe want actually learn how to use a VHF, use DSC , proper etiquette , how GMDSS works etc "

(a) NO
(b) NO
(c) Voluntarily learn sure.

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Been many years. Of course not required anymore. For once the Fed got something right... maybe they asked themselves: Is this enforceable (NO), Do we care/is it important? (NO) How is it different than people calling each other on t he Cell phone? (NOT)

"Dont you

(a) want to have a proper call sign

(b) want a real MMSI , you know one that works all over the world , inc the Bahamas

(c) Maybe want actually learn how to use a VHF, use DSC , proper etiquette , how GMDSS works etc "

(a) NO
(b) NO
(c) Voluntarily learn sure.

exactly.

[goboatingnow]

I like to trim my sails properly

and I like to use VHF and other marine radio properly.

Since getting a ships license and an operators is simple and for most people an interesting learning expeience ( typically where certification is required)

Simply because its voluntary or mandatory doesnt really matter, in practice 'round' here , there are large numbers of unlicensed users, so its not like anyone 'cares'

But then a hold a GOC and I teach ( or used to teach ) VHF radio !!

dave

[sww914]

I have a SSB, I listen. I've only talked on it twice. Once to help a friend diagnose a mic problem, once to call the USCG to check and see if it was working after I installed it.
I don't have any license of any kind. I will get them eventually. Together they're about $300.00. That's money that we just don't have right now, so I don't transmit.
Before we left the US, a bonehead dock neighbor tried to convince me that if I didn't get the licenses that the FCC would come to Mexico and find me if I transmitted.
Seriously? The FCC has a boat that patrols Mexican waters? Either that or the Mexican authorities have so little to do and want so badly to be helpful to the US government or to enforce their own rules that they are monitoring all radio transmissions and double checking the call signs so that they can cite me if I happen to make an emergency transmission?
That said, I appreciate your starting this thread and I would add the question "have you ever been cited for ANY radio crime"? Anywhere? Anyone?

[goboatingnow]

I don't have any license of any kind. I will get them eventually. Together they're about $300.00. That's money that we just don't have right now, so I don't transmit.

there in lies the stupidity of the FCC, on one hand you have no competency radio training, but if you want to have a regular setup, it costs loads.(and it has the worse web site ive ever seen !)

here its £20 for life for the ships station and £30 for the operator licensing ( plus obviously a cost for training) or £70 quid if you dont want any tution,

I dont understand how any sailor would go offshore outside territorial waters, without proper radio certification , irrepective of whether its mandatory or not. I mean why would anyone not want to learn how to use it properly ( and all the systems around it)

dave