Is FCC Registration Required in Bahamas for VHF Radio ?

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by night0wl

...

Bill - can you speak to renewals? I cant recall if my restricted operators license or ships station license is perpetual...I think the other is 10 year renewal.

The RR (Restricted Radiotelephone Operators License) is good for life.

The ship's Station License is good for 10 years.

Bill

[nknowland]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

As usual, the FCC has the uncanny ability to complicate things!

It's in Item 18 on schedule B...that's where you check off the equipment. Marine SSB is MF (medium frequency) and HF (high frequency). Check them both. And, check all the others while you're at it!

Bill

Bill ... Got it! You Totally ROCK! thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction!

[Arclight]

$160 for ten years

[nknowland]

btrayor's info above is righton! I completed the online application for a ship radio licence at the FCC website one day, it was accepted the next, and the license arrived in the mail a week later. Plus, the people we talked to by phone were very helpful and nice. A 10-yr license covers all our wireless communications for 10 years.

[leehaefele]

What is correct channel setting, USA or International, for Bahamas and Caribbean areas? Boaters have some one way and some the other. This results in channels with an A in the number not working. I was thinking in areas anywhere near USA (Bahamas) or Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands that USA was correct as it would be needed to converse with USCG, but that is just a guess.

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by leehaefele

What is correct channel setting, USA or International, for Bahamas and Caribbean areas? Boaters have some one way and some the other. This results in channels with an A in the number not working. I was thinking in areas anywhere near USA (Bahamas) or Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands that USA was correct as it would be needed to converse with USCG, but that is just a guess.

Yes, you're correct. USA setting.

Bill

[leehaefele]

Re, use of VHF USA setting in Bahamas.
Do you have any written regs to refer to? Other boats will have their own ideas.

[jeremiason]

Tile 47 Code of Federal Regulations Part 80 (47 CFR 80) govern Marine VHF use in the US.

These rules are based on the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) rules, which govern VHF used outisde the US. These rules are signed by just about every nation in the world.

Something else many people don't know is, by law, if you have a Marine VHF radio installed on your recreational boat, you are REQUIRED to monitor Channel 16 while underway.

Another assumption by some recreational sailors is that commercial vessels and cruise ships monitor Channel 16. It is NOT required by international law since Digital Selective Calling became mandatory for them.

If you have an AIS receiver you will have the MMSI number for the vessel and be able to communicate wth them.

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by leehaefele

Re, use of VHF USA setting in Bahamas.
Do you have any written regs to refer to? Other boats will have their own ideas.

Abaco Bahamas Cruising Information

Bill

[hellosailor]

"Something else many people don't know is, by law, if you have a Marine VHF radio installed on your recreational boat, you are REQUIRED to monitor Channel 16 while underway."

Heard that one before. Here or on another forum, probably a year ago. Researched it and it is a fairy tale for recreational vessels that are not required to carry radios, regardless of whether they have it installed.

As I recall the statute actually requires it for vessels "in compulsory service" or some such similar term. If you are required to have the radio, you are required to keep watch. If having the radfio is optional, you are most definitely not required to listen to it.

If you can cite something specific otherwise, please do. As it applies to recreational vessels which are not required to carry the VHF in the first place.

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"Something else many people don't know is, by law, if you have a Marine VHF radio installed on your recreational boat, you are REQUIRED to monitor Channel 16 while underway."

Heard that one before. Here or on another forum, probably a year ago. Researched it and it is a fairy tale for recreational vessels that are not required to carry radios, regardless of whether they have it installed.

As I recall the statute actually requires it for vessels "in compulsory service" or some such similar term. If you are required to have the radio, you are required to keep watch. If having the radfio is optional, you are most definitely not required to listen to it.

If you can cite something specific otherwise, please do. As it applies to recreational vessels which are not required to carry the VHF in the first place.

This says you have to have either 16 or 9 on watch if no DSC.

47 CFR 80.310 - Watch required by voluntary vessels. - Code of Federal Regulations - Title 47: Telecommunication - Subpart G: Safety Watch Requirements and Procedures - Id 19855789 - vLex

[jeremiason]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"Something else many people don't know is, by law, if you have a Marine VHF radio installed on your recreational boat, you are REQUIRED to monitor Channel 16 while underway."

Heard that one before. Here or on another forum, probably a year ago. Researched it and it is a fairy tale for recreational vessels that are not required to carry radios, regardless of whether they have it installed.

You should check the regulations again, it not a "Fairy tale... If a recreational vesel has a Marine VHF Installed you are required to keep a watch on Channel 16


If you don't believe me or the Code of Federal Regulations, here is another link to the USCG with the information on Radio Watch Keeping and here is a quote from that page:


In general, any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone (whether voluntarily or required to) must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone is not being used to communicate.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by jeremiason

You should check the regulations again, it not a "Fairy tale... If a recreational vesel has a Marine VHF Installed you are required to keep a watch on Channel 16

If you don't believe me or the Code of Federal Regulations, here is another link to the USCG with the information on Radio Watch Keeping and here is a quote from that page:

In general, any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone (whether voluntarily or required to) must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone is not being used to communicate.

Exactly. And knowledge of these regulations is why many countries require passing exams for operator certificates.

[goboatingnow]

In general, any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone (whether voluntarily or required to) must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone is not being used to communicate.

DSC equipped vessels may discontinue listening watches on CH16, but under GMDSS , they do have to monitor bridge to bridge and safety of navigation VHF channels in particular CH6,13 or 11. It may be better to try these sometime then 16 if you dont have DSC. ( what you dont have DSC!!)

for a review of gmdss GMDSS Handbook

[Kettlewell]

DSC equipped vessels may discontinue listening watches on CH16, but under GMDSS , they do have to monitor bridge to bridge and safety of navigation VHF channels in particular CH6,13 or 11. It may be better to try these sometime then 16 if you dont have DSC. ( what you dont have DSC!!)

Here in the USA you will miss 95% of all traffic if you don't monitor Channel 16, including commercial coastwise stuff. They still do their "Securite" calls on 16, and then they usually say at the end "Monitoring channel 16 and 13."