Radio Licensing

[hellosailor]

Ham radio? Ham license.

Marine Radio? Marine license.

The frequency (VHF, HF, whatever) has got nothing to do with it, the international agreements and reciprocal agreements are based on the service type.

It is that simple, and the folks at the FCC have a toll-free number and the licensing division are actually friendly on the phone.

[btrayfors]

Hellosailor,

Yeah, it USED TO BE that simple and straightforward. Until the FCC decided that marine VHF radios don't require a license for use in the U.S. However, marine SSB radios and certain other transmitting equipment (e.g., satellite comm systems) DO require proper licensing for use in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Ah, for the good old days :-)

Bill

[hellosailor]

Bill-
Ah for the good old days when a Ships Station License was only $75, too.<G>

But the context of the question was for overseas/international use, and the "free domestic VHF license for recreational users" aspect is just a confusing distraction that doesn't apply to overseas use.

[donradcliffe]

The FCC is a PITA, but I remember compaqring notes with the Brits, who had to renew their radio licenses much more frequently than every 10 years...

Under the old system, it was important to check every box for equipment you could conceive of using, because adding them later meant another fee. Did I understand that under the new system you can make changes in your license for nothing?? I just changed my address online, but that never counted for extra $$.