VHF License - Please help!
Submitted by Sea Hunter on Wed, 2013-07-17 11:31
My new Tub has a VHF radio and I know I have to have a license to use it but I dont know the process to getting one, who to approach to get one, Where I need to go. Basically I dont know where to begin. In the Bunbury region.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
try
try your local sea search rescue group
Terry
Posts: 458
Date Joined: 04/12/05
sea rescue
as per petermac's comments. Your local Sea Rescue people should be able to assist you with the licence. And good on you for doing the right thing too.
Good luck.
Markie
Posts: 2154
Date Joined: 06/08/10
shite. Guess I need to
shite. Guess I need to aswell haha completely forgot about that from when I did my skippers ticket.
syddie
Posts: 22
Date Joined: 27/02/10
no licence required
You can find all the info and get a copy of the handbook here:
http://www.acma.gov.au/Citizen/Consumer-info/All-about-spectrum/Marine-and-Amateur-Radio/marine-vhf-radio-i-acma
looking through the site it seems that the minimum MROVCP is not a requirement anymore. You can still do the exam. I did the online mrovcp at the acma website, practised the trial questions then sat the exam at Freo maritime training centre. cost was around $60. End up with a card indicating your proficiency.
Ken
regards
Ken
syddie
Posts: 22
Date Joined: 27/02/10
Australian Waters Qualification (AWQ) certificate
Further research indicates that a Australian Waters Qualification (AWQ) certificate is required to operate a VHF marine radio,
However the syllabis has not been finalised as yet.
regards
Ken
scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
only need a licsence
for comercial operators according to the booklet i have ,use mine all the time never been told off yet
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
All operators
A licence is required for ALL VHF radio users at present, there have been serious discussions about allowing recreational use without a licence but nothing has been finalised yet.
I have never heard of anyone being convicted of using one without a licence.
Most of the sea rescue groups up north are getting to the stage of not monitoring 27 meg radio because of its limitations and are encouraging the use of VHF because of the greater quality of signal it produces.
Rob H
Posts: 5810
Date Joined: 18/01/12
received this with my last
received this with my last VMR renewal a few weeks back
VHF MARINE RADIO WARNING TO BOAT OWNERS
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) are calling on boat owners and users to double check that they hold a Certificate of Proficiency to operate their VHF marine radios.
Many boat owners who do not hold an operator’s Certificate may not realise that they are breaking the law when they operate VHF radios.
ACMA specify that operators must be qualified and hold the appropriate certificate.
This must be either the Marine Radio Operator’s “VHF” Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP) or the more comprehensive Marine Radio operator’s certificate of Proficiency (MROCP).
Courses in these licencing procedures are being conducted by Geraldton Volunteer Sea Rescue Group (Inc.) at the Point Moore Rescue Headquarters.
For details ring Vice Commander Barrie Wright on 0407382883
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
bitten
Posts: 803
Date Joined: 07/04/10
youd be able to claim that
youd be able to claim that one on tax hey rob
Rob H
Posts: 5810
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Ive already got top of the
Ive already got top of the wazza, but anyone who has anything to do with maritime could claim it.
When you home Dan? We're off tomorrow
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
Try contacting these
Try contacting these guys:
http://acrmwa.org.au/
They do marine radio courses and training in the Bunbury area and are very friendly and helpful people. I'm pretty sure they offer the VHF course free of charge, you just have to pay a small fee to AMC who issue the liscence.
Markie
Posts: 2154
Date Joined: 06/08/10
what about perth area anyone
what about perth area anyone know where or who.
Grumpysmurf
Posts: 97
Date Joined: 26/02/09
Fremantle Sea Rescue is a
Fremantle Sea Rescue is a great group to get licensed with. And then join up as a member to get your callsign as well.
Haines Signature 610C with Mercury 150 EFI
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
fines
Ok so how exactly are they policing this?
If there is a VHF in a 2nd hand boat you buy are you breaking the law?
what about the areas where sea rescue only operates on VHF?
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
At the moment they aren't
At the moment they aren't really policing it. If you buy a boat with a VHF you aren't breaking the law, but if you use the VHF without having a qualification then you are breaking the law.
From what i've heard DPI will start cracking down on radio liscences very soon though. Just as they check your flares, life jackets and skipper ticket, they will also check your VHF license.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
VHF
good luck to them with that, if your not using it then you arent breaking the law so when they check your flares etc you typically wouldnt be using your radio. Also my Fusion stereo can pick up VHF so there is an argument that you only have a VHF device to listen to weather updates, I would be pissed if i got fined/prosecuted for that.
I highly doubt they would prosecute people using it to log on in an area with no 27meg coverage
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
DoT
Havent heard that one yet and doubt it because its not in their area and to them not essential to have a VHF radio
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
It's marine saftey. Once
It's marine saftey. Once they phase out 27 meg, rec boats travelling offshore will require a VHF.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Monitoring radio
When it comes to monitoring radio DoT has nothing to do with it, its done by Water Police and the sea rescue groups.
There is nothing to say that you cannot go to see with a 27meg radio in the regulations, its just that sea rescue won't be listening out for you
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
http://www.transport.wa.gov.
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/19163.asp
If you only have a VHF, but no license to use it, then technically you cant go more than 5miles offshore.
Fisheries can also bust you for using VHF without a license, as they also monitor VHF from sea and shore.
It's not really that hard to get a license, it doesnt cost much and it teaches you the proper protocol. Whats the issue?
synthos
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 23/06/07
fine
They will probatly a ttach an on the spot fine, making busting us a fund rasinign excercise.
Rob H
Posts: 5810
Date Joined: 18/01/12
your allowed to own one, just
your allowed to own one, just not use it :-)
The worst of it is people who don't know the correct use of CH16 and get shirty when someone asks them to move to another channel.
Then they abuse, turn the stereo up and hold the mike up to it and carry on etc.
Every vessel Ive ever worked on has 16 on (to be monitored by law) and has to put up with that crap at various times.
Its a bit like a drivers licence-easy enough to learn to operate a car but if you don't know the rules it turns to custard
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
fair enough
Yep fair enough, it just gets my goat a bit when a device like this that could save your life could cause an infringement. For Rec boaters radio use is pretty straight forward I spent years using radios with correct method and phonetic alphabet through surf life saving though when I use it at work nobody follows any of the proper radio etiquette. The course is great for people who dont know this stuff but if it stops someone going to Shark Bay etc and logging on with sea rescue then the licence is defeating the purpose.
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
If my boat is sinking, I will
If my boat is sinking, I will risk the fine to call for help
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
+ 1
exactly
Rob H
Posts: 5810
Date Joined: 18/01/12
of course, doesnt stop you
of course, doesnt stop you using it for emergencies and you'd have the easiest defence in the world if busted.
At the end of the day though, even Peter Brock and Mark Weber had to sit for a drivers licence.
You'd be pretty unlucky to get busted unless acting as a knucklehead-in fact Id discount it.
Cant see how DOT can do anything other than giving you the information as its not against the law to possess one-though thinking about it if you are required to have a radio but dont have a licence to use it they could maybe be a nuisance...
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
just my thoughts
If you can do a blue card ,white card , construction card , safe working with alcohol card on line you should be able to do it on line I bet lots of blokes siting in fifo camps would love to do the course in there room rather than loosing time on their swing of
keg
Posts: 399
Date Joined: 17/07/07
depends on where you are
i start mine on monday night with whitfords sea rescue.
dodgy
Posts: 4583
Date Joined: 01/02/10
As Carnarvonite said, there
As Carnarvonite said, there have been no publicised cases (or certainly not recently) of someone being charged with using a VHF without a licence.
It comes up at the VMR conferences with AMSA every year but it still sits in limbo even with all the recent changes within that department.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
sea-kem
Posts: 15034
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Anyone know how long these
Anyone know how long these courses are?
Love the West!
keg
Posts: 399
Date Joined: 17/07/07
just the vhf
is two nights at 2.5 hrs a night and if you want the hf certificate as well it is an extra night at 2.5hrs
dodgy
Posts: 4583
Date Joined: 01/02/10
The ones we hold are Theory
The ones we hold are Theory one night and then revision and the test on the next. Prob 4 hours all up.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
squidder
Posts: 457
Date Joined: 03/09/10
Maybe
the day will come when all radios have an ID when transmitting and have a registered operator to match, then we won't have to listen to the D.H's.
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
At present under the
At present under the regulations covering recreational boating in WA there is no requirement to be qualified to use a radio. You just have to carry a marine radio if traveling beyond x miles off shore.
Use and possession of radio transmitters are a federal matter controlled by ACMA.
Now I haven't waded through the regs lately, but unless things have changed recently it is illegal to possess or operate radio equipment that you are not licenced for.
At the the moment it appears ACMA and DOT are not policing this, though as mentioned the situation could change.
Rob H
Posts: 5810
Date Joined: 18/01/12
I thought it was only to
I thought it was only to operate and possession referred to SSB, but you may be well right.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
Interesting.
I got my licence about 5 years ago, been checked for it twice early on. Just had another look at it, its not a licence but a "Certificate of Proficiency". Then I had a look at this site http://www.acma.gov.au/Citizen/Consumer-info/All-about-spectrum/Marine-and-Amateur-Radio/marine-vhf-radio-i-acma, scouting about I found this:What is the legal basis for the requirement to have a certificate of proficiency?
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) radio regulations require that:
marine radios using international maritime frequencies are controlled by an operator holding a certificate of proficiency.
staff on duty at coast stations and coast Earth stations are properly qualified to operate these stations efficiently
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), under the Radiocommunications Act 1992, requires operators of marine radios on vessels and at maritime coast stations (other than those operating solely on 27 MHz frequencies) to hold a relevant Australian marine radio operator's certificate of proficiency or an equivalent overseas qualification.
What are the penalties?
A person operating a VHF marine radio without holding an appropriate certificate of proficiency or being under the supervision of an appropriately qualified person, may be breaching the Radiocommunications Act. Penalties include significant fines and imprisonment.
This information was up-dated this month.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Öperating
The word is operating, not possessing / owning.
In other words you can own one as long as you don't turn it on and hopefully that will change in the near future.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
bit like
its a bit like a radar detector you can have 1 but cant use it
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
oh dear
The food in prison cant be much worse than this mess food lol
Mike17
Posts: 323
Date Joined: 30/06/13
course
Check out Ausralian Marine college. You can do it online.
Use The Force
sea-kem
Posts: 15034
Date Joined: 30/11/09
From what I read at another
From what I read at another online course site you still have to sit an exam with an invigilator. All they can do is enhance your knowledge base.
Love the West!
Brucesta
Posts: 1721
Date Joined: 29/05/09
Licences area funny thing, I
Licences area funny thing, I use marine VHF, HF and Aviation VHF radios on a regular basis and never been told any of us need a licence / cert to do it. It is tested in your skippers ticket and it should be covered on there if hey deem it still to be needed.
Las Vegas - Rolling the dice and trying your luck. 1M+ Barra summer target. 100kg Black Marlin winter target
Shark1
Posts: 1086
Date Joined: 21/05/12
Bruce AMSA left out the radio
Bruce
AMSA left out the radio component in the state boat training, as the law allready said a MROCP is needed when using VHF or HF
The VHF set is not needed to be licensed like before, but the operator must, u can have a set installed and no licence if u just say ,i m not using it, however u will need an 27 meg in working condition then to satisfy legal requirement of safety gear(IF U OPERATING THAT FAR OFF to need a radio)
No one will ever be fined for using a radio in an emergency- however it is a good idea to do a course so people understand how to operate" breaker breaker we are sinking over and out" will certainly not get u the required response , as a commercial operator there is nothing as frustrating as people using channel 16 or 72 for standard comms as ROb said.
as this matter falls under federal law( telecommunication act) there is HUGE FINES if they would ever go that way
the attitude to enforcing used to be , "turn a blind eye, it is for safety" but with the recent fining campaign for out of date flares( even though they in perfect nick and u might have 3 sets on board), it seems it will only be a matter of time before the gvnmt start making $$ out of this one as well
dodgy
Posts: 4583
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I was on Cockburn Sound at
I was on Cockburn Sound at Easter and there was a boat calling Help, Help. At least you know what kind of experience the boaty has when going to help them.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
bigmick
Posts: 77
Date Joined: 04/02/13
I had a look at the
I had a look at the Fremantle SEa SEarch and REscue site yesterday and according to that they are starting training courses for the MROCP on the 21st September and then on the first Saturday of every month aftert that. It appears the course is just 1 day, going from 8am to 3pm.
http://www.searescue.com.au/onlinestore/index.php?route=product/product&path=35&product_id=50