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VHF radio with GPS

Submitted by bradz on Thu, 2019-05-09 13:30

 Hi guys

Although I believe you are supposed to have a licence to operate VHF, I understand that most people dont.

The reason I ask ist that the new VHF radios with built in GPS ask for an MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number to be entered in the unit but this number can only be allocated if you have the licence. So...does this mean you cant use the GPS distress function without the applicable licence and MMSI?

 

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bleicester

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Posts: 219

Date Joined: 10/09/14

Just get the licence. I know

Thu, 2019-05-09 13:59

Just get the licence. I know it's an additional cost and time to do the test but this is for your safety and for the rest of us relying on the coverage on VHF. 27Mhz is often cluttered with inane chatter and banter. We don't need VHF to turn into the same.
 
Technically you can manually enter your GPS location into your radio but in reality you may not be able to do that in a distress situation. You can also register the same MMSI to your EPIRB so that sea resuce can get your boats details from that too if you can't get to the VHF dsitress button in time.
 
Be aware that operating a VHF marine radio without holding an appropriate qualification or being under the supervision of an appropriately qualified person, may be breaching the Radiocommunications Act. Penalties include significant fines and imprisonment.
 
Here's all of the licences you can use (only need one) to get your free MMSI. The MROCP is the main one most rec fishers would obtain.

 

Australian Waters Qualification (AWQ)
GMDSS First-Class Radio Electronic Certificate (1st Class REC)
GMDSS Second-Class Radio Electronic Certificate (2nd Class REC)
GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (GOCP)
Restricted Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (RROCP)
Long Range Certificate (Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency – MROCP)
 Short Range Certificate of Proficiency (Marine Radio Operator’s VHF Certificate of Proficiency – MROVCP) 

 

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Fish not found

bleicester

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Posts: 219

Date Joined: 10/09/14

 edit: The MROVCP is the main

Thu, 2019-05-09 14:01

 edit: The MROVCP is the main one most rec fishers would obtain

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Error 404

Fish not found

Rob H

Posts: 5806

Date Joined: 18/01/12

 What bleicester says

Thu, 2019-05-09 15:01

 What bleicester says certainly is technically correct and seems to be the way its being handled.

BUT, they do have an avenue to take action that way and the easiest way to draw attention and force them to do that is by demonstrating ignorance of

  • correct channels to use
  • correct protocol

Contrary to what some have said here before, channel 16 is perfectly acceptable to use to contact your mate, then request him to change to another suitable one.

Doing the basic course will ensure that you dont have every commercial vessel (who must monitor it by law) rolling their eyes listening to last nights antics and death metal music

being streamed on 16!

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 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.

 

Jackfrost80

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Posts: 8149

Date Joined: 07/05/12

Ahem. What's wrong with death

Thu, 2019-05-16 11:56

Ahem. What's wrong with death metal music?

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sunshine

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Posts: 2622

Date Joined: 03/03/09

Cockburn Sea Rescue holds courses regularly

Thu, 2019-05-09 15:21

 And they are cheap as, Lester is in invigulator and you can do either the inshore or full course ......only takes a morning and gives you an AMC certification 

bradz

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Posts: 693

Date Joined: 29/10/07

Cheers

Thu, 2019-05-09 19:45

Looks like I'm booking in for the course.

Cheers everyone.

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I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.

resurgence

Posts: 578

Date Joined: 23/04/14

To answer your question

Thu, 2019-05-09 21:28

VHF radios with DSC can be connected to your GPS so they know your location, and this will be transmitted when you hit the Distress button.  You don’t need the MMSI for this to work.

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bellony

Posts: 94

Date Joined: 27/01/10

Not correct

Thu, 2019-05-16 21:50

 Think you will find an MMSI is required for DSC to work.

www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/distress-beacons/about-maritime-mobile-service-identity-information

sunshine

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Posts: 2622

Date Joined: 03/03/09

Icoms have built in GPS

Fri, 2019-05-10 08:23

No need to link into other equipment and my understanding of the technology is that you must program in your MMSI number for your position to be transmitted, only needs to be entered once ! 

bradz

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Posts: 693

Date Joined: 29/10/07

MMSI

Fri, 2019-05-10 08:45

The Icom is what I am looking at with the built in GPS.
I am booking into a course with Whitfords next month.
Cheers for the info guys.

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I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.