VHF or 27 Mhz or?

[Morlers]

I recently got my VHF/HF licence after doing a 5 week course (5 nights @ about 2 hrs) through VMR Bundaberg. Cost $30 to VMR for the course (I thought of it as a worthy $30 donation rather than a cost) and $38.50 to Office of Maritime Communications (agent -Aust Maritime College). I found that VMR put a very easy and practical application to the theory of the operators manual. I actually enjoyed the 5 week course and the information provided.
Agreed, you may be able to operate a vhf radio without a licence but I feel the information gleened from doing the course certainly helps in its proficient and responsible use.
I havn't heard of the eventual scrapping of the licence but did hear that Australian Communications Authority may be handing the task of checking licences over to state Fisheries and Boating Patrol officers.
Try these websites for more info on the licence:
http://www.amcom.amc.edu.au
http://www.aca.gov.au
Trust the above helps.
Morlers

[merv]

RECENTLY I PURCHASED A VHF RADIO FROM A MARINE DEALER AND I ASKED ABOUT A LICENCE. ,WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY AS ALL BOATS SOLD WITH SETS IN GO OUT WITOUT ANY LICENCE . I MADE PHONE CALLS TO RADIO LICENCE MOB. WERE TOLD THEY DON'T HANDLE ANYMORE ,TRIED OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT COASTGUARD AS THEY RUN COURSES FOR $138.00 THIS DEALS WITH CORRECT OPERATING PROCEDURE ALSO YOU RECEIVE YOUR CALLSIGN. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT YOU NO LONGER NEED A LICENCE, IN THAT CASE IT WOULD PAY TO BECOME A ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF YOUR LOCAL COASTGUARD. REMEMBER YOU MIGHT NEVER NO WHEN YOU NEED THEM.MERV [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

[NQCairns]

Australian Communications Authority may be handing the task of checking licences over to state Fisheries and Boating Patrol officers.

If that ends up the case then I predict the wholesale march back to 27meg by boaties, I will do the leading.
Very strange how a lack of licence and 27 meg worked fine for many many many years (i used to understand what everone said and had no problems contacting or being understood by coastguard ever)(range excluded). Now there is a requirement for a licence with VHF and it is brought over as if VHF wouldn't work just as well as the 27meg of old without the licence overregulation? Thats crap! nq

[Kerry]

.... Now there is a requirement for a licence with VHF and it is brought over as if VHF wouldn't work just as well as the 27meg of old without the licence overregulation?

Always has been a license requirement for VHF (which basically relates to international requirements) but it wasn't simply just VHF but incorporated other freq and systems that really are totally different to 27mHz.

One really only has to listen to VHF in some areas to realize the lack of respect and understanding some people have for systems like this.

Cheers, Kerry.

[NQCairns]

Hi Kerry, yes but it was a unit only licence, fillout a form, include some cash each year and post, like magic it was done, at least that is how I remember it.

It was also what I ducked when young with 27meg CB. I understand 27meg MB also should be licenced today but the safety implications outweigh the revinue raising aspect or more possibly given the historical metal of our federal Gov agencies the enforcement costs outweigh the revenue recieved so it is left alone.
Yes the lack of respect sucks but that is 60% of our societies makup and cannot yet be effectivly regulated against yet, without implanted behaviour chips and an automated direct debit fine system for any indiscretion (like that movie) . Wonder what my kids are going to be looking forward to in 50 years? nq

[Kerry]

.... but it was a unit only licence, fillout a form, include some cash each year and post, like magic it was done, at least that is how I remember it

nq, that was the "apparatus" licence (the physical radio bit only) and yes each and every year, from memory it was something like $40 ??? Now there's no more separate apparatus licence as it's all lumped under a specific class licence, no cost involved.

But that was totally separate to the operators license of proficiency, which has always been and still is a once off.

27mHz "pirate" days say no more 8)

The apparatus licence, yes one could/might simply call that a revenue source but the one off proficency test as far as VHF (and HF and now DSC etc etc) is no where near the same.

If people have a grouvel about sitting a bit of an exam, paying a few dollars to a volunteer organsiation, a few more $$'s for the admin overheads in an endeavour to have a better understanding as far as "proper" radio prodecure goes, then that must go someway to making them a better and safer boatie, helps the volunteer organisations who basically provide the services as well as making the overall marine (big and little boats) environment a better place , then so be it.

Stop grouvelling and do it, what's the big problem?


Cheers, Kerry.

[NQCairns]

Hi Kerry,
The problem is as a rec boater I am not a commercial enterprise, I make nor take monies from or for my pastime. The op lic will add NOTHING of real value to my rec boating experience the VHF unit alone could not. I simply have nothing tangible or intangible to gain from the added impost of cost and time.

If I was gaining financially in any way from my boating then fair enough and/or my ownership of a VHF was not first and foremost a piece of safety equip.
The need! for an op lic just an insult when the magic of 27meg MB did the job for so long without the added overregulation.

The reasoning for the licence at a physical level has all the parallel depth and justification to me as a recboater, as to myself the couch potato forced to gain an op lic for the new DVD but not the old VCR it replaces, it is just more of the everday bureaucratic belligerence we wade through and would be easy to ignore if it were not such an important and basic piece of safety equip.

We will never know how many people the existance of the op licence will kill over time nor will we ever know how many it would save if it is scrapped. Guaranteed the Gov true to form will not consider the true ramifications of this licence. nq

[Kerry]

Nq, I suppose there's some that look at/approach the issues differently, such is life.

As far as commercial enterprises, 27mHz is not something those types of operations use so interference with port operations, ships etc isn't a issue for 27mHz operators only. Half the time with 27mHz one couldn't interfere with the boat around the corner but the rest of the world, well they certainly interfere with you.

Really the magic of 27mHz is a little past its use by date and some states (at least) have been in the forefront of this for quite some time.

Old Dick Smith, who really started the 27mHz marine thing so long ago was on a good thing then, for many reasons but these days most of those reasons simply don't exist anymore. Lets face it when Dicky got into 27mHz (his little orange one) VHF didn't really exist (as we know it today) and the only other radio option rec boaties had was HF, as big and bulky as they were then, of course apart from the first of the Ferris flat pack HF's.

As for lives well just about every year during the southern migration north there's probably a few of them that if ever one could find them, then there might be some "discussion" about protocol.

For some of these people to sit on their yachts 100 metres apart and tie up a repeater network like they do, they really have absolutely no knowledge of radio procedures or operation what so ever. But I suppose coming from south of the border we'll have to exuse them [smiley=thumbsdown.gif]

I also believe ALL operators of marine radios should do the operators certificate, wouldn't hurt them one little bit, might even make a few actually aware of a few things.

Cheers, Kerry.

[webby]

Hi As i said earlier in this post, re licences vhf for rec fishers being abandoned is not a fly by the night tales.
I will not state the source of this info, due to reasons.
But for any rec fishos with vhf or 27 mhz, its a matter of common sense in their uses and im bloody sure no one is going to ignore you just because you can't say yes sir no sir correctly.
Christ just listen to some of the procedures from operators on the other end shore based that is.
Im alsol not saying licences are'nt a good thing. but when 27mhz is eventually phased out, im bloody certain there not going to stop everyone who hasnt a vhf on board or cannot speak the queens radio english correctrly.
I know someone whose going to jump straight down my throat for this post, but for his information i have a R.O.P.L. level 1. or what ever you want to call it these days, which was first obtained in the Raaf some 30 years ago
and also contained morse code proficency.
But a good read of the phonetic alphabet and essential procedures will get anyone out of trouble.
regards

[Kerry]

.-- . -... -... -.-- --..-- / -- --- ... - / .- .-. . / .--. .-. --- -... .- -... .-.. -.-- / - --- / .-.. .- --.. -.-- / - --- / . ...- . -. / -... --- - .... . .-. / .-. . .- -.. .. -. --. / - .... . / .--. .-. --- -.-. . -.. ..- .-. . ... / -... ..- - / .. / -.- -. --- .-- / .-- .... . .-. . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -.-. --- -- .. -. --. / ..-. .-. --- -- --..-- / .--- ..- ... - / - .... .- - / ... --- -- . / - .... .. -. --. / - .... . -.-- / .- .-. . / .- -... --- ...- . / .. - .-.-.- / .- -. -.-- .-- .- -.-- ..--.. / .-- .... --- / -- .. --. .... - / - .... .- - / ... --- -- . --- -. . / -... . ..--..

[webby]

[mackmauler]

Webby, you must of needed your glasses to get through that at your age

[NQCairns]

Cheers Kerry, it's good to hear other peoples opinions, I vaguely remember someone prompting the fleeting thought of changing my mind many years ago .
Those yachties were lacking basic respect, you should hear the popular CB VHF now, nothing but rubbish 24/7, it aint going to change.nq

[webby]

-.- . .-. .-. -.--
.... . .- .-. -.. \ .. - \..-. .-. --- -- \- .... .\-.-. --- .- ... --- ..- ..- .- -..
.-. . --. .- .-. -..

[peterbo3]

Kerry & Brian,
For those amongst who are of poor sight or just not Morse
literate, how about a translation ??? ??? [smiley=dunce.gif] [smiley=dunce.gif] [smiley=book2.gif] [smiley=book2.gif] [smiley=helpa.gif] [smiley=helpa.gif] [smiley=jester.gif] [smiley=jester.gif] [smiley=jester.gif]