[conan]

I was looking at another post and was reading about random checks by the RCMP where a fisherman was asked to produce his vhf radio licence, is this required?

Five more sleeps till Port Hardy

Conan (Edm)

(Any recent reports from Port Hardy?) eace:

 

[abbyfireguy]

Vhf is Vhf ,doesn't matter if it is portable or not...
They don't check too often but can write a ticket and be rather cranky when they find an unlicensed operator...
After spending years listening to untrained people on the VHF radio who have no idea how to properly send a message or even what their location is, I tend to side with getting some training ...
Makes using the equipment much better and you will get the benefit if crap actually strikes and you need help in a hurry...
Courses are not expensive and you learn a fair bit...

 

[woody]

Can anyone tell me where to go to get my vhf licence?

 

[kisinana]

I do not know your location, but we include it in our local Power Squadron courses. (Powell River)
Check in your area for courses. Takes about 4 hours.

 

[abbyfireguy]

Valley Power Squadron...
Check the link below and call any of the listed instructors. They will be able to tell you when the next available course is..You may have to go to one of the other squadrons(Langley Maple Ridge,etc..)

http://www3.telus.net/valleysquadron/CPS/courses radio.htm

 

[fishmeister]

check out this site http://boating.ncf.ca/vhf.html#license. It appears that a license is not required for recreational use

 

[bigjay]

I really like the second line of that site:
PLEASE GO TO GOVERNMENT SITES FOR ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT REGULATIONS AND LAWS.
Have fun, Jason

 

[MichaelR]

A station license isn’t needed for recreational use yet an operator’s card is. As said above, you can get one through your local power and sail squadron (in fact, the only organization you can get it from) and it’s good for life.

Point: if you have a piloting VHF license it doesn’t cover marine use: you have to get a marine use operator’s card.

The test isn’t that hard. It’s more learning procedure in handling the normal use of VHF and the three main levels of distress calls. Mayday, Pan-Pan, and Security.

The update to the course, this year, is in MMSI and digital distress calls. Once you’re registered with a MMSI number and have a VHF capable of sending a digital distress call on channel 70 and have your VHF slaved to your GPS the Coast Guard will respond faster.

Also, channel 83 Alpha is now the preferred inter-operational Coast Guard Radio channel for things like radio checks and hazards. Channel 16 is still the inter-ship hailing and distress but in a few years it’s going the way of the dodo as it’s replaced by digital.

MichaelR

 

[Dogbreath]

The update to the course, this year, is in MMSI and digital distress calls. Once you’re registered with a MMSI number and have a VHF capable of sending a digital distress call on channel 70 and have your VHF slaved to your GPS the Coast Guard will respond faster.

Also, channel 83 Alpha is now the preferred inter-operational Coast Guard Radio channel for things like radio checks and hazards. Channel 16 is still the inter-ship hailing and distress but in a few years it’s going the way of the dodo as it’s replaced by digital.

MichaelR

Thanks for that Michael, I have the maritime operator's card but didn't know about the updates.