Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 16:28:17 -0800
From: Rob Gendreau 
Subject: [Paddlewise] VHF radio question

I'm once again considering a radio...I've brought my cellphone on 
paddles, and frankly in an emergency it wouldn't be as good as a radio. I 
tend to be kinda safety conscious I guess.

Anyway, I like the Standard HX150 (I think that's the model). 
Push-buttons, about $180 at West Marine, uses akaline or nicads, 1/5 
watts, 3 year waterproof warranty.

So...can I use this radio in Canada and/or Mexico? (I live in the 
states.) Do I need a license to use a marine radio there?

Thanks for the info.

Rob Gendreau
Oakland, California



Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 17:54:14 -0800
From: Dan Hagen 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] VHF radio question

Rob Gendreau wrote:
> 
> I'm once again considering a radio...I've brought my cellphone on
> paddles, and frankly in an emergency it wouldn't be as good as a radio. I
> tend to be kinda safety conscious I guess.
> 
> Anyway, I like the Standard HX150 (I think that's the model).
> Push-buttons, about $180 at West Marine, uses akaline or nicads, 1/5
> watts, 3 year waterproof warranty.

Since you are safety conscious I would recommend that you consider
spending about another $100 and buy the Standard HX350, which is
"submersible", includes a high-capacity (1100mAh) battery pack, and an
alkaline battery tray. I realize that the HX150 comes with a waterproof
warranty, but that won't do you much good if it fails in an emergency.
According to Standard, the HX350 is more waterproof than the HX150.  I
would also recommend that you carry your cell phone (in a waterproof
bag) as a back-up. BTW, check prices on the Web before you buy. West
Marine has a price-matching policy. The last time I bought something
there this policy applied to Web retailers as well--bring in a printout
of the Web page. I saved about $80 on a VHF and about $30 on my last GPS
purchase at West Marine by making use of this policy. (Hopefully it is
still in effect.)

> So...can I use this radio in Canada and/or Mexico? 

Yes.

> Do I need a license to use a marine radio there?

Yes. To operate legally in Canada and Mexico you need a license and a
Restricted Operator Permit. These are easy to obtain (in the U.S.).  You
do not need to take a test.  Information can be found at:

http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/aviation&marine/fctsht14.html

Dan Hagen
Bellingham, Washington



Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 18:44:04 -0800
From: Dave Kruger
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] VHF radio question

Rob Gendreau wrote:
> 
> I'm once again considering a radio. [snip]
> Anyway, I like the Standard HX150 (I think that's the model).
> Push-buttons, about $180 at West Marine, uses akaline or nicads, 1/5
> watts, 3 year waterproof warranty.
> 
> So...can I use this radio in Canada and/or Mexico? (I live in the
> states.) Do I need a license to use a marine radio there?

Yes, and yes.  You will need a "Ship/Aircraft Radio Station License," which
was good for 10 years when I got mine, and a "Restricted Radiotelephone
Operator Permit," which is good indefinitely, I believe.  If you contact
the appropriate FCC office for the region of the US in which you live, they
should be able to send you a packet of info which will detail the whole
process for you.  Or, use the info below.

The only caveat is that the legal channels for international use differ
slightly from those for the US.  That information should have come with
your radio (did with mine, anyway -- it has an INT selection of channels
and a USA selection).
Here is the poop off: 
http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/marcomms/othrcoms/fcc.htm  :

> Radio License for Boaters
> 
> The Telecommunications Act of 1996 permits recreational boaters to have
> and use a VHF marine radio,
> EPIRB, and marine radar without having an FCC ship station license.
> Boaters traveling on international
> voyages, having an HF single sideband radiotelephone or marine satellite
> terminal, or required to carry a
> marine radio under any other regulation must still carry an FCC ship
> station license. For further
> information, see the FCC Ship Radio Stations Fact Sheet. 
> 
> FCC Ship Station License
> 
> Those not exempted by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 must still have
> an FCC ship station license.
> A ship station license application is made on FCC Form 506, available
> from local FCC Field Offices, by
> writing to the FCC, P.O. Box 1050, Gettysburg PA 17326, or by calling the
> FCC Forms Distribution
> Center at (202)418-3676 or the toll-free number (800) 418-FORM. Forms
> can also be obtained from most
> marine electronics dealers. You can call the FCC in Gettysburg, obtain
> information about marine radio
> licensing, radio interference, and other matters, at 1 800 322-1117. FCC
> Gettysburg's working hours are 8 AM to 4:30 PM. 
> 
> When preparing FCC Form 506 ship radio station license, enter Fee Type
> Code PASR (blk 7). 
> 
> Radios can be used immediately upon license application. The license is
> not transferable if a boat is sold
> or if the installed radio equipment is moved from one boat to another. 
> 
> FCC License Fee
> 
> Effective 18 September 1995, the FCC fee for renewing or applying for a
> new ship station license is $75.
> Licenses will be valid for ten years. 
> 
> Licensing VHF Handhelds
> 
> If you wish to purchase a portable radio for use on more than one boat,
> only one license is necessary.
> When completing an FCC Application for Ship Station License (form 506),
> check "Portable" in block 10, "Type of License". 
> 
> FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permits
> 
> The FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit is required for
> boaters having an HF radiotelephone,
> for boaters having a VHF transceiver and traveling in foreign waters, or
> where fitting of a marine radio is
> required by law (e.g. on boats 20m long or larger). There is a fee for
> this lifetime permit, but no tests are
> required in applying for this license. An application is made on FCC
> Form 753, available from local FCC
> Field Offices or by writing to the FCC, P.O. Box 1050, Gettysburg PA 17326. 

- -- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR



Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 22:18:15 -0800
From: Rob Nevitt
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] [buzz] VHF radio question

Not quite correct.  If your boat is not *required* to carry a VHF radio,
you don't need a station or operators license.  There are specific
channels designated for "recreational boat operations".  They are 68,
69, 71, 72, & 78.

Paul Hutchinson wrote:

> For marine use in general, a station license is required in the U.S.
> but an operators license is not.  I have heard that there are
> specific frequencies that can be used without the operators license
> and certain frequencies that require an operators license.
> Does anyone know what these frequencies are and/or if this is true?

- -- 
Rob Nevitt
122d42'27"W 38d26'58"N (Santa Rosa, CA)
ils.bytebeam.com