MMSI

ORCA · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:04 am Post subject:

Hi Bob

I don't carry the DSC for safety ! In the NWT I can't count on being rescued over VHF anyway....
It's just that if I have it on board, I want it to function...
Its more a nice thing to communicate with the barges up there,
they do carry DSC...

I am not afraid of getting lost in the woods, I spend a good part of my last 20 years in the woods,
its like a city for me, and to be honest I am more afraid in the city... Embarassed

I do carry a sat-phone, but just for communication with my cousin... Phone

I don't want to get other people in danger to get me out of a situation I get my self in... Exclamation

If I get lost, than it is my responsibility to find out by my self !!!

I am very good in not getting lost, there fore i wont get lost...

Well, never say never but as i say the wood's are my second home... Very Happy

Be prepared and most likely nothing will happen out there, use common sense,
if not, well no DSC, Sat Phone or EPIRB will help you anyway... Shocked

regards Chris

thataway · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:26 am Post subject:

Thanks, Chris,

Do you do a "poll all" to see what barge it is and contact? I don't think our tugs on the Gulf Coast are using DSC. How much barge traffic is there on the river and how far up does it go?

I understand your position on EPRIB's. I have also spent a part of my life in remote areas--both the sea and mountains long before any electronics. But there is another side of the coin. That is if you do have an injury or serious medical problem, the rescue will be much easier if you have a GPS enabled EPRIB. For example the two rescues in Oregon last month: Those which did not have an EPRIB parished and a lot of rescue effort and risk was spent in the search. Those who had a beacon saved the searchers a lot of grief, un-necessary work in the search with a precise location.

I suspose we can always say--what we get into we don't expect others to get us out of...and I respect that. Unfortunately there are those "at home" who often trigger the alarm.

There is also the point to encourage those who do travel into remote areas to consider what type of search might be necessary if things go wrong?

Regards,

Bob Austin

tsturm · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:32 am Post subject:

tsturm · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:35 am Post subject:

Larry H · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:23 am Post subject:

tstrum,

Welcome to the pub! Good to see another Alaskan here.

It is true that rec vessels don't need a license to use a VHF in US waters.

Chris is going on an expedition into Northern Canada, so his need for a VHF license or a MMSI number is not the same as domestic boaters.

For use of the DSC function on the newer VHF radios, a MMSI number is required to activate the DSC function.

A MMSI number is available thru BOAT US for free. The US FCC VHF license also provides a MMSI number, and that license costs $2-300 for a 10 year license. The FCC requires US boats going to a foreign country or communicating with a foreign station to have a license.

If you don't go foreign, you don't need a US FCC license, and the free BOAT US MMSI number is all that is needed to activate the DSC portion of the radio.

Larry H

tom&shan · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 316 Photos: Dakota

Sneaks · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:20 am Post subject:

tsturm · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:22 am Post subject:

Dora~Jean · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:51 pm Post subject:

I'm planning to launch out of PR, then a half day to get into AK waters for 2 weeks, then back into Canadian waters to my trailer. I'll have to check into customs at PR, probably by VHF. So now I need a $200 FCC license and a $150 Restricted Radio Station VHF license as well -- or are these really one and the same license for recreational boaters? Thanks.

Grumpy · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:18 pm Post subject:

Here is a link to a coast Guard pdf file which clearly lays out the rules

www.uscg.mil/d1/staff/oan/navinfo/documents/C-Communications.PDF - 2004-10-26

If it doesn't show as a link then do a "cut and paste"

(I see on review that the link is not complete, you need all of it)

Merv

Larry H · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject:

Steve,

The last time I was in Prince Rupert, you could NOT check into Canada Customs by radio.

The procedure was to call by phone from the dock upon arrival.

No one in Canada has ever asked to see my radio license.

It's not Canada who requires a VHF license, it's the US FCC.

Larry H

ORCA · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:16 pm Post subject:

Hi Larry

sorry, but you are wrong, Canada does requires a VHF license ! Shocked

Larry H · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:26 pm Post subject:

Chris,

Could you let me know where you found that information? Is it from a Canadian source?

Larry H

Doryman · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:26 pm Post subject:

So, here is a question for you Brats who have gone up the Inside Passage to Akaska. Did you get anything more than the Boat US license? Any problems?

Warren

Larry H · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject:

Chris,
Thanks for the update.

In this everchanging world of government regulations it's hard to keep up!

Summary of what I think I know:

Canadian boats operating Canada:
No station license required for VHF.
A Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Certificate (Canadian) IS required. (For Canadians)

US boats operating in US waters:
No station license required.
No operators license required.

US or Canadian boats operating in the other country:
A station license from the country of registration IS required.
A Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Permit (For US citizens) IS required, or a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Certificate (for Canadians) IS required.

For boats from either country, the licenses are issued by the country where the boat is registered.

Note that there are two licenses: One is the Station License which applies to the boat, and one is the Operator's license which applies to the person operating the radio.

In Canada, to get the operators license a test is required.

In the US, the operators permit is issued without a test, and is valid for life.

If you get a US radio station license from the FCC, a MMSI number will be issued with the license.

If you don't need or get an FCC radio station license, you can get a free MMSI number from BOAT US.

This is what I think I know, your results may vary!! Crook

Larry H