FCC "red tape"
- Thread starter Chica
- Start date
Dusty is right. The best Yellowtail fishing down here (for us midrange guys) is Los Coronados. We also have to put up with the Mexican law that states "one Mexican fishing license per person" if there's even a fishing hook aboard. An FCC license is also necessary. $200 ain't so bad. Two fuel fillups....
I filled my form out on line and submitted it there. If I can find the site again I'll add it to this message.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ Go there first. I think you have to register for an FRS first, but then go back and apply for the license.
Mine is for a Ship Recreational or Voluntarily Equipped (SA).
You can even pay online. Ain't .gov getting fancy? :sad
Don
I filled my form out on line and submitted it there. If I can find the site again I'll add it to this message.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ Go there first. I think you have to register for an FRS first, but then go back and apply for the license.
Mine is for a Ship Recreational or Voluntarily Equipped (SA).
You can even pay online. Ain't .gov getting fancy? :sad
Don
Not that I doubt you, but why would one need a license from the US FCC to operate a VHF and radar in Canada? I'm commencing to think a lot of this stuff is nuts. Do you know that according to the literature that came with our portapotty, they are not legal in Ontario. What would they have us do?
Captains Cat
New member
It's not legal to spit in some places either. Not sure why you'd be surprised at something like this! :roll: As for the portapotty, that would explain why lots of folks in Ontario are pretty cranky.
Like I heard once, the most ferocious :x animal in the world was the Hipmoflus, had a head on each end. When someone said "Why the poor thing can't even go to the bathroom :shock: " The response was, "That's why it's so ferocious!!" :smilep
Charlie
Like I heard once, the most ferocious :x animal in the world was the Hipmoflus, had a head on each end. When someone said "Why the poor thing can't even go to the bathroom :shock: " The response was, "That's why it's so ferocious!!" :smilep
Charlie
MOOSE":1hx75zfi said:
You need a license that is recognized internationally to operate in international waters other than your own.
For decades, ALL VHF radios and radars used to require licenses to operate here in the US. Meaning even us rec boaters. That law was changed and now only foreign vessels must have a license to operate their radios when in US waters. For them, the US accepts an international license. Mexico (and Canada) also require an internationally recognized license if you want to legally operate in their waters. Since a US license is an internationally recognized license, and you are (I assume) a US citizen, you are allowed to operate in Mexican and Canadian waters using your license.
Canadians may be pretty lenient but Mexico can confiscate your boat if they decide to be anal about it. Same with not having Mexican fishing licenses, and horror stories do exist.
Come to think of it, MN residents are pretty close to being Canadians anyway, eh?
Don
Mr. Moose -
Agree totally with your philosophy. BUT, depends on the agent involved. I once had an 85' Burger impounded -- one of the charges (a minor one, true) was that I did not have a license to operate the radar which was operating when I was boarded. A very sticky wicket. That guy has probably already gone to agent heaven (with my blessing) but his son may be around. :smile
I still recommend to just do it. Canada also requires a radar reflector -- I don't have one yet, but will. Shux, they even took my halibut gun away from me and I thought it was legal. It wasn't. 1/2 inch too short. Me too...
Dusty (a.k.a. Coward)
Agree totally with your philosophy. BUT, depends on the agent involved. I once had an 85' Burger impounded -- one of the charges (a minor one, true) was that I did not have a license to operate the radar which was operating when I was boarded. A very sticky wicket. That guy has probably already gone to agent heaven (with my blessing) but his son may be around. :smile
I still recommend to just do it. Canada also requires a radar reflector -- I don't have one yet, but will. Shux, they even took my halibut gun away from me and I thought it was legal. It wasn't. 1/2 inch too short. Me too...
Dusty (a.k.a. Coward)
Call me a scofflaw, but until I get officially reprimanded, I'll use the $200 to buy gas.
Also, on the subject of required equipment, the Canada Shipping Act does not require that vessels which are ordinarily kept in another country (i.e. - the US) comply with all of their requirements so long as they are in compliance with the regulations in the state in which they are registered. I confirmed this a couple of years ago after a friend was strong-armed by the Ontario Provincial Police for not having a boarding ladder on his open 18' fishing boat.
But while on the subject, is there a quick and dirty way of increasing one's radar reflection? I seem to recall a thread on the old CDog site about someone glueing aluminum foil to their radome. We're heading to fog-bound Lake Superior in a week and the thought recently crossed my mind.
Also, on the subject of required equipment, the Canada Shipping Act does not require that vessels which are ordinarily kept in another country (i.e. - the US) comply with all of their requirements so long as they are in compliance with the regulations in the state in which they are registered. I confirmed this a couple of years ago after a friend was strong-armed by the Ontario Provincial Police for not having a boarding ladder on his open 18' fishing boat.
But while on the subject, is there a quick and dirty way of increasing one's radar reflection? I seem to recall a thread on the old CDog site about someone glueing aluminum foil to their radome. We're heading to fog-bound Lake Superior in a week and the thought recently crossed my mind.
MOOSE":1riivzhp said:
You don't want to cover your radome with foil as that will limit the utility of the radar (foil reflects in both directions). Also, just coating a surface with foil is not near as reflective as using the typical radar reflectors that are made from intersecting three circular pieces
like this one. The reason is that only the part of the foil that is perpendicular to the source of the radar does you any good - e.g. the reflection from your boat has to go back to the source to be useful. The reflectors like the one I provided the link to are special in that they are so called - "corner cube" reflectors in all dimensions. A corner cube (think of the inside corner of a cube) is special in that light (or radar) that goes into it is reflected back in the direction of the source regardless of the relative orientation of the corner to the source. You can easily construct your own by intersecting 3 pieces of any relective material at right angles similar to the model in the link. It's important to have fairly precise right angles but flatness of the reflector is not so critical (it only need be flat relative to the wavelength of the radar which is typically a few cm). Hence, you could construct the reflector out of any durable material and cover it with foil.
That being said, the reflector I provided a link to is durable and cost $70 at West Marine with the hanging hardware. My guess is that one can be found on line for less $'s with a little searching and that it is easier to buy than to make.
Roger on the SeaDNA
Captains Cat
New member
C'mon, get real. Why not just take it off? The whole radome I mean... the foil will incapacitate the radar.
Have not researched the costs but $200 seems excessive for this "permissive" act. Is that really right?
Charlie
'Tis True, Charlie. 
http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html will give you all the details except fees. Those are saved for the last step as you plod through your license forms online.
Don on the Jenny B, license WDB9549
P.S. That license is JUST for the boat license. To be fully legal, I think you need a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator license too. Add $55....
http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html will give you all the details except fees. Those are saved for the last step as you plod through your license forms online.
Don on the Jenny B, license WDB9549
P.S. That license is JUST for the boat license. To be fully legal, I think you need a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator license too. Add $55....
What I recall was that someone had glued foil to the top of their radome, obviously not all over it. Hmmm, I wonder if one could toast bagels? But I understand what you are saying, Roger, about multi-plane reflectivity.
And again, on our home waters, there are thousands of trips a year by US Citizens with VHFs crossing the border and I have yet to hear of this as an issue. I'm sure that it might be elsewhere, and, given how things are going, it would not surprise me if someday it might be. Until then, I'll play the odds.
And again, on our home waters, there are thousands of trips a year by US Citizens with VHFs crossing the border and I have yet to hear of this as an issue. I'm sure that it might be elsewhere, and, given how things are going, it would not surprise me if someday it might be. Until then, I'll play the odds.
I used Jenny B's link to the FCC and got my forms filled out on line. Thanks to a very helpful lady at the FCC the procedure was almost painless. Licenses will arrive in two weeks by mail. Many thanks to you Jenny B for the link. Ignorance is bliss, I apparently have been illegal for twelve years.
Chica
Chica
Canadian water starts about a mile north of us. We use the Canadian CanPass to legally enter Canada without checking in and, in fact, were just spot-checked by authorities last week and everything was in order.
US officials in our area have recently made a big deal over the need for returning US citizens to have in their possession an I-68 permit. I used to get these some years ago until one time when the agent couldn't readily find the forms in his desk drawer and mumbled something about not really needing one in the first place. Upon questioning him, he said the I-68 permit is an Immigration form and that Immigration Laws do not apply to US citizens (i.e.- we are not immigrants). As soon as it is determined you are a US citizen, they can do nothing to you under Immigration law. I haven't gotten one of their permits since, nor do I intend to despite their recent threats of dire consequences. We have, however, started carrying our passports with us.
Customs law, I believe, is a different matter and here I might have my butt hanging out a bit. But then again, we don't often make landfall when in Canadian waters (although I don't really know if that matters) and if we were to, US Customs would have a hard time proving it upon our return.
I guess what it boils down to, is every geographic area is probably a bit different. I read the requirements about the need for licensing a VHF when cruising in foreign waters, but that only applies if one calls at a foreign port or talks with a foreign station. There are no foreign ports on the Canadian side of our lake and I almost never talk to anyone on the VHF anyway, so I guess I don't need a license. Those of you cruising from Washington State to Vancouver or Victoria might well be advised to have one. Especially if you're piloting and 85-footer!
US officials in our area have recently made a big deal over the need for returning US citizens to have in their possession an I-68 permit. I used to get these some years ago until one time when the agent couldn't readily find the forms in his desk drawer and mumbled something about not really needing one in the first place. Upon questioning him, he said the I-68 permit is an Immigration form and that Immigration Laws do not apply to US citizens (i.e.- we are not immigrants). As soon as it is determined you are a US citizen, they can do nothing to you under Immigration law. I haven't gotten one of their permits since, nor do I intend to despite their recent threats of dire consequences. We have, however, started carrying our passports with us.
Customs law, I believe, is a different matter and here I might have my butt hanging out a bit. But then again, we don't often make landfall when in Canadian waters (although I don't really know if that matters) and if we were to, US Customs would have a hard time proving it upon our return.
I guess what it boils down to, is every geographic area is probably a bit different. I read the requirements about the need for licensing a VHF when cruising in foreign waters, but that only applies if one calls at a foreign port or talks with a foreign station. There are no foreign ports on the Canadian side of our lake and I almost never talk to anyone on the VHF anyway, so I guess I don't need a license. Those of you cruising from Washington State to Vancouver or Victoria might well be advised to have one. Especially if you're piloting and 85-footer!
Good points all - and looks like you are safe-safe. Different story here of course. This is a major area of drug/people entry -- both CA and US folks KNOW where you are and where you've been and keep running tracks on everything that moves. One of my favorite halibut holes is 1/2 CA 1/2 US. Got boarded by CA - I told him I was staying in US waters. He checked his big fancy machine -- "not always, eh."
I've butted heads with them a few times before - worked in CA for quite a while and lived at Pt. Roberts... they always seem to win. :roll:
Dusty (the coward)
I've butted heads with them a few times before - worked in CA for quite a while and lived at Pt. Roberts... they always seem to win. :roll:
Dusty (the coward)
Chuck S
Here is a link that will answer your questions about the upper left coast Customs requirements.
http://www.waggonerguide.com/
Here is a link that will answer your questions about the upper left coast Customs requirements.
http://www.waggonerguide.com/
You're absolutely right, Dusty; they do always seem to win. And I've also noticed that it's much easier to talk tough when you're not staring down the barrel of a riot shotgun! LOL Some of that stuff in the link to Customs requirements in the NW made me cringe; I hope they never get that tough here. This may be one benefit of living in the boondocks. To paraphrase Mark Twain, when the world comes to an end, I want to be in International Falls because we're always twenty years behind the times!