Garth Almgren wrote in news:5mp15eFeendpU1
@mid.individual.net:

Some goombah cuts in on 16 immediately and snarks, "Asshole! Nobody
has call letters any more."

I hear commercial boats using call letters fairly frequently.


Oh, they're still around all right; just last month I ponied up for a
shiny new SA license and call letters from the FCC.




If you go outside the territorial waters of the USA, assuming of course
you are in the USA, you MUST get a "Ship Station License" (SA) from the
FCC to use even the most miniscule VHF walkie talkie, or be in violation
of international law (ITU).

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/ind...=ship_stations

If you operate ANY marine HF/SSB equipment, anywhere, you MUST be in
possession of a Ship Station License (SA), no matter where you are.

Your Ship License should also be issued a REAL MMSI for your VHF and HF
DSC equipment, not the bogus Boat/US block, which means nothing outside
the US.

You need not use your Ship License callsign on VHF inside US
waters....but you better well properly ID your station on HF, anywhere,
or on VHF outside the US.

You are required to have in your possession a Restricted Radiotelephone
Operator's Permit, licensing YOU, personally, to operate the licensed
radio station, last time I checked, too. My first RROP had its own
"callsign" of sorts, 20J0121, which was exactly like the old CB callsigns
back around 1957 when I got mine...(c;
http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/rp.html

Of additional interest, and requirement if you have GMDSS transmit
capabilities, you are also required to have one of the GMDSS operator's
licenses!
http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/rg.html
If you go no further than 20 miles offshore and have ONLY VHF GMDSS
aboard, you only need this restricted operator permit by taking test
elements 1 and 7R at any FCC office or approved testing facility.
If you go further than 20 miles offshore, as many of us do, you must have
a full GMDSS Operator's License, test elements 1 and 7 to operate GMDSS
offshore.

Now, take a look at:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/wncol.html
which tells you who needs an OPERATOR's license for WHAT......
It says:

"You need a commercial radio operator license to operate the following:

Ship radio stations if:

the vessel carries more than six passengers for hire; or
the radio operates on medium or high frequencies; or
the ship sails to foreign ports; or
the ship is larger than 300 gross tons and is required to carry a radio
station for safety purposes."

Notice the keyword "or" in this statement.....There is NO EXCEPTION or
EXEMPTION for "voluntary" ship stations (SA classification), like your
yacht. The ONLY time you don't need an OPERATOR's license is if you are
on VHF Marine in US waters.

I've argued this with many. VHF DSC is part of the GMDSS system. IF you
operate DSC on Channel 70 in a non-emergency, non-life-threatening
situation, according to these rules, you MUST get at LEAST a Restricted
GMDSS Operator's License, if not the full GMDSS Operator's License. This
means standing for testing of Elements 1 and 7R at an FCC test facility!

Are these new VHF DSC radios with some DSC capability other than calling
for help being operated legally w/o the licenses? So far, I've gotten no
answer.... FCC's website says you must have a full GMDSS Operator's
License to use it OUTSIDE THE USA.

As usual, FCC/ITU rules are a hodge-podge of conflicting statements you
need a government law firm to translate into English.


Larry W4CSC
NOT operating DSC on
S/V Lionheart WDB-6254