" wrote in news:d042ef11-fdaa-43d3-
:

On May 24, 3:59 pm, Larry wrote:
...
The keyword here is RADIOTELEPHONE....the voice part of your SSB
anywhere...and your VHF offshore. That keyword should now say ONLY
Radiotelephone, because that's what it covers....ONLY Radiotelephone.
...

Well, I've got a station license and a RRO and a MRO. I didn't take
any DSC elements for the MRO (none were offered). I don't have a DSC
radio but would it be illegal for me to use one? Also, sailmail (tm)
has always asserted that a station license and a RRO are all you need
to operate HF PACTOR in international or US waters. Are they wrong?

-- Tom.


The FCC doesn't give a **** what CG license, if any, you hold. That is
NOT an FCC license, which is required to operate FCC-jurisdiction
equipment, except for the VHF FM inside the USA, license free.

If you operate DSC or any part of the GMDSS system, you are required to
stand for testing at the FCC contractors' testing facilities.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/
to get your GMDSS Operator's license, probably (DM) because you'll be
more than 20 miles offshore, a stupid, but typically government,
requirement. Your RO license satisfies the CG, but not the FCC
requirement.

GMDSS Operator (DM) requires passing elements 1,3 and 9. This only lets
you OPERATE and do limited maintenance on it. If you test out for
element 7, you'll be also a GMDSS MAINTAINER, licensed to repair and
install. Add element 8 test to work on the ship's radar transmitter.

You are licensed, now, to be the radio officer on a containership that
only has VHF-FM and never leaves US waters....(c;

I know....it's stupid....I agree.

The only license you must have RO seatime and quals for is the TELEGRAPH
license so you can operate the Morse station the ship hasn't had for 30
years.