Are "Call Signs" ever used in VHF communications to/from/between boats? I
know they are part of the FCC radio license - but is they just a "leftover"
from land based radio stations?

Just curious...

To have a call sign you have to have a license. No one gets operator or
station licenses for the VHF.


"claus" wrote in message
. ..
Are "Call Signs" ever used in VHF communications to/from/between boats? I
know they are part of the FCC radio license - but is they just a
"leftover" from land based radio stations?

Just curious...

In the U.S., the FCC issues Operator and Station licenses to recreational
boaters, who intend to operate a VHF radio outside the US., e.g. in Canadian
waters.


"Thomas Flores" wrote in message
...
To have a call sign you have to have a license. No one gets operator or
station licenses for the VHF.


"claus" wrote in message
. ..
Are "Call Signs" ever used in VHF communications to/from/between boats? I
know they are part of the FCC radio license - but is they just a
"leftover" from land based radio stations?

Just curious...

"claus" wrote in
:

Are "Call Signs" ever used in VHF communications to/from/between
boats? I know they are part of the FCC radio license - but is they
just a "leftover" from land based radio stations?

Just curious...



They are in all foreign ports, and are required. Inside the USA, FCC has
been forgotten with the "unlicensed class" on VHF.....

Callsigns must always be used in international waters and foreign ports of
call.

DE WDB6254, S/V "Lionheart".

damned thing sounds like a CB call of old....

Larry W4CSC
Ahh...that's better.

wrote in :

The most frequent one lately is "Channel 16 is for distress calls
only, Coast Guard Sector Long Island, OUT!"



If you want to find out how far this lack of station license usage as gone,
just call your local USCG radio operator using his call instead of "Coast
Guard Base, Charleston"!

If you call them by their callsign with your callsign, you probably won't
even get an answer....(c;

"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:05:41 -0700, "claus" said:

Are "Call Signs" ever used in VHF communications to/from/between boats? I
know they are part of the FCC radio license - but is they just a
"leftover"
from land based radio stations?

Back in the dark ages when VHF recreational users had to get a license,
the
rule (only sporadically observed) was that on initiating transmission you
were to give the name of the vessel followed by its call sign. (I'll
probably never forget "this is "Queequeg" whiskey Romeo Zulu 2187").
Current
recommendation I believe is that you do the same, using your registration
or
documentation number to identify the vessel.

In practice, at least on LIS, one is lucky if the first transmission he
hears isn't something like "Hey Joe, you out here?"

huh? ("this is "Queequeg" whiskey Romeo Zulu 2187").
In the phonetic alphabet... Quebec stands for 'Q'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet

In article ,
Dave wrote:

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:27:57 -0400, said:

In practice, at least on LIS, one is lucky if the first transmission he
hears isn't something like "Hey Joe, you out here?"

The most frequent one lately is "Channel 16 is for distress calls
only, Coast Guard Sector Long Island, OUT!"

That comes right after the "Hey Joe, you out here?" on 16.

and the above USCG Transmission does NOT follow the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regulations, which the USA is Signatory
to. What that Coastie, was supposed to say is "Channel 16 is for Calling
and Distress Communications only, Please move your traffic to a working
Frequency, Coast Guard Sector Long Island, OUT!"

Since the USCG is now the only Enforcement Agency listening on Maritime
Mobile Frequencies, these days, and they put their least experienced
trainees on the Mic, I really don't expect anything better.

If your vessel doesn't make International Voyages, (Stays inside US
Waters, ALWAYS) AND you are a non-commercial vessel, AND you only have a
VHF Radio, and or Radar, and or Epirb fitted, then you are covered
under a National Blanket License under CFR 47Part80, and your Official
Radio Callsign would be WUS and your Documentation Number or State
Registration Number. For all practical purposes, you would mostly just
use the Name of your vessel, and leave it at that. However, should
you be asked by an FCC Field Agent, or a USCG Person you would reply
with the above information, that would identify your vessel, absolutely.
If you do NOT meet the above requirements, then you are REQUIRED to
apply for, receive, and POST, a valid FCC Marine Radio Station License,
as well as a valid FCC Operators License of the REQUIRED class for your
vessel, and it's operation. Operators Licenses can be one of the
following, depending on the vessel and it voyages:
Restricted Radiotelephone Permit
Marine Radio Operators Permit
General Radio Telephone Operator License
GMDSS Radio Operator License
GMDSS Radio Maintainer License

--
Bruce in alaska
add path after fast to reply

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:05:13 +0000, Larry wrote:

"claus" wrote in
:

Are "Call Signs" ever used in VHF communications to/from/between
boats? I know they are part of the FCC radio license - but is they
just a "leftover" from land based radio stations?

Just curious...



They are in all foreign ports, and are required. Inside the USA, FCC has
been forgotten with the "unlicensed class" on VHF.....

Callsigns must always be used in international waters and foreign ports of
call.

DE WDB6254, S/V "Lionheart".

damned thing sounds like a CB call of old....

Larry W4CSC
Ahh...that's better.

In parts of Indonesia, they using various whistling tones to call
someone. Nothing said until the conversation starts.

Peter

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:05:41 -0700, "claus"
wrote:

Are "Call Signs" ever used in VHF communications to/from/between boats? I
know they are part of the FCC radio license - but is they just a "leftover"
from land based radio stations?

Just curious...


Probably not "amateurs" but commercial shipping still use call signs,
particularly when calling shore stations.

In Singapore if you call the Marine Traffic Control station they
immediately ask for your vessel name and call sign, however, yesterday
I heard a cargo vessel calling Phuket Port for docking information and
he used only his vessel name


Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct Address is bpaige125atgmaildotcom)

On Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:31:41 +1000, Herodotus
wrote:

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:05:13 +0000, Larry wrote:

"claus" wrote in
m:

Are "Call Signs" ever used in VHF communications to/from/between
boats? I know they are part of the FCC radio license - but is they
just a "leftover" from land based radio stations?

Just curious...



They are in all foreign ports, and are required. Inside the USA, FCC has
been forgotten with the "unlicensed class" on VHF.....

Callsigns must always be used in international waters and foreign ports of
call.

DE WDB6254, S/V "Lionheart".

damned thing sounds like a CB call of old....

Larry W4CSC
Ahh...that's better.

In parts of Indonesia, they using various whistling tones to call
someone. Nothing said until the conversation starts.

Peter

They also jabber on channel 16 a lot. Same same Malaysia. Came through
Malacca Harbour one night and have never heard so much talk. Even some
young lady that appeared to be advertising herself, albeit in vague
terms, Made me wonder what one could have done if there was an
emergency.

P.S. my spelling checker says "harbour" is a misspelled word :-)


Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct Address is bpaige125atgmaildotcom)