Bruce in alaska wrote in
:

In article ,
Larry wrote:

You wrote in news:you-8011E0.09563815042009
@netnews.worldnet.att.net:

The
Operator of a GMDSS Radio is REQUIRED to be Licensed as a GMDSS
Operator......


Boy, that's a hot-button topic.....but true. But, just having a DSC-
equipped, they told me was NOT a GMDSS-equipped ship.

Here's a little-known, but very important part of Part 80 of the FCC
Rules I bet everyone is guilty of violating.....

"§ 80.310 Watch required by voluntary
vessels.
Voluntary vessels not equipped with
DSC must maintain a watch on 2182
kHz and on 156.800 MHz (Channel 16)
whenever the vessel is underway and
the radio is not being used to communicate.
Noncommercial vessels, such as
recreational boats, may alternatively
maintain a watch on 156.450 MHz
(Channel 9) in lieu of VHF Channel 16
for call and reply purposes. Voluntary
vessels equipped with VHF-DSC equipment
must maintain a watch on 2182
kHz and on either 156.525 MHz (Channel
70) or VHF Channel 16 aurally whenever
the vessel is underway and the
radio is not being used to communicate.
Voluntary vessels equipped
with MF-HF DSC equipment must have
the radio turned on and set to an appropriate
DSC distress calling channel
or one of the radiotelephone distress
channels whenever the vessel is underway
and the radio is not being used to
communicate. Voluntary vessels
equipped with Inmarsat A, B, C, M or
Fleet F77 systems must have the unit
turned on and set to receive calls
whenever the vessel is underway and
the radio is not being used to communicate.
[73 FR 4485, Jan. 25, 2008]
VerDate Aug"

When was the last time you guys left your unused SSB radios tuned to
2182Khz and RUNNING with all that damned 2Mhz static when you were
not using it? According to the rules, the HF radio must NEVER be
turned off while underway, but must be left on 2182Khz or a
DSC-Distress channel.

Larry is correct here, in that just because you have a DSC Equipped
Radio does NOT mean you are running, OR, complying with GMDSS, and
have to Maintain GMDSS Watches, or Operator Licensing. Another thing
that needs to be pointed out is, that you MUST have a Vessel Station
License, IF your vessel has an MF/HF Marine Radio Fitted, and you need
to have a Valid Operators Permit for you type of Station License. The
2182 Khz Watch Requirement would only apply IF you have an MF/HF Radio
Fitted. Also be aware that IF your vessel is over 20 Meters in length
(65 ft) that you are REQUIRED to comply with the Bridge to Bridge
Radiotelephone Act, that REQUIRES that you either have, Two
Operational Vhf Radios, one of which is maintaining a Radio Watch on
VHF Channel 13, or a Type Accepted Vhf Radio that complies with the
Bridge to Bridge Radiotelephone Act, and has Two Receivers, one of
which is fixed on Vhf Marine Ch 13. Another NOTE here, If you should
take another "Object" in Tow, you are also REQUIRED, to comply with
the Bridge to Bridge Radiotelephone Act, NO Matter what your vessel
Length is, Period. The USCG is the Enforcement Arm for the Bridge to
Bridge Radiotelephone Act, in the US, and I have heard rumors that
SOME Cowboy USCG Types have actually cited Water-ski Boat Operators
for not being in compliance, if they **** of the Inspecting Officer,
during a Safety Inspection while afloat.


Everyone I know with an installed HF and Ship License is in violation of
the HF monitoring 2182 Khz requirement simply because the 2-3 Mhz marine
band is nothing but a huge static noise source, virtually unused by
anyone in the last 30 years. The M802 has a nice squelch, but it's
totally worthless below 6 Mhz as the atmospherics load simply overwhelms
it the lower you go in freq even at the maximum squelch setting,
rendering it useless. Noone in the boat would ever get any off-watch
sleep with 2182 listening for a distress call on a 41' ketch.

I really HAVE monitored it, trying to see how much range my triattic
capacitor hat has added to the 55' backstay antenna. We installed an
insulator on either end of the triattic with a center-connected jumper
down to just under the top insulator on the backstay. Range below 7 Mhz
and reported signal levels on the 75 meter ham phone band increased
markedly! The tuner loves the extra length. Great reports from the
Caribbean illegal phone freqs above 4Mhz, too....but they make me
nervous about the ship license implications. Those freqs are NOT
authorized Marine channels on any chart I find.

Every time I leave the boat, I toggle the M802 back to transmitting on
the marine channels ONLY to keep my captain outa jail.....(c;]

--
================================================== ==========
Larry W4CSC

I've decided to worship Thor. My god has a hammer and isn't
afraid to use it. Your god is a pacifist who got nailed to a
tree.

Any questions?