I'm once again considering a radio...I've brought my cellphone on paddles, and frankly in an emergency it wouldn't be as good as a radio. I tend to be kinda safety conscious I guess. Anyway, I like the Standard HX150 (I think that's the model). Push-buttons, about $180 at West Marine, uses akaline or nicads, 1/5 watts, 3 year waterproof warranty. So...can I use this radio in Canada and/or Mexico? (I live in the states.) Do I need a license to use a marine radio there? Thanks for the info. Rob Gendreau Oakland, California gendreau_at_ccnet.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Rob Gendreau wrote: > > I'm once again considering a radio...I've brought my cellphone on > paddles, and frankly in an emergency it wouldn't be as good as a radio. I > tend to be kinda safety conscious I guess. > > Anyway, I like the Standard HX150 (I think that's the model). > Push-buttons, about $180 at West Marine, uses akaline or nicads, 1/5 > watts, 3 year waterproof warranty. Since you are safety conscious I would recommend that you consider spending about another $100 and buy the Standard HX350, which is "submersible", includes a high-capacity (1100mAh) battery pack, and an alkaline battery tray. I realize that the HX150 comes with a waterproof warranty, but that won't do you much good if it fails in an emergency. According to Standard, the HX350 is more waterproof than the HX150. I would also recommend that you carry your cell phone (in a waterproof bag) as a back-up. BTW, check prices on the Web before you buy. West Marine has a price-matching policy. The last time I bought something there this policy applied to Web retailers as well--bring in a printout of the Web page. I saved about $80 on a VHF and about $30 on my last GPS purchase at West Marine by making use of this policy. (Hopefully it is still in effect.) > > So...can I use this radio in Canada and/or Mexico? Yes. > Do I need a license to use a marine radio there? Yes. To operate legally in Canada and Mexico you need a license and a Restricted Operator Permit. These are easy to obtain (in the U.S.). You do not need to take a test. Information can be found at: http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/aviation&marine/fctsht14.html Dan Hagen Bellingham, Washington *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Dan Hagen wrote: > Since you are safety conscious I would recommend that you consider > spending about another $100 and buy the Standard HX350, which is > "submersible", includes a high-capacity (1100mAh) battery pack, and an > alkaline battery tray. I realize that the HX150 comes with a waterproof > warranty, but that won't do you much good if it fails in an emergency. > According to Standard, the HX350 is more waterproof than the HX150. I > would also recommend that you carry your cell phone (in a waterproof > bag) as a back-up. BTW, check prices on the Web before you buy. West > Marine has a price-matching policy. The last time I bought something > there this policy applied to Web retailers as well--bring in a printout > of the Web page. I saved about $80 on a VHF and about $30 on my last GPS > purchase at West Marine by making use of this policy. (Hopefully it is > still in effect.) I agree with Dan on both counts, i.e. get a better radio that will be waterproof rather than one guaranteed to be (which only means they will replace or repair for water damage LATER WHEN AND IF YOU GET BACK HOME!). The 350 looks like an excellent radio when I played with it for about an hour and looked over the instructions because of the kindness of the local clerk. It has a large display, almost like a small tv screen, and nice placement of all the buttons. I like that it comes on set to transmit at 1 watt so you don't inadvertently waste your battery...it switches at one flick of a finger to 5 watt. Its 16 button also will toggle to 9 or any other programmable channel, i.e. it toggles between the two rather than between 16 and a working channel. My only objection to it other than price was it was slightly bigger than I wanted albeit it is still small by most standards. I opted, as I indicated, for the the Apelco 520 which is also fully really waterproof but is smaller and lighter than the Standard 350. Also I lucked out on price by a wide margin. I have no doubt that the Standard 350 is probably a better radio than the Apelco 520 but mine is more than good enough. Do shop around to all the majors such as West Marine and DefenderUS on the Web and on the phone. Do the latter as even in this great age of Web pages the prices are not up to date! They change just a bit faster than a print catalog. But a phone call gives you the most up to date price. To repeat my experience with the 520 given about two weeks ago here. I had found a $229 price at the local E&B stores (West Marine subsidiary) but none had it in stock nor scheduled shipment. I called Defender which had it listed on its web page at $269. They have a match competitive price policy and I was armed to argue them down to the $229 figure based on the quoted E&B store price only to find that Defender was selling it at $205! So lessons: a) do shop around for a better price with final check by phone and b) don't open your trap with the competitors price until you hear theirs!!! BTW, if I had decided to buy the Standard 350, I would have bought it at that store I was looking at it in. I don't favor testing something out _extensively_ in some place and then going off to find it cheaper. If I had decided on the Standard 350, I would have checked quoted prices elsewhere and given the local store (which also has a match competitive price policy) its chance to match which I know it would. I have seen people buying a folding kayak take extensive test runs in one at a local shop, pump the staff for copious information and then gone on the phone to buy from someone elsewhere who would ship it at a cheaper overall price. Maybe it is not so important with these large Marine shops like West Marine to really worry about this but with the infant size of paddling shops, which provide a great service, I think it is worthwhile sticking with the local person who has put in the time and energy in helping you make your choice. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Rob Gendreau wrote: > > I'm once again considering a radio. [snip] > Anyway, I like the Standard HX150 (I think that's the model). > Push-buttons, about $180 at West Marine, uses akaline or nicads, 1/5 > watts, 3 year waterproof warranty. > > So...can I use this radio in Canada and/or Mexico? (I live in the > states.) Do I need a license to use a marine radio there? Yes, and yes. You will need a "Ship/Aircraft Radio Station License," which was good for 10 years when I got mine, and a "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit," which is good indefinitely, I believe. If you contact the appropriate FCC office for the region of the US in which you live, they should be able to send you a packet of info which will detail the whole process for you. Or, use the info below. The only caveat is that the legal channels for international use differ slightly from those for the US. That information should have come with your radio (did with mine, anyway -- it has an INT selection of channels and a USA selection). Here is the poop off: http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/marcomms/othrcoms/fcc.htm : > Radio License for Boaters > > The Telecommunications Act of 1996 permits recreational boaters to have > and use a VHF marine radio, > EPIRB, and marine radar without having an FCC ship station license. > Boaters traveling on international > voyages, having an HF single sideband radiotelephone or marine satellite > terminal, or required to carry a > marine radio under any other regulation must still carry an FCC ship > station license. For further > information, see the FCC Ship Radio Stations Fact Sheet. > > FCC Ship Station License > > Those not exempted by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 must still have > an FCC ship station license. > A ship station license application is made on FCC Form 506, available > from local FCC Field Offices, by > writing to the FCC, P.O. Box 1050, Gettysburg PA 17326, or by calling the > FCC Forms Distribution > Center at (202)418-3676 or the toll-free number (800) 418-FORM. Forms > can also be obtained from most > marine electronics dealers. You can call the FCC in Gettysburg, obtain > information about marine radio > licensing, radio interference, and other matters, at 1 800 322-1117. FCC > Gettysburg's working hours are 8 AM to 4:30 PM. > > When preparing FCC Form 506 ship radio station license, enter Fee Type > Code PASR (blk 7). > > Radios can be used immediately upon license application. The license is > not transferable if a boat is sold > or if the installed radio equipment is moved from one boat to another. > > FCC License Fee > > Effective 18 September 1995, the FCC fee for renewing or applying for a > new ship station license is $75. > Licenses will be valid for ten years. > > Licensing VHF Handhelds > > If you wish to purchase a portable radio for use on more than one boat, > only one license is necessary. > When completing an FCC Application for Ship Station License (form 506), > check "Portable" in block 10, "Type of License". > > FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permits > > The FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit is required for > boaters having an HF radiotelephone, > for boaters having a VHF transceiver and traveling in foreign waters, or > where fitting of a marine radio is > required by law (e.g. on boats 20m long or larger). There is a fee for > this lifetime permit, but no tests are > required in applying for this license. An application is made on FCC > Form 753, available from local FCC > Field Offices or by writing to the FCC, P.O. Box 1050, Gettysburg PA 17326. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/24/1999 10:09:45 PM EST, dkruger_at_pacifier.com writes: << Yes, and yes. You will need a "Ship/Aircraft Radio Station License," which was good for 10 years when I got mine, and a "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit," which is good indefinitely, I believe. If you contact the appropriate FCC office for the region of the US in which you live, they should be able to send you a packet of info which will detail the whole process for you. Or, use the info below. >> Nope! Wrong and wrong! This all changed recently. One no longer needs the licenses in teh US, BUT if a US citz goes to Mexico or Canada, they need a license, so that means you need a US license if you are going abroad IF they honor US licenses. Contact FCC for current details. John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Bluecanoe2_at_aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 1/24/1999 10:09:45 PM EST, dkruger_at_pacifier.com writes: > > << Yes, and yes. You will need a "Ship/Aircraft Radio Station License," which > was good for 10 years when I got mine, and a "Restricted Radiotelephone > Operator Permit," which is good indefinitely, I believe. If you contact > the appropriate FCC office for the region of the US in which you live, they > should be able to send you a packet of info which will detail the whole > process for you. Or, use the info below. > > Nope! Wrong and wrong! This all changed recently. One no longer needs the > licenses in teh US, BUT if a US citz goes to Mexico or Canada, they need a > license, so that means you need a US license if you are going abroad IF they > honor US licenses. Reread the post, John -- the context was for using the radio *in other countries,* particularly Canada and Mexico, *not the US!*. Also re-read the excerpt from the FCC web site I posted. 'Fraid it's "right, right." -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
The $150 is down to $150! > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Rob Gendreau > Sent: Sunday, January 24, 1999 7:28 PM > To: buzz_at_bask.org; paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] VHF radio question > > > I'm once again considering a radio...I've brought my cellphone on > paddles, and frankly in an emergency it wouldn't be as good > as a radio. I > tend to be kinda safety conscious I guess. > > Anyway, I like the Standard HX150 (I think that's the model). > Push-buttons, about $180 at West Marine, uses akaline or nicads, 1/5 > watts, 3 year waterproof warranty. > > So...can I use this radio in Canada and/or Mexico? (I live in the > states.) Do I need a license to use a marine radio there? > > Thanks for the info. > > Rob Gendreau > Oakland, California > gendreau_at_ccnet.com > > ************************************************************** > ************* > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > ************************************************************** > ************* > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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