To comment on several miscellaneous points ... > > In comparison, the USCG coverage of the coast of OR and WA is not as > good. They release coverage maps showing where they can pick up > signals, and there are huge gaps. > USCG VHF Distress & Safety Coverage charts (color jpg's) are available on-line at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/cgcomms/nds.htm ============================= > One could purchase any number of radio devices without a license - be > they ham radio, marine > SSB, or perhaps some device offering dedicated use on a commercial > frequency. > The only thing preventing you from doing this is the retailer. > Reputable ones will not sell you a ham or commercial unit without > proof of license. In addition to the retailer, the manufacturer and the design of the equipment itself comes into play with regard to possible "illegal" use of equipment. Where a manufacturer such as ICOM is producing handheld VHF radios for marine VHF and also for other services, they are increasingly looking like the same radio. My Yaesu VX-7R 'waterproof' multi-ham-band radio is capable (with a 5 minute software or hardware modification) of functioning on the maritime VHF band and other services. Of course, it is not type-certified and would be "illegal" to use for that purpose. So to operate legally (assuming I'm paddling only in domestic waters) on both amateur and marine vhf, I will carry my gps-dongle-attached-dsc-equipped-vhf-marine radio for which I hold a valid operator's certificate, and my multiband ham handheld for which I have a valid licence. This of couse makes the deck (&/or pfd !) quite cluttered, but gives me the assurance that I am operating legally. If my Marine VHF should happen to fail or fall into the deep blue, I will of course - in case of emergency - use any capabilities my back-up radio provides. Obviously, paddlers and government agencies shouldn't be primarily focused on the "legality" of the transmitting equipment in the case of true emergency communications. What concerns everyone are the turkeys whose lack of understanding & training results in interference or inappropriate emergency calls. (Speaking of Turkeys, happy thanksgiving paddling to our american friends!) ============================= With regard to Marine VHF Licencing Requirements in **foreign** waters (i.e. the technical requirements presently "on the books", whether or not they are practical or enforced), the following - according to the FCC - applies to US paddlers in Canadian waters: (source: http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html ) "You do not need a license to operate a marine VHF radio, radar, or EPIRBs aboard voluntary ships operating **domestically**. Ships are considered as operating domestically when they do not travel to foreign ports or do not transmit radio communications to foreign stations. Sailing in international waters is permitted, so long as the previous conditions are met. If you travel to a foreign port (e.g., Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands) a license is required. Additionally, if you travel to a foreign port, you are required to have an operator permit " "If you plan to dock in a foreign port (e.g., Canada or the Bahamas) or if you communicate with foreign coast or ship stations, you must have a **RESTRICTED RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR PERMIT** (sometimes referred to by boaters as an "individual license") in addition to your **ship radio station license.** However, if (1) you merely plan to sail in domestic or international waters without docking in any foreign ports and without communicating with foreign coast stations, and (2) your radio operates only on VHF frequencies, you do not need an operator permit. NOTE: A ship radio station **license** authorizes radio equipment aboard a ship, while the restricted radiotelephone **operator permit** authorizes a specific person to communicate with foreign stations or use certain radio equipment (e.g., MF/HF single sideband radio or satellite radio). I'm not sure what the ship license costs in the US, but in Canada it is hefty, and must be renewed annually. That's acceptable for a $150K+ yacht cruising foreign shores but (as I said in previous post) not practical for casual paddlers. I'm not trying to be "nit picky" about the licensing requirements (or suggesting that anyone needs to "do" anything to comply with these legal requirements), but I think it's important that we understand they are still on the books, for both Canadian and American paddlers who venture across the international boundary. I recall that the Windsor Ontario paddling group had a pleasant winter paddle planned on the Detroit river on Superbowl weekend. The heightened level of security on the water and in the air convinced them to abandon their plans. In situations like that, where officials may be more prone to "go by the book", it's important to be aware of the technicalities. Hopefully, increased border requirements (passports, etc) won't drive a more rigid enforcement of licensing requirements outlined above. ============================== A FAQ for Ham Maritime Mobile Operation in International Waters is provided by the ARRL at http://www.remote.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/maritime.html ============================== Even if you are not planning to make use of DSC in the near future, it is worthwhile obtaining the DSC certification for your Restricted Operator's Certificate. Power & Sail Squadrons generally offer a one or two evening/Saturday course for existing Certificate holders, and the cost of the course includes an excellent book and "Simulator" CD to use on your home computer. ============================== JohnC in LondonOn *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). 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