Michel Charlebois wrote: > Could you provide me the web link to the IC documents stating that a hand > held VHF can be license in the name of the owner rather than the name of the > vessel. Sorry, now I can't find it. I went through a lot of documents quickly yesterday and noted the item but didn't keep the link, otherwise I would have included it in the previous post. It was more by luck than design that I found it the first time. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I tried in vain to find any Industry Canada reference to licensing in the owner's name instead of the vessel. So I decided to call IC Regional Office directly. What followed was a rather amusing phone conversation with a very pleasant IC staff person, trying hard to be of assistance. I explained that I was a kayaker with a Restricted Operator's Certificate, enquiring about licensing requirements. "Don't worry, you don't need a license for a kayak" "Ummm....Well you see, I want to be able to land in US ports, and the regs imply that I need a license" "What?? You want to paddle a kayak across Lake Ontario ?!?!?" (I hadn't mentioned anything about Lake Ontario, but from the tone of her voice, it was obvious she thought a paddle across Lake Ontario would be as foolish an endeavor as paddling over Niagara Falls) "Not necessarily.... I might just want to paddle over to Port Huron or to Marine City. And the rules seem to suggest I need a license if I'm going to land, or if I'm going to communicate with the US Coast Guard" "Can you please hang on a minute?" (Prolonged pause, while she speaks to her supervisor) "Yes you are correct. You DO need a license!" "OK, so here's my problem. The License application needs the name and registration info of the vessel. What if I have a couple of kayaks, and I just want to be able to take my marine vhf handheld on whatever kayak I want? Is it possible for me just to get the license in my name ??" After some discussion about the absurdity of the whole thing, we concluded that I could complete the license application using a sufficiently generic vessel name that it would apply to any small craft. Since we have no Registration requirements for kayaks, I can leave the Registry Info blank. (Hopefully we won't ever get into the obligatory vessel registration quagmire!) A couple of points to note, if anyone decides to obtain a license: - The annual fee is $36. You're initial fee will depend on the month when you apply, based on IC's Mar. 31 Year End. (eg if I apply in December, it's $26 to take you to Apr 1/07.) - If you already posess an MMSI, let them know on the license application, because they will need to update your MMSI info to include your call sign. John in LondonOn ================================= Michael Daly wrote: > Michel Charlebois wrote: > >> Could you provide me the web link to the IC documents stating that a >> hand >> held VHF can be license in the name of the owner rather than the name >> of the >> vessel. > > > Sorry, now I can't find it. I went through a lot of documents quickly > yesterday and noted the item but didn't keep the link, otherwise I > would have included it in the previous post. It was more by luck than > design that I found it the first time. > > Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I called the Canadian Coast Guard about 8 years ago before a paddling trip to Cape Breton, and asked about VHF use. Their response was enlightening. They told me that while it was illegal for Americans to transmit without a ship station license, they wouldn't bother us for monitoring, and they would be inclined to look the other way if we transmitted in a real emergency. I think they were glad that we could call for help, and were also able to get weather forecasts. If you bring one to Canada, just keep it turned off and out of sight when you're on land or near launching or landing, and only monitor unless it's an emergency. This way, you haven't done anything wrong, and still have the security of having the radio if you really need it. If you want to talk amongst a group, bring FRS radios -- they're legal AFAIK. -- Wayne Smith wsmith16_at_charter.net Check out my website! http://webpages.charter.net/wsmith16/home.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
wsmith16_at_charter.net wrote: > If you want to talk amongst a group, bring FRS radios -- they're legal AFAIK. FRS is legal. GMRS is legal but with different wattage limits than the US. <http://en.kayakwiki.org/index.php/FRS_and_GMRS_radio> Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On 3/13/07, Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca> wrote: > > wsmith16_at_charter.net wrote: > > > If you want to talk amongst a group, bring FRS radios -- they're legal > AFAIK. > > FRS is legal. GMRS is legal but with different wattage limits than the > US. > > <http://en.kayakwiki.org/index.php/FRS_and_GMRS_radio> > Perhaps a little more explanation is in order here. Most of the little walkie-talkies sold at Wal-Mart, Costco, Big-5 and countless other stores almost always combine FRS (Family Radio Service) and GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) into one radio. What they don't tell you (usually) is that the GMRS portions of these radios require a license (at least if you're in the USA; but not in Canada). First a little explanation of the difference between a "channel" and a "tone code". Radios are channelized by dividing a frequency range up and giving a number to each division. Then the radio is built with a tuning system that restricts the radio from using any frequencies that aren't on the channel plan. So you can tune your radio to channel 2 or channel 3 but not, for instance, to channel 2.5. A tone code is a sub-audible (this means you can't hear it <grin>) audio tone that acts as a squelch control. A transmission that carries this tone will be heard on any radio that has a corresponding tone but one without the tone will not. However, any radio that does not use tone encoding (or has their tone encoding set to 0) will be able to hear all transmissions on that channel whether tone-encoded or not. Manufacturers and marketers, being sneaky little devils, will try to make people believe that the radios they buy have thousands of "channels" by multiplying the actual channels by the number of tone-encoding frequencies. So if you have 10 channels and 3 tones they might say that the radio has "30 channels". The radio still has only 10 channels. Tone encoding doesn't add channels, but it does make it possible to not hear those using the same channel but different tone codes. So now back to FRS and GMRS radios. Channels 1 through 14 on these little radios are FRS. Kayakers may use these in both the USA and Canada (and probably other places but I don't have information on that) without a license. Channels 14 and above are GMRS. Paddlers in the USA could be in trouble if caught using them without a license. In addition, even with a license, GMRS is supposed to facilitate communications only between family members. In other words, you can use GMRS to communicate between you and family members under one license but if you have a friend along he (or she) must have his (or her) own license in order to be legal. Your license covers family members but not friends (at least in the USA; in Canada no license is required). The power input for these two services is different. FRS channels are supposed to be limited to 0.5 (1/2) watts. Power input to the GMRS channels can be up to 5 watts in the USA and up to 2 watts in Canada. The advertising copy that says you can talk "up to 5 miles" is referring to the GMRS channels assuming that they are using high power. However, there is no law that requires the GMRS channels to be higher power. So your radio might be 1/2 watt on both FRS and GMRS channels. So... what to do? In Canada you can use these walkie-talkies on any channel as long as the power input on Channel 14 and above is limited to 2 watts or less. You can probably determine this by checking the specifications of the walkie-talkies you own (or are thinking of owning). In the USA you can only use Channels 1 through 14 legally with no license. With a license you can use all the channels but you can only legally use the GMRS channels (14 and up) for communications with family members. Can you use all the channels indiscriminately without getting in trouble? Yeah, probably. I suspect most people have no idea of the differences between FRS and GMRS and there is almost no enforcement. Your chances of the FCC getting involved are pretty slim. However, if you *do* get caught and if you have any other government-issued licenses, you could be risking those. I have lots of other licenses (pilot's licenses, commercial radio licenses, USCG licenses, etc.) so I'm careful to make sure I'm within the rules even if the chances are slim that I'll be caught. I set my radios to 14/20 (Channel 14 and tone code 20). This limits my exposure to other people or groups using Channel 14 (most use Channel 1 anyway) so we don't have to listen to their chatter. However, anyone listening to Channel 14 without their tone encoding turned on will be able to listen to our chatter. There is no privacy. Setting a tone code simply limits what *you* hear; not what others hear. We find these radios to be remarkably useful for group talk as long as everyone (ahem!) has theirs turned on. Most of them are not water resistant, however... but they're cheap enough so that you could consider them expendable. But, and this is important: Do not consider FRS or GMRS walkie-talkies to be good substitutes for a marine VHF. If you are paddling open water then carry a marine VHF. If you are paddling where there is no monitoring of marine VHF frequencies but there is cell phone coverage then I advise you to carry a cell phone in a water-resistant bag or case. Craig Jungers Royal City, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Its worth adding that the actual license and test is easy. The stuff you need to learn for it is stuff you should know anyway. If you want, you can buy the book online and then take the test at your convenience. You can order the book here: http://www.cps-ecp.ca/shipstore/ --- wsmith16_at_charter.net wrote: > I called the Canadian Coast Guard about 8 years ago > before a paddling trip to Cape Breton, and asked > about VHF use. Their response was enlightening. > > They told me that while it was illegal for Americans > to transmit without a ship station license, they > wouldn't bother us for monitoring, and they would be > inclined to look the other way if we transmitted in > a real emergency. I think they were glad that we > could call for help, and were also able to get > weather forecasts. > > If you bring one to Canada, just keep it turned off > and out of sight when you're on land or near > launching or landing, and only monitor unless it's > an emergency. This way, you haven't done anything > wrong, and still have the security of having the > radio if you really need it. > > If you want to talk amongst a group, bring FRS > radios -- they're legal AFAIK. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Very true, however, I have a problem with being taxed by my government for my activities outside their jurisdiction. Of course, the US gov't in their arrogance considers the world their jurisdiction, but that's another subject.........If Canada was going to get the funds, I wouldn't have a problem with it, because it's their country and their jurisdiction. For the one or maybe two weeks a year I paddle in Canada, it's not worth the money or the effort to me to get the license. I don't even turn my VHF on except to get the weather or monitor comm traffic on a long crossing. We use FRS for group communication. If you're going to paddle there a lot, I can see where the license would be handy, though. -- Wayne Smith wsmith16_at_charter.net Check out my website! http://webpages.charter.net/wsmith16/home.html ---- Derek <glamourpets_at_yahoo.com> wrote: > Its worth adding that the actual license and test is > easy. The stuff you need to learn for it is stuff you > should know anyway. If you want, you can buy the book > online and then take the test at your convenience. > > You can order the book here: > http://www.cps-ecp.ca/shipstore/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
wsmith16_at_charter.net wrote: > I don't even turn my VHF on except to get the weather or > monitor comm traffic on a long crossing. The license is for transmission. You can monitor without a license and you don't need a license to buy a VHF radio in Canada. In addition, weather receivers are license free. The problem is finding one that includes WX8-WX10. Those are not used by NOAA in the US and thus few receivers are so equipped. However, they are used in Canada and the Coast Guard uses WX8 and 9 for detailed weather and sicuriti broadcasts. Someone might know (Craig?) if there are small scanners that receive marine VHF channels if you want to monitor comm traffic. You can also take the Canadian exam and pay for a Canadian license if you don't want to pay for the US license. This is available for all non-citizens as the foreign licenses are only valid for short duration use and long-term use in Canadian waters require a Canadian license. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Michael Daly wrote: > You can also take the Canadian exam and pay for a Canadian license if > you don't want to pay for the US license. Michael, I did not know this. My US license is about to expire. If the cost is nominal and I can schedule the exam, I'd do it. I don't need a license down here. > This is available for all non-citizens as the foreign licenses are only > valid for short duration use and long-term use in Canadian waters > require a Canadian license. Are you sure about this latter part? My reading of the US regs indicates that the pair of licenses demanded of US boaters traveling in foreign waters follows US limits. If you have a link to the regulations governing foreing boaters using VHF in Canada, I'd appreciate it. Thanks. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave Kruger wrote: >> This is available for all non-citizens as the foreign licenses are only >> valid for short duration use and long-term use in Canadian waters >> require a Canadian license. > > Are you sure about this latter part? I was until I looked into it. I can't find a reference to this anywhere. I may have confused it with another regulation or the regs have changed in the intervening years. My apologies!! That said: > My US license is about to expire. If the > cost is nominal and I can schedule the exam, I'd do it. I don't need > a license down here. I can't find anything on the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron's web site about foreign applications for the license. http://www.cps-ecp.ca/english/index.html - if you select <courses> (upper left hand of page), you'll see a list of courses that you can take; the Restricted Operator's Certificate (Marine) is the one for Marine VHF. It's C$45 for the two parts plus the exam fee. When I took the course, it was $40 for a classroom course including the exam. The Vancouver Squadron lists it at $80 this spring http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca/radio.html (chosen as an example near you). I guess the best thing you can do is e-mail the CPS and see what they know about your taking the Canadian exam and getting the Canadian license. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave, I believe you are correct that "the pair of licenses demanded of US boaters traveling in foreign waters follows US limits" As I had previously referenced in this thread (back in November), the FCC indicates that, for 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). ======================= While there is some difference in terminology between US and Canadian regulations, there is a great deal of "symmetry" between the two. In both countries, there is a 'certificate' available to the OPERATOR of the radio equipment ("Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit" in the US, and the "Restricted Operator's Certificate (Maritime) - with or without DSC endorsement - in Canada), and a 'license' available for the BOAT (the "Ship Radio Station License" in the US, and the "Maritime Mobile Radio Station Licence for a Voluntarily Fitted Ship" in Canada). Because we, as paddlers, feel so much "at one" with our craft, we have a very fuzzy notion about the license - we think of the "paddler" as being licensed, when in reality it is the vessel that is licensed. ======================== Canadian requirements (source Industry Canada <http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/smt-gst.nsf/en/h_sf01775e.html> ) Do I need a licence for the marine radio equipment on board my vessel? You will NOT require a licence if you meet both of the following criteria: - the vessel is not operated in the sovereign waters of a country other than Canada. - the radio equipment on board the vessel is only capable of operating on frequencies that are allocated for maritime mobile communications or marine radio navigation. If you do not meet both of the above criteria, you will require a radio licence. Do I still require a Radio Operator Certificate? Yes. The Radio Operator Certificate is still a requirement for anyone who may be operating the maritime radio equipment, regardless of whether a radio licence is required. ================================ Dave Kruger wrote: > Michael Daly wrote: > >> You can also take the Canadian exam and pay for a Canadian license if >> you don't want to pay for the US license. > > > Michael, I did not know this. My US license is about to expire. If the > cost is nominal and I can schedule the exam, I'd do it. I don't need a > license down here. > >> This is available for all non-citizens as the foreign licenses are only >> valid for short duration use and long-term use in Canadian waters >> require a Canadian license. > > > Are you sure about this latter part? My reading of the US regs indicates > that the pair of licenses demanded of US boaters traveling in foreign > waters follows US limits. If you have a link to the regulations > governing foreing boaters using VHF in Canada, I'd appreciate it. > > Thanks. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
VE3JC John wrote: > "the pair of licenses demanded of US > boaters traveling in foreign waters follows US limits" Terminology thing - it's not actually two licenses but one license (station license) and one certificate (operator's). I tend to forget about the station license since it's not required for recreational boaters in either the US or Canada and only the operator's certificate is required in Canada. The exception is when crossing the border - the station license _is_ required. The odd thing is that neither country requires it in their own waters. However, a reciprocal agreement on station licenses hasn't been negotiated. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Michael Daly wrote: > sicuriti It looks like the mail list software strips out French characters. That's securite with appropriate accents on each e. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hmmm. Sounds like you need to register in the name of your most-used vessel: your PFD. GaryJ VE3JC John wrote: > After some discussion about the absurdity of the whole thing, we > concluded that I could complete the license application using a > sufficiently generic vessel name that > it would apply to any small craft. Since we have no Registration > requirements for kayaks, I can leave the Registry Info blank. > (Hopefully we won't ever get into the obligatory vessel registration > quagmire!) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
By the way, has anybody out there been caught and fined for operating a VHF radio without a license in Canada or the U.S.? I'd just as soon be fined than support some inane bureaucracy which was designed for a different class of watercraft. ____________________________________________________________________________________ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elias Ross wrote: > By the way, has anybody out there been caught and fined for operating a VHF > radio without a license in Canada or the U.S.? I'd just as soon be fined > than support some inane bureaucracy which was designed for a different class > of watercraft. Elias, I'm legal in both Canada and the US, because I got my first VHF unit back in early 1996, just before the FCC removed the licensing requirement for _pleasure_ boaters. An FCC license is required by law for a US boater, in his/her own craft, to broadcast on the marine VHF band in Canada. You do not need a license to use your VHF in the US, any more. However, enforcement and monitoring of licensing requirements is nil or minimal in remote areas of the BC coast. In ten seasons of active paddling there (west coast of Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Queen Charlottes), I have never been checked or asked if I had a VHF by anyone. I have chatted with CCG personnel on the water, VHF visible on my PFD, and they never asked about it. I have never heard of any sea kayaker who was checked. And, I used my VHF (from the beach) to contact the CCG to help some other kayakers chase down some overdue companions. This exchange went on for half an hour of transmissions before the lost paddlers were found. They never asked me if I had a license or if I had call numbers, and were simply grateful I had a VHF and knew how to use it. In a busy harbour, you might get checked, but if you do not abuse the marine band (e.g., you only use 16 for hailing, and move your subsequent discussion with others to an approved channel), I do not believe you will have a problem. Please note using the marine VHF band in Canada without a license is illegal, and that I am not advocating any illegal activity. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elias Ross wrote: > By the way, has anybody out there been caught and fined for operating a VHF > radio without a license in Canada or the U.S.? You don't need a license to operate a marine VHF in the US for recreational boating. > I'd just as soon be fined > than support some inane bureaucracy which was designed for a different class > of watercraft. That inane bureaucracy maintains radio frequencies in Canada that can be used reliably for the safety and security of all watercraft. Without it, the marine VHF frequencies would be no better than CB radio. If you don't like it, just remember that no one is forcing you to get a marine VHF radio. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elias, I have carried a VHF Marine radio in my PFD for some ten years now here in the US and in Gulfo de California. I've never been stopped or inspected. A few hand waves from USCG and US Park Service as the "flew" by in their power boats. Never had to use Channel 16/9. Occasionally the CG will come on for a quick communicaiton. The weather channel has been a useful feature. As a group we have used the VHF upper end channels for minimal group communication and to monitor local communication and ship communicaiton so we can stay out of the way of the big boats. I generally paddle bays, esteros and coast waters. I carry the radio as part of my safety gear along with a whistle, strobe, mirror (rafting guide days) and some hand held flares and rockets and my cell phone. Never been stopped - never fined. John Santa Rosa, CA Arluk III Tofino LongHaul MK1 Elias Ross <generic_elias_at_yahoo.com> wrote: By the way, has anybody out there been caught and fined for operating a VHF radio without a license in Canada or the U.S.? I'd just as soon be fined than support some inane bureaucracy which was designed for a different class of watercraft. ____________________________________________________________________________________ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php --------------------------------- It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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