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From: <wsmith16_at_charter.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re : Ch 16 and DSC - Illegal made Legal
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 6:56:59 -0800
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/
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re : Ch 16 and DSC - Illegal made Legal
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:52:26 -0400
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
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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re : Ch 16 and DSC - Illegal made Legal
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:32:38 -0700
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
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re : Ch 16 and DSC - Illegal made Legal
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:55:53 -0400
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
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From: VE3JC John <jbcumming_at_sympatico.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re : Ch 16 and DSC - Illegal made Legal
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:29:52 -0400
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.
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re : Ch 16 and DSC - Illegal made Legal
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:48:06 -0400
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
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re : Ch 16 and DSC - Illegal made Legal
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:58:54 -0400
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
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