capnsnap
new user
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 4
Loc: south wales
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I need a marine VHF certificate of competence for the set on my boat apparently, but having worked with comms for about 8 years not sure I want to shell out on a days course.
Is there a test you can take online or have posted through or something? I'm probably cheating here........
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Good music, good wine, good winds
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Login_name
regular
Reged: 07/05/2008
Posts: 555
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Without cheating, write down the correct procedure for a MayDay. If you can, you may not need the course. If you can't, you do need the course.
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VicS
regular
Reged: 13/07/2002
Posts: 10042
Loc: Home: Kent. Boat: Chichester
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No you dont need to do a course, at least I didnot bother. If you have at least half a grey cell you can learn what you need to know without.
RYA booklet G26 sets out the syllabus with exemplar questions.
G22 tells you all you need to know but there is now a RYA VHF Handbook, G31, which is a bit more detailed
All you have to do is find a centre that will accept you to take the test without having also done the course with them., but you can't do it by post or online!
Presumably you know that you can get the Ships Radio Licence for free on line from Ofcom
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Old Chemists never die, they just fail to react
Edited by VicS (13/05/2008 20:35)
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mikehibb
regular
Reged: 23/09/2007
Posts: 549
Loc: Turkey Azerbaijan and Georgia
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I did VHF taining and exam as part of my HLO (Helicopter Landing Officer) course.
I have wondered if proof of training and exam from my HLO course can be submitted to get the RYA cert.
Any suggestions appreciated.
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Paul_Glatzel
regular
Reged: 12/01/2005
Posts: 38
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Capnsnap ~ yes you can just take the test. If you use the RYA website to find a centre near you and ask them to do this they should be very prepared to do so. All RYA VHF schools have been reminded to ensure that those seeking just the test should be accomodated
mikehibb ~ you will need to take either the test or the course/test. Whilst of course your experience is highly relevant there are differences and the syllabus is laid down internationally by the ITU, in Europe by CEPT and applied in the UK by the RYA. The test is mandatory.
Hope this helps
Regards
Paul
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Paul Glatzel
www.powerboat-training-uk.co.uk ~ Poole & Solent
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Cornishman
regular
Reged: 29/07/2002
Posts: 5057
Loc: Cornwall
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First of all, it is not an RYA, it is an Ofcom certificate called The Short Range Certificate.
Next, how familar are you with operating the digital selective controller on a VHF set? VHF Only certs are no longer available without DSC.
Then, do you know how to send a DSC distress alert followed by the voice procedure for a distress message? Can you do a distress relay? Do you know the difference between a distress and an urgent message, and their different prowords?
If you can answer Yes to all those plus some more such as what is Navtex, what is a SART, an EPIRB and so on then you might be accepted to do the exam without attending the course. The course lasts only 8 hours or so including the assessment, say a couple of hours on Friday evening followed by six hours on a Saturday.
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Cornishmen do it drekly
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Teredo
regular
Reged: 10/04/2006
Posts: 562
Loc: Kingdom of Northumbria
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I would guess that you are already more than competent to operate your radio to the standard we leisure yotties are required to meet.
If you don't mind cheating, then use your radio without a licence. The important thing is to use it properly and noone will care.
Use it improperly and they care (as in hoax maydays) but they still do nothing about it if the hoaxers deny guilt.
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Blow wind, rise storm,
Ship ashore before dawn.
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freewind
regular
Reged: 26/06/2005
Posts: 622
Loc: N.Yorks
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While you are correct, it is a bit like saying it's ok to drive without an mot on the car as you service it regularly yourself, but then where do you stop. Once you start deciding which rules you will and will not obey you might as well just move to France.
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WindFinder
regular
Reged: 03/03/2008
Posts: 291
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Quote:
If you don't mind cheating, then use your radio without a licence.
Leaving aside the moral aspect of breaking laws, have there there been any convictions in the UK for using VHF kit correctly, but without a license?
FWIW I'm a VHF license holder who has long since forgotten how to formally relay a mayday and I doubt I could correctly word for word transmit a mayday with perfect ettiquet. I suspect I'm not alone. A qualification is a poor substitute for talent and experience...
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Login_name
regular
Reged: 07/05/2008
Posts: 555
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Quote:
A qualification is a poor substitute for talent and experience...
I'm not sure that a talent for, or an extensive experience of, transmitting May Days is better than a qualification 
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