VHF Radio for Shore Angling

I was considering getting a handheld VHF radio for safety's sake when shore angling- particularly off the rocks. Something like the Cobra model at the top of this page:

http://www.marinewebstoreireland.com/#/ ... 4532447784

Could someone please tell me what level of exams/licensing I would want to acquire before I can operate a handheld VHF radio?

Thanks,

To be technically correct about it:

It is actually illegal to operate a Marine VHF radio from shore (Other than from a marina and these have specific channels only).

Now to be real about it:

To operate a marine VHF you need:
VHF operators qualification
The boat needs to have a Ships Radio Licence in order to be legally able to broadcast

More info here: http://www.transport.ie/marine/IRCG/SOT ... p?loc=2236

I am not aware of anybody being prosecuted for failing to have the correct licences/certs. The important thing here is that you are aware of the procedures and protocols for using the radio.
The Coast Guard will still answer your call whether you are licenced etc or not.
I am not even going to go on about the DSC (Digital Selective Calling) implications as realistically it would not come into play.

So if you are going to buy a Radio: Do an operators course at least. You can always say you are on shoreline after being shipwrecked

are you using it for talking to each other or using it incase something happens and u want to use ch16 to talk to coast guard

For safety to call the coast guard if anything happens

always a good thing to have with you,wether you or someone else needs it,but as jim says better to do the vhf to understand it,it also lasts lifetime,eddie.....

Good topic!

Other possible safety items when rock fishing: fish with a friend, floatation suit/pfd, flares, phone

Euch, the prices to do the level one (basic operation) course are ridiculous around €200. Hardly encouraging people to get trained- just incentivising them to not bother and operate on the "shure it'll be grand" principle

I'm going to throw my oar in here
Great topic by the way
For someone who's involved with the rescue services , Rnli , having someone on shore who's trained to use the radio correctly is very helpful
However as u see it's costly to do course etc so I'd strongly advise anyone fishing alone on a rough area to
1 advise someone where ur going and for how long
2 text / call someone that ur moving ground if ur catching nothing
3 wear a floatation device
4 Carry some sort of personal flare
I've personally seen the life saving benefit of personal flares
200 euro would go a long way to kitting a lad out
Hope this helps

You might find a free online course here: http://www.egmdss.com/ (There are some charges for simulators) At least you will have the usage down to a tee.
I suppose you will be illegal in any case, not being on a ship so a licence is a moot point

Using a VHF is not rocket science. It can be daunting to have to deal with "authority" over the airwaves but grand once used to it. Worst thing would be to be chattering on Ch16 or Chattering and being told "Seelonce Mayday" during an emergency...not knowing your phonetic alphabet etc. All easily studied!

I think I would prefer to be safe than legal in this case!

if you have the money do the course it would be good idea to do the course even do 200 is not cheap but they usualy are abou 400 200 is a good price.i have done the full course takes abou 3 week and think it costs abou2,500 or something like that but that in full detail of everything.if you do intend to use a vhf radio with out a cert not advising but if you do. advice use channel 72 between your mates 72 is non-commercial ship-to-ship communication channel.some radios might have a duel watch so you can have it listen to channel 16 and channel 72 but can only talk on channel 72.learn the correct way to speak/use them correct way to call a person and responed should be plenty of stuf like this online dont use them jst to chat if you want to do this get a uhf.understand what the vhf is capable you not going to be able to call some one miles away if you on a cliff face or if you are low to the water,higher up better common sense.if you are going to use other channels read up abou simplex and duplex.if you dont want to read up about it , SIMPLEX frequencies are boat to boat.DUPLEX frequencies are boat to repeater to boat, even if the boats are next to each other they wont hear it on a duplex channel.i couldnt name them of there is loads of numbers some simplex some duplex you can find that out no need to learn them jst be aware.find out the port area or local area channels that they use this is handy. usually the weather announcement will be called on channel 16.it will say for local weather infomation change to channel 86 for instance u can go to channel 86 and wait a min and they will read out the shipping forcast

why is there such a difference in price around the country ive seen them on done deal from 175 in kerry 200 in dublin and 225 in wexford surely it should be a standerd charge

A group of us done the VHF/dsc course with bim in there traing unit,it travels around the country,give them a buzz,they were good on price,Eddie...

.i have done the full course takes abou 3 week and think it costs abou2,500 or something like that but that in full detail of everything.

full 3 week course on what? must have been a yachtmaster course you done for about 2,500 .

I have a work colleague who used to be a naval cadet and is still in the naval reserve-he could surely give me a few pointers and it might only cost me a pint instead of two hundred clams . . .

Would you consider a PLB instead , wouldn't cost much more than the hand held VHF, is smaller, not dependant on line of sight and far more accurate. Also doesn't t require a license.

john1 i did the full STCW 95 Radiotelephone General Operators Certificate (gmdss Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems) it a full 3 week.it all different prices because they can charge what they want ha

sounds like it's just the standard SRC course you done, was it just VHF+dsc or did it cover SSB aswell.

i just checked there its 1150 euro i did a GMDSS General Operator Certificate (GOC) The certificate qualifies the me to operate marine radiotelephony,vhf mf/hf radio telex or satellite mobile earth station.and it covers the principles of Narrow Band Direct Printing, Telex over Radio Systems and to INMARSAT systems all radio safety including epird ,sarts,stuf like that

Well that sounds pretty advanced, they say you get what you pay for you have me thinking now, why would you need to do an advanced one like that are you a trawler/charter skipper ferry skipper or something like that, that you would need such certs

Agree with john1 you either have to do it or you have the money to do it.


Kind regards