VHF SRC info needed

Hi Lads

Again I must dive into this extraordinarily deep pool of knowledge in the hope of some very much needed and appreciated help about things I know very little or nothing ,

Last year I contacted a chap “Martin Whyte” about taking his “VHF SRC 1 & 2” , But after going onto the “GMDS” which is a site that gives people a taste of what the test involves it also lets you take a mock test to see if your ready for the real thing,

Well I don’t know if I went after the wrong bits of info on the site but I got totally lost going over it… I learned a fair bit from it but I didn’t think one needed to know so much to hold a licence for what could save my life some day,

As I said, it may have been that I was on the wrong track when reading up on this but it seemed to me that I would have been able to work a radio anywhere in the world, by that I mean off shore / long range,

I know a lot of you here have the VHF SR and this is all I need I also know that in a few years everyone will need to pass both the test 1 and 2 to hold the licence, but for now can I do test one to get me started or must I do both,

Martin has been in touch to say he will be doing another 2 day course “SRC 1 and 2” in march the thing I really need to know is how much do I need to learn before I even go there,

I have heard of a course that went on for several days before the test, so I’m thinking how am I going to fit all of this into a 2 day course,

For safety sake I need a radio so can anyone tell me a little of what to expect if I do book up for the march course.

In anticipation of your help I thank you.

If it suits you better to PM any info Please do.

I wouldn't be concerned if I was you. These courses are designed for people who have no radio experience.
The exams are not difficult and you will have plenty practice on the course. On the whole it should be an enjoyabe experience.

It is good to be certified but you will find that there are more people out there who are not certified rather than those who are.

[mann]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the reply, The things that worry s me most is not knowing what I should be trying to learn before i go there, I have printed out about 6 pages of "key words" ALRS / SARSAT / CRS Just to name a few,

And i was happy with my progress until I seen this lot below Will I need to know all this below or just parts of it for the test,

I will delete all below asap... Thats if I can fit it all on here

Last edited by mann on Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

Everything you need to know will be covered on the course.
It is not too complicated, more to do with being able to use your VHF properly than anything else.
I see at SailCork they have a 100% pass rate!
Head for your course and enjoy!

hi mann,

i agree with jim, the course is no big deal, which channel to use to chat about the pollack fishing,
which to use in an emergency etc. Id say about as hard as doing the driving test. The syllabus
is written to sound a bit grandiose.

As Jim says a lot of people use vhf sets without a license. This is illegal and you could be
fined 25,000 euro. They dont often enforce this at the minute but might start some day

jw

[Mohawk]

You need a license on your vessel which is the callsign! The SRC is not a licence it is a certificate of competency to use and maintain the equipment. It is a criminal offence to pocess wireless telegraphy equipment of any sort in the state without a licence, Although it is not often enforced it can be ( and should be a lot more )


A lot of people believe getting the license is not nessessary but let me assure you will find yourself in hot water if you ever venture to sea and find yourself involved in an incident even lending assistance as legally everything is logged by the coast station. Even if you call a coast station for a radio check the first question they will ask is what is your vessels callsign, you will feel a right idiot replying with "I don't have one".

Also by having DSC fitted and being properly licensed the people sent out looking for you know exactly what they are looking for be it a 12 foot punt with one POB or a huge cruise liner with 4000 POB, Both vessels could and often do share the same name, However their callsigns and MMSI numbers are unique to the vessel, and you don't always get time to explain the entire or in fact any of the story to your would be rescuers before you loose contact with them.


The SRC mod's 1 & 2 are very simple don't worry about them you don't need to know anything beforehand but I would recomend you learn the international phonetic alphabet beforehand as it will save you trying to learn it during the course it's very simple just do a google search and you'll find it... The rest is child's play.. You will even learn something useful!

Last edited by Mohawk on Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mann]

Hi Jim and JW,

Thank you both for taking the time to help me on this matter, I went onto that site link you gave Jim and I think it might work out better for me to take it in cork as it will be only a 1 day course for the module 1,

So if this is all I need to get me going it will safe me having to go to Ennis for the 2 day course “Module 1 & 2... that’s something I might do in the future,

I think the cork course starts 08/05/10, So here’s the plan.. Get the module 1 out of the way and catch a couple of codling before heading back to limerick,


Hi Mohawk,

Must say you had me worried for a bit but you chilled out toward the end, Hope you feel a lot better after getting that off your chest dude,

On a serious note, Thanks for your reply as I was happy to see you say the Phonetic Alphabet would be best learnt before I attend the course because I know it from when I did a lot of chatting on the USB and LSB in my younger days,

In fact you have me torn between taking the 2 day course to get the module 2 or should I be happy with doing the Mod 1,

I will decide tomorrow,

Thanks again lads.

Last edited by mann on Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Mohawk]

Must turn off Microshytes "UK" English spell check

Do the 2 day course, otherwise you will have forgotten all you learned in mod 1 by the time it comes to do mod 2 and you will need to refresh it all over, it is a simple course. BIM are the best providers bar none though, try and join up with one of their coastal training units if you can.

Check out your phonetic alphabet too just in case as there are some slight variations of it used on the likes of CB or ham radio that are not the international version expected by the examiner

Last edited by Mohawk on Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Hi Mohawk,

Soz about the little joke but I couldn’t resist it,

I did look up the P/A and it’s the same as I used time back, After reading your last post it got me thinking…

Firstly , The codling will be gone by the time the Module #1 test comes up in cork

Secondly, I hear the Mod 1 will be no good in a few years time because of some swap over,

So I replied to Martins email to ask just how hard this #1 and #2 course is going to be, if he comes back with what I need to hear then I will suffer travelling to Ennis for the 2 days to get it over with,

While I know he wont be able to tell me I will pass “as I could be as thick as 2 fat planks” But he might be able to ease my mind a little about what I need to pick up on,

As I said earlier, The list of things I looked at on that GMDS site just wouldn’t sink in so I gave up and to cool my mashed up brain I spent 2 hours or so trying to tie fancy knots out of some rope I keep by my bed…. But that’s another story,

As you can see I’m a man of few words and I’m running out of ink again so I will say thanks again and I will be sure to let you’s know how I get on with what ever route I take,

Mike.

Well lads,

I went and done the SRC 1 & SRC 2 and found it to be a bit of a nightmare.. This could be due to the fact that I didn’t get a wink of sleep the night before as is the norm for me when I have to start a new job or I’m under pressure of some sort like fishing a new mark,

My poor head was so mashed up when I got home I didn’t think I would go back next day.. But I did,
I had to learn about a lot of things that I may never again see in my life time,

But it was worth it… as I now have a friend that knows I been wanting to catch a tope for years and this chap knows his stuff when it comes to tope, plus he fish’s the estuary and that’s nice and local for me,

Thanks lads for giving me the push I needed to get the course over and done with.. It was an experience I wont forget for a long time

Congrats on achieving your SRC

It's not as difficult as you thought I bet, and I bet you learned something from the experience

Congrats on achieving your SRC

Thanks Mohawk,


It's not as difficult as you thought I bet,

You lost your bet.. I found it Harder then expected but that could be to do with having no sleep the night before


and I bet you learned something from the experience

I sure did.. another chap on the course told me where and how to catch my first tope, i cant tell where because we had to sign an Official secrets act form just before he told me

congratulations on passing your SRC test well done mann

Well done! There is always a degree of satisfaction when you complete something like that.
If for no other reason you will have the confidence to use your VHF and use it well!

congratulations on passing your SRC test well done mann

Thank you John,
It was a case of doing the test or buying a more reliable engine

Well done! There is always a degree of satisfaction when you complete something like that.
If for no other reason you will have the confidence to use your VHF and use it well!

Thank you Jim,
Thats true, i was buzzing when i came out of the place, I felt the same way as when i passed my driving test,

when i got home they didnt ask how i got on.. they just knew i had passed bacause of the big grin on my face that i tried to hide from them

Next stop beal bar!!See you in June buddy

Next stop beal bar!!See you in June buddy

I cant wait Kev,

I just ordered a radio and i hope they send an Instruction booklet to explain the instruction book in case I forget everything before it comes,

You can be sure I will contact you when the time arrives and you be sure to let me know what line your going to follow work wise as I may have a couple of heads that need a bit of teaching,

What’s that they say !!! Those that can do .. And those that cant instruct

I just ordered a radio and i hope they send an Instruction booklet to explain the instruction book in case I forget everything before it comes,

Here ya go start reading and you'll be an expert before it arrives They are the most simple of units to use so don't worry

http://www.cobramarine.com.au/mrf55eu.html

[/quote]

Here ya go start reading and you'll be an expert before it arrives They are the most simple of units to use so don't worry

http://www.cobramarine.com.au/mrf55eu.html[/quote]


Great stuff,

I would have never thought to google it so i'm off for a little read now,

Thanks again Mohawk your a gent