FFC License 4 marine radios

[bravo14]

Do I need a license for a marine radio?

 

[nd5y]

It depends on what kind of radio and where it will be used.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html

 

[rescuecomm]

If you are not carrying passengers for hire, and not leaving US waters, you do not need a Marine Radio License for VHF radios. I ran into this several years ago when the marine radio license for our rescue squad boat was nearing expiration. Since it is used on inland lakes about 250 miles from the sea, there was no need for one.

Bob

 

[n4voxgill]

If you are not carrying passengers for hire, and not leaving US waters, you do not need a Marine Radio License for VHF radios. I ran into this several years ago when the marine radio license for our rescue squad boat was nearing expiration. Since it is used on inland lakes about 250 miles from the sea, there was no need for one.

Bob

Part 80 of the FCC rules covers your rescue boat:

Sec. 80.89 Unauthorized transmissions.



Stations must not:

(a) Engage in superfluous radio communication.

(b) Use telephony on 243 MHz.

(c) Use selective calling on 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz.

(d) When using telephony, transmit signals or communications not

addressed to a particular station or stations. This provision does not

apply to the transmission of distress, alarm, urgency, or safety signals

or messages, or to test transmissions.

(e) Transmit while on board vessels located on land unless

authorized under a public coast station license. Vessels in the

following situations are not considered to be on land for the purposes

of this paragraph:

(1) Vessels which are aground due to a distress situation;

(2) Vessels in drydock undergoing repairs; and

(3) State or local government vessels which are involved in search

and rescue operations including related training exercises.

(f) Transmit on frequencies or frequency bands not authorized on the

current station license.

 

[rescuecomm]

Interesting. I didn't know that was in the regulations. Anyway, in the 19 years that I have been associated with the County Emergency Management, I have not seen anything used but Public Safety freqs.

Bob

 

[N_Jay]

Interesting. I didn't know that was in the regulations. Anyway, in the 19 years that I have been associated with the County Emergency Management, I have not seen anything used but Public Safety freqs.

Bob

The purpose would be to communicate with OTHER boaters, not to coordinate the rescue operation.