VHF Radio

[wearuk53]

Hi at the minute i dont have a VHF radio anyone know of a hand held make which is fairly cheap say about 80 pound mark, and do you require a licence and where would I obtain one?


Steve

[mark]

gaelforce marine have a promotion on cobra handhelds at the minute - £45

Cobra MR-HH125 Handheld VHF Radio | Gael Force Marine Chandlery

you need 2 licences, one for the boat and one for the operator

boat licence is free from Amateur and Ships Online Licensing | Ofcom

you also should have an operators licence which means doing a course, worth doing, but better a radio and no licence when afloat than neither IMHO. RYA courses are around the £75 quid and upwards mark.

there's a free one you can do online at http://www.egmdss.com/en/index.htm

[wearuk53]

Cheers Mark all info much appreciated will check them all out!!

[Funkmeister_Smith]

I have the same Cobra radio & I can confirm it works fine. Only thing is, don't leave the batteries in when you're not using it. For some reason it totally drains the batteries, even when turned off. :s I found this out the other week when I charged it the day before and went to turn it on the next day (on the boat) and they were dead. Lucky I had some Duracell spares but I left them in too not thinking and sure enough they drained over the course of a day or so.

Anyways, just letting you know. Otherwise it seems like a canny little radio for the price!

[GROWLER]

iv have

just done my dsc vhf radio course was quite good although it took all day
and cost 67 squid ...at my local boat yard .

now i know how to pan pan ... ha ha !

i was recommended icom range for the radios you might want to invest in a good radio you may need it in an emergency !

good luck

[wearuk53]

VHF Radio

Cheers all I have ordered the Cobra VHF It will do for a starter one at least, checking the link out for the free course at GMDSS Courses - online SRC course with marine NAVTEX receiver and DSC VHF simulator quite a bit to take in but will give it a go!!


Steve