Boat Forum / Electronics / July 2009

I've been looking at the See-Me active radar reflector.  Any comments on it
would be appreciated.

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org

Well, yes and no, it's not......

For US boats, the FCC says:

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?
job=licensing&id=ship_stations

"Who Needs a Ship Station License
You do not need a license to operate a marine VHF radio, radar, or
EPIRBs aboard voluntary ships operating domestically. The term
"voluntary ships" refers to ships that are not required by law to carry
a radio. Generally, this term applies to recreation or pleasure craft.
The term "voluntary ships" does not apply to the following:

  1. Cargo ships over 300 gross tons navigating in the open sea;
  2. Ships certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry more than 6
passengers for hire in the open sea or tidewaters of the U.S.;
  3. Power driven ships over 20 meters in length on navigable
waterways;
  4. Ships of more than 100 gross tons certified by the U.S. Coast
Guard to carry at least one passenger on navigable waterways;
  5. Tow boats of more than 7.8 meters in length on navigable
waterways; and,
  6. Uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels required to carry
a VHF radio.
  7. Ships required to carry an Automatic Identification System (AIS)
transceiver by the U.S. Coast Guard regulations enacted pursuant to the
Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2000."

Either class of AIS transponder is NOT a "marine VHF radio", though it
operates on two their old marine operator channels.

Of course, in true bureaucratic form, FCC has a muddled legalese of
conflicting rules and regs only a Philadelphia lawyer can read:

"The GMDSS regulations are contained in 47 C.F.R. Part 80. Most of the
GMDSS regulations are in Subpart W of Part 80, but Subpart W also cross-
references certain other FCC rules, as follows (the cross-referencing
Subpart W is listed parenthetically after the cross-referenced rule):
13.2 (80.1073(a)), 13.21 (80.1073(a)), 80.334 (80.1114), 80.335
(80.1114), 80.836 (80.1065(b)(5)(iii)), 80.933 (80.1065(b)(5)(iii))."

Does 80.1065(b)(5)(iii) supercede 80.933 or is it separate in parens??
Who the hell set sails and read this?.....almost noone.

Look closely at your copy of:
Report and Order, PR Docket No. 90-480, FCC 92-19, 7 FCC Rcd 951 (1992)
to see some changes to GMDSS rules.

==================================================================

On a separate issue, I don't understand this:

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=operations_2
&id=ship_stations

"What are the requirements regarding communications personnel aboard
GMDSS ships?
The FCC requires two licensed radio operators to be aboard all GMDSS
certified ships, one of whom must be available to act as a dedicated
radio operator during a distress situation. The radio operators must be
holders of a GMDSS Radio Operator's License. The GMDSS radio operator is
an individual licensed to handle radio communications aboard ships in
compliance with the GMDSS regulations, including basic equipment and
antenna adjustments. The GMDSS radio operator need not be a radio
officer.
Another IMO Convention requires all masters and mates to hold the GMDSS
Radio Operator's License and attend a two week training course and
demonstrate competency with operation of the GMDSS equipment. These
requirements would also carry to any person employed specifically to act
as a dedicated radio operator if the ship elected to carry such a
position."

DSC, the selective calling and distress messaging part of your
unlicensed VHF radio they told you didn't require a license, is PART OF
GMDSS!  So, requires TWO licensed radio operators holding GMDSS Radio
Operator's Licenses, one of which must be free to operate the GMDSS
equipment during emergencies.  All masters and mates must hold GMDSS
Radio Operator's Licenses and attend a two week training course and
demonstrate competency with operation of the GMDSS Equipment.

The question has never been adequately answered......What about using
the DSC part of GMDSS on a sailboat that has no license at all??.....

It's a bureaucratic nightmare........

Then there's Maritel's money grab:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-03-3669A1.doc

"Domestic vessels would be charged an initial registration fee of $300
(for mandatory carriage vessels) or $375 (for non-mandatory carriage
vessels), with an annual renewal fee of $75.  Foreign vessels subject to
the SOLAS Convention would be charged a $75 annual fee.  Shore stations
would be charged an initial fee of $4,500 per site for processing and RF
engineering study, and a $750 annual renewal fee thereafter."

How much money you got for AIS transponders?  That was in 2003!  It's
STILL on the FCC's website!

You'll need to keep checking:

http://www.hallikainen.org/FCC/FccRules/CiteFind/080373.htm

as they can't seem to make up their minds even which of Maritel's
precious coast station channels they're going to use for AIS.  Early AIS
equipment, like you may have purchased use, might not operate on the
newer channels Maritel and the FCC have been haggling over to maximize
profits....??

As you can see, the FCC websites are a hodge-podge of GMDSS intersperced
with snippets about AIS.  The Coast Guard is more sure of itself, even
though it hasn't a clue, most of the time.  At least there's some less
conflicting information:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/ais/default.htm

I think you need to first see if that box you bought is "AIS Certified"
by both FCC and USCG:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/ais/AIS_Certification.htm
There's a ton of pointers, of course, to a hodge podge of rules and
regulations.  So, we go here:
http://cgmix.uscg.mil/Equipment/EquipmentSearch.aspx
Click the box that leads to certifications up to include toilet paper
and pick:
Automatic Identification System (AIS)- 165.155
from the pick list.
THERE YA GO!  THERE'S ONLY 22 DIFFERENT UNITS CERTIFIED BY USCG!
Is one of these YOURS?  If not....dump it...you can't use it.

DSC on GMDSS is "just another VHF radio", too.  But, according to the
rules not hearsay on the docks, the licensed ship must have TWO trained,
LICENSED GMDSS operators, one of which must not be encumbered to another
job in an emergency, to operate it.  I suspect AIS to come under the
same sort of digital rules, once they get it sorted out.  Your license-
free radio is only for use on certain channels and ONLY for voice
transmissions, not GMDSS/DSC and I suspect especially Class "A" AIS
which is a radio aid to navigation.

I still don't understand how an unlicensed pleasure boat with no GMDSS
operator or skill is allowed to use DSC, except in an emergency
situation, to call his buddies over DSC.  DSC is part of GMDSS.  And the
rules say:

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=operations_2
&id=ship_stations

"What are the requirements regarding communications personnel aboard
GMDSS ships?
The FCC requires two licensed radio operators to be aboard all GMDSS
certified ships, one of whom must be available to act as a dedicated
radio operator during a distress situation. The radio operators must be
holders of a GMDSS Radio Operator's License. The GMDSS radio operator is
an individual licensed to handle radio communications aboard ships in
compliance with the GMDSS regulations, including basic equipment and
antenna adjustments. The GMDSS radio operator need not be a radio
officer.
Another IMO Convention requires all masters and mates to hold the GMDSS
Radio Operator's License and attend a two week training course and
demonstrate competency with operation of the GMDSS equipment. These
requirements would also carry to any person employed specifically to act
as a dedicated radio operator if the ship elected to carry such a
position. "

Of course, true to form, it has to be a hodge podge of nonsense only an
advanced law firm specializing in FCC law can understand:

"Where are the GMDSS regulations contained?
The GMDSS regulations are contained in 47 C.F.R. Part 80. Most of the
GMDSS regulations are in Subpart W of Part 80, but Subpart W also cross-
references certain other FCC rules, as follows (the cross-referencing
Subpart W is listed parenthetically after the cross-referenced rule):
13.2 (80.1073(a)), 13.21 (80.1073(a)), 80.334 (80.1114), 80.335
(80.1114), 80.836 (80.1065(b)(5)(iii)), 80.933 (80.1065(b)(5)(iii))."

But, for those of you with licenses that go offshore, notice it's a SHIP
LICENSE, not a pleasure boat radio license, and the rules of part 80 are
for SHIP LICENSEES to follow.  I agree it's crazy
47CFR part 80.1065(b)(5)(iii)))))))))))))) not withstanding.  
Who the hell writes this sh.t?