Icom IC-M402 Marine Radio In Australia

[igooba]

Hi Everyone,

My American imported boat came with an installed Icom IC-M402 Marine Radio.
I can switch on and scan channels but it doesn't pickup anything.

Have tried the basics - check antenna, manual etc.

Should a USA marine radio work in Australia? (any difference?)

thanks for your help
Peter

[rockman]

See if you can switch it from US to International frequencies.

They use different frequencies, and some VHF radios have this ability (my ICOM does - but I don't have the model number handy).

[bartmac]

Australia uses 156.050-162.025Mhz VHF and 26.965-27.405Mhz
so if its adjustable should work

[puggsy]

Hi Peter...maybe you now have an extra dinghy anchor..just joking...
But be aware that [ in Western Australia at least] you must have a radio operators for VHF. No qualifications are necessary for 27 meg.
A friend [ yacht club member] has a handheld VHF and he claims he is covered for this certification under a blanket yacht club license...I am not so sure he is correct, as it is a qualification to operate the system rather than just a license. It does require an examination.
Some years back, I re-sat my commercial trading certificate , just to keep up to date, it was still current, and most of the blokes in the course were experienced crayfishermen...We all sat the radio course exam and the standards were set so high NONE of us passed...even though some ALREADY HELD THE CERTIFICATION...
The course teacher, a QUALIFIED OCEAN GOING BIG BOAT man, actually approached the radio people and told them straight they were expecting way too much...
Probably failing some because they had tfrouble with things like SEC- CURE-IT-TAY...

Have a nice day, all, I've had my beef.

[igooba]

Thanks guys, I think I have found by pressing a couple of buttons together to switch to international freq. I will try and see if it works next time I go out to the boat. Puggsy thanks for the heads up on the course, I intend to see if I can do a course with the local coast guard to get up to speed with the lingo and procedures.

[The Mutt]

The ACMA (The Australian Communications and Media Authority) is clamping down on unlicenced marine tranciever operation in all States and Territories of Oz, the people who hand out the fines and slowly coming on line, eventually Waterways Officers will be checking operators licences just as they check PFD's now, I'll try to find the article I read it in.

Glenn

[Cato]

As an Marine Radio Invigulator for the Office of Maritime Communications, I have noted over the years the resistance from recreational mariners to obtaining their VHF radio license.
the Courses offered by VMR/ Coast Guard/ Local Tafe are of a very good standard.
there appears to be some indignation that a test of competence is required just to use a radio.

Consider the situation where you are the recipant of a pan pan medico - and there is no other shore station responding - you do know how to do a pan pan medico relay... do you?

when we go to sea.. its really hard for the ambulance/Fire Brigade to turn up out there. It is encumbant on all of us to go to the rescue of any mariner who is in distress - it is Law - ask anyone who was in the '98 Hobart , that radio .. was the only lifeline between many vessels and rescuers. So when I'm out sailing with my wife and children, I really do hope you all can be great radio operators, so if I have to make a distress call, or I make a SEC-UR-I -TAY all ships, hazard to navigation ( as was the case last week with a dead logger head turtle) you recieve my call.. and pass it onto the authorities so boating is safer for all of us.


re Exam
all the QUestions on the exam are multiple choice ( so one of the four choices of the answer is correct)


with regards to licensing:-
ACMA some time ago changed the Ship LIcense for VHF to a Class license much like the 27 Mg H CB range - so no license for the ship apparatus is required. HOWEVER
VHF Marine Radio LIcense are required for those vessels fitted with a VHF Radio.. some one on board Must have the correct LIcense to operate the radio.

Paul

[Boblee]

Yeah thats great if you live somewhere they do the tests or you are able to be somewhere they do them.
Have had a vhf for five years and used it probably five times if I'm lucky as most places we go there is no coverage so use either the uhf,27meg or hf (mostly for weather reports) but have used the portable vhf from dinghy back.

[The Mutt]

Boblee, contact your local Amateur Radio Club, they should have someone that handle training and testing that might be able to get the authority for you to do the VHF marine licence there, alternatively get Amateur Radio Licence.

Glenn - VK2FUN

[Berber Boy]

I just took my MROCP last week but you only need MROVCP (25 multiple choice questions 70% pass mark) licensing for VHF and MROCP (50 multiple choice questions 70% pass mark) covers VHF and HF

http://www.amc.edu.au All the questions asked are online with a self assessment quiz. The Marine Radio Operators Handbook is also available.

http://www.vhfradioonline.com Online courses to get the Certificate

The New VHF with DSC require a unique MMSI: number for the DSC to work and that can only be obtained when you can show proof that you have the qualification above.

Pugsy, I think you are right and your friend is wrong. There maybe some MMSI's that are for a group commercial enterprise but that would not be valid in his own boat sailing under his own pleasure

It is a bit of a bind to do it but for me I have a duty of care to my passengers and grad kids especially and I think we need to be able to demonstrate that. in NSW they are getting very picky about these and the fine is $220

I have to wait two weeks for my results to come from Tasmania. or I will tell you! I have been able to connect my VHF to my Lowrance Plotter so that the DSC messgage plots my Longs / Lats etc. It seems to work well and both units talk to each other but have not tried on the water. Waiting in Hope

BB

[Mac26Mpaul]

I did that online course. Its great. You do practice exams all the way through the sections and then you do a final practice exam as many times as needed to get it right. All the questions covered in those practice exams were on the real test I did when I got an invigilator (just worded a bit different).

The invigilator I got is based at Daisy Hill in QLD and he doesnt charge anything for invigilating where as VRM at Jacobs Well put me onto a guy that wanted about 100 bucks from memory... If your worried about,, if doing an online course is good enough - I got 100 percent on the actual real exam with the invigilator.

The online course is cheap, easy, and gives you all you need.

I'v never actually used my radio though - rarely turn it on LOL

[Berber Boy]

I just took my MROCP last week but you only need MROVCP (25 multiple choice questions 70% pass mark) licensing for VHF and MROCP (50 multiple choice questions 70% pass mark) covers VHF and HF
I have to wait two weeks for my results to come from Tasmania. or I will tell you! I have been able to connect my VHF to my Lowrance Plotter so that the DSC messgage plots my Longs / Lats etc. It seems to work well and both units talk to each other but have not tried on the water. Waiting in Hope
BB

After nearly 3 weeks the Certificate came this morning. Not quite up to MACMPaul's brilliant effort of 100% but 98% to my clunky brain sounded pretty good. Can now apply for my MMSI number that the VHF demands before it work with DSC properly.

[Berber Boy]

Further on Group and Handheld registration. I came across the Regs on these as follows:

Group MMSIs
Groups of vessels can be called via DSC by a Group ID or Group MMSI. Group MMSIs are finding use by fleets and yacht races. Safety and Urgency DSC calls (“Announcements”) can be sent to a Group MMSI. Each vessel desiring to be part of a Group would enter the same Group MMSI into their DSC equipment, which usually can be named for convenience by the user.

Group MMSI numbers begin with a single 0 before the MID, so it takes the form 0503xxxxx (where x is any figure from 0 to 9).

Group MMSIs can be manually programmed into a DSC-equipped transceiver by the user at will (unlike the self-ID). Any number with a leading zero can be used as a Group MMSI, and they do not need to be registered, but the entity deciding on a Group MMSI must use the MID of the host country or country of vessel registration. The Group ID should be based on a key vessel in the Group, and a good way to proceed is to drop the last digit of the lead vessel’s MMSI and place a zero in front of the 503 as follows:

Example 1: a fleet of vessels has a lead or main vessel with a DSC self-ID of 503123456 and wishes to set up a Group MMSI for a special event. The group ID could be 050312345.

This would then be programmed into all fleet vessels as the special event Group MMSI.

Example 2: a fleet of vessels has a lead or main vessel with a DSC self-ID of 503080110. The Group MMSI could be 050308011. This would then be programmed into all fleet vessels as the special event Group MMSI.

Group MMSI numbers are not to be used for AIS transceivers.

MMSIs for Handheld "portable" VHF DSC transceivers.

AMSA recognises the safety potential of VHF marine transceivers with DSC capability. AMSA's policy for these units is to allocate MMSIs to individual radio transceivers rather than to a single vessel-specific MMSI. In Australia, these transceivers' MMSIs will have the format 5039xxxxx where x is any figure from 0 to 9.

These "portable" VHF DSC transceivers are only currently approved for DSC use on Australian vessels in Australian waters. When a handheld VHF transceiver changes ownership, AMSA is to be advised of the new owner's details.

The requirement to present a copy of an appropriate radio operator's qualification when applying for an MMSI also applies to MMSIs requested for the 'portable' VHF DSC transceivers described above.

[cruiser]

A little off tropic but after a conversation with one of the Coast Guard guys yesterday I have changed my mind about being a bit more 'on the ball' using my VHF.

I use to always give a call to marine rescue when going out and returning. Over time I have noticed that by far the majority of boats don't use their radios much for this purpose. Many with VHF just don't use them and just communicate with other boats on mobile phone or 27meg. I began feeling that I was going a bit 'over the top' regarding calling in and calling off when sailing 'locally'.

The Coastguard guy said they have a lot of problems with people being casual about it. People calling in saying 'come and get us' and not being able to give any real idea of where they are and because they have not logged on the Coastguard has no record of the boat, what they are looking for, where they intended going for the day or where to look. Apparently often people say we are going to Island X for the day and change their mind and go to Island Y, without letting Coastguard know - not a big help when Coastguard find they are overdue and are looking around Island X.

It might all sound a bit trivial but I can really see the frustration that marine rescue must feel when people don't 'go over the top' and communicate clearly with what they are doing.

This is a very useful thread. Thanks for all the info about registering DSC guys - must get that sorted out ASAP also.

[Berber Boy]

Thanks Cruiser. The trainer told us the same on the course and if you look up some of the Search and Rescue reports online it is amazing how some people set themselves up for tragedy without doing anything to minimise the risk by proper communication

Dave