Marine Radio - Legal or Not?

[Richard]

Does anyone know if it's illegal to install a marine radio into a land based vehicle and if so, why?

TIA
Richard

[olcoolone]

I believe it isn't as long as you use it correctly.

Many boaties have them mounted in there vehicles and at home.

[oldrev]

richard ,
as far as i know it's not illegal,
just have to steer clear of the emergency channels
IE. 88 on 27 meg set 16 on vhf set
and on vhf there are certain channels used for port authority operations as well
regards
ken

[Senirb]

You must be considering to do a few serious water crossings

[jamiecracker]

i use a hand held in my ute for work and am going to be installing a vhf very soon

[broke]

R marine radios any more powerful than 5 watt?

I thought anything more than 5 watt was illegal- the coppers run 25 watt radios out of interest!

Broke

[TOMUCH]

Whislt you do not need a licence (certificate of Proficiency) to own a VHF radio, you do need one to operate it.. There are many places that run these courses. I would try your local boating club or Air Sea Resuce if you live near the coastline... Google (do I need a VHF licence) Cheers TOMUCH

[Skeney]

Guys,

Tomuch is absolutely correct!

I have a background in small vessel operations up and down the West Australian coast. Technically, a license is required to operate a Marine VHF radio obtainable through TAFE or other such course providers (local marine rescue groups would likely run them too)

VHF used to be more expensive and usually the choice of commercial operators only. Since becoming more $$$ friendly a lot more recreational users now have them on board. Whether or not they have the qualification for them is another story...

I'm led to believe 5 watts is as high an output as legally allowed, the coppers may have special legislation or something in place allowing them to use high output radios... not sure. A good place to look would be ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) This is the gov. department responsible for the issue of licenses and compliance of relevent legislation.

Hope this helps- Skeney

[oldrev]

tomuch , skeney.
you guys are probably on the money but i bet not many of us pro fisho's around here ever bothered about getting a radio operators licence me included.
i've been using been using a vhf radio now for 26 years and never been questioned for a licence but it is sorta part of our class 5 ticket.
our old gme vhf is 1/25 watts i believe . lo/hi power.
if you dont make an issue about it no one will ever know you have got one
regards
ken

[Richard]

My reason for thinking about marine VHF is the far greater coverage than CB seeing that I live in East Arnhem Land NT.

There's also the option of having Sea Phone but that in itself I'm sure is illegal, again correct me if I'm wrong.

(Have a operators license as a requirment for my Coxswains ticket).

Richard

[Richard]

GME have a dual 27 MHz radio for both marine and CB all in the one unit operating at 4 Watts.

[url]http://www.gme.net.au/marine/transceivers/gx300.php[/url]

Richard

[oldrev]

richard
last time i used a seaphone via vhf was 1989 and it was like ringup/talkup/hangup it was that expensive to use
as well as everyone on the channel could listen in as well
it sorta depends on the reason to use the radio i guess
if it's for an emergency situation fine just get it use it if you have to and who gives a rats about the consequences .
if its for just vehicle to vehicle com then just get a uhf with the best aerial you can find /afford.
crap radio's work well with good aerials.
fancy radio's aren't worth 2bob with a lousy aerial
regards
ken

[9W6VX]

I'll second what Ken said.

In an emergency situation, you are allowed to use any frequency to transmit your Mayday call be it VHF, UHF or even HF even if you do not have a radio operator licence.

Crap radio with a good aerial is far better that a fancy radio with crap aerial! Tune and match the aerial to the radio with a high gain antenna and low SWR and you are in business!

Cheers

Brendon

[davis.16]

so long as you have a marine radio licence its fine. otherwise buy a radio scanner so u can listen but not talk...

cheers sam