Recommendations For
Marine Communication
Introduction
Recommendations For Marine Communication
•
The frequencies your radio uses are set aside to enhance safety afloat and for vessel navigation and operational messages over a range suitable for nearshore voyages. If the two (2) watt maximum output of your radio isn’t sufficient for the distances you travel from the coast, consider purchasing a CobraMarine™ hand held radio with up to five (5) watts of output power or installing a Cobra® fixed mount radio with up to 25 watts of output power. (Visit www.cobra.com or your local dealer for model availability.)
If you will be going far offshore, you should consider adding even more powerful radio equipment such as HF single side band or satellite radio for your vessel.
The U.S. Coast Guard does not endorse cellular telephones as substitutes for marine radios. They generally cannot communicate with rescue vessels and, if you make a distress call on a cellular telephone, only the party you call will be able to hear you. Additionally, cellular telephones may have limited coverage over water and can be hard to locate. If you don’t know where you are, the Coast Guard will have difficulty finding you if you’re using a cellular telephone.
However, cellular telephones can have a place on board where cellular coverage is unavailable — to allow social conversations and keep the marine frequencies uncluttered and available for their intended uses.
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
FCC LICENSING INFORMATION
•
CobraMarine™ VHF radios comply with the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) requirements that regulate the Maritime Radio Service.
The radio operates on all currently allocated marine channels and is switchable for use according to U.S.A., International, or Canadian regulations. It features instant access to emergency Channel 16 and calling Channel 9 as well as NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) All Hazards Radio with Alert that can be accessed by pressing one (1) key.
Station License
An FCC ship station license is no longer required for any vessel traveling in U.S.A. waters which uses a VHF marine radio, RADAR, or EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), and which is not required to carry radio equipment. However, any vessel required to carry a marine radio on an international voyage, carrying a HF single side band radiotelephone, or carrying a marine satellite terminal must obtain a station license.
FCC Information
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
FCC license forms and applications for ship and land stations can be downloaded through the Internet at www.fcc.gov/forms. Forms can also be obtained by calling the FCC at
International Station License
If your vessel will be entering the sovereign waters of a country other than the U.S.A. or Canada, you should contact that country’s communications regulatory authority for licensing information.
Radio Call Sign
Currently, the FCC does not require recreational boaters to have a license. The United States Coast Guard recommends that the boat’s registration number and state of registry (e.g., Illinois 1234 AB) be used as a call sign and be clearly visible on the vessel.
Canadian Ship Station License
This portable VHF radiotelephone is suitable ONLY for voluntary carriage onboard Canadian ships NOT subject to the Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999. You may need a license if your vessel is operated in Canadian waters. Please contact the nearest field office or write: Industry of Canada, Radio Regulatory Branch,
Attn: DOSP, 300 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C8.
User Responsibility And Operating Locations
All users are responsible for observing domestic and foreign government regulations and are subject to severe penalties for violations. The VHF frequencies on your radio are reserved for marine use and require a special license to operate from land, including when your boat is on its trailer.
NOTE
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two (2) conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
FCC Warnings: Replacement or substitution of transistors, regular diodes, or other parts of a unique nature, with parts other than those recommended by Cobra® may cause a violation of the technical regulations of part 80 of the FCC Rules, or violation of type acceptance requirements of part 2 of the rules.
4 English | Nothing comes close to a Cobra® 5 |
