Have been using son in laws tinny to potter around in for last couple of years and mentioned that I was going to look at a Sonata 8 about an hour away by boat and might take the tinny .
He said sure then as an after thought said " make sure you have your licence just in case"
Licence ,what licence!
Never needed one down in Vic back in 80's and 90's. So hastily signed up for one day course end of month.
I also have an RROCP licence which I though lasted lifetime Do I need to update that?

Extract from Sandringham yacht Club
"
If you are operating either MF/HF or VHF marine equipment, you should be in possession of a Restricted Radiotelephone Operators Certificate of Proficiency (RROCP). From February 1999, the RROCP has been replaced by two new small vessel radio qualifications. The Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) will be valid for persons operating both MF/HF and VHF marine equipment, while the Marine Radio Operators VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP) will be valid for the operation of VHF marine equipment only. Both of these qualifications will include knowledge of a new marine radio-communications technique known as digital selective calling or DSC. The course is intended as a guide for the use of marine radio equipment on small craft and for operators to gain one of the following: Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (ROCP) or Radio Operators VHF Certificate of Proficiency (ROVCP) Thursday July 26th 7pm - 10pm Thursday August 2nd 7pm - 10pm Thursday August 9th 7pm - 10pm Thursday August 16th 7pm - 8.30pm (Exam) Cost: $195.00"
As I don't intend to Ocean race anymore I am guessing I don't need to upgrade to use vhf or hf. Or do I.

Thanks cisco thats clarifys a lot.
After spending hours trawling through all the sites I could find this arvo I have established that the RROCP licence is still for life but it is recommended replacing with newer certificate which includes DSC .As you state there are no DSC capable stations up here I'll
leave as is but will study up on newer techniques .

Cisco said.....

These stations may use HF, VHF and UHF equipment.


Not the HF, for that you need a Ham licence.

This is heresay gleaned I believe from a fisho's website. Allegedly someone had their rego claim refused on the grounds that they had a VHF radio but no license to operate it.

I think it's bull$hite but insurance is a funny business. What do you think?

Yet to do that course sir j

nswsailor said..
Cisco said.....

These stations may use HF, VHF and UHF equipment.


Not the HF, for that you need a Ham licence.

I use HF just about everyday for work. Like Cisco, I have the ROCPR wich is perpetual in its validity. I do not hold a HAM licence. I would like to do a more recent course as I am sure some things have changed.

Cisco, I couldn't be certain either but it sounds reasonable enough.

Personally I think HF is obsolete. Throwing a carrier pigeon out the window would sometimes get you a better response.

Toph said..
Cisco, I couldn't be certain either but it sounds reasonable enough.

Personally I think HF is obsolete. Throwing a carrier pigeon out the window would sometimes get you a better response.

I agree. With the small amount of HF radio use I have had has been a bit hit and miss. A lot depends on atmospheric conditions and there is a lot of distortion.

HF radios are expensive, say $5,000 for a good set up and compared to the cost of a satellite phone they don't make much sense. With a sat phone you could be 90% sure of making a connection.

Radio amateur license / Aus prefix VK /
is not for life
and you strictly limited to Ham bands.
/ 160, 80, 40, 20, 2 metres / radios are
typically all bands but TX is by Aus law
enabled only for ham bands. Some models
can by hacked to open.

I have a SSB radio which I know I need to get a license for. Didn't know I needed one for the VHF.

McNaughtical said..
I have a SSB radio which I know I need to get a license for. Didn't know I needed one for the VHF.

You don't need one for either McNautical.

You're required to have one.

Shotchas said..
I did this online course to get an MROCP in NSW

www.marineradiolicence.com.au/

I did this course too.

Do it at your own pace & when you're ready a bloke from Marine Rescue came & tested me - too easy

I was wondering, after reading this thread, are you guys and girls aware of what are you saying?

If this was a recepie for making bread, all one would get is concrete blocks.

No person would be served with so much controversial information since Marx's "The Capital" or the Bible itself.

This is awful!!!

The Online Marine Radio Course All Hands on Deck Maritime Training introduced the Online Marine Radio Course in 2009 in response to requests from many people all around the country for assistance in obtaining their Marine Radio Licence and who wanted to be able to study online before sitting the final written examination. The online course has proven to be hugely successful and is one of our most popular courses. Since 2009 we have assisted many thousand of people to quickly and easily obtain their Marine Radio licence. The Online Marine Radio Course allows candidates the opportunity of unlimited study online for the Marine Radio Certificate exam regardless of where you live in Australia (and also overseas as we have had people in the US, UK, South Africa, Singapore, Uruguay, The Netherland and Dubai use the process) with the added advantage of phone or email access to our Invigilator. At any given time we would have in excess of 150 people around the country, from Karratha WA to Sale VIC, from Albany WA to Thursday Island QLD, completing the course. Who should have a Marine Radio Licence? A Marine Radio Licence is required if you are operating Marine VHF and/or MF/HF Radios. The licence does not have anything to do with whether the vessel is recreational or commercial. If you intend obtaining a commercial qualification such as a Coxswain or Master V you need to have the licence anyway however it is simply about having the knowledge to operate Marine VHF and/or MF/HF Radios. If you currently have a Marine VHF and/or MF/HF Radio on board your vessel and you do not have a Marine Radio Licence you will find that it will be necessary to obtain a licence if you intend to up grade your radio to the popular and much preferred Digital Selective Call (DSC) type of radio. To access the full features of these radio requires the radio to be registered and the issue of a Marine Mobile Service Identity number (MMSI). To obtain an MMSI you need to provide your Marine Radio Licence number. You can enroll in this course at any time from the enrolment link on this page and on completion of enrolment you will receive: A FREE downloaded version of the Marine Radio Handbook and/or the VHF Radio Handbook, Access to additional training material and resources related to Marine Radio knowledge and operation, Unlimited access to over 350 questions of a similar nature to the final exam and Access to our Senior Trainer/Exam Supervisor via phone and email. The cost for this course is $59.00. Types of Marine Radio Certificates There are essentially 2 types of certificates: The Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) which is for operating both VHF radios (short range radios) and Medium Frequency/High Frequency (MF/HF) Radios (which are designed for long range transmission) and The Marine Radio Operators VHF Only Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP) is designed for those who are only carrying and/or operating a Very High Frequency (VHF) (Short Range) radio. Basically if you intend travelling on offshore coastal voyages, are part of a yacht race crew, or applying for commercial qualifications such as a Coxswain's or Master V certificate, you should obtain an [b]MROCP Certificate. THIS IS THE PREFERRED CERTIFICATE TO OBTAIN. If you are operating small recreational vessels in harbours and bays or staying near the coast then an MROVCP (VHF Only) Certificate will be sufficient


This is from the horses mouth.... from the website provided by Scotchas....

Hope this clarifies.... lol
[/b]

I held a master class 5 for more than 30 years. I did have a radio license in the '80's but they disappeared when it cost the government more to administer than the collected fees. I have never had a license for HF though I used them a lot in the navy. I don't know anyone personally who has a marine radio license, the fishermen certainly don't. DSC radios is a different matter.