New VHF User

[GJ Carey]

On a recent family vacation/excuse to kayak every day in and around Rockland Maine, my paddling partner presented me with a brand new VHF radio (ICOM 72). Yes, he's a great paddling friend.

As I've never had a VHF before I wonder what I need to do before I can use it "legally". The questions I have are;

1. Do I need an operator licence, and/or attend a training course?

2. If so, whom do I contact regarding said licence and/or course?

3. How do I get a call sign?

Thanks in advance,

Galen

[ccarlson]

No license is needed for a marine VHF radio. Check this site for some info on channel usage.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/vhfchanl.html

Have fun!

[Bill Gwynn]

Start here:

http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/pages/ex...-Skills-3.shtml

and then click next at the bottom of the page. There are 3 pages on VHF radios.

[djlewis]

Call signs are not officially assigned for use with VHF marine radio. You make up whatever handles you want to use on a given day, or use your own name, or whatever. This works because VHF radios have very short ranges, normally just a few miles, so there is little risk of confusion in any given area.

So, typically an NSPN group, for example, might use a handle like "NSPN", or "NSPN group 1" or "Adam". Imaginative, eh? ;-)))

--David.

[GJ Carey]

Thanks everyone, this should get me off and running.