Afishionado Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 This (and others like it) is on offer at E-bay. The radios come from the USA and escape UK tax etc as they are sent as 'gifts'. What I want to know is are they compatable with UK vhf reg's and all that ?? Mad Mike SOLARA - VHF Marine Radio Uniden 25 Watt Full-Featured VHF Marine Radio This auction is for a black radio. All UK, Canada, USA & International Marine Channels Instant Channel 16 10 Weather Channels Selectable 1Watt / 25Watt High Visibility LED Display Front Mounted Speaker For Improved Sound Quality Transmit LED Indicator Weather Resistant Housing Weather Resistant Microphone Weather Resistant Microphone Connector Quote
domino Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 Mike, I think you will find that all radio transmitting equipment used in the UK has to be type approved and licensed by Ofcom (previously the Radiocommunications Agency) and will require a 'CE' mark/number... obviously visiting boats are exempt from this. VHF radios intended for the US market will not be 'CE' marked. Therefore, strictly speaking, it would be illegal to use it. Cheers, Alan Quote
Afishionado Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Posted September 20, 2004 Mike, I think you will find that all radio transmitting equipment used in the UK has to be type approved and licensed by Ofcom (previously the Radiocommunications Agency) and will require a 'CE' mark/number... obviously visiting boats are exempt from this. VHF radios intended for the US market will not be 'CE' marked. Therefore, strictly speaking, it would be illegal to use it. Cheers, Alan Ah but will it work OK that's the thing? I'll be damned if I will pay three times the price for the same thing with a sticker on it. Mad (but not with me money) Mike Quote
Newboy Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 Yes Whippet is right, when I bought my Navman I enquired about usa model and was told they are incompatible with the uk/euro network as they use a slightly different range of frequency. You can be prosecuted for using such equipment, same as not having a VHF licence, however, when I was out a few time, I'd notice boats with antennas but no licence displayed on their portside, so I suppose it is only illegal if you get caught. The only situation I would think about getting an usa unit is for a handheld only use for channel 16 in an emergency, if the price is really dirt cheap. Quote
domino Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 Mike, I think you will find that all radio transmitting equipment used in the UK has to be type approved and licensed by Ofcom (previously the Radiocommunications Agency) and will require a 'CE' mark/number... obviously visiting boats are exempt from this. VHF radios intended for the US market will not be 'CE' marked. Therefore, strictly speaking, it would be illegal to use it. Cheers, Alan Ah but will it work OK that's the thing? I'll be damned if I will pay three times the price for the same thing with a sticker on it. Mad (but not with me money) Mike From a quick search on the internet I would say that it will work fine... as far I can make out the frequencies for channels 1 - 88 are identical... as you might expect as craft travel the world. What you wont have are the M1 & M2 channels... whatever they're for? Yes, it will work... as for the legality... when does anyone check? I don't think the lifeboat crew will check before rescueing you!! Quote
Newboy Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 If I can remember right, the M1 and M2 channels are for racing, i.e., say a club meeting and they are doing a roung the IOW race and the club house can broadcast the transmition thru either M1 or 2. Quote
duncan Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 I believe some channels are different in the US but if the radio has the UK settings then you operational ones will work fine. If it's non DSC then differences are going to be small. They may well send as gift but if 'intercepted ' you will be liable for the import duty, VAT etc Fitting it to your craft is, as said, illegal. Additionally the regulators have been pressuring eBay on these sales for a long time and are 'monitoring' events. Ebay continue to defend their actions vigorusly (non disclosure) but my guess is they will tighten up on the auctions of some items at some point as a compromise ans to avoid possibly more damaging legislation. Re licences expect to see more fines/procecutions going forwards as Ofcom and the DTI etc establish the basis for them. The Communications Act that made the RCA part of Ofcom changed the way that they prosecute. The possibility of taking the case to Crown Court for simple unlicensed use has now gone, along with the unlimited fine and/or 12 mths in prison. At present a prosecution would take place through the Magistrates Court leaving a maximum fine of Quote
Afishionado Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Posted September 20, 2004 Thanks for that very informative answer Duncan. I am interested in your statement (As you can buy some very cheap warranteed,CE plated, fixed sets now I am not sure I would bother with these? ) I haven't seen anything at much under Quote
Newboy Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 If it's cost you want to keep down and only want to use the set in an emergency, I suppose you can always hide a handheld in the kit bag and only use when neccessary. I can also see the attraction, when I bought my navman, it cost me just under Quote
domino Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 Just keep an eye on ebay, as more and more boat owners are changing to DSC and there are good but rather old fashion radio coming on the market. ... and as if by magic... ebay item no 2490462316. Quote
Afishionado Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Posted September 20, 2004 Just keep an eye on ebay, as more and more boat owners are changing to DSC and there are good but rather old fashion radio coming on the market. ... and as if by magic... ebay item no 2490462316. Funnily enough I had just bookmarked that one before coming to this site Mad Mike Quote
Adam F Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 Personally I see the VHF as one of the main pieces of safety kit on your vessel. Really it is the ONLY contact you have back to land. Some days it is rather comforting to hear other users, the coastguard and the met office weather over the radio - it reminds me that help is only a button away. Bob F has an old, dodgy unit and has terible problems transmitting (sorry bob!) IMHO I would try and make the cost saving elsewhere and buy a new, UK, legal, fully functioning unit. The Navman DSC can now be found for under Quote
Newboy Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 I have the navman and it's great, only problem is not been able to connect my gps to the dsc. Sent an email to Seanark(?) who I bought the radio from, they were very helpful, they got in touch with Navman and got me a wiring diagram to hook up the 2 units, unfortunately it still doesn't work . Maybe I will upgrade the gps in future to a navman gps/chartplotter and use the dedicated plug. Quote
Paul D Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 Mike, The USA models will work fine over here but they are illegal as they are not type approved. However, I have in my possession the old radio from Neo which needs is a clean up of the connector and a mounting bracket and voila a legal ( albeit tatty ) VHF radio. You sort out the gelcoat chip on the front of the boat and it's all yours AND - just looked at the item bookmarked on E-Bay and that is the EXACT model mine is ( but not as rusty ) Quote
Afishionado Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Posted September 20, 2004 Mike, The USA models will work fine over here but they are illegal as they are not type approved. However, I have in my possession the old radio from Neo which needs is a clean up of the connector and a mounting bracket and voila a legal ( albeit tatty ) VHF radio. You sort out the gelcoat chip on the front of the boat and it's all yours AND - just looked at the item bookmarked on E-Bay and that is the EXACT model mine is ( but not as rusty ) You gotta deal Paul Can you let me know when I can come down and do the do on the boat? I can generaly manage mid week days. Mad Mike Quote
Paul D Posted September 20, 2004 Report Posted September 20, 2004 Mike, No rush. Hows about after Cuba ? Quote
duncan Posted September 21, 2004 Report Posted September 21, 2004 Happy endings.......ah and I agree completely with Adam. re wiring a DSC radio to the GPS this shouldn't be any problem at all but you may have to setup up the interface from the GPS in software. Go into menu and it may have a choice of NMEA in / out (some older ones only have one connection) make sure it's out and, if choices, play around with the settingds/message until the radio is happy! Quote
Afishionado Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Posted September 21, 2004 Mike, No rush. Hows about after Cuba ? Whenever you want Paul, I'm not off untill the 11th Oct. Mad Mike Quote
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