How to operate a marine radio
Knowing how to operate a Marine Radio correctly is a key boating safety component. Understanding how marine radios function, knowing the correct channels to use and how to make Distress, Urgency, Safety and Routine calls is of paramount importance. When things don’t go as planned, the weather changes, you suffer mechanical issues or perhaps a medical problem on board the marine radio is the first ‘go to’ device to obtain assistance. The other advantages are being able to receive adverse marine weather and/or navigational information as well as calls from other vessels that may require assistance.
True North Marine Training introduced the Online Marine Radio Licence Course in response to many requests from 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 marine radio licence course has proven to be hugely successful and is one of our most popular courses where we are very proud to have assisted over 8500 candidates to quickly and easily obtain their Marine Radio Licence. At any given time we would have in excess of 250 people all around the country, from Karratha WA to Sale VIC, from Albany WA to Thursday Island QLD, enrolled in the Marine Radio Licence course. Some spend just a few hours studying and others a couple of days. However, to put it simply, if you just follow the system that we have put in place to obtain your Marine Radio Licence we guarantee you will obtain the licence on the 1st attempt.
The Online Marine Radio Licence Course allows candidates the opportunity of unlimited study online for the Marine Radio Licence exam regardless of where you live in Australia (and also overseas as we have many Australians living in the US, UK, South Africa, Singapore, Uruguay, The Netherlands and Dubai who obtain their licence using our process) with the added advantage of phone or email access to our Invigilator.
Are you unsure how to get a Marine Radio Licence or an MMSI number? Our short 3 minute video above will show you how easy it is and what to do!
Basic Marine Radio Operating Procedures
When taking your boat out on the water the safety of yourself, family and friends should be the number one priority. To acheive a high level of safety you should carry a radio that is specifically designed for the marine environment . You can use your marine radio to:
- monitor distress frequencies
- contact other vessels if you need help
- contact shore-based stations that can co-ordinate a rescue
- keep you up-to-date with weather information and navigational safety warnings.
Basic marine radio operating etiquette includes:
- using standard radio procedures
- always identifying yourself on air
- being familiar with your radio equipment
- being brief and mindful of your language
- listening before you talk
- always monitoring relevant distress frequencies.
Checking marine radio
Use the normal call and reply procedures for radio checks and follow these steps until you make a successful test radio transmission to a Limited Coast Station.
1. Before transmitting, listen
Before transmitting, listen for a period long enough to be satisfied that harmful interference will not be caused to communications already in progress.
2. When establishing communication
When establishing communication, calls should be made like this:
- speak the name, call sign or other identification of the station no more than three times
- use the words – ‘This is …’ to identify yourself
- for a second time – speak the name, call sign or other identification of the station no more than three times
- say ‘This call…’ immediately followed with the purpose of the call, and the word “over” (this is the invitation for the Limited Coast Station to respond).
For example:
‘Coast Radio Perth Coast Radio Perth Coast Radio Perth. This is Liberator 503771797 Liberator 503771797 Liberator 503771797.
Radio check requesting acknowledgement on frequency [say frequency].’
3. If the coast radio station does not respond
If the coast radio station being called does not respond:
- wait one minute
- check that your transmission will not interfere with any other communication
- providing the frequency is clear – repeat the test transmission twice.
4. If the coast station still does not reply
If the coast station still does not reply (to a call sent three times in the space of two minutes) stop calling and try again after an interval of three minutes.
5. Still no response
If there is still no response try another frequency.
6. No response received – check
Should no response be received – check:
- radio and tuning settings
- radio and antenna connections
- then attempt the test transmission again
- repeat these steps process until you are successful.
If you are not successful, you’ll need to identify and fix the problem prior to departing on your trip.
Testing marine radio transmissions
When you need to transmit marine radio signals for testing or technical adjustments:
- Undertake a marine radio check procedure.
- Make sure that it will not interfere with any communications traffic.
- Keep test signals to a minimum, particularly on frequencies used for distress, emergency and safety purposes.
- You can make brief transmissions to confirm that equipment is operating properly before starting a sea trip.
If you are going boating make sure you have a good pair of marine binoculars with you. Marine Binoculars are an invaluable item on board every vessel. Click here for our recommendations.
Thanks Peter for your help. I was studying at TAFE and failed the Radio exam twice. I really needed to get it finished to sit my Coxswain’s ticket and this really helped me a lot. Thanks heaps!
Are you looking for a great VHF Marine Radio? Click here to view our marine radio recommendations
Thanks so much for having this online. It was much easier than I thought and it didn’t take that long either, just a couple of hours of study and good value as well.
Types of Marine Radio Certificates
There are essentially 2 types of certificates:
- The Long Range Operators Certificate of Proficiency (LROCP) 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 Short Range Operators Certificate of Proficiency for VHF Only (SROCP) 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 LROCP 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 SROCP (VHF Only) Certificate will be sufficient.
NOTE: We do not receive many applications for the SROCP (VHF Only) and we do not generally recommend that applicants obtain this certificate. The simple reason is the cost to obtain the 2 certificates is the same.
However the problem occurs if you wish to upgrade the certificate. In the past we have had applicants with VHF only radio certificates who have sought to upgrade to the LROCP due to a number of reasons (required on a yacht in an official yacht race, to obtain a commercial certificate or even joining a Marine Rescue organisation as a volunteer etc). Unfortunately the OMC do not have an upgrade process. You simply have to do it all again with all the time and costs involved.
Regardless of which certificate you wish to apply for if you are a Boat Owner and you wish to upgrade your MF/HF or VHF Radio to a Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Radio, which is now the preferred type of radio to have on board, you will NOT be able to complete the radio registration process with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and obtain a Marine Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number for the radio unless you obtain your Marine Radio Operators Certificate first.
Knowledge Required for a Marine Radio Certificate
It is important to understand that the knowledge required to obtain a Marine Radio Certificate is not extensive and it is not difficult to obtain a Marine Radio Certificate. The level of knowledge required to pass the final exam (70% pass required) includes the following subjects:
- Knowledge of MF/HF and VHF marine radios
- Identify the difference between Ship Stations, Coast Radio Stations and Limited Coast Stations
- Understand and use the ‘Phonetic Alphabet’
- Use correct operating procedures and channels when operating a marine radio
- Understand Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications
- Understand Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Communications
- Understand the use of 406 MHz EPIRBS
- Understand the use of SART’s
- Understand Search and Rescue in Australia
- Identify the different types of radio equipment, their application and limitations
- Identify the components of a marine radio and the care and maintenance required with radio equipment and power sources
When operating a Marine Radio you should use the Phonetic Alphabet when requested to.
Tip: Try practicing on spelling your own boats name phonetically.
Hey Peter, just wanted to tell you I passed my radio exam first time. Working on a boat out of Darwin I don’t have time to go to TAFE at night so I was really glad I found your webpage to help me get my Radio Licence.
Peter, I just want to say one word ‘Brilliant’. I needed to obtain my marine radio licence quickly to be part of the crew in a yacht race. With your help I completed the whole process in 1 week and achieved 96% pass.
