Marine band license??

[waskawood]

Do you need any kind of FCC license to operate a marine band radio?

[castmaster]

i've been told you only need a license to operate one from shore NOT on the water.

[Capt. Don*]

For most situations, unless you are operating a radio from an inspected vessel for hire, you do not need a radio license. You will not need a station license for a pleasure boat, but will if operating a shore station. The shore station is typically not enforced unless you are in an area that is monitored by the USCG. The station license covers the radio, the radio license covers the operator of the radio. Check the FCC HSOforum for further details.

[waskawood]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the info.

[PerchJerker]

Quote:

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shore station is typically not enforced unless you are in an area that is monitored by the USCG

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A guy on the east side of Mille Lacs got nailed for it last year or the year before.

[Orlip]

If you have a vhf with DSC you need a license to use the DSC feature. You can get more info at DSC Info

[Capt. Don*]

I was wondering if and when they may crack down on some of these people. I didn't mean to infer that operating a shore station without a license was ok, sorry it looked that way.

If you want to use DSC, you don't need a "license", just an MMSI number, they are free, just sign up online.

[PerchJerker]

I think a lot of people do it thinking they can get away with it. It made pretty big news in some circles when this guy got busted. I know of a house on the east side of mille lacs, about a mile off the lake, that has a vhf antenna mounted about 30 feet off the ground, don't know if he has a license for it or not ........

[UMDSportsman]

Does anybody know how to get a license, or what they cost? Know people with them, and curious.