It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

VHF Marine Band radios, protocol, radio communication theory, practical advice; AIS; DSC; MMSI; EPIRB.
K Albus
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Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:32 pm
Location: White Lake, Michigan

It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Postby K Albus » Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:46 pm

While reading BoatU.S. Magazine this month, I learned that the FCC has issued new rules making it legal to use portable handheld VHF radios while ashore. Such radios may now be used in areas adjacent to the water, for purposes relating to the operational and business needs of an associated vessel. Calls must be limited to the minimum practicable transmission time - no idle chatter. The following link leads to the Report and Order which includes the rule change, along with several other rule changes:https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-16-119A1.pdf

[UPDATE:

For more information on this topic, see a more recent thread which includes the actual emended regulations.

A sidebar topic about handheld radio MMSI has been split into its own discussion.

--jimh]

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Don McIntyre - MI
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Re: It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Postby Don McIntyre - MI » Thu Mar 30, 2017 4:45 pm

It's nice to see that they've caught up to reality.

Tom Hemphill
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Re: It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Postby Tom Hemphill » Thu Mar 30, 2017 5:51 pm

Relaxing the rules on this is a good thing. I can now easily and legally test the transmit and receive capabilities of my equipment.

jimh
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Re: It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Postby jimh » Thu Mar 30, 2017 10:29 pm

Kevin--great information. Thanks for posting.

ConB
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Location: Suttons Bay, MI

Re: It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Postby ConB » Sat Apr 01, 2017 7:12 pm

I plead the 5th on how I have used my hand held in the past.

Con
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