I had a say on this topic a week or so back, and the gist of it is I agree. Then there are a couple here who cautioned about the unlikely event you went foreign and somehow or other got entangled with some officious officials who then decided you needed to be jailed under some obscure international radio treaty. Never heard of anybody getting in any such a jam. Kinda reminds me of the flap the wintering Canadians just went through here in Florida this week when it somehow became common knowledge that all foreigners in the state require an international driver's license to drive here. All the uber-law-abidding Canooks grabbed a phone and called somebody in the local government, who knew nothing of it. Turns out the int'l document's sole purpose is to translate other country's languages to English. Hey, maybe that's an issue for some too-proud-to-speak-English-here-in-the-US French Canadians, but Florida promptly put out the word that we are NOT gonna enforce that law against Canadians, and it will soon be fixed. My guess is the Bahamians (where most on this list "go foreign") are smart enough not to do something so dumb with your radio non-license. Rich Gano Calypso (GB42 Hull # 295) Panama City area, FL

I have not been yet to the Bahamas but you do need a reciprocal license to operate on the ham bands over there. You can see how to obtain the reciprocal license by visiting the Water Way RAdio Cruising club at www.waterwayradio.net   Rich Gano: Do you have a ham call sign??   73's Capt Bob Kovach KJ4UGE    MMSI: 367482710  (HF-SSB & VHF) Onboard M/Y ALLEZ! MT50 WB Lying Cocoa, FL MTOA 2631 AGLCA 1969, WRCC, USCG-ARC, USPS-ARC USPS SQUADRON,  CHARLESTON S.C. EMail: my_allez@yahoo.com From: Rich Gano <richgano@gmail.com> To: Great Loop List <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 1:15 AM Subject: Re: GL: license for my SSB I had a say on this topic a week or so back, and the gist of it is I agree. Then there are a couple here who cautioned about the unlikely event you went foreign and somehow or other got entangled with some officious officials who then decided you needed to be jailed under some obscure international radio treaty.  Never heard of anybody getting in any such a jam. Kinda reminds me of the flap the wintering Canadians just went through here in Florida this week when it somehow became common knowledge that all foreigners in the state require an international driver's license to drive here.  All the uber-law-abidding Canooks grabbed a phone and called somebody in the local government, who knew nothing of it. Turns out the int'l document's sole purpose is to translate other country's languages to English.  Hey, maybe that's an issue for some too-proud-to-speak-English-here-in-the-US French Canadians, but Florida promptly put out the word that we are NOT gonna enforce that law against Canadians, and it will soon be fixed. My guess is the Bahamians (where most on this list "go foreign") are smart enough not to do something so dumb with your radio non-license. Rich Gano Calypso (GB42 Hull # 295) Panama City area, FL _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

I'm not absolutely certain, but I believe we have the old "apples vs oranges" situation here. There are differences between amateur radio (ham) and marine radio installations and operation. Regarding MARINE radios, here in the USA, we boaters have been exempted from having a STATION license for our VHF Marine 2-way radio sets. I think Canada MAY be reciprocal on that matter. Things may have changed, but when I went through the USCGAux and US Power Squadrons courses years ago, I seem to remember that we were told that a STATION license for the vessel was required for any other device that emitted an RF signal (radar, HF marine SSB, etc.) even for use in the USA! Maybe that has changed. We were taught that the STATION license for the equipment was absolutely required to be legal in the waters of foreign countries. This is totally separate from what MAY be a requirement of other countries that any person who will OPERATE (talk on) a radio transmit have an OPERATOR permit. This used to be called a Third Class Radiotelephone Operator Permit, but may have a different name now. It used to be free of cost, but it may cost you as much as $160 now. There is no examination or test to my knowledge. I was going to submit application for my wife until I learned of the cost. Mine dates from 1981 or so and was free. Whether you may have to SHOW either or both of these licenses to authorities in foreign countries is a matter of conjecture. Regarding ham radios, your US (or Canadian) ham license PLUS a reciprocal permit from each foreign country where you plan to operate is required. For that, go with Bob Kovach's guide. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** D C "Mac" Macdonald ** * Grand Lake & OKC - OK * ** AGLCA (#217) & USPS ** * * (no current boat) * * ** USAF & FAA, Retired ** ** Amateur Radio K2GKK ** * * Since 30 Nov 1953 * * * * k2gkk@hotmail.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:42:25 -0800 > From: my_allez@yahoo.com > To: richgano@gmail.com; great-loop@lists.trawlering.com > Subject: Re: GL: license for my SSB > > I have not been yet to the Bahamas but you do need a reciprocal license > to operate on the ham bands over there. You can see how to obtain > the reciprocal license by visiting the Water Way RAdio Cruising club > at www.waterwayradio.net > > Rich Gano: Do you have a ham call sign?? > > 73's > > Capt Bob Kovach > KJ4UGE MMSI: 367482710 (HF-SSB & VHF) > Onboard M/Y ALLEZ! MT50 WB Lying Cocoa, FL > MTOA 2631 AGLCA 1969, WRCC, USCG-ARC, USPS-ARC > USPS SQUADRON, CHARLESTON S.C. > EMail: my_allez@yahoo.com > > From: Rich Gano <richgano@gmail.com> > To: Great Loop List <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 1:15 AM > Subject: Re: GL: license for my SSB > > I had a say on this topic a week or so back, and the gist of it is I agree. > Then there are a couple here who cautioned about the unlikely event you went > foreign and somehow or other got entangled with some officious officials who > then decided you needed to be jailed under some obscure international radio > treaty. Never heard of anybody getting in any such a jam. > > Kinda reminds me of the flap the wintering Canadians just went through here > in Florida this week when it somehow became common knowledge that all > foreigners in the state require an international driver's license to drive > here. All the uber-law-abidding Canooks grabbed a phone and called somebody > in the local government, who knew nothing of it. > > Turns out the int'l document's sole purpose is to translate other country's > languages to English. Hey, maybe that's an issue for some > too-proud-to-speak-English-here-in-the-US French Canadians, but Florida > promptly put out the word that we are NOT gonna enforce that law against > Canadians, and it will soon be fixed. > > My guess is the Bahamians (where most on this list "go foreign") are smart > enough not to do something so dumb with your radio non-license. > > Rich Gano > Calypso (GB42 Hull # 295) > Panama City area, FL