[BC] RE: How we got our first break in radio

[Jim Seaman]

>The FCC still issues new licenses for Radiotelegraph stations and 
>radiotelegraph operator's licenses but I have no idea why. If there is still a ship out 
>there somewher with telegraph equipment then you are correct they would be 
>required to have a T-2 operator. 
 
>The requirement for any Radiotelegraph stations on board a vessel were 
>eliminated around 1999. As far as I know there are no commercial land 
>radiotelegraph stations in the US still in operation. The Maritime Radio Historical 
>Society operates three or four of them to retain the maritime frequencies . They 
>opened a new one last month in Stoneham, MA.
 
Mike, nice to make your acquaintance here. You are right. Commercial RT basically went away in 1999 when GMDSS was fully implemented and Globe Wireless discontinued their "CW Superstation" services. The Coast Guard doesn’t listen on 600 anymore, but almost all the remaining coast stations still have the mode authorized even if it’s not commercially viable to use it. WLO and KLB may be the only commercial stations that even occasionally use it, but it has been for special events. Globe Wireless is still authorized, and they occassionally let MRHS use their licenses and frequencies. A couple of new RT stations were authorized last year in FL and WA, but they are also museum stations handling traffic for museum ships. I think my only point was that radiotelegraph is still authorized in the rules, and the operator licenses are still issued because RT was not deleted, but the legal requirement to be equipped for it and maintain watchkeeping was. Despite that, many older ships reputedly still carry it because of lingering GMDSS problems, including the high number of false alarms. So the remaining RT stations will basically do with CW what WLO has been doing with SSB, that is to serve a niche. Perhaps some year soon the FCC will delete the series and give the same authority to the GMDSS licensees, but I suspect some international agreement is holding them back.  

>All of the operator licenses now are for life except for the T-1, T-2, and 
>T-3 licenses they have to renewed every five years. I have taken all of the 
>exams and have a T-2 and GMDSS Maintainer/Operator's License with a Radar 
>endorsement. It is highly unlikely that I will ever see a T-1 I don't see myself 
>"shipping out" anytime soon. 
 
I now see that the FCC has converted all licenses except for the RT series over to lifetime since the middle of 2008. That’s a drag as I invariably forget to renew my T-2 and always end up filing for renewal within the grace period. At one time I was a test junkie and had them all except for the T-1 and the old aircraft RT endorsement. I had given some thought to getting the GMDSS op/maintainer licenses recently, just because, although I also doubt I will have much opportunity to use it. 
 
Regards,
Jim
 
 

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