FCC Commercial Element 1 Question Pool Flashcards

Flashcards generated from the FCC Commercial Element 1 Question Pool covering Rules & Regulations, Communication Procedures, Equipment Operations, and Special Maritime Safety Systems.

What FCC certification requirement applies to marine transmitting apparatus used aboard United States vessels?

only transmitters certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for Part 80 operations are authorized.

what Transmitting equipment is authorized for use by a station in the maritime services

unless specifically accepted only transmitter certified by the federal communications commission for part 80 operations

Small passenger vessels that sell 20 to 150 nautical miles from the nearest land must have what additional equipment?

MF-HF SSB Transceiver

What equipment is programmed to initiate transmission of distress alerts and calls to individual stations?

DSC Controller

What is the minimum transmitter power level required by the FCC for a medium-frequency transmitter aboard a compulsory fitted vessel?

At least 60 watts PEP

Shipboard transmitters using F3E emission (FM voice) may not exceed what carrier power limit?

$25\text{ watts}$.

What commercial radio operator license is required to operate a fixed-tuned ship RADAR station with external controls?

No radio operator authorization is required.

When is a marine radio operator, permit or higher license required for aircraft communication?

When operating on frequencies below 30 MHz not allocated exclusively to aeronautical mobile services

Which individuals are ineligible to be issued a commercial radio operator license?

Individuals who are unable to send and receive correctly by telephone spoken messages in English.

What are the operator license requirements for a passenger ship equipped with a GMDSS installation?

Two operators on board must hold a GMDSS Radio Operator License or a Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator License, depending on the ship's operating areas.

What is the minimum operator license requirement for ships subject to the Great Lakes Radio Agreement?

Marine Radio Operator Permit.

What is a requirement of every commercial operator on duty and in charge of a transmitting system?

The original license or a photocopy must be posted or an operator‘s personal possession and available for inspection

Radio watches for compulsory radio telephone stations will include the following

VHF channel 16 continuous watch

All compulsory equipped, cargo ships (except those operating on our GMDSS regulations or in a VTS) while being navigated outside of a harbor or port shall keep a continuous radio telephone watch on.

2182 kHz and Ch-16

When watch is required on 2182kHz, at how many minutes past the house must a 3 minute silent period be observed

00,30

what are the mandatory DSC watch keeping band/channels

8 MHz HF DSC, 1 other HF DSC, 2 MUz MF DSC and VHF Ch-70

Where must every commercial operator on duty keep their license or proof of qualification?

The original license or a photocopy must be posted or in the operator's personal possession and available for inspection.

What continuous watch must compulsory radiotelephone stations maintain while at sea?

A continuous watch on VHF channel 16.

When a radio watch is required on $2182\text{ kHz}$, at what times past the hour must a 3-minute silent period be observed?

At 00 and 30 minutes past the hour.

What are the mandatory Digital Selective Calling (DSC) watchkeeping channels and bands?

$8\text{ MHz}$ HF DSC, 1 other HF DSC, $2\text{ MHz}$ MF DSC, and VHF Ch-70.

Who is required to make entries in a station's required service or maintenance log?

The operator responsible for the station operation or maintenance

Who holds responsibility for the proper maintenance of station logs?

The station licensee and the radio operator in charge of the station.

Where must ship station logs be kept during voyage

At the principal radio, telephone operating position

How long must station logs containing entries relating to distress or disaster situations be retained?

For a period of 3 years from the last date of entry, unless notified by the FCC.

How long must station logs be retained if they contain no entries relating to distress or disaster situations?

For a period of 2 years from the last date of entry.

Where on board a ship must the GMDSS radio log be kept?

At the GMDSS operating position.

Are key letters or abbreviations permitted in GMDSS Radio Logbooks?

Yes, key letters or abbreviations may be used in GMDSS Radio Logbooks if their meaning is noted in the log.

What regulations govern the operation of FCC-licensed ship stations in international waters?

Part 80 of the FCC Rules plus international Radio Regulations and agreements to which the United States is a party.

Who exercises ultimate control of service at a ship's radio station?

The master of the ship.

Which vessels are required by international agreement to carry radio equipment for safety of life at sea (SOLAS)?

Cargo ships of more than $300\text{ gross tons}$ and vessels carrying more than 12 passengers.

What is a bridge-to-bridge station?

A VHF radio station located on a ship's navigational bridge or main control station that is used only for navigational communications.

Under what circumstance may a VHF bridge-to-bridge transmission exceed $1\text{ watt}$?

When rounding a bend in a river or traveling in a blind spot.

How may a ship station identify itself when transmitting on VHF bridge-to-bridge Channel 13?

It may be identified by the name of the ship in lieu of call sign.

What is the primary method for preventing radiocommunication interference to other stations?

Determining that a frequency is not in use by monitoring the frequency before transmitting.

What is required of stations that establish initial contact on $2182\text{ kHz}$ or Ch-16?

The stations must change to an authorized working frequency for the transmission of messages.

What is the correct order of priority for maritime radiotelephone communications?

Distress, Urgency, and Safety.

How frequently must a station using telephony emission identify itself during transmissions?

At the beginning and end of each transmission and at 15-minute intervals.

Which phonetic words represent the letters E, M, and S in the International Phonetic Alphabet?

Echo, Mike, Sierra.

What is the definition of a Distress communication?

An internationally recognized communication indicating that the sender is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate assistance.

What spoken word repeated three times initiates a radiotelephone Distress call?

MAYDAY.

What spoken word repeated three times before a call serves as the international Urgency signal?

PAN PAN.

Under whose authority may an Urgency signal concerning ship or personnel safety be sent?

Either the Master of the ship or the person responsible for the mobile station.

What spoken call word repeated three times announces a storm warning or navigational hazard?

SECURITE.

What is the fundamental purpose and concept of the GMDSS?

To automate and improve emergency communications for the world's shipping industry so shoreside authorities and vessels can assist in coordinated SAR operations.

What is the function of the INT-USA control on a VHF marine radio?

To change certain International Duplex channel assignments to simplex in the U.S. for VTS and other purposes.

VHF ship station transmitters must be capable of reducing carrier power to what level?

$1\text{ watt}$.

Why must VHF Distress, Urgency, Safety, and VTS communications take place in Simplex operating mode?

To ensure that vessels not directly participating in the communications can hear both sides of the radio exchange.

Which VHF channel is reserved exclusively for Digital Selective Calling (DSC)?

Channel 70.

What aircraft frequency and emission type are used for distress communications?

$121.500\text{ MHz}$ - A3E.

Which VHF channel is used for the mandatory bridge-to-bridge watch in most continental U.S. areas?

VHF-FM on Channel 13.

What mode must be selected on an MF/HF transceiver for a voice call to a coast station?

Select J3E mode for proper voice operations.

What is the designated MF radiotelephony calling and Distress frequency?

$2182\text{ kHz}$.

What class of emission must be used on the MF distress and calling voice frequency ($2182\text{ kHz}$)?

J3E - Single sideband telephony.

What is the maximum duration permitted when conducting tests on $2182\text{ kHz}$ or Ch-16 in any 5-minute period?

$10\text{ seconds}$.

How frequently must a compulsory VHF-DSC radiotelephone installation be tested while at sea under GMDSS?

Daily.

What is the proper procedure if a shipboard transmitter signal becomes distorted or operates off-frequency?

Cease operations / stop transmitting.

How can emergency HF transmission on $8\text{ MHz}$ and $22\text{ MHz}$ be achieved if the antenna tuner fails completely?

Bypass the antenna tuner and use a straight whip or wire antenna approximately $30\text{ ft}$ long.

What antenna polarization is required for VHF telephony coast, maritime utility, or ship stations?

The antenna must be vertically polarized.

What is the radiation pattern of a vertical whip antenna?

A circle.

What is defined as the 'Reserve Source of Energy' under GMDSS regulations?

The supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate radio installations for Distress and Safety communications upon failure of the ship's main and emergency sources of electrical power.

When must EPIRB batteries be replaced?

After emergency use or within the month and year replacement date printed on the EPIRB.

In what frequency band does a Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) operate?

$9\text{ GHz}$ (X-band RADAR).

How does a SART signal appear on a searching vessel's RADAR display?

As a series of 12 equally spaced dots.

What is the primary frequency used exclusively for international NAVTEX broadcasts?

$518\text{ kHz}$.

What is the typical transmitting range of most NAVTEX shore stations?

Typically $200\text{ to }400\text{ nautical miles}$ ($360\text{ to }720\text{ km}$).