Anyone wishing to skipper a boat at sea, whether as an owner or charterer, requires a restricted radio operating licence if the boat is equipped with a VHF radio - i.e. de facto always on larger motor yachts.
The radio licence is commonly known under the international designation "Short Range Certificate" (SRC). It is internationally valid and authorises the holder to participate in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and VHF radiotelephony at sea.
It is therefore essential for communication between ships at sea and with organisations on land. Unlike in the past, it is no longer sufficient for just one crew member on board to be in possession of the licence.
Around 5300 applicants therefore take the Short Range Certificate exam in front of an examination board every year. The failure rate shows that the crux of the matter lies primarily in the practical part of the exam:
It averages 3.5 per cent in the theoretical part and nine per cent in the practical part.
Obtaining the licence is certainly not rocket science, it just involves investing some time in learning theory and practice. The winter half-year, when the ships are ashore, is therefore the ideal time for this. Ideally, you should even start learning in autumn so that you can take the exam in spring at the latest and then consolidate your theoretical knowledge on the water.
Sufficient time should be planned for preparation, if only for the reason that one thing is particularly important in the test: routine, confidence in using the radio and in delivering messages. Preparation should therefore focus in particular on training on the device - or simulator - and practising spoken radio messages.
All of this can be learnt at most sports boat schools that offer weekend or evening courses for SRC training.
training.
In most cases, however, this is not enough to gain real experience. This is where various learning software programmes promise to help, which can be used to practise using a simulated radio. Self-taught users should even be able to prepare for the SRC exam completely by themselves.
Finally, every aspirant can apply to one of the DSV's numerous examination boards ( www.sportboot-fuehrerscheine.org ) and the German Motor Yacht Association (DMYV, www.dmyv.de ) can register for the exam anywhere in Germany. The route via a school is not mandatory.
To find out what the individual learning programmes offer, how suitable they are for exam preparation and which learning apps are a useful addition for preparing for the theory exam, we tested the programmes currently available on the market.
What do I need to be able to do?
The SRC examination consists of several units. In the theory part, 30 minutes are available to answer a questionnaire with 24 multiple-choice questions. There are a total of 180 questions on the subject of marine radio.
In addition, the examiner dictates one of 27 radio texts. It must be written down and translated into German. The international spelling alphabet must be mastered for this and for the following practical exercises. Then comes the actual work on the radio, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
The examiners give tasks for sending or receiving different types of alarms and calls, such as an emergency message (Mayday), an emergency message (Pan Pan) or a security message (Securité). The safe handling of digital individual or group calls (Digital Selective Calling/DSC) should be demonstrated, as well as the handling of normal routine traffic, such as a call to a lock.
Which device to practise on?
We have tried out five learning software programmes, all of which are geared towards the SRC exam in Germany (see above). What they all have in common is that they contain simulations of various radios for practising. The background: For a long time, the Icom M503 with the external DSC controller DS100 was the standard in training.
However, as it has not been available to buy as a real device for some time now, sports boat schools and examination boards have added newer products to their repertoire in which the DSC controller is integrated into the radio part. Nevertheless, training and examinations are still often held on the IC-M503 with a separate DSC controller. This also has advantages, says Klaus Schlösser, owner of the Bootsausbildung.com sailing school in Bremen:
"From an educational point of view, the model is still very valuable, as the DSC controller and the radio are physically separate from each other. In practice, you end up choosing a product that appeals to you anyway and then you have to familiarise yourself with it and get to know it."
If you are preparing for the exam on your own, it is always advisable to find out in advance from the examination board of your choice which devices they will provide for the exam. In addition to the Icom M503 and controller already mentioned, these are usually the Icom M505, M323 or M423.
The latter two are almost identical. These devices are available as simulations in almost all software. Which one you practise with is ultimately a matter of taste. Incidentally, candidates can also bring their own radio equipment to the exam on request, but must clarify and register this with the examination board beforehand.
Big differences
All of the learning programmes tested are designed to prepare you for the SRC exam. However, there are major differences, especially in terms of user-friendliness and the degree of intuition with which the programme can be used. The "SRC Tutor III" contains all of the radio equipment mentioned for practising.
There are detailed instructions for each one. If you have never worked with it before, it makes sense to place this help section on a separate screen next to the monitor with the radio or to print it out and place it next to it, as the procedure for the various calls (emergency/emergency/safety call) is explained here.
Otherwise - with only one screen - you always have to click back and forth. Although there is a menu item that can be used to open up the device, it takes some time before you no longer need to consult the manual. It is helpful that the software contains information on how the test works - which is essential for self-study.
There are also functions for practising the dictation of marine radio texts, English vocabulary, the spelling alphabet and its pronunciation as well as theory questions. As a highlight, the developers have had a standard handheld microphone programmed for use with the software, which can be used to operate the radio equipment on the screen in order to simulate radio communication as realistically as possible.
However, at the time of going to press, the microphone was only compatible with the manufacturer's "LRC Tutor IV". However, the microphone should also be compatible with the next version of the SRC trainer.
The "VHF trainer" from the manufacturer Soller also contains the three standard Icom devices M423, M505 and the M503 with controller. There is also an older device, the Debeg 6322, and the structure of the software is less intuitive when using it for the first time compared to other programmes. For example, there is no menu item that guides the user through the radio or teaches the user the message sequence.
However, if you already know the radios and procedures of radio communication - for example from the radio course - and are mainly looking for a device simulation with which existing knowledge can be consolidated and reactivated, you don't need this either. This software can also be used to study for the theoretical part of the exam; there are questionnaires, dictation texts and a vocabulary trainer.
The "DSC-Trainer" from Schmidt Software Solingen also requires prior knowledge in order to practise effectively. Although there are operating instructions for the available devices, the programme does not contain any functions to prepare for the theory test.
It is therefore only suitable for advanced, independent practice on the simulated radio.
Full programme
The programmes "SRC & UBI" from Dreipunkt Verlag and "Seefunk SRC" from Boatdriver are attractively designed, lovingly animated and come with numerous instructions and explanations. Both seem to be the most suitable for beginners who are approaching the subject of radio licences for the first time via learning software and for complete self-study.
In both programmes, you can acquire the theoretical background knowledge required in the theory section by means of instructional chapters. Animated graphics make it easier to understand. In the "Seefunk SRC" programme, the chapters are also read aloud.
The two programmes also score particularly well with beginners when it comes to simulating exercises on the radio: The buttons, keys and functions are explained step by step. The Icom M505 and the M503 with associated controller are available for "SRC & UBI". As an additional feature not relevant to the exam
feature, the use of a distress beacon can be practised. As the programme name suggests, the training package for the UBI inland radio licence is also included.
In addition to the IC-M505 and IC-M503 with DS 100, "Seefunk SRC" also offers the Simrad RD68 device as a simulation. Vocabulary, marine radio texts and the spelling alphabet can be learnt playfully and intuitively with this software.
Learning apps: a good addition
Not all of the programmes presented can be used to conveniently learn the questionnaires for the exam. Learning apps offer this added value. Simply click through the question catalogue at home on the sofa or on the train on the way to work until you've got it right - it's quick, easy and fun with a smartphone or tablet.
However, no app for the German-speaking market can yet offer a comprehensive, user-friendly device simulation. As with the software, there are also major differences in the apps on offer.
In the overview on page 71, we present four widely used apps. They all cost a few euros, at least in the full version. If you search for the keyword SRC or VHF trainer in the Google or Apple app stores, you will still find various free offers. However, some are no longer updated or developed further.
For example, you should make sure that the question catalogue is up to date as of 1 October 2018, when the last changes to the exam questions were made. In addition, many apps also contain spoken texts and the theory chapters, which are used to learn background knowledge. However, this cannot replace a good textbook, which helps immensely with self-study, as example tasks with solutions are outlined here.
Conclusion
The advantages of preparing for the radio exam through self-study are obvious: you can set your own pace of learning, as well as the time and place. You are flexible and not tied to fixed lesson dates, but you do need a lot of discipline. The programmes and apps are also ideal for refreshing your knowledge if more time has passed than planned between attending a radio course and the exam date.
However, no software can yet offer the added value of a course in a school: No one answers questions directly, which will undoubtedly arise, and no one reports from many years of experience.
What's more, learning in company is usually much more fun than learning alone. Many schools also offer individual coaching or refresher courses, so it's always worth asking.
The most sensible combination is therefore to be prepared through self-study and attend a course at a good school. And then take the exam as soon as possible afterwards - and pass!
