RYA SRC/VHF study plan

Define GMDSS sea areas A1 to A4 and state which equipment each sea area requires for a vessel on a coastal or offshore passage

Explain the difference between shore-based distress alerting via VHF DSC, MF/HF DSC and satellite, and state which one a small craft in sea area A1 relies on

Identify the nine MMSI digits of a ship station, a coast station and a group station, and state what the leading digits of each look like

List the four priority levels in DSC and voice (distress, urgency, safety, routine) and rank them in order of precedence

Describe how a DSC distress alert is relayed and acknowledged, and who is responsible for sending the acknowledgement

Program a fictitious MMSI into a DSC controller (or simulator app) and verify it appears correctly in the station identity field

Compose a DSC distress alert with nature of distress, position and time, and explain each field's purpose

Compose a DSC individual routine call to a coast station and to another vessel, and explain the follow-on voice working channel

Distinguish an individual call, an all-ships call, a group call and a geographic area call, and choose the right one for four given scenarios

Explain what to do if a DSC distress alert is transmitted in error, including the cancel procedure and the voice announcement

Transmit the full MAYDAY distress call and message aloud from memory in under 60 seconds, including position, nature of distress and persons on board

Transmit a PAN PAN urgency call for a medical evacuation and a SECURITE safety call for a navigational hazard, each in under 45 seconds

Explain when a DSC distress alert must be followed by a voice MAYDAY on channel 16 and when it must not

Describe the correct response on hearing a MAYDAY from another vessel, including when to acknowledge and when to remain silent

State the silence periods around the hour and half hour and explain what they are for

Operate a VHF set: switch on, set channel 16, adjust squelch, set high/low power, and use dual-watch, demonstrating each step aloud

State the purpose and correct use of channels 16, 13, 6, 70, 9, 72, 73, 77 and the two-digit marina channels, and identify which are ship-to-ship only

Explain why channel 70 must never carry voice traffic and what happens if you try

Describe the range of a VHF set at 1 W and 25 W, and explain the effect of antenna height on range

Demonstrate a routine ship-to-ship call on a working channel including the initial call, reply, channel change and sign-off

State the licence required to operate a VHF radio on a UK-flagged recreational vessel and the age and competency conditions attached to it

Explain the rules on listening watch, secrecy of communications, and prohibited transmissions such as false distress alerts

Describe how to identify your station in voice traffic and the correct phonetic alphabet and figure pronunciation for call signs and positions

Explain the requirement to keep a listening watch on channel 16 and when it can be relaxed

List the penalties and consequences of misuse, including hoax distress calls

Explain how a 406 MHz EPIRB works, including registration, the purpose of the homing transmitter and the difference between float-free and manual activation

Describe how a SART responds on a radar display and state the range at which it is typically detected

Explain battery and expiry-date checks for EPIRB, SART and handheld VHF, and state the recommended replacement intervals

Describe antenna care and common causes of poor VHF range, including corrosion, loose connectors and damaged coax

Explain what to do with an EPIRB accidentally activated, including switching off and notifying the coastguard

Work through three full distress scenarios end to end: fire with abandonment, man overboard at night, and a dismasting, choosing equipment and procedure at each step

Explain how GMDSS equipment, EPIRB and SART work together in a single distress event, and in what order they are used

Describe how to coordinate with a rescue coordination centre by voice after a DSC alert, including what information they will ask for

Explain the role of rescue coordination centres, coast stations and vessels in the vicinity in a distress

State the correct actions for a vessel in distress that has lost all electrical power

Complete two full mock exams under timed conditions and record the score for each domain

Re-study only the two weakest domains identified by the mock exam results

Recite the MAYDAY, PAN PAN and SECURITE formats and the phonetic alphabet from memory without prompts

Demonstrate a complete DSC distress alert followed by a voice MAYDAY on a simulator or training set

Review every item on the maintenance checklist and confirm dates are current