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The subjects listed below are currently available for testing in the new online study room and are available for download to your computer. Click on subject below for details.

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Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, G.M.D.S.S.

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Preview Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Questions

 Listed below is a table of contents of the questions on this subject as they appear in the new online study. Click on the "Enter Online Study" link above to begin preparing for your exam.

From the pull down menu under FCC Examination Questions in the online study select from the following topics:

• GMDSS
  • STCW-GOC-FCC-El-7: October, 2012:
    • Section A: General Information and System Overview.
      • Key Topic #001: Fundamental Concepts:
      • Key Topic #002: Equipment Systems:
      • Key Topic #003: Sea Areas:
      • Key Topic #004: Functional Requirements:
      • Key Topic #005: Carriage Requirements:
      • Key Topic #006: Maintenance Options:
    • Section B: Principles of Communications:
      • Key Topic #007: Radio Spectrum:
      • Key Topic #008: Frequency Bands:
      • Key Topic #009: Modulation, Demodulation, AM, FM:
      • Key Topic #010: Carrier and Sidebands:
      • Key Topic #011: Channel Spacing:
      • Key Topic #012: Antennas:
    • Section C: F.C.C. Rules & Regulations:
      • Key Topic #013: Inspections and Exemptions:
      • Key Topic #014: Required Documents and Publications:
      • Key Topic #015: Maintenance:
      • Key Topic #016: License and Personnel Requirements:
      • Key Topic #017: Reserve Source of Energy:
      • Key Topic #018: Equipment Testing:
      • Key Topic #019: Watch keeping:
      • Key Topic #020: Log keeping:
    • Section D: DSC & Alpha-Numeric ID:
      • Key Topic #021: Call Signs and SELCALs
      • Key Topic #022: MMSI- MID and Ship Station I.D. Numbers:
      • Key Topic #023: MMSI; Group and Coast Station I.D. Numbers:
      • Key Topic #024: Inmarsat Mobile Numbers for B & F-77 Terminals:
      • Key Topic #025: Inmarsat Mobile Numbers for "C" Terminals:
      • Key Topic #026: OSC Format and Info Sent:
      • Key Topic #027: OSC Operations:
      • Key Topic #028: OSC Frequencies:
    • Section E: Distress, Urgency & Safety Communications:
      • Key Topic #029: Sending a Distress Alert:
      • Key Topic #030: Follow-On Voice Transmission:
      • Key Topic #031: Response to a Distress Alert:
      • Key Topic #032: Distress Relays:
      • Key Topic #033: Action False Distress Alert:
      • Key Topic #034: Radio Silence - Resume Traffic:
      • Key Topic #035: Urgency Traffic:
      • Key Topic #036: Safety Traffic:
      • Key Topic #037: Frequencies:
      • Key Topic #038: Other Procedures:
    • Section F: Survival Craft Equip & S.A.R.:
      • Key Topic #039: SART· Activation and Survival Craft Operation:
      • Key Topic #040: SART - Radar Display - SAR - AIS SART:
      • Key Topic #041: SART: Testing and Battery Parameters:
      • Key Topic #042: EPIRB System Structure and Operation:
      • Key Topic #043: EPIRB Alerting and Features:
      • Key Topic #044: Homing and Locating Signals:
      • Key Topic #045: Survival Craft Transceivers:
      • Key Topic #046: On Scene Communications:
      • Key Topic #047: SAR-MCC-RCC: Systems & Procedures-1:
      • Key Topic #048: SAR-MCC-RCC: Systems & Procedures-2:
    • Section G: VHF·DSC Equipment & Communications:
      • Key Topic #049: VHF Controls, Power and Range:
      • Key Topic #050: VHF Channel System:
    • Section H: Maritime Safety Information (M.S.I.):
      • Key Topic #051: Navtex 1: Operations:
      • Key Topic #052: Navtex 2: Programming:
      • Key Topic #053: Navtex 3: Message Format:
      • Key Topic #054: SafetyNET^TM 1: Operations:
      • Key Topic #055: SafetyNET^TM 2: Information:
      • Key Topic #056: Enhanced Group Calling (EGC):
      • Key Topic #057: H.F. MSI:
      • Key Topic #058: NAVAREAs:
    • Section I: Inmarsat Equip. & Comms:
      • Key Topic #059: Sat·C, Power up, Self·Test, Controls & Lamps:
      • Key Topic #060: Selecting an Inmarsat Ocean Region:
      • Key Topic #061: Inmarsat Log·in & Log·out:
      • Key Topic #062: Inmarsat General System Operations-1:
      • Key Topic #063: Inmarsat General System Operations-2:
      • Key Topic #064: Inmarsat-B or F77 Equipment and Operations:
      • Key Topic #065: Inmarsat-C: Equipment and Operations-1:
      • Key Topic #066: Inmarsat-C: Equipment and Operations-2:
      • Key Topic #067: Compare and Differentiate “B” and “C” Terminals:
      • Key Topic #068: Selecting L.E.S. and L.E.S. ID Numbers:
      • Key Topic #069: Inmarsat-B and F77- Address, Dialing and Voice:
      • Key Topic #070: Inmarsat-B - Address, Dialing and Telex:
      • Key Topic #071: Inmarsat-C Address to Ship Telex:
      • Key Topic #072: Address to Land Telex Terminal:
      • Key Topic #073: Address to a FAX TerminaI:
      • Key Topic #074: Address to Internet, SMS or Special Addresses:
      • Key Topic #075: Inmarsat Distress Communications:
      • Key Topic #076: Satellite SAR-MCC-RCC:
      • Key Topic #077: EGC:
      • Key Topic #078: Equipment Faults and Maintenance-1:
      • Key Topic #079: Equipment Faults and Maintenance-2:
    • Section J: MF-HF Equip. and Comms:
      • Key Topic #080: MF-HF Panel Controls:
      • Key Topic #081: MF-HF Frequency–Simplex, Duplex, Half-Duplex:
      • Key Topic #082: MF-HF ITU Channels:
      • Key Topic #083: MF·HF Voice and Telex Channel Separation:
      • Key Topic #084: MF-HF Modulation, Bandwidth and Emissions:
      • Key Topic #085: MF·HF Voice Operations-Calling a Coast Station:
      • Key Topic #086: MF·HF DSC Controller Call Programming:
      • Key Topic #087: MF·HF SITOR (NBDP) · Definitions:
      • Key Topic #088: MF·HF SITOR (NBDP) Technical Characteristics:
      • Key Topic #089: MF·HF ARQ Operation - Calling a Coast Station:
      • Key Topic #090: MF·HF ARQ Operation · Answerbacks:
      • Key Topic #091: MF-HF ARQ Operation – OP Codes & Procedures:
      • Key Topic #092: MF-HF ARQ Operation–Technical Characteristics:
      • Key Topic #093: MF·HF Addressing Modes:
      • Key Topic #094: MF-HF FEC Operation-1:
      • Key Topic #095: MF-HF FEC Operation-2:
      • Key Topic #096: MF-HF Propagation-1; Day-Night-Winter-Summer:
      • Key Topic #097: MF-HF Propagation-2; Day-Night-Winter-Summer:
      • Key Topic #098: MF·HF DSC Controller Alert/Call Response:
      • Key Topic #099: Batteries:
      • Key Topic #100: MF·HF Equipment Faults and Testing:

If you are studying for a United States Coast Guard G.M.D.S.S endorsement which includes this module, you should  work through these questions in the online study until you are scoring 80% or better on them.

GMDSS Radio Operator's License (DO)

Description

The DO qualifies the holder to operate, and make some basic equipment adjustments to, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radio installations. It also confers the operating authority of the MP.

Qualifications

To qualify, you must:

• be a legal resident of (or otherwise eligible for employment in) the United States; and

• be able to receive and transmit spoken messages in English; and

• pass a written and/or telegraphy examination(s) as described below under Examinations.

Term of License

A DO is issued for the holder's lifetime. (Prior to March 25, 2008, the license term for a DO was five years. Any holder of a DO that expired prior to March 25, 2008, must still file an application to renew the license within the five-year grace period after expiration.)

How to Obtain a License

Submit FCC Form 605 along with the appropriate Proof of Passing Certificates (for the requisite written examination elements). Use the FCC Form 605 and the FCC Form 159 (fee processing form) to renew a license or to replace a lost, stolen, or mutilated license. Many Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) Managers file these documents for applicants who test with them. Ask your COLEM if it provides this service to its customers.

Examinations

To obtain an FCC Commercial Operator License, applicants must submit, to the Commission, proof of passing written and/or telegraphy Elements as illustrated in the following:

Element 1 - Basic radio law and operating practice with which every maritime radio operator should be familiar. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 18 out of 24 questions.

Element 7: GMDSS Radio Operating Practices. GMDSS radio operating procedures and practices sufficient to show detailed practical knowledge of the operation of all GMDSS sub-systems and equipment. The exam consists of questions from the following categories: general information, narrow-band direct-printing, INMARSAT, NAVTEX, digital selective calling, and survival craft. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least at least 75 out of 100 questions.

or

Element 7R: Restricted GMDSS Radio Operating Practices. Fifty questions concerning those GMDSS radio operating procedures and practices that are applicable to ship stations on vessels that sail exclusively in sea area A1, as defined in sections 80.1069 and 80.1081 of the Commission's Rules. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 38 out of 50 questions.

  For details on license requirements, application forms,  licensing fees, and testing locations, visit the United States Coast Guard / National Maritime Centers web site and look under Mariner's information center. The questions used in the online study  are updated annually from the NMC sample exams. All illustrations are current.

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SeaSources online Celestial Navigation Course 

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NAVIGATION COURSE

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