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FCC-Element 1 Questions and
Answers Latest 2026
What is a requirement of all marine transmitting
apparatus used aboard U.S. vessels? Ans: Equimpent
must be certified by the FCC for Part 80 operations
What transmitting equipment is authorized for use by a
station in the maritime services? Ans: Unless specifically
excepted, only transmitters certified by the FCC for Part
80 operations.
Small passenger vessels that sail 20 to 150 nautical miles
from the nearest land must have what additional
equipment? Ans: MF-HF SSB transceiver
What equipment is programmed to initiate transmission
of distress alerts & calls to individual stations? Ans: DSC
controller
What is the minimum transmitter power level required by
the FCC for a medium-frequency transmitter aboard a
compulsorily fitted vessel? Ans: At least 60 watts PEP
Shipboard transmitters using F3E emissions (FM voice)
may not exceed what carrier power? Ans: 25 watts
Which commercial radio operator license is required to
operate a fixed-tuned ship RADAR station with external
© 2025 All rights reserved
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controls? Ans: No radio operator authorization is
required
When is a Marine Radio Operator Permit or higher license
required for a/c communications? Ans: When operating
on frequencies below 30 MHz not allocated exclusively to
aeronautical mobile services
Which of the following persons are ineligible to be issued
a commercial radio operator license? Ans: Individuals
who are unable to send and receive correctly by
telephone spoken messages in English.
What are the radio operator requirements of a passenger
ship equipped with a GMDSS installation? Ans: 2
operators on board must hold a GMDSS radio operator
license or a Restricted GMDSS radio operator license,
depending on the ships operating area.
What is the minimum radio operator requirement for
ships subject to the Great Lakes Radio Agreement? Ans:
Marine radio operator permit
What is a requirement of every commercial operator on
duty & in charge of a transmitting system? Ans: The
original license or a photocopy must be posted or in the
operator's personal possession & available for inspection.
Radio watches for compulsory radiotelephone stations
will include the following: Ans: VHF channel 16
continuous watch
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All compulsory equipped cargo ships while being
navigated outside of harbor or port, shall keep a
continuous radiotelephone watch on: Ans: 2182 kHz &
ch. 16
What channel must all compulsory, non-GMDSS vessels
monitor at all times in the open sea? Ans: Channel 16
When a watch is required on 2182 kHz, at how many
minutes past the hour must a 3 minute silence be
observed? Ans: 00, 30
Which is true concerning a required watch on VHF Ch.
16? Ans: A. It is compulsory at all times while at sea until
further notice, unless the vessel is in a VTS system.
B. When a vessel is in an A1 sea area and subject to the
bridge-to-bridge act & in a VTS system, a watch is not
required on Ch. 16, provided the vessel monitors both
Ch. 13 & VTS channel.
C. It is always compulsory in sea areas A2, A3 & A4.
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE.
What are the mandatory DSC watchkeeping
bands/channels? Ans: 8 MHz HF DSC, 1 other HF DSC, 2
MHz MF DSC, & VHF Ch. 70
Who is required to make entries in a required service or
maintenance log? Ans: The operator responsible for the
station operation or maintenance.
© 2025 All rights reserved
FCC-Element 1 Questions and
Answers Latest 2026
What is a requirement of all marine transmitting
apparatus used aboard U.S. vessels? Ans: Equimpent
must be certified by the FCC for Part 80 operations
What transmitting equipment is authorized for use by a
station in the maritime services? Ans: Unless specifically
excepted, only transmitters certified by the FCC for Part
80 operations.
Small passenger vessels that sail 20 to 150 nautical miles
from the nearest land must have what additional
equipment? Ans: MF-HF SSB transceiver
What equipment is programmed to initiate transmission
of distress alerts & calls to individual stations? Ans: DSC
controller
What is the minimum transmitter power level required by
the FCC for a medium-frequency transmitter aboard a
compulsorily fitted vessel? Ans: At least 60 watts PEP
Shipboard transmitters using F3E emissions (FM voice)
may not exceed what carrier power? Ans: 25 watts
Which commercial radio operator license is required to
operate a fixed-tuned ship RADAR station with external
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
controls? Ans: No radio operator authorization is
required
When is a Marine Radio Operator Permit or higher license
required for a/c communications? Ans: When operating
on frequencies below 30 MHz not allocated exclusively to
aeronautical mobile services
Which of the following persons are ineligible to be issued
a commercial radio operator license? Ans: Individuals
who are unable to send and receive correctly by
telephone spoken messages in English.
What are the radio operator requirements of a passenger
ship equipped with a GMDSS installation? Ans: 2
operators on board must hold a GMDSS radio operator
license or a Restricted GMDSS radio operator license,
depending on the ships operating area.
What is the minimum radio operator requirement for
ships subject to the Great Lakes Radio Agreement? Ans:
Marine radio operator permit
What is a requirement of every commercial operator on
duty & in charge of a transmitting system? Ans: The
original license or a photocopy must be posted or in the
operator's personal possession & available for inspection.
Radio watches for compulsory radiotelephone stations
will include the following: Ans: VHF channel 16
continuous watch
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
All compulsory equipped cargo ships while being
navigated outside of harbor or port, shall keep a
continuous radiotelephone watch on: Ans: 2182 kHz &
ch. 16
What channel must all compulsory, non-GMDSS vessels
monitor at all times in the open sea? Ans: Channel 16
When a watch is required on 2182 kHz, at how many
minutes past the hour must a 3 minute silence be
observed? Ans: 00, 30
Which is true concerning a required watch on VHF Ch.
16? Ans: A. It is compulsory at all times while at sea until
further notice, unless the vessel is in a VTS system.
B. When a vessel is in an A1 sea area and subject to the
bridge-to-bridge act & in a VTS system, a watch is not
required on Ch. 16, provided the vessel monitors both
Ch. 13 & VTS channel.
C. It is always compulsory in sea areas A2, A3 & A4.
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE.
What are the mandatory DSC watchkeeping
bands/channels? Ans: 8 MHz HF DSC, 1 other HF DSC, 2
MHz MF DSC, & VHF Ch. 70
Who is required to make entries in a required service or
maintenance log? Ans: The operator responsible for the
station operation or maintenance.
© 2025 All rights reserved
