Can a Digital VHF communicate with a VHF?

[IanC]

Might be a silly question, but just venturing into the world of digital I wanted to know, can I communicate with a VHF from a DSC device, can hear a VHF on my Digital VHF?

Thanks in anticipation


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[Moose]

Yes

That is all/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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El Alce

 

[tony_brighton]

To expand on that a bit: a DSC radio has all the usual functions of a VHF unit. In addition, digital transmissions are sent and received over channel 72 (i think). These include distress/alerts + digital calling.

So when someone presses the magic distress button which should really be connected to a GPS it transmits the boat ID (MMSI) + Lat/Long + nature of the distress (optional if time permits to select from a menu). All surrounding DSC units 'listen' on 72 automatically in the background so you dont need to. A DSC on receiving the mayday gives off a bloody loud noise and switches to Ch16 whilst displaying all the above info. You can usually press another button to acknowledge it if the CG dont respond.

Calling is very simple - there is a directory facility which lets you add/store your favourite MMSIs and you nominate a working channel. This gets sent to the recipient who gets an audible alert and the channel to switch to (automatic i think).

In practice you do all the usual things with your DSC which you do with your VHF (calling the marina, annoying the CG etc) - but there's a bunch of extra things as well.

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[muchy_]

The digital side of it works on channel 70, which if you try to use on a modern set is disabled. If you have an older set that has channel 70 you must not transmit anything at all, ever (big trouble if you do). All the normal functions are the same. The advantage of this is that your mayday call goes out on an empty, un-used channel in digital format and therfore goes a hell of a lot further. The selective calling side works similar to a mobile phone. You have to know the person you are trying to call's number which you can add to your directory like a phone. When you select there number and press call their radio and only theirs rings like a phone. Excellent stuff, everyone should have one.

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