Coastguard VHF radio areas-

[cliveshelton]

Unfortunately, somebody needs to instruct the newbie Coastguard call centre operators that they do not need to call up everybody who executes a DSC test call by voice on Ch.16 to ask them if it worked! Rather defeats the object of the excercise

+1. Silly billies!

 

[mlines]

So just to confirm what I read in this thread, a DSC TEST (the digital test command) will result in a digital acknowledgement WITHOUT THE CG doing anything, including speaking to you on voice?

As an aside, been using Lee NCI on 65 for voice radio checks happily in the Solent area.

 

[Bru]

So just to confirm what I read in this thread, a DSC TEST (the digital test command) will result in a digital acknowledgement WITHOUT THE CG doing anything, including speaking to you on voice?

That is what is supposed to happen, in theory!

 

[G12]

I use the DSC test. Select DSC test, Falmouth Coastguard, hit send and wait for them to acknowledge it (flashes up on the screen). Job done! No waffling at all.

 

[prv]

Then there's the digital artefacts which suggests some sort of VOIP connectivity between the control centres and the transmitters. It's all modern...and probably vulnerable.

Already gone off the air once this year: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?421443-Coastguard-having-some-VHF-trouble

Pete

 

[dnickj]

Thanks all- I think my hail will be 'Coastguard, Coastguard, this is...' and see what comes back....

As I've already done an annual radio check, hopefully I won't need to use it.

Annual radio check - it is most obvious you are not from the Solent area where most people appear to think that an hourly radio check is compulsory

 

[Burnham Bob]

I don;t have a dsc test function. Just a call function. Does that mean that they thought my dsc call was a test? I'm even more confused now than when I started. O'll hail them on 16 and request routine traffic.

 

[prv]

I don;t have a dsc test function. Just a call function. Does that mean that they thought my dsc call was a test?

No - if your radio can't send a test call then the Coastguard won't have received a test call.

It sounds like they nominated ch16 as the working channel for your call, which is a bit odd as one might have expected ch67 or ch73 for routine traffic, but ultimately it's their choice and you just respond on whatever they select.

Pete

 

[Bru]

I don;t have a dsc test function. .

I'm surprised. What make and model of VHF is it Bob?

 

[Burnham Bob]

ok so 16 was the working channel they chose - its a long convoluted route to get there as opposed to calling them on 16 to start with. its a standard horizon GX 1500E and i do indeed have a test function now I've looked (rtfm in action) but what I sent was an individual call not a dsc test.......

so they assumed it was a test - or did they leave 16 as the working channel.........you can see why I'm confused!

 

[Bru]

If you made a DSC call and they failed to select a working channel I think it would default to 16

I suspect there is a degree of confusion at both ends! Yours may be caused by theirs

 

[prv]

If you made a DSC call and they failed to select a working channel I think it would default to 16

I believe their radio controls are all on a computer screen, so one could imagine a drop-down box or similar widget for selecting the channel. It may very well default to 16, so if they just hit "OK", that's what you get. Followed by confusion when your radio doesn't seem to change channel as expected (because it was already there).

I suspect there is a degree of confusion at both ends! Yours may be caused by theirs

Sounds to me like Bob did everything right and the Coastguard's response, if not actually wrong, was at least unexpected. I understand "Thames" is now yet another manifestation of the Fareham call-centre - they're better than they were last autumn, but I still wouldn't assume that whatever they do is automatically correct.

Pete

 

[Giblets]

As an aside, been using Lee NCI on 65 for voice radio checks happily in the Solent area.

Same here but use Gosport NCI. The chap who answered seem quite surprised to be called but was more than happy to confirm good coms.