Do you sail with the VHF on ? POLL

[laika]

How many of the (in my opinion, selfish) people who don’t monitor their VHF have their radio fitted in the wrong place - ie down below?.

I get your point but Isn’t there an argument to say that unless you’re single handed your radio should be somewhere you can talk out of the howling wind and waves? Plenty of boats with radios at the chart table have an external speaker. I have a remote mic in the cockpit which seems like the ideal solution, though possibly offputtingly costly for those on a very tight budget.

 

[capnsensible]

I responded to a nearby pan pan only a couple of weeks ago and took a distressed yacht under tow.

The story of the person in the water by smithy could have had a different outcome.

How many of the (in my opinion, selfish) people who don’t monitor their VHF have their radio fitted in the wrong place - ie down below?. I just don’t understand why some yachts still persist in fitting kit where you can’t use it from the helm.

Whilst I agree with you about the use of vhf, do you know how wet a yacht cockpit can be? Mebbe the latest vhf kit is totally weather and wave tight, but that's not always been the case....
Personally I've never had a problem with nipping down to the main set, but a good quality handheld in the cockpit is for sure a bonus.

 

[Elessar]

Agree a remote mic works well. But if you can only have one, then it should be where you can use it. If that’s a hand held then fine.

I just think turning your VHF off is selfish and if the location of the VHF is making you do that then it’s in the wrong place.

Yes of course I know it gets wet on a boat by the way. The modern mics work fine in the wind if you cup your hand around them.

DSC is a nightmare and it’s only use is sending location information in an emergency.

 

[capnsensible]

Where I am, yeah, dsc alerts are quite frequent. Mostly to do with all ships requests to look out for immigrant boats in various forms of distress. This is daily and with several stations around the Canary Islands, almost hourly. Several of the yachts I sail only have a main set down below. So be it. I'm most definitely not gonna stop keeping a listening watch on 16 because 'it annoys me'......

 

[Never Grumble]

I just think turning your VHF off is selfish and if the location of the VHF is making you do that then it’s in the wrong place.

Yes of course I know it gets wet on a boat by the way.

The poll shows that 85% have their VHF on so clearly most boats are equipped to be able to do so.

Wetter in my aft cockpit than your raised flybridge, that's why we have an external (waterproof) speaker.

Have you also trained him to turn it off when you receive a mayday? DSC is just a more efficient way to convey information, you’re still supposed to check the info and see if it’s near!

No we listen with interest, still waiting fro someone to have an incident nearby so we can render assistance.

 

[Elessar]

The poll shows that 85% have their VHF on so clearly most boats are equipped to be able to do so.

Wetter in my aft cockpit than your raised flybridge, that's why we have an external (waterproof) speaker.



No we listen with interest, still waiting fro someone to have an incident nearby so we can render assistance.

I do sail too, given half a chance………

The flybridge can be just as wet. It just gets wet far less often!

 

[Praxinoscope]

Thé fixed VHF is beside the ‘chart table/ dining table on my boat, my last boat had a similar arrangement but with an external speaker in the cockpit, in my present boat I just keel a hand held switched on in the cockpit so I have the capacity for an immédiate response o the choice of going below to use the fixed.
Or of course for a lot of the ‘rubbish’ being transmitted just left alone to ignore.

 

[Bilgediver]

In coastal waters and near offshore shipping lanes. Yes. Without fail.

Offshore, on sighting any other vessel.

DSC reaches places other modes do not so you might receive a mayday from over the horizon but then have to sail towards it to establish verbal comms.

 

[ylop]

Agree a remote mic works well. But if you can only have one, then it should be where you can use it. If that’s a hand held then fine.

Clearly you can use a VHF below decks. Would you say h/held only for the benefit of the cockpit use even at the expense of range - perhaps that is the flipside of the constant noise issue - that's really only a problem in really busy areas where range is less of a worry? I suspect many yachts sail for longer that the standby life of a handheld - especially if they have DSC. Thats the sort of thing that makes people turn them off to save power (and miss a call!)

I just think turning your VHF off is selfish and if the location of the VHF is making you do that then it’s in the wrong place.

I would agree with that. but ~ 84% of people always have it on, another 6% said other (perhaps they do big passages and turn off when out of range of CG to save power?). So 90% of boats do have their VHF on all the time at sea - so it seems that very few are turning it off because it is inconvenient at the chart table.

DSC is a nightmare and it’s only use is sending location information in an emergency.

I think you've misunderstood the benefits of DSC. It may be the main thing it is used for - but it is certainly not the only thing.

 

[lustyd]

No we listen with interest, still waiting fro someone to have an incident nearby so we can render assistance.

It’s no good listening you need to either read or look at the plotter. The voice call might never come to accompany the alert

 

[lustyd]

Whilst I agree with you about the use of vhf, do you know how wet a yacht cockpit can be? Mebbe the latest vhf kit is totally weather and wave tight, but that's not always been the case....
Personally I've never had a problem with nipping down to the main set, but a good quality handheld in the cockpit is for sure a bonus.

Most modern sets allow wireless RAM so best of both worlds. My B&G transmits from the main antenna from a handheld I can keep in my pocket. I do also have a handheld on board, and not sure the expense is justified for replacement of working kit so probably agree with you

 

[Dukester52]

Most modern sets allow wireless RAM so best of both worlds. My B&G transmits from the main antenna from a handheld I can keep in my pocket. I do also have a handheld on board, and not sure the expense is justified for replacement of working kit so probably agree with you

At the risk of appearing slow, what do you mean by wireless RAM?

Always have my VHF on, but I've recently had an overheating problem (hopefully now fixed) so first time out all the DSC alarms scared the carp out of us!

 

[lustyd]

It’s the same as the cockpit RAM mikes but without wires. Full control of the big radio but in a handheld wireless unit

 

[Elessar]

I think you've misunderstood the benefits of DSC. It may be the main thing it is used for - but it is certainly not the only thing.

It’s the only thing that’s any use.

The other features require a manual and if it’s not intuitive it’s useless on a boat.

And the whole MMSi thing is a debacle too.

My call sign - MINX7. The call sign of the yacht I sailed in the early 80s. MAXT5.

My MMSI. Not a clue.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I've just been looking and the ITU (which is the ultimate body setting regulations for radio communications) states that a listening watch on VHF (channel 16 and/or DSC) is a) mandatory for SOLAS ships and b) strongly recommended for non-SOLAS vessels (national law may or may not make it mandatory; on my VHF course, the instructor stated that it was mandatory if VHF was installed, but I can't find a specific regulation). I don't regard it as optional; others have noted occasions when a rescue could have taken place faster if everyone concerned had been listening.

 

[Dukester52]

It’s the same as the cockpit RAM mikes but without wires. Full control of the big radio but in a handheld wireless unit

Thanks lustyd, that helped with Mr Google - so RAM = Remote Access Mic (just in case anyone else was wondering). Wouldn't be without one!

 

[Frogmogman]

It’s the only thing that’s any use.

The other features require a manual and if it’s not intuitive it’s useless on a boat.

And the whole MMSi thing is a debacle too.

My call sign - MINX7. The call sign of the yacht I sailed in the early 80s. MAXT5.

My MMSI. Not a clue.

This is one of the reasons I was quite pleased, in order to register all of my comms equipment to my boat with the ANFR, I did a course with Les Glenans, and an exam, to obtain a French VHF licence (CRR - Certificate restreint en Radiotéléphonie). I had done an RYA VHF Certificate many moons ago, long before the invention of DSC, so my knowledge on the capabilities of modern kit and procedure was very limited.

I found the whole process very worthwhile and informative, not only as regards VHF and DSC, but also covering all of the other radio kit on board (AIS, Epirbs, radar, PLBs) etc.

As regards the benefits of DSC, it is excellent to be able to initiate an emergency call which immediately provides your coordinates, MMSI etc to rescuers at the press of a button. It is well worth reading the manual and familiarising yourself with the features of your set, so as to be able to provide a maximum of information with that initial DSC message. If you do end up pressing that button, would be rescuers will then know as much as possible about the situation when you then speak to them on C16. As we all know, vocal communications can be hard to understand at the best of times, particularly when conditions are bad, or you are dealing with someone, say, whose first language is not English.

FWIW, I have a Raymarine Ray 73 VHF at the chart table, with waterproof cockpit speakers and a RayMic remote handset (which has a small screen) at the helm.

 

[ylop]

It’s the only thing that’s any use.

no what you mean is its the only feature you've bothered to learn; its also the only feature most people bother to learn because frustratingly in a whole day training course the RYA haven't included other things which might be useful (useful might mean the radio is more likely to be on, and when people do use it the operator more confident with it!). Red button distress calling is probably worth DSC even without it including the position.

The other features require a manual and if it’s not intuitive it’s useless on a boat.

I agree that the manufacturers could do with taking a leaf out of the apple (or even google) user experience book and seeing how they make the features easy to use. Whoever does it would own the market! It is particularly bad if you only charter and are getting on different boats regularly or only our for a week every year - you never get that familiarity.

And the whole MMSi thing is a debacle too.
My MMSI. Not a clue.

presumably you have it written beside the VHF though so its not actually something you need to know?

My call sign - MINX7. The call sign of the yacht I sailed in the early 80s. MAXT5.

DSC call to CG automatically changing to the assigned working channel, with them responding when ready for routine traffic - avoids disturbing everyone else's peace
Group calling is quite useful if you are a race or cruise coordinator etc and want to get the attention of lots of people at once.
Position poling is nice if you have a friend somewhere around who doesn't have AIS (or you don't have a receiver) and want to find them.
Potentially DSC test replaces lots of voice radio checks.
If you want to call a "friend" who is on a noisy vessel (RIB, very windy yacht, motorcruiser blaring the tunes etc) then direct DSC call more likely to get their attention than a voice call, and no need for you to agree a working channel but avoids cluttering 16 with you hailing them repeatedly.

and that's before having any benefits from being integrated to the chart plotter and AIS so you can click to call.
and that's only the features I've learned to use by flicking through a manual there are probably others.

 

[Elessar]

no what you mean is its the only feature you've bothered to learn; its also the only feature most people bother to learn because frustratingly in a whole day training course the RYA haven't included other things which might be useful (useful might mean the radio is more likely to be on, and when people do use it the operator more confident with it!). Red button distress calling is probably worth DSC even without it including the position.

I agree that the manufacturers could do with taking a leaf out of the apple (or even google) user experience book and seeing how they make the features easy to use. Whoever does it would own the market! It is particularly bad if you only charter and are getting on different boats regularly or only our for a week every year - you never get that familiarity.


presumably you have it written beside the VHF though so its not actually something you need to know?



DSC call to CG automatically changing to the assigned working channel, with them responding when ready for routine traffic - avoids disturbing everyone else's peace
Group calling is quite useful if you are a race or cruise coordinator etc and want to get the attention of lots of people at once.
Position poling is nice if you have a friend somewhere around who doesn't have AIS (or you don't have a receiver) and want to find them.
Potentially DSC test replaces lots of voice radio checks.
If you want to call a "friend" who is on a noisy vessel (RIB, very windy yacht, motorcruiser blaring the tunes etc) then direct DSC call more likely to get their attention than a voice call, and no need for you to agree a working channel but avoids cluttering 16 with you hailing them repeatedly.

and that's before having any benefits from being integrated to the chart plotter and AIS so you can click to call.
and that's only the features I've learned to use by flicking through a manual there are probably others.

WhatsApp does everything DSC does except position in distress.

And I don’t have to “bother to learn” that.

I don’t use any DSC features at all but i do know where the red button is.

Yes my MMSI is written down. But you missed the point on that too. Even that is poorly executed. They should have just used the call sign not created something else that is too long to remember.

 

[ylop]

WhatsApp does everything DSC does except position in distress.

Wow I didn’t know I could WhatsApp HMCG, what’s their number?
Will WhatsApp work amongst the racing fleet even if they don’t have 4G signal? Or are you forgetting that not everywhere is blessed with good connectivity?
certainly I won’t hear your WhatsApp message over the engine or wind noise because my phone will be tucked up in the dry down below, even assuming you knew my number - which isn’t broadcast in AIS
That’s without questioning whether you really want to base your boat’s primary communications on a commercial service owned by Meta/Zuckerberg and relying on data from a telecoms company who would love to charge you a premium if you are mid channel or closer to an Irish mast than a Welsh one etc…