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DSC and MMSI
- Thread starter Refueler
- Start date
Refueler
Well-Known Member
I wish I did ... with Mum . brother etc. But it's been about a year now since last trip back.
Work along with house has made it difficult .... signing the new work contract means I have to be here providing the EU - Russian / Baltic co-operation - Fuel specs are different ball game which side of border you are !!
Work along with house has made it difficult .... signing the new work contract means I have to be here providing the EU - Russian / Baltic co-operation - Fuel specs are different ball game which side of border you are !!
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Anonymous
Guest
While the 'big red button' is a good idea if you are in serious trouble you might have problems with batteries, wiring, up to the masthead antenna. GPS EPIRBS are relatively affordable these days and are entirely independent of the vessel. You have to register them, though, with OfCom /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
With a smaller yacht, especially if you use the tender a fair bit in remote areas, consider a PLB GPS EPIRB which you can put in your pocket or wear on a belt.
With a smaller yacht, especially if you use the tender a fair bit in remote areas, consider a PLB GPS EPIRB which you can put in your pocket or wear on a belt.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Lemain - agreed ...... my decision to plump for DSC radio was after discussing with others.
Consideration was size of boat and areas sailed in. Baltic is reasonably well served with shipping, so felt that a DSC radio with Red Button was a cost effective option.
I also have my mast up / down every year out here as winters prevent boat staying afloat 12 months, so mast cable checks are regular.
Your point is well taken though and is still on table ! I haven't bought the DSC yet. As agreed with Ofcom when they altered the Licence - I still have fixed Non-DSC on the doc. I can remove that or the DSC later as I decide.
Usual boat use means I don't need DSC / Red Button or EPIRB ... it's the annual Small Boat Club meeting that draws Baltic members boats together ... meaning I cross Baltic Sea ... then a Distress Button is nice to know is there.
Consideration was size of boat and areas sailed in. Baltic is reasonably well served with shipping, so felt that a DSC radio with Red Button was a cost effective option.
I also have my mast up / down every year out here as winters prevent boat staying afloat 12 months, so mast cable checks are regular.
Your point is well taken though and is still on table ! I haven't bought the DSC yet. As agreed with Ofcom when they altered the Licence - I still have fixed Non-DSC on the doc. I can remove that or the DSC later as I decide.
Usual boat use means I don't need DSC / Red Button or EPIRB ... it's the annual Small Boat Club meeting that draws Baltic members boats together ... meaning I cross Baltic Sea ... then a Distress Button is nice to know is there.
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Anonymous
Guest
I'm very anti-DSC for yachts. The system isn't appropriate for single-handers, short-handers, or cruising couples. Most authorities don't appear to bother with the SelCal part of DSC -- listen to them calling ships and larger yachts on Ch 16 instead of making a SelCal on 70. The system needs a re-design from scratch.
Malcb
Well-Known Member
Well I'm a single handed yachtie and I am very pleased with the DSC system. I can now call other DSC sets up, who I'm sailing in company with, easily and simply without having to call Ch 16, make contact, sort out a working channel and then get on with the message. I can sort the working channel, make a DSC call to the other party, without every one else hearing me, and then talk on the chosen channel. Brilliant.
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Anonymous
Guest
Yes, that's the upside, when you are sailing in company (which we seldom do), The downside is when the MRCC decides to send an alert on 70 on every ordinary weather forecast or some nav info miles away...the set blasts out its alarm waking any sleeping off-duty crew...but worse still, until you have acknowledged the alert you cannot hear the transmission!!
So, for example, you are alone on watch and are doing something on deck. The MRCC decides (quite properly) to send out a Ch 70 alert for a gale warning. You hear the alert and make your way to the set to acknowledge the alert by which time all you hear is the very end of the warning and have no idea what it was about! With a non-DSC set you at least hear the announcement on Ch 16 that there is a gale warning giving you a chance to call the MRCC later if you were too busy to switch to a working Ch at the time.
But the biggest problem is the cavalier attitude of issuing a Ch 70 alert for perfectly normal routine information. Some MRCCs are worse than others but beware....Ch 70 is the worldwide channel. If Cross Corsen decides to pump out alerts you'll get them in the Solent.
DSC is usable for ships where there is always an OOW able to handle the workload. It is terrible for yachts and, I imagine, smaller FVs. But I agree, in principle it is great for calling your mates though not many people I know seem to do a lot of that. When I suggest using DSC for that purpose people usually look a bit horrified -- can't remember how to do it -- so we just keep a listening watch on a convenient Ch or use Ch 16 to call.
So, for example, you are alone on watch and are doing something on deck. The MRCC decides (quite properly) to send out a Ch 70 alert for a gale warning. You hear the alert and make your way to the set to acknowledge the alert by which time all you hear is the very end of the warning and have no idea what it was about! With a non-DSC set you at least hear the announcement on Ch 16 that there is a gale warning giving you a chance to call the MRCC later if you were too busy to switch to a working Ch at the time.
But the biggest problem is the cavalier attitude of issuing a Ch 70 alert for perfectly normal routine information. Some MRCCs are worse than others but beware....Ch 70 is the worldwide channel. If Cross Corsen decides to pump out alerts you'll get them in the Solent.
DSC is usable for ships where there is always an OOW able to handle the workload. It is terrible for yachts and, I imagine, smaller FVs. But I agree, in principle it is great for calling your mates though not many people I know seem to do a lot of that. When I suggest using DSC for that purpose people usually look a bit horrified -- can't remember how to do it -- so we just keep a listening watch on a convenient Ch or use Ch 16 to call.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Isn't it a case of things develop into their requisite slots ? Not so long ago even the humble non-DSC VHF was a fancy add-on that many people didn't have.
I've resisted the urge to upgrade .... sorry I'll use another word ! 'change' my VHF for DSC type, I had all the excuses to support my decision. Then short while ago when planning 2009 cruise - I started to see another picture. Main being .... Is it fair of me to restrict distress facility on board when I have guest crew, what area's I'm sailing in, are there plenty of other boats / ships around to help .... lots of things to consider.
I started to look back on years of bridge duty and calls on VHF. One thing struck me - the call on 16 and data passed - often was part lost or another talked over top not realising a distress was going on ... the old way had faults. DSC Red Button has gone some way to get rid of that.
The SelCall facility is not really a selling point for me as few Coast Stations use it round here. Must admit that when nback in UK - watched a couple of boats (names withheld !) try to get to grips with SelCall .... made me smile ! I think malcb remembers as well !!
I think overall the advantage outweighs the disadvantages.
I've resisted the urge to upgrade .... sorry I'll use another word ! 'change' my VHF for DSC type, I had all the excuses to support my decision. Then short while ago when planning 2009 cruise - I started to see another picture. Main being .... Is it fair of me to restrict distress facility on board when I have guest crew, what area's I'm sailing in, are there plenty of other boats / ships around to help .... lots of things to consider.
I started to look back on years of bridge duty and calls on VHF. One thing struck me - the call on 16 and data passed - often was part lost or another talked over top not realising a distress was going on ... the old way had faults. DSC Red Button has gone some way to get rid of that.
The SelCall facility is not really a selling point for me as few Coast Stations use it round here. Must admit that when nback in UK - watched a couple of boats (names withheld !) try to get to grips with SelCall .... made me smile ! I think malcb remembers as well !!
I think overall the advantage outweighs the disadvantages.
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Anonymous
Guest
The great majority of cruising yachtsmen I have discussed this with face to face keep their DSC sets switched off most of the time. I am talking about Western Med it could be different elsewhere. I feel VERY uncomfortable about sailing without it on but these days it is off at night unless we are both on watch for pilotage, for example. During the day when the workload is high it goes off as well. The problem with the DSC is that it demands attention...you cannot just leave it on in the background. Until you acknowledge the alert you get an ear-piercing alarm that a) doesn't stop and b) comes from the speaker so you won't ever hear a message anyway. With the old VHF you could just leave it on and ignore the silly porny transmissions after 8pm.
The one thing that they could have done worthwhile with DSC but didn't was to encode the MMSI (inaudibly) on each Tx key. That would have put an end to those silly transmissions that are so irritating and distracting every night.
The one thing that they could have done worthwhile with DSC but didn't was to encode the MMSI (inaudibly) on each Tx key. That would have put an end to those silly transmissions that are so irritating and distracting every night.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Don't disagree with you ... when I've been on boats with it (Solent and Baltic) I haven't noted any real problem. I appreciate that there will be areas in the world where it could be a real pain !
Trouble is for those resist change to DSC radio - sets without will become rare as they get older and supply is no longer there.
Funny thing is - I have during web-search for DSC VHF deals come up with NEW non-DSC radios for sale, not UK of course. So they are still being made - despite claims to contrary.
At present I have no plans to sail in Meddi ... but maybe later when I retire and get the 60 ft Schooner I like ... but by then DSC radios will probably have evolved or even been superceded by next generations !
Trouble is for those resist change to DSC radio - sets without will become rare as they get older and supply is no longer there.
Funny thing is - I have during web-search for DSC VHF deals come up with NEW non-DSC radios for sale, not UK of course. So they are still being made - despite claims to contrary.
At present I have no plans to sail in Meddi ... but maybe later when I retire and get the 60 ft Schooner I like ... but by then DSC radios will probably have evolved or even been superceded by next generations !