DSC - Do you use it?

[Stu Jackson]

I can operate computers, cars, mobile phones and aeroplanes, but my DSC radio is the most complicated thing I own and it's a well known make, latest model.

I'd bet you could also program your VHS, too.

 

[Burnham Bob]

maybe a dumb question, but to make a dsc call to a mate I enter the MMSI number and then select a working channel for them to reply on. what channel do you select for the coastguard? 67?

it will save me calling them on 16 to ask what cahnnel so i can test the dsc this week......

 

[prv]

To me its just another one of those 'good idea at the time' developments which was overtaken by advances in technology before it even became really established.

The purpose of it was to remove the need for radio officers on commercial shipping. It would seem to have succeeded, from what I hear. The next step of eliminating all VHF listening on the bridge has been postponed, but I can't see how that's due to "advances in technology" - if anything, it's the opposite.

DSC was never invented to help yotties chat to each other, so if your "advances in technology" refers to mobile phones in the Solent, it's missing the point.

maybe a dumb question, but to make a dsc call to a mate I enter the MMSI number and then select a working channel for them to reply on. what channel do you select for the coastguard? 67?

As a coast station, they get to override whatever you pick anyway. If the radio makes you put one in, 67 seems as good as any.

Pete

 

[VicMallows]

it will save me calling them on 16 to ask what cahnnel so i can test the dsc this week......

Raises an intriguing point. Many of us now seem to prefer to communicate by text rather than speech...... a much more efficient way of using radio spectrum. Insist that all new marine radios have text capability built in (along with DSC). Then the government can sell off a chunk of the (very valuable) marine allocation ................

 

[davidej]

I don't have internret access at sea when I need MMSIs.

Two posters have given me sources and perhaps I should print them out now and put onboard.

 

[onesea]

I'd bet you could also program your VHS, too.

Ah I could do that when I was 7... Now they would be listed amongst DSC radios as yeah well unusable...

132 functions and 3 buttons, you have to be 7 to make them work.

Hell I do not even bother programming my car radio any more, the clock has been wrong since...

 

[andygc]

maybe a dumb question, but to make a dsc call to a mate I enter the MMSI number and then select a working channel for them to reply on. what channel do you select for the coastguard? 67?

it will save me calling them on 16 to ask what cahnnel so i can test the dsc this week......

When you call the CG using DSC your radio recognises the MMSI as a CG. The CG selects the working channel and your radio switches to it automatically.

 

[dunedin]

No. Had radio 6 years, never bothered to put in MMSI and not missed it. Keep listening watch on Ch 16 but probably press transmit only and handful of times per season (including one radio check).

Contacting marinas and harbourmasters been more successful on mobile phone.
In emergency would call help on 16 as still seems to be well monitored by other boats. (But also have EPIRB and mobile)