DSC, its time to make the MCA listen

[DJE]

I have learned one trick with our set. You can cancel the alarm rather than acknowledge it. That at least leaves the radio on the channel you were on before; but it means you have just ignored a potentially urgent message.

We bought ours to replace an unreliable old radio and were looking forward to the advantages of a digital system, expecting something on a par with mobile phones. What a disapointment. The more I learn aboiut DSC the worse it gets.

 

[Piere]

I have what can best be described as the best vhf radio that is so user friendy,
from the ICOM stable . dsc upgradeable and now 3 years old.
none of the other boats in my local club have gone digitally selective .
And Dover cg always acknowledge my call on 16 if i have routine passage info
the upgrade unit is about the same size as the vhf one and will require me to fit another arial dedicated to ch 70 .
I think I was bluffed into thinking dsc was the way to go. my original set went wonky . A new radio had to be sought , /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifso you think you are doing the best thing in moving to a dsc kit '
whats even more irritating is that the combined cost of both sets will buy you two complete units today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm gonna wait another year
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[JonBrooks]

Dear all

DSC does indeed carry further as it is a digital burst of data on a standard VHF channel.

Reported and tested cases of well over 80 miles!
We will not say this will happen every time!

Mike Martins desk would not be the best place.
MCA are the people who can change this.
The letteres should go there.

Don't trust a techie!!!! I thought it was don't trust a salesman!
Either way I am goosed, am an engineer first, salesman second.

Regards

 

[JonBrooks]

[ QUOTE ]
For me the biggest single problem is that there is no volume control. The alarms are always at full volume. There is no acknowledgement by the regulators that the volume required within the confines of a small cabin is different to the volume required when on the bridge of a merchant vessel. I am happy for a distress alarm to be at full volume but all the others should be selectable.

We have, within the Regs, made it as close to this as possible with the new M421.

Both alarms start at a low level the esculate to full volume after a period of time.

This was suggest and carried out following us listening to our customers.

Whilst not fully what you have suggested it is as close as we can get and stay within spec.

Regards