DSC radio issues

[Storyline]

The main VHF radio we have is an ICOM M503 Euro which is a bulkhead mounted model. Have never really got to grips with the DSC functionality but sometimes it does something very annoying. This occurs occasionally when the CG puts out a new gale warning on Ch16 which must be accompanied by a DSC alert because the alarm goes off and the whole radio seems to become disabled and you cannot then hear the actual CG transmission ! The only way to clear it is to go into the menu and clear the alarm by which time the broadcast is usually over.

Has anyone else had any behaviour like this ? Have checked the manual to see if it is set up incorrectly but cannot see anything. The problem is that I cannot replicate this behaviour and it does not happen every time there is a Sécurité message but just rarely so it is hard to work out if it is normal behaviour by the radio.

 

[prv]

Are you sure it's a 503 you have? This doesn't appear to be a DSC radio.

Pete

 

[Bilgediver]

The main VHF radio we have is an ICOM M503 Euro which is a bulkhead mounted model. Have never really got to grips with the DSC functionality but sometimes it does something very annoying. This occurs occasionally when the CG puts out a new gale warning on Ch16 which must be accompanied by a DSC alert because the alarm goes off and the whole radio seems to become disabled and you cannot then hear the actual CG transmission ! The only way to clear it is to go into the menu and clear the alarm by which time the broadcast is usually over.

Has anyone else had any behaviour like this ? Have checked the manual to see if it is set up incorrectly but cannot see anything. The problem is that I cannot replicate this behaviour and it does not happen every time there is a Sécurité message but just rarely so it is hard to work out if it is normal behaviour by the radio.

It might be worth speaking to Icom. There could be a firmware issue of some sort and maybe they have a fix.

http://www.icomuk.co.uk/Contact_Us

 

[Storyline]

Are you sure it's a 503 you have? This doesn't appear to be a DSC radio.

Pete

The radio is around 5 years old and does not look like a current model from the Icom site but looks like the 503. Unfortunately it is on the boat 250 miles away but I think it is dsc because we had to put our MMSI number in and as I said it does pick up alerts. Does that mean it is definitely DSC ? (sorry, took my VHF exam 25+ years ago !)

@ bilgediver - yes, when I get to the boat next and identify the radio I will give them a call.

Thanks

 

[prv]

The radio is around 5 years old and does not look like a current model from the Icom site but looks like the 503.

Possibly a 504? Looks similar but has DSC built in.

According to the instructions I've just googled, you press [CLR] to silence the beep, and then either [CLR] again to ignore the call, or [ENTER] to accept it and go to the specified channel.

Pete

 

[Storyline]

Thanks pete, i will give that a go next time it happens