DSC radio

Sorry about that Jon. I shouldn't have left it for you to promote the opposition. I should have said Other Brands are available & I understand that Icom are very good too.

BTW Couldn't find you as SBS so couldn't claim those Beers you owe me!

Martin /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Martin

We were there, in fact right behind the guys and girls from Standard.

They managed to drink enough beer for you whilst we were all out so when you next see Chris ask him /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Regards
 
Re: Navman DSC

Not as yet. I only installed the set about 4 weeks ago to replace a Silva DSC that I had had too many problems with, despite its warranty.

When the Silva was installed I didn't seem to get the numbers of DSC alerts reported by other forumites - so it is a bit difficult to say whether reducing the volume of the alerts applies to Maydays as well as routine traffic calls. But you can certainly turn off the DSC side of the set, so that is useful when moored if you just want to listen for MCA weather reports.
 
[ QUOTE ]
after he had passed close enough to read the name, we heard him talking to someone else. I think he chose to ignore us. I think AIS would be a lot more useful.

[/ QUOTE ]

There again the passengers might have got a bit of excitement seeing you discharge a white flare!
 
[ QUOTE ]
You ommitted the option "Woulnt have a DSC if you paid me"

[/ QUOTE ]
O.K. so try this...
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
[ QUOTE ]

As for selecting the type of distress before pressing the big red button, the boat would sink before I could dig out the manual and find which buttons to press to say it was a PanPan and I needed a pump!

Radio manufacturers need to put a lot more effort into their "human interfaces" before DSC replaces good old voice on the boats I sail! How about you?

[/ QUOTE ]

Some interesting points but.....

Have you done the DSC upgrade for you licence or done the full day?
Your comments make me wonder because if you had you would know that you only select the nature of the call for distress calls not for a PAN PAN.

When you are in distress (Grave and iminent danger to person, vessel, aircraft or vehicle that requires immediate assistance) you then select the nature of distress from a pre stored list.

If you have not the time you can just send a blank distress and the HMGC at least know who and where you are at the touch of a button.

You can send and get a response in under 15 seconds.
Who can send a word perfact voice mayday in that time and get a response?

Which parts of the "human interface" would you like to see changed and why?

Regards
 
Yep - funny that isn't it.

I love the 421 and, as I don't have autopilot, have my VHF right next to me at the helm and the increasing alert's volume results in a very harmonious existence.

If I may 'fault it' for a moment too - there seem rather to many requirements in the menu system to confirm an already requested function - ie requests along the lines of "are you absolutely sure you want to do this? " then press enter and, of course, a twiddle know for channel selection rather than up/down buttons. The latter is less of an issue with the mike controls available too.

overall it's doing very well and delivers clear output and appanartly clear transmissions.
 
This does miss out the option of "Do have a DSC but never switch it on except to transmit because of those bl...dy alerts and general inane chatter"
 
Thanks very much for that Jon. If I read it correctly and the Standard set would enable me to cancel/respond to DSC alerts from the command mic'; then for my purposes, that would give it the edge. The Icom guys at SIBS advised me that to respond to a DSC alert on the M601 (which I was looking at) would require a trip below to the main radio "designed that way to draw you top the chart table where all the information to respond to a DSC alert would be readily available". I may be mis-reading this, but these are things I can look into. Thanks very much for your response.
 
Hi Goldie

You are correct.

Yes you can answer on the VX3500 RAM mic and with M601 it is a trip below.

But as my oppo's stated most of the info you may need will be around your chart table.

Happy hunting.

Both are very good sets.
Way better than a lot of the others available today.
If I did not work here the other choice for me would be the VX3500.
The only down side I can fine with the set is the fact that it is so much deeper than the M601.

Regards
 
[ QUOTE ]
This does miss out the option of "Do have a DSC but never switch it on except to transmit because of those bl...dy alerts and general inane chatter"

[/ QUOTE ]

that surely is because this is a silly option!

if people really did this no-one would ever make boat to boat contact, be there to relay Mayday's or respond to them (other than the CG who might just decide to pack up as well as they couldn't get hold of any other vessels in teh vicinity.......)!

it would also of course be illegal

So no one would do that - would they?
 
Sorry, but I do keep my set switched off and I doubt I'm the only one.

One of the pleasures of sailing is getting away from noise and reliance on technology and I'm happy to leave the listening to the CG and big ships with radio operators paid to listen to the chatter. I tend to inherit VHFs with boats rather than buying them, so they mostly just sit there.

Any occasional thoughts around keeping a listening watch are quickly squashed by the alerts, radio checks and the sort of conversations that you hear mobile phone users having on trains.
 
O.K. Looks like 75% of people who do not have DSC and never intend to fit one would or could be persuaded IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO MUTE THE ALARM - take note all you radio manufacturers.

Now the final part of the poll
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
Its irrelevant to nag at the radio manufacturers, regarding muting alarms, beacause the Type Approval determines the specification not the manufacturers. Before you say they can bring pressure to bear, consider the size & international nature, of the powers that be, regarding GMDSS & you will see that the manufacturers can only react not influence.

Martin
 
They could fit a "funny" button or provide retrofit instructions.

I bought some equipment recently, complained to the manufacturer about a certain function dictated by the EU and was promptly given the fix to override the EU function along with the spare part if I had to return the unit under waranty. They could not do the modification but they could tell me how to do it myself. So I am sure could the radio manufacturers if they wished.

As it stands I will not buy a DSC radio unless I can mute the alarms or I am forced to by LAW in which case I will buy the cheapest nastiest one I can find and it will NOT be turned on unless I want to transmit. (I will of course have my old VHF on as usual)
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hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
Many thanks once again Jon, most helpful. I suspect that being able to respond from the cockpit would be a huge help - after all, how many DSC alerts are actually going to require my response? I suspect in the majority of cases, they will be irrelevant to me once I've ascertained what they are. Great info', thanks a lot.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Its irrelevant to nag at the radio manufacturers, regarding muting alarms, beacause the Type Approval determines the specification not the manufacturers

[/ QUOTE ]

Martin

So how can Navman provide a facility on the 7100 and 7200 EU spec models to switch DSC off? I wish I had bought one of those instead of our NASA.

Robin
 
Nagging the manufacturers is probably the best way to get them to put pressure on to get the Type approval specification modified.

Personally. I think that there should be a modification introduced for leisure boat users.
 
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