DSC testing, testing

[longjohnsilver]

So now DSc is coming down in price and becoming more common place, how on earth do you know it's actually working? Is there any way it can be tested without making a distress call? I know a few people who have had a problem with the set, but only found out when it was almost too late.

I did the DSC course a few years back, but like another recent poster my KH Husun just keeps going and going, and I do like the telephone style handset, so will not change until I absolutely have to.

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[Moose]

Call the CG up on 67 and ask them (nicely) to send you a DSC message, you then send one to them and all is well. I only know this cos' I heard someone do it one evening (when everything was quiet) They didn't mind.

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L' Moose

 

[BrendanS]

The official line which I read a week or so ago is to send a DSC call (non urgency - don't hit the red button - type in the MMSI number) to the coastguard, they will respond, which should take your DSC radio to the working channel they have selected and then you can make voice calls on the working channel.

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[Tekkie]

Brendan S is spot on, official line from the MCA is to call them using DSC, then speak on their working channel. Usually you would log with them your day's boating intentions.

Safe Boating

Brian

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[Gunfleet]

except on dsc the caller selects the working channel, so the message you get says 'call on channel 10' or similar. Don't know how this would work with HMCG, so I've never called them on mine. I've never called anyone else either, though I have received a call (from a fellow PBO bb member). That's been the thing's sole use so far.

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[HMCG]

Now that we are all fully GMDSS compliant !?!?!? a call should be made to the coastguard using DSC before any contact on ch67. When you send a call to a coastguard station the station will send you back the channel they require you to go to. In most cases this will set your DSC radio to the correct channel. You can then pass your passage details or request weather etc.

You are not able to do a "radio check" on VHF DSC and all DSC calls should be followed by a voice call. However this is possible on MF DSC by using the Test protocol where no voice contact is required.

In an ideal world the Coastguard would receive no "cold" calls on any frequency and would receive a DSC for all calls.

.........but only in an ideal world.

If you have any further questions or would like to talk about the subject direct PM me and I can call you.

Regards,

HMCG

<hr width=100% size=1>These are my own thoughts not the MCA's

 

[circumnavigation]

If he has a Cert. of Competance he should know this, or is this just another slug who sails the seas and does not register his communication equipment. Just look at the number of vessels, on their port sides, to see if they have their licence: probably they don't have the Cert. of Competance either. Do you not have in the UK, the TV licence compliance investigators, that track down users of TV's without a licence? The same should happen for boats, although the law states that an Agency is responsible for this. On an Island off the West coast of France I have counted 10 this summer with NO licence.

I pay my fees and I have not placed a foot in the UK. officially, for many years.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema.html

 

[longjohnsilver]

Read my post again!!!

If you had bothered before throwing insults you would see that i did the course several years ago but do not yet have a dsc vhf. And yes I do have a vhf licence.

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[MainlySteam]

<<<just another slug who sails the seas and does not register his communication equipment>>>

Putting to one side any bureaucratic legislated requirement -

What value does VHF equipped vessels having to have an individual licence for their sets add?

Why, if they have to have a licence, should they have to display a current licence sticker (I would have though that checks could most easily be made just by a listening watch and checks against the licence database)?

Also, non boaty except for TV's on boats - why would anyone think a licence for a TV was adding any value to anything?

Why, if someone hasn't got a licence, or is not required to have a licence for any of the above should one get worked up about it?

A number of industrialised countries have no licence requirements for any of the above and get by very well without them.

John

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