GMDSS

[billmacfarlane]

If I've understood it rightly we'll be eventually losing channel 16 as a common calling and distress channel. Will there be a common channel for yotties to exchange information e.g local weather conditions etc. ?

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[Mike2822425]

Bill,

The simple answer to your question is No. yotties wont get their own channel.

BUT as of 2005 Coastguards will not "permanently" monitor Ch.16 but will rely heavily on DSC for distress comunications.

To activate a DSC alert is very simple, lift up the cover and press the RED button. This sends out a high speed digital encoded message on CH.70 to Coastguards and all other DSC VHFs, I wont get to complicated but unless the Coastguard fail to answer the distress call, all you as a listener do, is monitor transmissions. If the Coastguard fails to answer, then a different senario comes in. The DSC alert gives boat position and your MMSI Number , provided you are interfaced to GPS or have entered it manually. If you have time it will give you aditional meues to chose fromof catigories of ditress, sinking fire ect. If more time is available (sinking slowly). you will find your DSC set turns automatically to CH. 16 and a conventional Mayday call can be made.

Just think of how usefull this would have been to the yacht chopped up in the channel last week, just push one RED button and help would have been at hand.


From 2005 Ch. 16 will become a "working" channel.

Channels allocated. CH, 11, 12, 14 Port woking channels.
CH. 80 for Marina berthing ect.
CH. 70 No voice communications DSC distress only.
CH. 13 Bridge to Bridge for Navigational hassards etc.
CH. M1 and M2 for club house safety boats for racing.
CH.67 Small boat to Coastguard and vice versa. (Give them your planned route and estimated time of arrival ect.) NOT CH.16.

These are the ones to avoid, so its Ch.16 to the other "yottie", he intern as "receiver" choses another channel to "go to" for the trasmission andhe is in controle and closes the transmission.


I think I got it right , although sme will correct me if I am wrong.

Passed my DSC short range exam 13th May 2003,

NB. This is still only VHF so has the same problems involving lines of sight and atmospherics.


Question . Why have the Americans dumped it and reverted to old tried and true methods? I suspect too many false alarms. How to correct a DSC alert sent in error NO NO NO I am not going into all that, the page isent big enough!!!

Mike (DSC radio wiss, I think?)


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[Mike_Martin]

Slight tweaks to Mike's response:

Correct, raggies will not get their own channel but neither will stinkies. This is of course because we've never had our own channels, we join in with the International Maritime Mobile Radio Service which since 1999 has been called the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Service.

Channel 16 officially became a "DISTRESS & SAFETY" working channel at that time. Although in recognition of the pleasure boating world many administrations continue to watch it for safety reasons. However others (Holland springs to mind) just made it compulsory for anyone accessing the GMDSS to have the right (DSC) equipment or not have radio.

At the same time the IMO asked SOLAS Convention vessels to try and maintain a listening watch on C16 as well C70 where possible. I have heard much evidence(anecdotal, admittedly) from customers who have failed to raise Merchant Men on C16 since the change.

As of 2005 the HMCG will cease to keep a "dedicated headphone" watch on Channel 16, however, it will keep it playing in the background on loud speaker. However if you've been to a CG Ops room you'll understand that by remaining on C16 you will seriously reduce your chances of being heard if you're in trouble.

For further info visit http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/maritime/maritime-index.htm

I hope this helps
Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Services Section,
Radiocommunications Agency

 

[Gordonmc]

Mike -

Helpful stuff, this. One question, though arising from experience at this week. Is the Ch 13 bridge-to-bridge a listening channel?

Although I was stand-on vessel on an intercepting course with a ferry I was intending turning to go round his stern. Trying him on 13 to tell him intentions got no response. He answered on 16.

Thoughts?

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[Mike_Martin]

Yes C13 is supposed to be watched but only when a "danger of collision exists".

One of the problems caused by us running this "ghost" version of the radio Service is that the big boys get just as confused when trying to give us a shout.

At the moment, if you're non-DSC, the SOP is to TRY everything available but things are beginning to settle down as the amount of DSC sets on pleasure craft is increasing rapidly. We are issuing in the region of 200 ship MMSI numbers a week (242 last week) at the moment and we have issued 900 or so Portable MMSI numbers to date.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Services Section,
Radiocommunications Agency

 

[billmacfarlane]

Thanks to both Mikes for the excellent info. I know we will not have a dedicated channel for yacht to yacht communication but will there be any channel that all listening craft can listen to in the way a lot of craft listen in to channel 72 ?

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[Mike2822425]

Mike ,

Thanks for the tweaks, to my post, but where is my licence, complete with "doggie" photo. I have paid B and B College of Tech. for the course but as yet not received my certificate? Am I now on your list of aproved users?

Mike


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[Mike2822425]

Bill,

Sorry this one (Ch.72) was outside of my course, hope the other Mike comes back with some info. at least he didnt knock me for my newly aquired "knowledge". But the question is still still there---- why have the American Coastguards abandoned the DSC system? Come on the other Mike you must know more than us "why" or is it something to do with future satalite tracking of vessals? If it is a " matter of national security" we will all log it amongst " global distruction ect. " and they have not have been found yet!!!


I love government intervention at all points, but not if they are going to make me work to 70!! 4years to go and awaiting my freedom to sail the seven seas.

Mike

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[billmacfarlane]

Thank you all

.....especially the two Mikes. Thre reason I asked the question originally was because on Saturday I was on my way home from the French coast when we hit a dense fog bank that lasted all the way into the eastbound shipping lane. On channel 72 we exchanged position info and details of ships we knew about with other yachts which was useful to the boats without radar. I was concerned that we might lose this facility but it turns out we won't. See the following web site for details:
http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/SPNR/Neig...ers_guide/information/vhf_usage/vhf_usage.htm

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[Mike_Martin]

Hi Mike,

No I'm afraid not, that's your Certificate of Competence to get on my list you need the Ship Radio Licence.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Services Section,
Radiocommunications Agency

 

[Mike_Martin]

Hi Mike,

Well, the reality is that the US has NOT abandoned the GMDSS or DSC radio equipment BUT they could not meet the 1999 deadline for its installation in all its RCCs and declaration of Sea Area A1 in its Territorial Waters. There was an International GMDSS conference several years ago where the US Chief Coastguard explained that it was mainly due to funding difficulties. I don't pay a lot of attention to their activities so I don't know what the situation is now but I suspect that they will be pushing for it along with AIS in view of their Coastguard's move to the Department of Defense (sic) and increased role in Coastal Security post 9/11.

The evidence is there, for all to see, that they are trying to catch up with regard to pleasure craft as they have contracted 2 organisations (one is BoatUS) to issue MMSI numbers to the millions of US pleasure craft.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Services Section,
Radiocommunications Agency

 

[Mike2822425]

Hi Mike,

After completing the course, I filled in the form for a licence and paid the fee, believed £19 and attached 2 photos but so far no licence. Will chase the College and see what they have done with my money.

Mike



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[Mike_Martin]

Hi Bill,

C72 is an inter-ship working channel with no other specialised purpose. There is nothing to stop individual craft from agreeing to monitor it for safety purposes but it couldn't be set aside for general calling etc as that is the job laid down for C70 using DSC.

Does this help?
Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Services Section,
Radiocommunications Agency

 

[Gunfleet]

I used the dsc for the first time this weekend with another forum member and it was terrific. An alarm sounds on the vhf. The screen says go to Channel 10. I go to channel 10 and there he was. None of this 'Winjammer winjammer, this is chuff chuff' repeated endlessly on 16. All we need now is everyone else to get dsc radios!

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[Mike_Martin]

Mike

Just to make you feel better! When I re-took the course (the full, proper two day jobby BTW) in 99, I waited over two months for my Certificate. This is especially funny when you think about what I do.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Services Section,
Radiocommunications Agency

 

[Mike2822425]

Mike,

Thanks for the details about A. C. Gs. Can I now put a senario to you. I pass my driving test, the same day I can drive unaccompanied for the first time, even though I have not received my Full licence. So if I want to use my DSC set ( dont worry I did say it was a senario I havent bought one yet) can I use it before I receive my Licence (complete with awfull picture-- methinks thats why I havent received it I look too much of a villian) or do I have to wait untill all my details (including mole on left nostrill) have been put into the appropriate computer data base? I think this is so, because I have not held a "provisional license" you will have no basic details of me. After the course some thought they could "chat away " on thier new toy, but others had other thoughts!! From the top please, I need to know so that I can keep up my reputation as the "DSC wiss kid" with my fellow "raggies". My impression would be no license in your "sticky hand " no to using the DSC. Seems logic but many rejected the idea.


Regards. Mike ( See my 100% result in the exam what a wiss kid) pity I cant use the VHF!!!

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