Handheld VHF with DSC

[Phideaux]

I can register a ships portable with DSC,thus get an MMSI,then put an EPIRB and a SART on that number,and carry the whole gubbins around in belt kit as I crew around the place,without the need for a vessel to exist.

I'm also interested in this. What is the position about using a HH DSC VHF on a 'T' licence outside of UK waters? How do you register it for use elsewhere?

I've emailed JG Technologies as the UK dealer and asked for clarification about licensing and use of the HX851e in UK and European waters

 

[Phideaux]

I've emailed JG Technologies as the UK dealer and asked for clarification about licensing and use of the HX851e in UK and European waters

I sent the following the JG Technologies:

"I am interested in the Standard Horizon hx851e for use as a personal hand-held DSC VHF under a UK ‘T’ licence. However, from the Ofcom website I understand that a ships portable radio licence, with a MMSI number, is only valid in UK waters and I can only use the DSC function in UK waters? I would like to register a ships portable with DSC, thus get an MMSI, then put an EPIRB and a SART on that number and carry the combination on a belt kit as I crew for others around the UK and European waters.

Can you clarify the situation with regard to UK licensing of the hx851e and use in European waters?"

and received their reply

"Sorry I cannot comment you need to speak to offcom. Jf"

So, it looks like a great piece of kit that we may not be allowed to allowed to use (officially) unless in UK waters

 

[pvb]

So, it looks like a great piece of kit that we may not be allowed to allowed to use (officially) unless in UK waters

Does that actually matter? I can't imagine that, in the event of an emergency outside the UK, the SAR response would be to ignore you because of the licence peculiarities.

 

[RestlessL]

So, it looks like a great piece of kit that we may not be allowed to allowed to use

If you adhere to all the small print you won't be able to use it anywhere - from the manual:- "When transmitting, hold the radio in a vertical position with its microphone 2.5 to 5 cm away from your mouth and keep the base of the antenna at least 19 cm away from your head." As the microphone is 10cm from the base of the antenna, I would like to see how this can be done.

On a more serious point, my initial impression of the radio is very good. In particular, the GPS aquisition is very fast, and this is the first time I have managed a GPS fix inside the house - an extrex placed alongside can't find the signal.

My reason for bying the HX851E is for safety when short-handed offshore. I was considering a PLB, but I feel the HH DSC gives yachts in the vicinity a better chance to rescue you if you fall overboard. If the yacht chartplotter has a 2-way NMEA conection to its DSC radio then a position request should show the MOB position on the chartplotter, whereas the PLB needs a 121MHz direction finder to locate it locally.

Note that the HH must have a different MMSI number from the yacht. The is a large warning inside the box to this effect. I am not sure how the US scheme of using the same MMSI would work when using the position request function.

On the licencing question - I think the same quirk applies to PLBs registered on a T licence.

John

 

[GeorgeLlewellin]

Hand Held DSC VHF

For hand held DSC to work properly you have to have a set with built in GPS so that it knows its position, Standard Horizon make such a set, see
http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=85&ProdID=1558&DivisionID=3

and you can get a UK approved version see also

http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog/Standard_Horizon_Hand_Held_VHF.html
and page down until you get to the
Standard Horizon HX851E Handheld VHF Radio DSC/GPS

There are also a number of other suppliers of this radio within UK. However I don’t know of any other make of hand held DSC VHF for use in UK, are there any ??

George

 

[pvb]

For hand held DSC to work properly you have to have a set with built in GPS so that it knows its position...

It's also possible to use a handheld DSC VHF which takes its position from its charging cradle (via NMEA from the GPS). When you lift the VHF from its cradle, it remembers the last position. Not totally accurate, but very close. And, in an emergency, probably close enough.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Uniden used to do a hand held VHF with GPS and DSC. I got one some years ago but it seems Uniden stopped making then due to lack of market.

I found it a great bit of kit but never used it in anger yet. Always have it on my LJ when on night watch.

 

[DaveS]

"When transmitting, hold the radio in a vertical position with its microphone 2.5 to 5 cm away from your mouth and keep the base of the antenna at least 19 cm away from your head."

Brilliant!

 

[colvic987]

It's also possible to use a handheld DSC VHF which takes its position from its charging cradle (via NMEA from the GPS). When you lift the VHF from its cradle, it remembers the last position. Not totally accurate, but very close. And, in an emergency, probably close enough.

simrad hd52 does just that, nmea from gps to its charging cradle.