Have you tested DSC calling recently?

[Peroo]

We have an 8 year old Sailor DSC VHF radio and we took the opportunity to try DSC calling with fellow cruisers. The first test was fine and we could both make and receive DSC calls from a fellow cruiser. Subsequent tests all failed to the same and other yachts - the problem appears to be in the receive side of things in that:

a) could not receive any made calls though calls were confirmed as being made through the usual VHF channels, and
b) when we made calls the set sat in Waiting for Acknowledgement even though the called yacht had acknowledged the call and their sets switched to the working channel we had selected, and
c) several DSC calls received by other cruisers on an all ships basis, were never received by us.

Naturally we checked everything we could but whilst Self Test calls, internal and external, "passed", clearly something was wrong. Of concern was the fact that should a vessel transmit a call and we were in a position to do something, we would never have known the call was made. Since we started this testing another cruiser has reported a similar problem.

Have other folks of this parish tested their DSC capabilities recently? After one test we could have been left with the impression that all was well, when clearly it wasn't.

Interested in your views and experiences.

 

[nigelmercier]

Perhaps the elves that run DSC are working for Santa Claus.

 

[johnalison]

I have an old Skanti which is a re-badged version of the Sailor and, touch wood, still works after 12 years. I have always wondered what the self-test function actually does. I regularly call up friends, partly to test my set and partly because it amuses me to make them jump. When they all abandon me I will have to call the Coastguard for test-calls, I suppose.

 

[jbweston]

I have had DSC VHF sets for seven years. I have never made a DSC call except on the classroom when getting my radio certificates. It's there if ever we need to make a distress call, I suppose . . .

I find it a real nuisance that some coast stations set off the DSC alarm very time they broadcast a weather forecast. It leads to a 'Pop down and cancel that alarm' mentalilty, rather than thinking 'That's the DSC alarm. Might be someon who needs help'. Come to think of it I don't think I've ever heard a DSC alarm that was a mayday - nearly all are routine weather and nav warnings, and perhaps one in 50 or a 100 is a mayday relay.

This thread makes me think I ought to try DSC calling to another boat to make sure it works and isn't just 'DSC' printed in white ink on the front of the radio!

 

[oldfatgit]

You know, been such a long time since I made a DSC call, test or otherwise, I'd probably have to read the manual just to make sure that I got it right (other than distress which is easy with that big red button). Have even sailed in groups and races where, after having all submitted and shared our MMSI numbers, nobody programmed a single one into their set to use the group call feature.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

We installed a new DSC set prior to a summer cruise to Orkney. Never having used one in anger, so to speak, before, I took the opportunity to call up various CG stations from time to time, prior to crossing the Moray Firth for example. All worked according to spec.

 

[onesea]

You know, been such a long time since I made a DSC call, test or otherwise, I'd probably have to read the manual just to make sure that I got it right (other than distress which is easy with that big red button). Have even sailed in groups and races where, after having all submitted and shared our MMSI numbers, nobody programmed a single one into their set to use the group call feature.

All this DSC is to much agro, if you do not use it regularly its to complicated to remember. Its easier to pick up a phone? or send a group text.

I did DSC test with coastguard beginning of season could not receive there reply. Thanks for the warning sounds like what went wrong there,will investigate.

3 days later my mate called me on his to test them, I was sailing solo, it was a bit busy I was sneaking between to race fleet and all we can hear is the bloody alarm going off. As I was not going below with lots of boats in close quarters

Nice gear if it all goes wrong but why is it some bugger always sends one at the most inconvenient moment... Then the sets spends the next minute or 2 demanding some-loving .. One of the reasons mine not be turned on as often as it should

Then how is it people knows to call your phone just as you are berthing .

 

[davidej]

I have had DSC VHF sets for seven years. I have never made a DSC call except on the classroom when getting my radio certificates. It's there if ever we need to make a distress call, I suppose . . .

I find it a real nuisance that some coast stations set off the DSC alarm very time they broadcast a weather forecast. It leads to a 'Pop down and cancel that alarm' mentalilty, rather than thinking 'That's the DSC alarm. Might be someon who needs help'. Come to think of it I don't think I've ever heard a DSC alarm that was a mayday - nearly all are routine weather and nav warnings, and perhaps one in 50 or a 100 is a mayday relay.

This thread makes me think I ought to try DSC calling to another boat to make sure it works and isn't just 'DSC' printed in white ink on the front of the radio!

+1
a ludicrously complicated system - just compare making a DSC call to a mobile phone one.

 

[nigelmercier]

shared our MMSI numbers, nobody programmed a single one into their set to use the group call feature.

Yeah they did, just not yours.

The OP seemed to think that DSC calling could have "gone down" in some way, hence my first reply, but nobody else seemed to notice.

 

[RestlessL]

+1
a ludicrously complicated system - just compare making a DSC call to a mobile phone one.

Remind me, please. How do I make a voice broadcast to a group of mobile phones ?

 

[davidej]

Remind me, please. How do I make a voice broadcast to a group of mobile phones ?

And remind me - how often do you want to do that?

 

[RestlessL]

And remind me - how often do you want to do that?

I don't need to - I have dsc and use the group call facility.

 

[Seajet]

I have had DSC VHF sets for seven years. I have never made a DSC call except on the classroom when getting my radio certificates. It's there if ever we need to make a distress call, I suppose . . .

I find it a real nuisance that some coast stations set off the DSC alarm very time they broadcast a weather forecast. It leads to a 'Pop down and cancel that alarm' mentalilty, rather than thinking 'That's the DSC alarm. Might be someon who needs help'. Come to think of it I don't think I've ever heard a DSC alarm that was a mayday - nearly all are routine weather and nav warnings, and perhaps one in 50 or a 100 is a mayday relay.

This thread makes me think I ought to try DSC calling to another boat to make sure it works and isn't just 'DSC' printed in white ink on the front of the radio!

I agree.

Though RestlessL has a good point, overall I think DSC was the worst thing ever introduced, a total pain with the alarm going off so often I usually have the VHF turned off which is silly, there could be someone in trouble half a mile away and I wouldn't know...

I live in hope the whole daft system gets replaced with something designed by and for humans, otherwise it will be a footnote in history like Morse as mobile phones take over, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the 'group mobile call' RestlessL jokes about doesn't come along soon on some sort of subscription app' !

 

[nigelmercier]

I think DSC was the worst thing ever introduced...

Which is odd, because I think it is the second best, just behind GPS.

 

[mikemanor]

otherwise it will be a footnote in history like Morse !

What!??? I was using morse last night on 20m

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I agree.

Though RestlessL has a good point, overall I think DSC was the worst thing ever introduced, a total pain with the alarm going off so often I usually have the VHF turned off which is silly, there could be someone in trouble half a mile away and I wouldn't know...

On the Clyde, I've only heard a DSC alarm about twice in the 5 years I've had the DSC set. And that was a naval officer being all official about "All Ships" warnings of exercises. He sounded awfully young, and it only happened once! And if your alarm goes off it is either someone specifically calling you, OR it is an "All Ships" message that you ought to at least take note of. If someone's using the "All Ships" functions to send non-esssential messages, then I hope the local CG would drop on him/her like a ton of bricks.

It is here to stay, because it is part of the international safety system, GMDSS. Remember it was never designed for leisure use, professional mariners are the real target use group. As others have said, if you want to talk to your friends, use a mobile; that's what it is for. But if you want to send or receive operational messages to other craft or shore installations, use VHF - that's what that is for.

 

[NormanS]

The fact that some people find the DSC alarm such a pest that they turn their sets off, shows that it is an extremely poorly designed system.

 

[johnalison]

I don't think there is much wrong with DSC, which I use regularly, if only to keep my hand in, so much as the operation of the sets available.

To call someone on a phone involves either keying in a few numbers or choosing a number in an address menu and pressing "dial". To make a DSC call involves going through several steps in a menu tree and making a number of choices. My old Skanti set is actually easier to use than some new sets in many ways but there is no quick way to select a stored number and make a call on a channel of my choice.

Radios should have a "quick call" button (green?). A choice of number or address. Enter number/name and channel, and send. This isn't much different to what you get through the menu on the sets I have seen but it seems to be the number of menu steps that discourages people. It would be better if all sets did what my set does, which is to automatically acknowledge a call when the handset is lifted. In fact, it would be better if all sets operated in the same way.

 

[Seajet]

Johnalison,

right, we'll all call via you then !

I know other people moan about constant alarms in the Solent area, but if someone tells me I'm doing / wiring up something wrong I'd be delighted as it would mean I can fix it.

It would seem on the face of it though that I have to rewire all other users, and their radio sets...

Yes I have done the course and exam, but so long ago I've forgotten virtually everything.

Mikemanor, you'll be pleased to know I did learn morse and scored well on the exam.

You'll be less pleased to hear all I remember is SOS and U !

 

[wadget]

You'll be less pleased to hear all I remember is SOS and U !

You probably also know d, e and i if you thought about it.

I think the problem with DSC is its use for all ships messages, which is annoying for nearly everyone. The individual call features can be great as it reduces traffic on channel 16, and I don't think anyone is going to argue that the ability to send a distress alert with your position at the press of the button is a bad thing.

So really it is wrong to say that its a bad system, its a brilliant system its just misused by some coast stations.