How often do you use DSC or Ch16...?

How often do you

  • Every time I go out

    Votes: 28 20.7%

  • Once in a while

    Votes: 43 31.9%

  • Very rarely

    Votes: 64 47.4%
  • Total voters
    135
DSC is an excellent system but the design of many sets makes it harder for some users than it should be. Essentially, it should be easier than phoning with a mobile phone but the multiplicity of different radio layouts and menus can make it confusing for undedicated users. All this business about acknowledging calls and confirming entries is completely unnecessary. My twelve-year-old system has its drawbacks but at least I don't have to struggle with an operating system designed by some nerd in a Taiwanese office who has never been on a boat.
 
I ain't got no DSC. I cant quite see the point when sailing in our coastal waters...

I got a normal VHF... Whenever I press the button to talk to someone.... Someone usually answers... Whenever I have called the coastgriuard in anger it's been from my handheld... And it's worked thanks.

When the radio goes wonky, I guess I will have to get a DSC one... Seems a bit overkill to me... I got the normal VHF, the handheld VHF, usually a couple of mobile phones, a couple of tablets to send and receive emails, a plb for when I fall off, a auto release epirb for when the boat sinks, and even a old 121mhz epirb in the grab bag in case everything else goes pear shaped...

I can't see why I would want to listen to the warbling love chimes of a dsc set when in reality if a emergency is more than 3 miles from me I will be of zero use anyways... (at 5 knots...).
 
I don't have a DSC set, only a bog-standard VHF.

We have to call Peterhead harbour on Ch 14 to get clearance each time we go out, so by definition, that's also my radio check.

I've only ever used the radio once in the 6 or 7 years I've been cruising up and down the east coast of Scotland, and that was when someone called me as I was mooching around trying to identify the visitors mooring buoys, and he called me to tell me which ones they were.

I suppose I'll have to get a DSC set when this one finally gives up the ghost, but until it does, it will be fine. It does everything I need.

I don't have AIS either. There's not that much shipping about up here for it to be of any value to me.
 
Where we sail, there is very little radio traffic. I do have a DSC set, but is rarely switched on, as apparently it makes a constant slight noise, which annoys my wife, but which I can't hear.
We do have an older functional VHF, and it is on all the time that we are aboard, and awake, tuned to Ch16. We use it a little, using Ch 16 to make contact. Have never used DSC, and hopefully never will. I was horrified when DSC was first proposed, that one of its supposed advantages was that vessels would no longer need to monitor Ch16. I haven't changed my mind about that.
 
Seems a very clumsily worded question.
"How often do you use DSC or Ch16?"
How are you supposed to answer if you use one, and never the other?
 
I think DSC is absolutely brilliant. And when you actually look at it carefully, it's really well thought out.

But if you don't understand it, then you'll not going to get the best from it.

And if you haven't got it then you're missing out on one of the cleverest bits of kit to fit on a boat.

Shorn
 
I always listen on Ch16. Sometimes switch to one of the other channels to listen to the weather report. I am often hailed on CH16 by one of the signal stations we have down here who like to keep tabs on who is going where. I guess if I did not answer, I would get a visit from the Gendarmes cutter pretty rapidly.

If the poll is about how often do I call sometime up on CH16 or via DSC, the answer is never.
I call marinas up on their advertised channel - usually CH9.
 
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A good autopilot any time, over dsc


Shorn100 said:
I think DSC is absolutely brilliant. And when you actually look at it carefully, it's really well thought out.

But if you don't understand it, then you'll not going to get the best from it.

And if you haven't got it then you're missing out on one of the cleverest bits of kit to fit on a boat.

Shorn
Click to expand...
 
We always listen to Ch 16 + our working channel. As for DSC, we use it quite a bit, on VHF and MF/HF as well; a great bit of kit. Most of the people we've met since leaving Europe use it all the time and it is really easy to use and very effective. Quite often we can raise somebody via DSC when voice doesn't get through, not sure how that works, but it does.

The Luddites with anything DSC always seem to be the Brits!!! We seem have a total head in the sand approach to radios and using them..
 
photodog said:
If you need some more juicy quotes... Just ask. I can do pro, con, irate, arrogant or idiot.
Click to expand...

Me too...:-)

'DSC ??
The advertised advantages were invented by VHF manufacturer's to get us to buy new equipment!'

'I only ever use the radio on ch 16 at 25w to chat to my mates about good fishings spots,'

'Mobile phones are much more reliable - my mates iPhone was able to surf the internet and make calls during an Atlantic crossing...'
 
Ariadne said:
We always listen to Ch 16 + our working channel. As for DSC, we use it quite a bit, on VHF and MF/HF as well; a great bit of kit. Most of the people we've met since leaving Europe use it all the time and it is really easy to use and very effective. Quite often we can raise somebody via DSC when voice doesn't get through, not sure how that works, but it does.

The Luddites with anything DSC always seem to be the Brits!!! We seem have a total head in the sand approach to radios and using them..
Click to expand...

So what's the advantage in raising someone on DSC, when you then can't get them on "voice"?
 
sailorman said:
you are calling a specific number & it triggers an alarm, or so i understand but then i havnt done the course
Click to expand...

Wot he said!

Reading the thread it would seem most of you don't need a radio as you never turn it on in any case, and couldn't use if you did; pathetic!

As for the distrust, dislike and apathetic approach of the Brits to anything DSC/radio it really is beyond belief, but then it's the Britsh approach to anything that may work - the old systemn is the best; FFS.

Should any of you peeps ever leave the UK and head south or west you'll be surprised at often a radio is used, how **** and limited a mobile is offshore. I would never rely on a mobile phone for my safety onboard, to do so is totally irresponsible to everybody on board and your families.

Idiots the lot of you !!!
 
Excuse me Sir, would you care to rephrase that last sentence


Ariadne said:
Wot he said!

Reading the thread it would seem most of you don't need a radio as you never turn it on in any case, and couldn't use if you did; pathetic!

As for the distrust, dislike and apathetic approach of the Brits to anything DSC/radio it really is beyond belief, but then it's the Britsh approach to anything that may work - the old systemn is the best; FFS.

Should any of you peeps ever leave the UK and head south or west you'll be surprised at often a radio is used, how **** and limited a mobile is offshore. I would never rely on a mobile phone for my safety onboard, to do so is totally irresponsible to everybody on board and your families.

Idiots the lot of you !!!
Click to expand...
 
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