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
Never bothered to upgrade to DSC, quite happy with the conventional radio that came with the boat. Mobile phone has largely done away with the need for the radio for communicating with friends boats. Each trip out, I usually switch it on and check that it is working by speaking to the marina as we leave, then switch it off again as I do not want to hear it sqeaking and squarking all day, any more than I want to listen to foul mouthed fishermen chattering away.

At one time I use to listen to the inshore weather forcasts, but since the wind forcasts, seem to be so excessively high these days (compared to actual) I tend to look at a weather chart pre trip and then disregard the inshore forcast.
 
They don't make 'em like they used to....



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My vhf packed up last year so had to buy a new DSCset as thats all you can buy nowadays but I have not set it up with an MMSI number yet as I didn't get round to it. And I have not done the course upgrade either......
 
Ariadne said:
We'll have to disagree on this mate. ;-)

I'll refer you tho this new thread http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?350259-US-Declaration-of-GMDSS-Sea-Areas-form-A1-to-A2

You may not like it, but it's the way it's going.
Click to expand...


To quote from your link -

"Declaration of Sea Area A1 will not include Alaska but will include the Continental U.S. coasts, the Great Lakes, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

According to provisions of the FCC Rules, a declaration of Sea Area A1 will require that all vessels mandatorily equipped with VHF, upgrade to VHF-DSC within one year."

Since I doubt very much that I will ever sail in these areas, and since my Yacht is not "mandatorily equipped", I think I'll have "crossed the bar" long before I would ever have to bother about such things.


As an aside, I finally had to get a new mobile phone last week as it was no longer possible to get a replacement battery for my 1998 model. I hate to have to chuck things out that are still working.
 
Since I doubt very much that I will ever sail in these areas.

I think you might! http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/chart_of_where_vhf_operates_-_15-02-11.pdf

Sea Area A1

An area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous digital selective calling (ch70) alerting and radiotelephony services are available, as defined by the International Maritime Organization.

Sea Area A2

An area, excluding Sea Area Al, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC (2187.5 kHz) alerting and radiotelephony services are available, as defined by the International Maritime Organization. GMDSS-regulated ships travelling this area must carry a DSC-equipped MF radiotelephone in addition to equipment required for Sea Area A1.

On the other hand you may not? As the UK currently has not at least one VHF coast station in which continuous digital selective calling (ch70) alerting and radiotelephony services are available, as defined by the International Maritime Organization. I think the UK off hired its coast stations ad relinquished any responsibility in this department. Maybe our resident CG chappy could confirm?
 
Ariadne said:
Since I doubt very much that I will ever sail in these areas.

I think you might! http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/chart_of_where_vhf_operates_-_15-02-11.pdf

Sea Area A1

An area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous digital selective calling (ch70) alerting and radiotelephony services are available, as defined by the International Maritime Organization.

Sea Area A2

An area, excluding Sea Area Al, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC (2187.5 kHz) alerting and radiotelephony services are available, as defined by the International Maritime Organization. GMDSS-regulated ships travelling this area must carry a DSC-equipped MF radiotelephone in addition to equipment required for Sea Area A1.

On the other hand you may not? As the UK currently has not at least one VHF coast station in which continuous digital selective calling (ch70) alerting and radiotelephony services are available, as defined by the International Maritime Organization. I think the UK off hired its coast stations ad relinquished any responsibility in this department. Maybe our resident CG chappy could confirm?
Click to expand...

Again from your link -

Page 1 -
Sea Area A1
The radiotelephone coverage of VHF coast stations in which continuous alerting by Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is available

Page 2 -
INTERSHIP
– where the MMSI of the other vessel is unknown
Call as now on CH16 using the same procedure.
If no response is achieved call on CH13 which has been allocated in the GMDSS for bridge to bridge communications

My bolding of the relevant bits.

DSC is available
Call as now on CH16 using the same procedure

Nowhere does it say I have to have a DSC radio, and unless someone produces a directory of MMSI numbers, I have no chance of finding out whthout yet another bit of electronic kit.

At least my semaphore flags, which I learned to use in the Boys Brigade umteen years ago, still work and don't need a lot of amps. The question is though, could anyone still read them these days! ! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Slipstream 34 said:
There is no need for a Flight Engineer on modern aircraft just as nowadays cars don't need a man running in front of them with a red flag. Have a read of the Air France Concorde crash report where the "Flight Engineer who really knew what was going on" shut down an engine without permission in the critical phase of Flight where thrust was more important than fighting fires.

My wife is a 767 Captain and I can assure you there is more to commercial aviation than pushing buttons....... taking photographs however! :)

The modernisation of the SAR organisation is long overdue and difficult decisions have had to be made. What would you suggest as an alternative?


That chip on your shoulder really does you no credit.
Click to expand...

I happen to know the systems on ' modern aircraft ' and a few airline pilots, plus have a lifetime working with Test Pilots, also some inexperienced berks who did their best to try and kill me !

Experienced flyers are rather keen on either being clued up engineers themselves or having someone along who is, and I've met both types including airliner pilots who kept their mental fits quiet, so I don't have huge respect for modern civil airliner types; I do know a few ex military pilots now on airliners who I'd happilly trust my girlfriends' life ( but not necessarilly her knickers ) to.
 
ianj99 said:
Is that one of those Hello Sailor models?
Click to expand...

It's a sneak preview of the iPhone 6, as soon as the boffins at apple have shrunk it down, all our boating needs will be catered for in one device.

I'm thinking of reading the instructions for my Raymarine DSC this afternoon.....
 
Yes I believe the grey funnel line do still use signal lights,to avoid advertising on radio, and top tip; dont use the phrase '****ing t****r' if he's standing behind a gatling gun.

* BTW I've just discovered t****r is a YBW naughty word, so that's the photo of me and my pancake in mid-air stuffed then.
 
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Seajet said:
I happen to know the systems on ' modern aircraft ' and a few airline pilots, plus have a lifetime working with Test Pilots, also some inexperienced berks who did their best to try and kill me !

Experienced flyers are rather keen on either being clued up engineers themselves or having someone along who is, and I've met both types including airliner pilots who kept their mental fits quiet, so I don't have huge respect for modern civil airliner types; I do know a few ex military pilots now on airliners who I'd happilly trust my girlfriends' life ( but not necessarilly her knickers ) to.
Click to expand...

Well as a retired airline pilot I too know a bit about pilots and flight engineers.
I used to enjoy flying with FEs when we had aircraft that needed them. In fact one training FE used to tell his trainees that there were only two things on the TriStar that could kill you......pointing to the two front seats, he said " one sits there, the other one there!"
I missed the FEs when modern aircraft came in but there really is no need for them now.
Just us Berks pushing buttons as you like to call us.
I suppose having a chip on both shoulders makes you evenly balanced.

Returning from the thread drift.....I never have my radio on, quite enough of that when I was working.
 
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I ticked "Every time I go out", because I always keep a listening watch on Channel 16 as a matter of good seamanship. I rarely make calls on Channel 16; more likely to use channel 80 or 12 to contact marinas or Clydeport; tend to contact the latter on entering or leaving the home Marina, as I have to use the Clyde ship channel. I have DSC, but have no MMSIs (beyond my own!) entered into it, so it isn't convenient to use. I really ought to put the CG one in!
 
I am surprised by the people who don't use their radios.

Mine is always on dual watch 16 & 13 (ship bridge to bridge), I talk with ships reasonably frequently (either them calling me or otherwise) to agree intentions. I also talk with other cruising boats, I talk with bridges and locks occasionally. It's about 50/50 whether I use VHF or the cell phone for marinas . . . Obviously VHF if I don't know their phone number.

I have tried dsc calls but find only about 1 in 10 get answered.
 
mostly listening watch on Ch 16. Only used once in ernest. Switch to local channels for marinas.

In my limited experience on the East Coast, radio use is generally good and relevant.

Was advised by charter co to have 16 on listening watch on recent hols in BVI - was shocked and highly amused/irritated to be subjected to long conversation between liveaboards regarding Downton Abbey. oh, and how are the grandchild btw :D.
 
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