It's a DSC thing - still not cleared up. LONG

Re: It\'s a DSC thing - still not cleared up. LONG

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Reading your questions and the background it all seems to be about contacting vessels to offer assistance before they've even requested any. Sorry but I don't understand!

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It is about society and showing someone you are there and willing and able to help should they require it. It is about looking out for your fellow man, seeing someone in trouble and offering assistance. Standing up so a pregnant woman or someone who looks unstable can sit down. Helping someone who has fallen in the street or is struggling to collapse a pram while their child is playing up. Just giving someone a hand putting the pram down in the car park will make their day and show the world really isn't as cold as everyone is led to believe.

I am sorry you cannot understand that.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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The question is still not answered!

Without studying word by word all the replies it seems to me that there are some wise answers to some common questions but no answers to the real question!

<font color=red>How do you contact a vessel without having their DSC number when CH16 CEASES to be a calling channel and no new calling channel has been nominated?</font color=red>

When I first fitted VHF (they really did have crystals in them there days!) very few others had them, but you could make link calls, yell for help and even ask the CG for weather and current conditions (off Portland Bill for example). Now there are no UK link call stations, the CG is too busy answering radiochecks to be able to give forecasts other than at the designated 4hr intervals (and then it is regurgitated not updated, often not including the latest shipping foreast) and there are no CG lookouts on strategic points to ask about current conditions, probably soon this would give the weather in a call centre in Delhi anyway!

Now I have DSC. Not many friends have it and if they do I don't have their MMSI number. On passage I switch off the DSC set at night with crew sleeping and even during the day if there are repeated 'Alerts' for the same thing (TSS info for a TSS maybe 60 plus miles away). I would like to be able to set the 'Alert' volume but a committee decided I am not capable of this and so it is not user adjustable. I can send a DSC Mayday if I need to which is good but I will soon not be able to call any vessel without knowing their MMSI first because there will be NO calling on CH16 and NO other channel allocated for voice-calling.

So when the fishing boat I've been watching for some time a mile or so away suddenly turns towards me and speeds up I cannot call and ask what gives. Maybe I should just press the Mayday button, that would wake him up - IF he hasn't turned his set off.

Modern Technology working at it's best!





<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
Re: The question is still not answered!

I agree with you...perhaps this will help......
There appears to be no question about all vessels being pushed into using DSC equipment. The following RA document probably best answers your question:
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Re: The question is still not answered!

mmm I still not convinced.. shall go on using old VHF until it breaks... DSC has been critisized by both leisure and commercial skippers.. what did they say about things designed by a committee??? nothing flattering anyway..

If I have to fit a DSC capable radio it will probably remain off unless I have to press the distress button... I will simply use my trusty waterproof handheld for all other day to day radio ops..


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Re: The question is still not answered!

Please, please dont think I'm trying to convince you or anybody else of how satisfactory or otherwise the situation is!

The fact is that leisure craft are not required to fit VHF but if they do then there is a statutory requirement to abide by the regs. The fact that lots of us have non DSC equipment doesnt buy us any favours but we can at least carry on using it if we choose to...the commercial guys have no option !

If the new DSC system and procedures are found wanting then I have no doubt the big boys will demand necessary changes thru national and international bodies. Perhaps this is an issue that the RYA need to pay particular attention to?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>
 
Re: and another thing....

I suspect that the CG will continue to broadcast 'any vessel' requests on 16 in areas such as Portland and the Solent in order to deal with these minor issues.
If everyone has their DSC set off because of the alarms it will only be the non DSC vessels listening on 16 that respond too - still amazed how many craft (with large radio ariels) don't.
'twill be interesting to see how the initial situation given pans out in practice re the craft with the busted impellor. In theory it should call the CG station using it's MMSI number which is listed in the Almanac and or /pre programmed but how the CG enlist the help of local vessels in a non 'emergency' will be facinating - my money says they will still be putting out any vessel calls on 16 in 2010!

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
Re: The question is still not answered!

You ought to read what the fast ferry skipper has to say about the system in October PBO mag. Crap! was one word he used. He also said they don't use it for routine traffic as they'd have finished the trip by the time they'd entered MMSI and rest of procedure to send call. Pretty scathing, in a very useful and informative article

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
 
Re: The question is still not answered!

must be a bit slow today,thought i would get away with buying 1 set, the hand held that im going to make my mayday call on after having to urgently take to the liferaft unable to have made that dsc call; fire or flooding? that isnt dsc so will call on ch16 to find noones listening. silly me . if i was going to sbs might check out the price of one compared to a set that in effect will be obsolete in a few months.

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Re: It\'s a DSC thing - still not cleared up. LONG

Totally agree with your sentiment.
In 1998 I was mate on a vessel in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race.
Three times a day we had to call on SSB to race radio to report our position and situation. There was safety cover from HMS Nottingham.
If 3 calls in a row were missed then Search and Rescue Helicopter was sent out to find you.

One day into the race our SSB radio went down.

So for 8 days when I saw a commercial vessel, I noted her name with Binoculars and put out a call to her on Ch16, if I couldn't read her name I would call her discription, position etc,' this is sailing vessel on your starboard bow'

After changing to a working frequency I would ask them to relay the message to race radio. This they were very happy to do, often asking if I would also like to send a satellite message home.

The purpose of these 'ad hoc' radio broadcasts was in the interest of safety and also saved the costs and inconvenience of a SAR helicopter being called out.

Quite how I would make this sort of call to any commercial vessel from anywhere in the world I happened to chance upon using DSC is beyond me?

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