MMSI DSC call to Coast Guard - advice please

[Burnham Bob]

The ECP site has a letter from the Coastguard advising the changes etc and who to contact. Their preferred vhf contact is a dsc call - i have the thames MMSI number stored but have never used it. Now, my dsc set's instructions says to set the channel for the conversation before calling. I assume the CG wants a call on 67? Am I right?

 

[MoodySabre]

All calling is on 16 surely. Coastguard then requests 67 for routine traffic. I don't imagine they keep a listening watch on 67.

 

[johnalison]

No problem. I've done it quite a few times with DSC . They set the channel and it all goes through smoothly. I've even done it with the Dutch CG.

 

[Bru]

I venture to diffidently suggest that some fine upstanding members of the community need to Read The Flippin' Manual

When making a DSC call channel 16 has nothing to do with it

When making a ship to ship call, the initiating operator selects am appropriate working channel prior to sending the digital selective call to the recipient

When the recipient acknowledges and accepts the call, both sets automatically switch to the selected working channel

However, when calling a station whose MMSI number begins 00 (ie the Coastguard) you do not select s working channel* The receiving station transmits the working channel to be used as part of its digital acknowledgment of the call

Up to this point all communication has occurred digitally, the voice call then takes place on the relevant working channel

* Note that some sets allow you to still set a working channel (which will be ignored), others don't offer you the option to do so. It matters not. If you hey that step when DSC calling the Coastguard just hit enter

 

[Burnham Bob]

ah - thank you Erbas. Tried calling Thames yesterday and was confused that I could not set a working channel on my Standard Horizon GX1500E. The 00 issue wasn't dealt with in my DSC upgrade course years ago and there's no mention in the handbook. (Yes I did RTFM!) Now it all makes sense.

 

[Bru]

Has to be said that the implementation of DSC leaves a lot to be desired and the muppets who write the manuals don't help either

And from personal experience the RYA instructors aren't always that clued up plus the course material is a bit lacking as well

It's a bit of a shambles really

 

[ex-Gladys]

Has to be said that the implementation of DSC leaves a lot to be desired and the muppets who write the manuals don't help either

And from personal experience the RYA instructors aren't always that clued up plus the course material is a bit lacking as well

It's a bit of a shambles really

Totally agree, but I would add that the ins and outs of each manufacturer's devices make it a real mess the first time you use a new radio. The only thing to do is find a friend with DSC and use it regularly.....

 

[johnalison]

Or you could get an old Sailor/Skanti like mine and it's as easy as using a phone. (The manual is rubbish though).

 

[jerrytug]

Or you could get an old Sailor/Skanti like mine and it's as easy as using a phone. (The manual is rubbish though).

+1, Skantis are very straightforward on DSC

 

[cliveshelton]

I have just discovered this thread with interest. Despite the CG preferring to be contacted by DSC, on the 2 occasions I have tried it, using a position request simply for a radio check, the receiving station did not respond. On the first attempt last year off the needles, the officer took the trouble to look me up and call back on Ch16 asking if I was alright. I had not sent an urgency message nor nothing. On the second occasion, a few weeks ago, there was no response. I called on Ch16 in the end and was told that they had received my DSC but offered no explanation as to why no response was made. I suspect even they don't use it often and it takes them by surprise sometimes. But I might be wring if course. I shall keep trying. After all, why bother them when a DSC position request pretty much checks my radio is working. Perhaps their set has the auto reply turned off? If that's the case, it defeats the object. I agree it's worth practising though.

 

[Bru]

I would hazard a guess that land stations such as the Coastguard cannot handle position requests (which require the receiving equipment to have an internal or external GPS and the internal programming to process it)

Using a position request to test a VHF is not good DSC procedure anyway, that is what a DSC test call is for