MMSI in Sailor VHF

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cobolt

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Hi all,

I'm hoping someone will be able to help as Google isn't turning up much useful.

Having played with the electronics on the boat and added AIS etc, I thought I would consult the Sailor A1 VHF to quickly find my own MMSI number (I didn't have papers / crib sheet to hand).

I was surprised to find it was set as 999999999. I'm now keen to have our proper MMSI number put into the unit, but cannot find anywhere how this is done.

Anybody have any experience of this?

Thanks, Ben
 
Hi Ben,

Unfortunately I am unable to give an answer.

The installation and operating manuals were easy to find using Google but having read through both I too am unable to find any information on adding your MMSI number - which seems most odd.

In the absence of a reply here I can only suggest maybe an email to sailor@sailor.dk might help.

Hopefully a fellow user will come along shortly with a full solution. Good luck
 
I don't think you can do this yourself as it's intended to be done by the supplier. I suggest you contact the mfr and they'll probably advise on where you should send it.
 
Looks like it has never been programmed. You may find you can programme it yourself but you need to get the instructions. Otherwise take it to a dealer who deal in the product and they will re-programme it once you have your own MMSI.
 
Given that your VHF has never been programmed and that you can download instructions, the next thing you will need is an MMSI Number. You get this by applying, to the Government agency which administers these matters, for a Ships Radio Licence. In your country it's Ofcom I think. To get this license you will need to attend a VHF Course and pass the test. You will find such courses in your area on the RYA website.
 
Thanks for all the ideas so far.

elton said:
I believe the instructions for entering the MMSI are on page 28 of the manual. http://esupport.thrane.com/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=downloadfile&downloaditemid=903

FUNCtion Menu Tree - Dsc Settings - Self-id - MMSI-NU>
Click to expand...

Unfortunately not, that's where I went to quickly try and find my MMSI. It just shows the number programmed in (a bit like "My Number" on a mobile phone), which in my case is 99999999999. No way to edit it from within that menu.

@Spirit of Glenans - Yes, I already have my MMSI, I'm trying to work out how to put this into the radio.

I've flicked an email to Sailor, so will see what they say.
 
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Spirit of Glenans said:
To get this license you will need to attend a VHF Course and pass the test. You will find such courses in your area on the RYA website.
Click to expand...

Not to get an MMSI. That is a licence for the set, you are referring to an Operator's certificate which is nothing to do with the set.
 
cobolt said:
Thanks for all the ideas so far.



Unfortunately not, that's where I went to quickly try and find my MMSI. It just shows the number programmed in (a bit like "My Number" on a mobile phone), which in my case is 99999999999. No way to edit it from within that menu.

@Spirit of Glenans - Yes, I already have my MMSI, I'm trying to work out how to put this into the radio.

I've flicked an email to Sailor, so will see what they say.
Click to expand...


Sailor (Thrane & Thrane) now owned by Cobham. Uk service agents are Ships Electronic Services http://www.ses-marine.com/products/vhf . Have found them very helpful in the past with queries on my Sailor RT2048, Give them a ring.
 
cobolt said:
Thanks for all the ideas so far.



Unfortunately not, that's where I went to quickly try and find my MMSI. It just shows the number programmed in (a bit like "My Number" on a mobile phone), which in my case is 99999999999. No way to edit it from within that menu.

@Spirit of Glenans - Yes, I already have my MMSI, I'm trying to work out how to put this into the radio.

I've flicked an email to Sailor, so will see what they say.
Click to expand...

When in that menu, are you sure you can't change the number with the up/down keys? Not the keypad. (Instructions page 24.)
(I had the same radio with Skanti name on it. It must be one of the worst instruction manuals ever released! B good radio though. MMSI was already in when I got it with the boat.)

PS I have the full workshop manual if you want a pdf PM me your email address. Has circuits etc. No practical stuff like setting MMSI though!.
 
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My Sailor radio also has a 99999-- number! It can only be set by a computer programme. You will have to take your radio to SES. My boat is in Greece no dealer nearby!
 
Dear Ben,
Am joining this thread a little late but I was wondering whether you managed to get the MMSI programmed into your SAILOR radio yet. If not, then I might be able to offer some help. Firstly, to be clear, let's be sure that we are talking about the correct radio sets. This message is appropriate to the SAILOR RT4800, RT4801, RT4822 and RT4722 transceivers which were connected to remote intelligent handsets types C4800, C4801, C4900, C4901 or C4951. This is known as the SAILOR VHF4000 range. By this time SAILOR and Skanti had merged and the equivalent Skanti range was known as the 1000-series VHF. These two ranges differed in colour and button styles but were virtually identical in function and performance, with only very minor electrical differences. The basic DSC unit in the SAILOR range was described in marketing literature as the A1 while the Skanti version was labelled as DSCall. There are also other badged versions, namely Sperry, Norcontrol and Kelvin Hughes amongst others.
The programming of the MMSI and private channels etc. is a difficult operation. The manufacturers (ECI, Denmark) provided a hardware dongle which needed to be connected to the SPARC-bus and then the set can be programmed with the use of special software via a serial port on the computer. In about 2001, I designed and marketed a hand-held stand-alone programming device which simply plugged into the SPARC-bus and was able to fully program the MMSI and many other functions. This device is known as RT Controller and many units were sold to service workshops all over Europe. There was even one at the manufacturers own workshop in Denmark at the time.
To sum up then, if you took your radio set to a dealer to be reprogrammed, it is likely that they will be using an RT Controller. If you wish me to visit you to reprogram your radio on site, then I could probably arrange for that.
With thanks,
Kim
 
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KimF said:
Dear Ben,
Am joining this thread a little late but I was wondering whether you managed to get the MMSI programmed into your SAILOR radio yet. If not, then I might be able to offer some help. Firstly, to be clear, let's be sure that we are talking about the correct radio sets. This message is appropriate to the SAILOR RT4800, RT4801, RT4822 and RT4722 transceivers which were connected to remote intelligent handsets types C4800, C4801, C4900, C4901 or C4951. This is known as the SAILOR VHF4000 range. By this time SAILOR and Skanti had merged and the equivalent Skanti range was known as the 1000-series VHF. These two ranges differed in colour and button styles but were virtually identical in function and performance, with only very minor electrical differences. The basic DSC unit in the SAILOR range was described in marketing literature as the A1 while the Skanti version was labelled as DSCall. There are also other badged versions, namely Sperry, Norcontrol and Kelvin Hughes amongst others.
The programming of the MMSI and private channels etc. is a difficult operation. The manufacturers (ECI, Denmark) provided a hardware dongle which needed to be connected to the SPARC-bus and then the set can be programmed with the use of special software via a serial port on the computer. In about 2001, I designed and marketed a hand-held stand-alone programming device which simply plugged into the SPARC-bus and was able to fully program the MMSI and many other functions. This device is known as RT Controller and many units were sold to service workshops all over Europe. There was even one at the manufacturers own workshop in Denmark at the time.
To sum up then, if you took your radio set to a dealer to be reprogrammed, it is likely that they will be using an RT Controller. If you wish me to visit you to reprogram your radio on site, then I could probably arrange for that.
With thanks,
Kim
Click to expand...


Kim, here We are in 2021 and I have the same MMSI programming problem. If you are still offered to offer a solution my vessel is based in Italy and it has the original Sailor VHf4000 radio. I do have access to a computer which could run in a MSDOS but would prefer to send the unit out for MMSI programming if possible.
 
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