new radio with DSC help

[dilly]

hi i have just bought a lowrance lvr 880 dsc vhf radio
and just about to install. it trying to work out the best way to wire it up to my
lowrance 5300c iGPS and install the 2 together.
secondly how and where do i get a MMSI Registration number for VHF/DSC radio thanks dilly

 

[pikeyrm]

Follow link
http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/spectrum/mmsi

 

[rob2]

As to the wiring - it has to be read the manual.

I suggest you do the training and get an operator's license - if you had done, you wouldn't be asking the second part of the question! People think you can just buy a radio and use it as a mobile phone - that explains the **** jamming the airwaves around the Solent every weekend. God help anyone in an emergency situation.

Rob.

 

[dilly]

thanks for the help

 

[dilly]

i am fully aware of the protocol thanks rob2 i have been useing a radio every day 30years now thanks

 

[ostell]

i am fully aware of the protocol thanks rob2 i have been useing a radio every day 30years now thanks

But have you done the DSC upgrade which explains MMSI etc?

 

[rob2]

i am fully aware of the protocol thanks rob2 i have been useing a radio every day 30years now thanks

It appears that you don't consider you or your vessel having a license part of the "protocol".

Rob.

 

[KAL]

i am fully aware of the protocol thanks rob2 i have been useing a radio every day 30years now thanks

If you go on the ofcom website, you can apply for a mmsi number free and instantly, then print your certificate off straight away.

Rob does have a point though, as you will be operating illegally without a Short Range DSC license. Believe me, many of us who have actually done the course still find the DSC protocols and procedures confusing, so it's well worth spending the half day doing the RYA certification. If you're fitting one, you must feel that it will benefit your safety, so take the opportunity to ensure your safety and that of others by doing the course.

 

[duncan99210]

Bit harsh. IIRC the RYA course does not cover how to apply for a licence and get a MMSI, simply tells you that you need to do so in order to comply with the law. Now, a good instructor will of course fill in the details round the edges but if it's not in the course syllabus, then it doesn't have to be covered......

 

[ostell]

Bit harsh. IIRC the RYA course does not cover how to apply for a licence and get a MMSI, simply tells you that you need to do so in order to comply with the law. Now, a good instructor will of course fill in the details round the edges but if it's not in the course syllabus, then it doesn't have to be covered......

My course covered where to apply for the MMSI number. As you say not in the syllabus but.....

30 years experience does perhaps lead one to believe that the short range certificate is not held and certainly not the DSC additions.

 

[pikeyrm]

mmsi number is set to the INDIVIDUAL not the boat, and is given to you on your vhf/dsc licence. You then have to put it on your vessels application for a radio licence.

DSC radios is the governments way of making everyone get a lincence. It is all about accountability/ making money.

 

[ostell]

For the first part of the original question look at Page 10 HERE.
And page 11 for the 5300 HERE

 

[ostell]

mmsi number is set to the INDIVIDUAL not the boat, and is given to you on your vhf/dsc licence. You then have to put it on your vessels application for a radio licence.

DSC radios is the governments way of making everyone get a lincence. It is all about accountability/ making money.

Wrong. The MMSI number, issued by OFCOM, is on the BOAT radio license and is free, not the VHF/DSC competence certificate, which is issued by the RYA.

Can I presume that you have neither?

The OP has got a ship's radio license?

Perhaps this page may throw some light on the subject.

 

[dilly]

yes it did when i bought the boat there wast a hand held and a fixed radio in place and i just been knocking about so not needed to get a licence just getting in and out of the marina there is a new gps and a dsc radio with the boat and i am going to fit them so just asking a few qustions, befor i install them .as i intend to try to sail further this year thanks for the help

 

[little shack]

there always seems to be as many knockers as helpers,I haven't done the course as yet but am trying to get on one before the start of season hope I'll be allowed out to play then!!!

 

[ostell]

yes it did when i bought the boat there wast a hand held and a fixed radio in place and i just been knocking about so not needed to get a licence just getting in and out of the marina there is a new gps and a dsc radio with the boat and i am going to fit them so just asking a few qustions, befor i install them .as i intend to try to sail further this year thanks for the help

You need to transfer the ship's radio licence, if there was one, to yourself. In the process you can get the MMSI number. The application for a licence requires your home address so they can possibly tie up the MMSI to home address in case of emergency (long time since I filled in the form). This is NOT an authority to use the radio. If you know the original holder of the licence you MAY be able to get them to transfer the licence to your name, as I did for the new owner of my last boat, otherwise go here to get your own licence on the OFCOM site. It's free.

Managed to remember my user name and password for the OFCOM site and looked at my licences. I have a separate licence for the portable. If I remember correctly if you have a separate portable licence then you can use the portable anywhere (nautical). If it is registered on your boat's licence then you are only permitted to use that portable on the boat to which the licence refers. No doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong. So best to have 2 licences, one for the fixed and one for the portable.

Hope you also have a valid certificate of competence to allow you to use the radio legally!

 

[ostell]

there always seems to be as many knockers as helpers,I haven't done the course as yet but am trying to get on one before the start of season hope I'll be allowed out to play then!!!

At least you are trying to go on the course and not add to the chaos out there!

It is annoying when operators don't play by the rules, probably because they don't know them, and make things difficult for everyone else. There is one operator in the Chichester area will tell you his life story over the air while others are trying to communicate.

 

[rob2]

These are not rules, but laws designed to ensure the proper and safe use of radios at sea. A radio must be licenced and in applying for the Ships Licence an MMSI can be issued. A radio may only be operated either by or under the supervision of a licensed operator.

Unfortunately there is very little policing of the situation and I have heard estimates that at least half the existing installations are illegal. Whilst researching other boats of the same class as mine on the Mars website, I found only four boats with registered installation, yet I suspect that there are over fifty installations! As a parallel, there seems to be little policing of cars jumping red lights, so we all have to play russian roulette just waiting for someone to sideswipe us on a junction.

People in our sailing club have boasted to me about how they have so many channels on their new radios to choose from - they don't know that locally there are only four ship-to-ship channels suitable for their use. As they are also prone to chat at great length about unimportant carp with no knowledge of the capture effect of VHF there are often terse messages from the authorities to stop transmitting. Is my attitude "harsh"? I don't think so.

Rob.

 

[ostell]

People in our sailing club have boasted to me about how they have so many channels on their new radios to choose from - they don't know that locally there are only four ship-to-ship channels suitable for their use. As they are also prone to chat at great length about unimportant carp with no knowledge of the capture effect of VHF there are often terse messages from the authorities to stop transmitting. Is my attitude "harsh"? I don't think so.

I don't think you are being harsh at all.

It wouldn't, by any chance, be the Chichester area sailing club that reads the results out over the air? Aghhhhh

 

[little shack]

I agree people should be able to use a piece of important safety equipment correctly, this does involve learning at least the basics of procedure so everyone else can use it as intended.
I've been following posts on this forum for a while now and find it valuable as a source of infomation and entertainment as a novice to sailing BUT it does seem there is a lot of needless bashing goes on none.You sound like you sail in an area where the radio use is a problem?