Oceansignal MOB1 - DSC functionality

[sailoppopotamus]

I've found a cheap deal for an Oceansignal MOB1 beacon from a supplier in the UK. I live and sail in Greece. This document by Oceansignal describes the DSC functionality of the beacon, which apparently depends on the region. In the UK, only an Individual Distress Relay is sent, whereas in the rest of Europe an "All Ships Distress" alert would also be sent on activation. The latter seems preferable from the point of view of single handed or short-handed sailing, as it eliminates the extra step in involving third parties in the SAR operation. My question is: Is this behaviour programmed into the device based on where it is sold, or does the device deduce the appropriate behaviour based on the programmed MMSI?

 

[Roberto]

You can program the device depending on the type of licensing/approval you have, there is software allowing to change the settings by putting the equipment in front of a PC screen, it then reads the displayed image and updates itself.

 

[sailoppopotamus]

OK thanks. So basically when it comes time to program my MMSI I'll have the freedom to tell it how to behave? To be honest I'll buy from the UK supplier regardless, the price differential is too large to pass on the opportunity. I wasn't even planning on having SART beacons on board, so two that might fall a bit short are better than none at all.

 

[Roberto]

OK thanks. So basically when it comes time to program my MMSI I'll have the freedom to tell it how to behave? To be honest I'll buy from the UK supplier regardless, the price differential is too large to pass on the opportunity. I wasn't even planning on having SART beacons on board, so two that might fall a bit short are better than none at all.

Here you have all the various installers with the different specifications
Installers