Old radio licence, new DSC radio

CreakyDecks said:
I think you are confusing ship radio licence and operator's certificate. All you need to do to get an MMSI number is update your ship radio licence with Ofcom to give them details of new DSC equipment.
http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/spectrum/mmsi
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ok, now im really confused. is this right:
1]what i have is a vhf operators license.
2] i also need a ships radio license which is registered to the boat not the owner. this is free and issued by ofcom.
3]for the dsc to fully function i need an mmsi number which is issued by ofcom. i can get this on-line by giving the ships radio license number.
4]the major advantage of the new system is with ais as then i can talk to the big ship which is getting bigger, by name. i can get ais on my home pc but i will need either radar or 3g comms to receive this data at sea.
5]the laws that govern this refer to improper use of the airwaves rather than improper licensing.
6] registering for the ais system will make me visible by name to other shipping and therefore interfere with any nefarious activity i may be involved in.
 
viago said:
4]the major advantage of the new system is with ais as then i can talk to the big ship which is getting bigger, by name. i can get ais on my home pc but i will need either radar or 3g comms to receive this data at sea.
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Not quite. The AIS you see is just the result of a receiver fed into a program and then displayed on the internet. That's is not what it's about, though interesting. You have your own AIS receiver (and transmitter if you want to) on your boat. Coupled to a screen on your boat, plotter for instance, it displays the big boats in relation to yours. The additional AIS information received is the ships name and MMSI number. Using the MMSI number you can, with Digital Selective Calling, directly contact the ship and select the channel for communication at the same time. No hailing on channel 16.
 
viago said:
ok, now im really confused. is this right:
1]what i have is a vhf operators license.
2] i also need a ships radio license which is registered to the boat not the owner. this is free and issued by ofcom.
3]for the dsc to fully function i need an mmsi number which is issued by ofcom. i can get this on-line by giving the ships radio license number.
4]the major advantage of the new system is with ais as then i can talk to the big ship which is getting bigger, by name. i can get ais on my home pc but i will need either radar or 3g comms to receive this data at sea.
5]the laws that govern this refer to improper use of the airwaves rather than improper licensing.
6] registering for the ais system will make me visible by name to other shipping and therefore interfere with any nefarious activity i may be involved in.
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1-3 correct but rest wrong. AIS and DSC are separate, but part of GMDSS. The connection is that when you read the details of AIS targets it also has the MMSI number to call them.

They will not "see" you unless you have an AIS transponder, which the vast majority of yachts do not have. It is only compulsory for ships over 300 GRT.

To get AIS on your boat you need either a standalone unit such as a NASA "radar" receiver or more commonly an engine, which is just a receiver which exports the data to a chart plotter, either a standalone plotter or running on a PC. The targets show up as a graphic on your chart and you can select them to see their details. It picks up its signals with a vhf antenna, usually on the pushpit. You do not need a licence for either an AIS receiver or transponder.
 
Tranona said:
1-3 correct but rest wrong. AIS and DSC are separate, but part of GMDSS. The connection is that when you read the details of AIS targets it also has the MMSI number to call them.

They will not "see" you unless you have an AIS transponder, which the vast majority of yachts do not have. It is only compulsory for ships over 300 GRT.

To get AIS on your boat you need either a standalone unit such as a NASA "radar" receiver or more commonly an engine, which is just a receiver which exports the data to a chart plotter, either a standalone plotter or running on a PC. The targets show up as a graphic on your chart and you can select them to see their details. It picks up its signals with a vhf antenna, usually on the pushpit. You do not need a licence for either an AIS receiver or transponder.
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thanks tranona and ostell. the fog begins to clear.
so, if i have a 3g dongle on my netbook allowing internet access i get the same service without the hassle, ie i can call mr big ship, on a channel other than 16, from the info on-line, providing i get a signal. otherwise i buy a usb ais receiver to go with my usb gps. (can a usb gps be the feed to the vhf?)
i dont know why but this makes me less comfortable because i worry now that ships >300 tonne may feel safer with this system and, therefore, pay less heed to ch16 and to looking out. surely, they would be more alert if they new they were being hailed by name and number on a channel that everyone else was listening to.
similarly, i might feel safer knowing where all the big boys are and consequently pay less attention to the greater risks of other small boat users and, of coarse, trawler-men who are reluctant to deviate from their set course.
this stuff just never ends!
i took point 5 from a prior post of yours tranona, you said, "the fine is £500 for improper use", i took that to mean messing around on 16, false maydays and the like and that the license ensured that you knew how to avoid making those errors.
and point 6, i wont become visible with a dsc vhf so no need for a mmsi number.
hope im on the right road at last.
 
viago said:
point 6, i wont become visible with a dsc vhf so no need for a mmsi number.
hope im on the right road at last.
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Nearly. The MMSI number is neccesary for the automatic emergency function to work, useful, very.
It is also needed to call that large ship directly rather than hope they are listening on 16
 
There are a few other advantages to DSC as well which seem to be being overlooked...

Firstly, a distress message is far more likely to be received complete via DSC. Being a data burst, the reach is slightly further than voice, and not so liable to interruption. It also won't be overspoken by fishermen / French / granny calling / anything else.

It will help speed your rescue - when we receive a DSC, we have all the details instantly, and our charting software centres to you on our screen, so we know instantly where you are.

It also alerts any other nearby vessels to listen our for your subsequent voice call.

For routine traffic, in a busy ops room, with maybe 20 aeriels feeding into one operator position, a DSC call comes straight through and allows us to put you to the best working channel without all the voice traffic on 16.
 
Rowana said:
If I survive another 35 years, I'll be getting a telegram from HM!

:D :D :D
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Me too, I'm looking forward to it, aren't you? I understand that they are the same every year tho so it does become a bit preduictable, unless you have dementia.

My Mum & Dad were dead chuffed with theirs for their Golden wedding anniversary. Well worth contacting the relevant people if you know someone closing in on the great occasion.
 
chanelyacht said:
There are a few other advantages to DSC as well which seem to be being overlooked...

Firstly, a distress message is far more likely to be received complete via DSC. Being a data burst, the reach is slightly further than voice, and not so liable to interruption. It also won't be overspoken by fishermen / French / granny calling / anything else.

It will help speed your rescue - when we receive a DSC, we have all the details instantly, and our charting software centres to you on our screen, so we know instantly where you are.

It also alerts any other nearby vessels to listen our for your subsequent voice call.

For routine traffic, in a busy ops room, with maybe 20 aeriels feeding into one operator position, a DSC call comes straight through and allows us to put you to the best working channel without all the voice traffic on 16.
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thats the clincher. ill take one. thanks very much. anything for £25?
 
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