Radio lost MMSI

[Tim O]

Any ideas why my radio, a Silva S15, would suddenly appear to have deprogrammed its MMSI number? i looked t the screen last night to find it has defulted to a blank screen with the words MMSI set 000000000

 

[<152587>]

Believe this product has not got the best reputation. Heard many complaints over the years. Probably best to replace.

 

[matthewriches]

Yes, not a great set. You can get a nice little iCom 323G for about 200 notes with an inbuilt gps.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Or the standard horizon equivalent.

Yes, not a great set. You can get a nice little iCom 323G for about 200 notes with an inbuilt gps.

 

[[70521]]

Any ideas why my radio, a Silva S15, would suddenly appear to have deprogrammed its MMSI number? i looked t the screen last night to find it has defulted to a blank screen with the words MMSI set 000000000

Have you attempted to reprogrammed the MMSI or contacted Silva for work around?

I love my Standard Horizon.

 

[Hoolie]

Originally Posted by Tim O
Any ideas why my radio, a Silva S15, would suddenly appear to have deprogrammed its MMSI number? i looked t the screen last night to find it has defulted to a blank screen with the words MMSI set 000000000

I have an S15 as well, but I haven't had that problem yet. AFAIK it has a CR2016 memory battery soldered/spot welded to the PCB and if that's discharged you'll get the symptoms you describe. I believe it is a "not too difficult" DIY job to replace it.

 

[Tim O]

ha....i kinda expected everyone would say get a better radio....sadly 200 notes is not something i can afford. I will try reprogramming and see if that helps....was really wondering why it would suddenly do that when its been fine the last two years since i bought the boat!

 

[macd]

I will try reprogramming and see if that helps....was really wondering why it would suddenly do that when its been fine the last two years since i bought the boat!

If Hoolie is right, and I think he could well be, the purpose of the battey he mentions is to sustain the volatile memory which stores the MMSI number (and probably some other things as well, such as other MMSI addresses and preferences). If so, anything you input will be lost next time you switch off. It'll need a new battery.

 

[colind3782]

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?301134-Silva-S15-backup-battery

 

[snowbird30ds]

I thought the mmsi should be stored in non-volatile memory under the rules for dsc, if losing mmsi is a possiblity I'd rather stump up for a reliable vhf, I had a navman (sometimes branded as north star I think) that let me down a few times and I never felt quite right going out till I changed it, SH or Icom every time for me now.
The day you need that little red button no amount of cash will seem wasted.

 

[Tim O]

i did read the link to thread above, but it might as well have been in Greek for all that i understood! something about a cr2016 and pcb

 

[Tim O]

i reset the mmsi and it seems ok now

 

[snowbird30ds]

But how long for, will it be ok when you really need it?
Sorry but an issue like that would make me chuck it overboard and buy decent, it's a life saving bit of kit after all.

 

[Spyro]

i did read the link to thread above, but it might as well have been in Greek for all that i understood! something about a cr2016 and pcb

A cr2016 is a small button type battery that keeps the memory alive when the unit is disconnected from its power supply. It's connected to the pcb (printed circuit board) inside the radio. You've reprogrammed it but I'm sure if you disconnect the unit for any length of time you will lose the mmsi again. The batteries don't last forever. I'd advise against trying to solder in a new one if you thought the first post sounded all Greek

 

[Tim O]

i figured the cr2016 out in the end!......will see how it goes, if it happens again i will keep an eye out for a cheap icom or standard horizon

i know its a lifesaving item, but it still would work as a radio in emergency right?.....we only had dsc and mmsi's in the last decade or so and people managed before that.......there's a whole load of other items already on the shopping list!

if it reoccurs i will open it up and have a look at the soldering job.....

 

[Tranona]

i figured the cr2016 out in the end!......will see how it goes, if it happens again i will keep an eye out for a cheap icom or standard horizon

i know its a lifesaving item, but it still would work as a radio in emergency right?.....we only had dsc and mmsi's in the last decade or so and people managed before that.......there's a whole load of other items already on the shopping list!

if it reoccurs i will open it up and have a look at the soldering job.....

I am amazed it is still working at all. I bought one of those when they were flavour of the month and it lasted less than 5 years. Silva did not want to know even then and it was uneconomic to repair owing to lack of bits. That was probably 12 years ago. Your radio is on borrowed time!

 

[Hoolie]

Indeed, I've just bought a SH GX2000, mainly for its improved connection capability, to replace our S15 though it still works in spite of a temporary glitch a couple of years ago.

 

[Spyro]

I am amazed it is still working at all. I bought one of those when they were flavour of the month and it lasted less than 5 years. Silva did not want to know even then and it was uneconomic to repair owing to lack of bits. That was probably 12 years ago. Your radio is on borrowed time!

If you apply too much heat to the battery when soldering they explode. I found that out by accident. You wouldn't believe the bang that comes from it. Bits of whatever is inside lodged in my kitchen ceiling. I was very luck not to be looking over it at the time.

 

[Bru]

I'm with the other posters who suggest chucking it in the nearest skip and replacing it I'm afraid

You can get the base model Standard Horizon, an excellent and reliable bit of kit, for about £115 and whilst DSC is not essential it is a key safety facility. Imagine not being able to transmit a DSC MayDay when disaster strikes, losing out on the benefits thereof (audible alarm on every receiving station's set, instant transmission of accurate position etc.) for the sake of the cost of a good night out or two

If the current unit (a set with a poor rep for reliability anyway) has lost it's MMSI once, it's likely to do it again. Possibly at the worst possible moment

PS. The other poster who mentioned this is quite right, the MMSI should be in non-volatile memory. Even if any memory backup battery goes flat as a pancake, the MMSI should not be lost. Either the design of the unit is non-compliant with the relevant standards, which is unlikely, or the fault is not battery related

 

[Tim O]

whats a "good night out?"
I have a vague recollection of something like that existing, but then i became a boatowner.....