Standard horizon dsc radio

I had one of these on my last boat and I am not sure I would buy another. The basic unit was fine and easy to use, but the ram mike drove me nuts. The problem the the GX1500 is the DSC alarm goes off it is very difficult to know what kind of DSC call you are receiving (An emergency, information or private message). Then the letters DSC flash at you until you have navigated a series of menus to clear it, sometimes I gave up and just went below to use the main receiver, it was far easier.

When I upgrade next time I will make sure I get a trial before buying.
 
Not sure where you sail, but we sailed from Hamble to Fleetwood (via Lands End), and then back down to Wales, over to Ireland, up the coast, over the Scotland, round the Clyde and back to Fleetwood - 7 weeks in total - and had a total of 2 DSC alerts in that time (both on the south coast between Weymouth and Plymouth)

So, we don't really have an issue with DSC alerts ... (We have good reception and transmission by the way)

Jonny
 
Yes, that sounds ideal. For much of the time we are in harbour and I really don't want any DSC. Can I obtain a connection lead and some software, do you know? I won't be able to find a dealer in Spain who can help, I am sure, so I would need the interface details and software.
 
Just crossing the Channel to Cherbourg, the French use DSC for weather and navigational reports. There were also other on-going situation last summer when we crossed in both directions. However, the fact that it is busy or not is irrelevant, the gui should be a lot easier to navigate to the command mic. I veer towards being a geek and I could not master it. perhaps you are all under 30.
 
[ QUOTE ]
... the gui should be a lot easier to navigate to the command mic. I veer towards being a geek and I could not master it.

[/ QUOTE ]Does that mean that you poke buttons until it does what you want it to, too? BTW, what's a "gui"?
 
[ QUOTE ]
G.U.I. - Graphical User interface

[/ QUOTE ]Is that the LCD display on the main radio unit?
 
Thanks, both of you. So the Standard Horizon GX 1500E is not a 'Best Buy'. I might sell it on an buy something else - does anyone have any suggestions, bearing in mind that I do want a command mic with display? A command mic with wireless connection would be ideal - I could pick up a local 12V supply from a cigar socket on deck or anywhere below if the audio and control logic could be by some form of radio link.
 
Look at the Uniden UM625 - has a superb colour display and will run up to 4 WHAM wireless remote mics (which can also be used as wireless intercoms up to half a mile apart). Radio with 1 WHAM costs about $350 in US. Only drawback, not officially certified for Europe!
 
I like it! Do you know of a good dealer who will ship to Europe?
 
I think scrapping the GX1500E is a bit extreme. I still think its a superb set - just a few things that I would change if I was designing it myself!

I considered the Icom M505(?) which can support a command mic, but it was £100 more expensive and a much larger set - an issue for my tight charttable:

Instruments%20-%20Dec%2007.jpg


The RAM Mic is very useable (I rarely ever change volume or squelch on it, and channel swopping seems fine), DSC alerts can be silenced and then investigated below if you don't like using the RAM display, and you don't need an external VHF speaker.

Just my thoughts .... also - $350 for the Uniden plus shipping (West Marine or Defender would ship it for you) and you won't get much for S/Horizon second hand as it will need dealer re-programming for the MMSI number.

Jonny
 
[ QUOTE ]
I like it! Do you know of a good dealer who will ship to Europe?

[/ QUOTE ]Have a look at Happy Iguana on eBay. Their prices and shipping charges are reasonable, and they look reputable. You'll almost certainly have to pay import/VAT charges. Note that the UM625C is availble in either grey or black, so I guess you'd need to specify which you want if you were to order.
 
Having owned and fitted 6 SH radios over teh years , I think there the best set on the market for the price. Good loud speaker , great reception and transmission clarity and bullit proof construction , way better then ICOM IMHO

Dont mind the RAM mike stuff, teh basic radio is peerless.
 
I've just discovered another problem with my GX1500E When you get a DSC alert and while the internal hooter alarms (and it is a VERY loud alarm) the loudspeaker is disabled so you cannot hear the urgency message until you can get to the radio and acknowledge it, by which time you've missed it or only hear the tail end /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Is this peculiar to the GX1500E or do all DSC radios do the same?

Every day that goes by the clearer it is that DSC in its present forum is not suitable for yachts. For those who haven't yet changed over, I strongly suggest that you don't until they get this terrible mess sorted out. You are MUCH better off with a traditional radio tuned to Ch16 when at sea, monitoring the appropriate channel for CG/small boat 67/etc. when in harbour.

As an example, you can be listening to urgency traffic on a working frequency designated by the CG and another MRCC pushes out an ordinary weather forecast with DSC alert, retuning your set to a different channel and leaving the speaker disabled until you can attend to it. Very bad stuff, will cause accidents. I wouldn't have thought that it was much good on the bridge of a commercial vessel either - surely they don't all have someone designated to do nothing but a radio watch these days?
 
The beeps are part of the design spec for DSC.
The GPS input is part of the correct working for DSC and all units must give a repeated warning if there is no GPS data being feed to the unit.

If you have the warning beeps and the display saying "POS data is over 4 hours" you must and have to press the "clr" button to continue, this is so the users knows the data is missing.

Again most if not all DCS radio's will work this way or very much the same way.

With regards to the buttons, have you got the back light turned off on the RAM mic?
Be worth checking this. all should light up when you press any key.

Hope that helps.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've just discovered another problem with my GX1500E When you get a DSC alert and while the internal hooter alarms (and it is a VERY loud alarm) the loudspeaker is disabled so you cannot hear the urgency message until you can get to the radio and acknowledge it, by which time you've missed it or only hear the tail end /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Is this peculiar to the GX1500E or do all DSC radios do the same?


[/ QUOTE ]

They all work the same way.
You can clear the alert from both the main set and the RAM mic.
 
Jon, thanks for that. The problem with doing it that way is that you end up missing important transmissions (or have your own transmissions interrupted!!!) during the beeps. Can't they design it so that the beeps are delayed until the radio has been quiet for a while and then inhibit the beeps if an incoming transmission arrives or the user is transmitting?

How can they justify preventing the radio from doing its primary purpose simply to remind you that the GPS is off (which you probably knew in the first place unless your mind was fuddled)?
 
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