VHF DSC portable radio licensing options

[CT846]

I have a question about licensing a VHF DSC portable radio.

I’m getting back into yacht sailing and I’m looking at purchasing a yacht within the next year. I also take part in a number of other water sports including coastal paddleboarding where a VHF radio could prove useful.

I’ve recently gained my SRC and I’m considering buying a portable DSC radio for use both when on the yacht, but also for use during an emergency for other activities.

I understand from reading the OFCOM licensing guidance that a portable radio could either be licenced under a ‘Ship Radio Licence’ and tied to a particular ship (alongside a fixed installation) or as a ‘Ship Portable Radio Licence’, which removes the single-ship restriction. The later does however restrict the radio to UK Coastal waters only, which would be a limitation when used on the yacht.

What are people’s views on the options, or am I trying to over-complicate things?!

 

[Biggles Wader]

Do you actually need the DSC function on the handheld?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

You’re over complicating it. Mine’s licensed as a Ships Portable. You get a special MMSI for it that identifies it as a portable. I also for completeness included it on the Ship Radio licence along with the radar and fixed VHF etc.

 

[Plum]

I have a question about licensing a VHF DSC portable radio.

I’m getting back into yacht sailing and I’m looking at purchasing a yacht within the next year. I also take part in a number of other water sports including coastal paddleboarding where a VHF radio could prove useful.

I’ve recently gained my SRC and I’m considering buying a portable DSC radio for use both when on the yacht, but also for use during an emergency for other activities.

I understand from reading the OFCOM licensing guidance that a portable radio could either be licenced under a ‘Ship Radio Licence’ and tied to a particular ship (alongside a fixed installation) or as a ‘Ship Portable Radio Licence’, which removes the single-ship restriction. The later does however restrict the radio to UK Coastal waters only, which would be a limitation when used on the yacht.

What are people’s views on the options, or am I trying to over-complicate things?!

If the handheld vhf has DSC then it must be licensed as a "ship portable radio license " with its own MMSI and not included as part of a "ship radio licence". If you ever need to make a DSC distress alert it is important that the emergency services will therefore know whether they are searching for a specific vessel or a separately registered handheld that may be on any vessel or none.

 

[CT846]

Do you actually need the DSC function on the handheld?

Good question, but my thought was redundancy if you ever had to abandon the yacht.

 

[ashtead]

The one downside of dsc on your vhf be it fixed in boat or handheld is annoying alarms -repeated screeching and don’t leave it on overnight as it wakes you up. I have a dsc handheld by standard horizon Along with older non dsc from icom) but to be honest if buying a handheld I would be looking for waterproof ,floating and battery hourage etc before dsc. The handheld at sea level has limited range I suspect so don’t know how this impacts dsc . If we are using the tender we take the smaller lighter non DSc handheld.

 

[Plum]

The one downside of dsc on your vhf be it fixed in boat or handheld is annoying alarms -repeated screeching and don’t leave it on overnight as it wakes you up. I have a dsc handheld by standard horizon Along with older non dsc from icom) but to be honest if buying a handheld I would be looking for waterproof ,floating and battery hourage etc before dsc. The handheld at sea level has limited range I suspect so don’t know how this impacts dsc . If we are using the tender we take the smaller lighter non DSc handheld.

Probably depends on where you sail was sailing the East Coast for 10 days recently and not a single DSC alarm during the daytime.

 

[HunterWanderer]

You can't really have dsc linked to two radios in separate places as the gps position is required.
But a PLB incorporated in a handheld would be a good idea..

 

[Plum]

You can't really have dsc linked to two radios in separate places as the gps position is required.
But a PLB incorporated in a handheld would be a good idea..

I don't understand you. You can have two dsc radios in the same place or in seperate places each fed with or have internal GPS receivers.

 

[ylop]

Good question, but my thought was redundancy if you ever had to abandon the yacht.

There are arguments for and against. Make sure you look at the battery life as the DSC versions are quite power hungry, but will take some time to “wake up” and get a fix if you leave them off until you are in crisis. Alarms may be an issue in the solent but not where people are less common and of course your limited range means fewer alarms. Size is however relevant - a handheld small and light enough to be in a pocket may be critical if your really need it. If I was on a paddle board being blown offshore then DSC might be nice for providing and accurate position, when you don’t really want to be faffing with a phone or chart! It doubles the cost though.

 

[boomerangben]

depends on where you are paddle boarding etc. if you want to raise the attention of the CG reliably then a PLB might be better if you are inshore close to cliffs and other obstructions/ a long way from the CG radio mast. If you always have line of sight of other potential rescuers (ie other boats) then a hand held with DSC would be good or a hand held plus day night pyro. I’m not sure if a single point of failure ie single radio battery is necessarily the best solution, but depends on your attitude to risk.

 

[CT846]

All good points, thank you. West coast Scotland predominantly for both sailing & paddle boarding, so hopefully numerous DSC alerts wouldn't be so much of an issue, but all good things to mull over.