Wot VHF

Re: Ditto Solent

They would in most places be categorised as safety (ie equivalent to telephony Securite).

Certainly seems strange if they are categorised otherwise. Perhaps it is a practice of the VTS stations because of the traffic density, if so I wonder if the other stations at Corsen and Gris-Nez (assuming they are still in operation) do the same thing.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.
 
Re: Ditto Solent

John

Interesting perhaps that Ushant Traffic Control (West end of English Channel) who control Ushant TSS rather than Corsen, which I think now is French Coastguard (CROSS Corsen), doesn't seem to be as free with the alerts. Cap Gris Nez is replaced now I believe by Dover CG in the UK for coverage of Dover Straits TSS, not my area but Jon Brookes at Icom is thereabouts and doesn't notice a problem, Interesting too that the repeated alerts we hear are from Traffic Control rather than Coastguard stations. I cannot actually remember an alert from a French CG station and they have one, CROSSMA Jobourg, that is seemingly based at the same place as the Traffic Control.

We did receive a similar alert from Solent CG (full volume) which was putting out Jimi's report of a container seen floating on the edge of the lanes (when he finally worked out where it was!). Others have reported the same full volume ones from the Navy warning of live firing excersizes.

Jon Brookes mentioned too lots of reports of false alarms. I believe this is what we were picking up round the corner from the English Channel and into Biscay. Because these 'false' alerts switch the set to CH80, which is the working channel used by Jobourg Traffic, I suspect these are DSC signals received at long range on CH70, longer range than the voice transmission on CH80 so it appears as a false alarm.

Jon Brookes is concerned that these reports of false alarms and repeated full volume alerts are putting people off replacing their old sets with DSC ones. Well I'm sure they are, we have frequently turned our set off or resorted to a non-DSC handheld at night when one of us is asleep below. We are thinking too of bringing the old set out of retirement, keeping the DSC one for if we need to send a Mayday. This problem and the eventual loss of CH16 as a calling channel with no new calling channel to replace it, suggests that VHF is intended solely for big ships because our needs on small boats certainly have not been adequately considered - IMHO of course.

Robin

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
Re: Ditto Solent

Robin

The putting people off DSC was sort of where I was coming from too as the alarm volume seems to be a point of issue with a number let alone having it go off needlessly. I would have though that even the commercial vessels crossing backwards and forwards would get sick of regulalr alarms too and complain. Maybe they turn their sets off or something.

Thanks for the feedback.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.
 
Re: Ditto Solent

John

I think there are differences with commercial vessels too. The working set will presumably be bridge mounted and within easy reach of the watch officer who can silence the alarm quickly. In any event the watch officer shouldn't be asleep on the bridge so the alarm will not be waking off watch crew as on a small boat. We on small boats (and especially sailboats) have sets mounted down below at the nav table usually with a cockpit speaker by the helm. Mostly the alarm goes off when we are in the cockpit, the noise is enough to really make you jump, but to silence it requires someone to go below to the set, never mind if it is blowing a hooly or you are in a tricky nav situation in fog or whatever, it requires immediate attention if you are to hear yourself think. If it goes off with someone asleep below in the confines of a sailboat cabin the noise is deafening! I have had ours go off whilst I was at the chart table, right in my ear - maybe I should sue someone for damage to my eardrums! Most of this could have been avoided IF the design committee had allowed (trusted) us to be able to set the alarm volumes ourselves as we do for instance with road traffic alerts on the car radio. We are left with the equivalent of a rape alarm going off at close range without warning.

They are certainly right to worry about it putting people off changing to DSC sets, at least round hereabouts, maybe in the wilds up north it might be better.!

Robin

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
Re: Ditto Solent

Got a NASA set like you

In the wilds up North... well in the Irish sea we are getting regular DSC Safety calls from the Irish CRS probably as all transmitters on the Irish Sea Coast are keyed from Dublin (I think) and usually can just about hear a small craft weather warning. As each CRS uses a different working channel, and the DSC alerts apear one after another you can end up tuned to Rosslare's working channel when you are in the Isle of Man! Also had them send out the DSC Alert after the voice calls!
This probably folows on from the Irish CRS always start their MSI calls as Securitie calls

Far fewer calls from UK CG - had a couple of PAN PANs and a MAYDAY from Holyhead etc. but not used to announce the MSI broadcast unless there is a gale warning etc.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Re: Ditto Solent

Yes I understand the bridge situation, just thought the ferries, etc that trip back and forth across every day would get sick of it too if the distress/urgency alarm goes off for what appear to be just safety messages rather than the safety/routine one.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.
 
Re: Ditto Solent

And I thought this was just a southerners thing! Not really nice to have confirmation that it is wider spread but I was beginning to wonder.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
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