FYI: DSC and MMSI - PTYC
1
AT THE HELM ELECTRONICS FYI: DSC and MMSI WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LATEST IN MARINE VHP RADIO TECHNOLOGY. story BOB ARRINGTON I t may not rank up there with the great mysteries in life, but it is definitely a puzzlement: Why don't more boaters set up and understand the use of the Digital Selective Calling function on their VHP radios? Next to the invention of the EPRIB, the single-button DSC feature is the most valuable safety feature developed for boaters. In some ways, it's even better than an EPRIB. Unfortunately, based on random surveys taken during United States Coast Guard Auxiliary safety checks, fewer than half the DSC-equipped VHP radios on recreational boats are programmed for use. When properly used in near-coastal and inland waters, DSC, with the press of a single button, can alert more people to the need for help than any other method. DSC digitally sends a distress call to rescue personnel over the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. When a radio is programmed with a Maritime Mobile Service Identity number, DSC transmits the vessel name and description, and an emergency contact's information, to the authorities. When the radio is connected to a GPS receiver, DSC also transmits the vessel's position. The DSC alert is also received by other boaters within radio range. And, DSC lets the boater identify the exact nature of his emergency. All DSC radios are programmed with the following list of conditions: undesignated, explosion, flooding, collision, grounding, capsizing, sinking, adrift, abandoning ship, piracy attack and man overboard. OBTAINING MMSI NUMBERS MMSI numbers issued for recreational craft in U.S. waters are available from the United States Power Squadrons at usps. org/php/mmsi_neuY and from BoatUS at boatus.com/mmsi/ Recreational MMSI numbers designated for use in U.S. waters differ from numbers the Federal Communications Commission issues for use in international waters. If you plan on taking your boat into international waters and con- tacting a foreign government agency by VHP radio, then you are required to obtain the appropriate FCC station license and associated international MMSI number. Doing this also lists your boat's information in an international search-and- rescue database. Whether for U.S. or international use, MMSI numbers are assigned to a VHP radio, not to a person. The numbers are intended to stay with the radio; when you sell a boat, you must log in and cancel that MMSI registration, so the boat's new owner can update the database with his information. Some VHP radios allow you to delete the original MMSI number and enter a second number; others require the radio to be returned to the manufacturer or an authorized service technician to delete the number from the radio, allowing a new number to be programmed into it. RECENT CHANGES IN VHP CHANNELS Some VHP radio channels used to have the letters A or B assigned to them, meaning they were duplex channels with two frequencies available for simultaneous conversation. Channel 22A, for instance, was what the U.S. Coast Guard used for official communications and broadcasts. Only the A frequencies were used in the United States. Canada and other countries used the B frequency. As of January i, 2017, the letter designations were changed to four-digit designations, with either 10 or 20 preceding the channel number. Channel 22A became 1022; 22B became 2022. Older radios with the original channel designations will continue to work, as thggstill planrtho radio oatottie same frequency. The Cp^ltGuard published a list of the channel designations here: nai>cen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mti;ri Though older Jadios will continue to work using the^ame frequency (only mediannel designator_is_diffe5elvt), VHP manufacturers will eventually updatetheir radios to display these new channel designations. Help the Coast Guard help you. Connect your radio to your GPS and program it with an appropriate MMSI number. t& Information on maritime communications and VHP radio use from the U.S. Coast Guard: navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=maritimeTelecomms The United States Power Squadrons and BoatUS offer a two-hour online course in VHF marine radio operation.boatus.org/marine-radio/ 18 July/August 2020 passagemaker.com
Transcript of FYI: DSC and MMSI - PTYC
AT THE HELM
ELECTRONICS
FYI: DSC and MMSIWHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LATEST
IN MARINE VHP RADIO TECHNOLOGY.
story BOB ARRINGTON
It may not rank up there with the great mysteries in life,but it is definitely a puzzlement: Why don't more boatersset up and understand the use of the Digital SelectiveCalling function on their VHP radios?
Next to the invention of the EPRIB, the single-buttonDSC feature is the most valuable safety feature developedfor boaters. In some ways, it's even better than an EPRIB.Unfortunately, based on random surveys taken during UnitedStates Coast Guard Auxiliary safety checks, fewer than halfthe DSC-equipped VHP radios on recreational boats areprogrammed for use.
When properly used in near-coastal and inland waters, DSC,with the press of a single button, can alert more people to theneed for help than any other method. DSC digitally sends adistress call to rescue personnel over the Global MaritimeDistress and Safety System. When a radio is programmed witha Maritime Mobile Service Identity number, DSC transmitsthe vessel name and description, and an emergency contact'sinformation, to the authorities. When the radio is connectedto a GPS receiver, DSC also transmits the vessel's position.
The DSC alert is also received by other boaters within radiorange. And, DSC lets the boater identify the exact nature of hisemergency. All DSC radios are programmed with the followinglist of conditions: undesignated, explosion, flooding, collision,grounding, capsizing, sinking, adrift, abandoning ship, piracyattack and man overboard.
OBTAINING MMSI NUMBERS
MMSI numbers issued for recreational craft in U.S. watersare available from the United States Power Squadrons at usps.org/php/mmsi_neuY and from BoatUS at boatus.com/mmsi/
Recreational MMSI numbers designated for use in U.S.waters differ from numbers the Federal CommunicationsCommission issues for use in international waters. If youplan on taking your boat into international waters and con-tacting a foreign government agency by VHP radio, then youare required to obtain the appropriate FCC station licenseand associated international MMSI number. Doing this alsolists your boat's information in an international search-and-rescue database.
Whether for U.S. or international use, MMSI numbers are
assigned to a VHP radio, not to a person. The numbers areintended to stay with the radio; when you sell a boat, youmust log in and cancel that MMSI registration, so the boat'snew owner can update the database with his information.
Some VHP radios allow you to delete the original MMSInumber and enter a second number; others require the radioto be returned to the manufacturer or an authorized servicetechnician to delete the number from the radio, allowing anew number to be programmed into it.
RECENT CHANGES IN VHP CHANNELS
Some VHP radio channels used to have the letters A or Bassigned to them, meaning they were duplex channels withtwo frequencies available for simultaneous conversation.Channel 22A, for instance, was what the U.S. Coast Guardused for official communications and broadcasts. Only theA frequencies were used in the United States. Canada andother countries used the B frequency.
As of January i, 2017, the letter designations were changedto four-digit designations, with either 10 or 20 preceding thechannel number. Channel 22A became 1022; 22B became2022. Older radios with the original channel designations willcontinue to work, as thggstill planrtho radio oatottie samefrequency. The Cp^ltGuard published a list of the channeldesignations here: nai>cen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mti;ri
Though older Jadios will continue to work using the^amefrequency (only mediannel designator_is_diffe5elvt), VHPmanufacturers will eventually updatetheir radios to displaythese new channel designations.
Help the Coast Guard help you. Connect your radio to yourGPS and program it with an appropriate MMSI number. t&
Information on maritime communications and VHPradio use from the U.S. Coast Guard:navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=maritimeTelecomms
The United States Power Squadrons and BoatUSoffer a two-hour online course in VHF marine radiooperation.boatus.org/marine-radio/
18 July/August 2020 passagemaker.com
