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DSC and the USCG

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 07:48:10

We hear a lot of Pan Pans that kinda go like this: "pan pan 3x, hello all stations this is the US Coast Guard Sector whatever - Break - at o'dark thirty GMT 6:30 local time the coast Gaurd rec'd a distress call. No name of vessel, type of vessel or the nature of the distress was received. All mariners are requested to keep a sharp lookout, assist if possible and report all sightings to the US Coast Guard. Coast Guard sector whatever OUT!" Then they will repeat this every half hour or so until either they get tired of doing it, they find someone, or whatever. VERY ANNOYING!

Sten

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 08:13:48

Here too... The Rescue 21 project is supposed to include vastly improved direction-finding so they can triangulate on the location of a signal. That might cut down on hoaxes and/or facilitate more specific information. (Some day.)

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 11:38:58

DSC is a key component in the future of boating search and rescue. It is meant to provide critical information to the CG. That information includes the boat name, description, owner contact, and of course your exact location. Just visit the Coast Guard web site or any of the major boating safety web sites. DSC and things like it are the future of safe boating and search and rescue. The old ways are fine and we should understand and honor them and know how to use them, but we should also embrace improvements and DSC and Rescue 21 are clearly improvements. Combining the power of VHF with the power of GPS is a benefit and so is providing more information to the CG and other craft during an emergency.

I replaced my VHF with a DSC-enabled one and hooked it up to the GPS Chartplotter. I have registered and gotten my MMSI number and provided all of the data about the boat, owner, emergency contact names, etc. It is all very easy to do. When I look at the VHF radio display I see our GPS coordinates. This stuff works. I encourage all of you to do it so that when DSC is enabled in your sailing grounds you will be ready for it.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 01/25/2008 11:52:20

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2008 : 17:56:08

Okay...just curious about the general concensus out there as to any opinions regarding present models being sold by the top manufacurers such as Icom, Standard Horizon and some of the others. I have an old Standard Horizon unit. I noticed the new ones besides DSC also have the option to hook up a wired remote. If and when getting a new radio makes it to the top of my list of priorities (and it could move up there within this year), what are some of the features, pro, con of some of them out there ? Are there any high tech improvements that any are incorporating in the next year or the big changes (DSC) have already come to be ?

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2008 : 22:59:00

Radios are like computers - there is always something new. You just have to decide what features are important to you. I just bought a new VHF two days ago - sensitivity and image rejection are dramatically improved over my old Standard Horizon. Practical Sailor reviewed fixed mount VHF's last year.

I was at West Marine in Pensacola and saw a clearance Sea Ranger, but the company had been bought out and the line was discontinued and I decided not to buy it. However, I found that the West Marine warranty still applied - any problems in the next 5 years WM will take it back and apply my full purchase price to any brand they carry. Pretty sweet. I now have DSC with selective calling and receive, NOAA automated weather alert response, continuous 16/9/+1 other channel, scan 16/9/+all channels or + all channels I have put in memory, ext. speaker, 17 watt loud hailer, wired or Wham wireless full function speaker/mic/controller for one hundred dollars. A wham mic would be a great cockpit station, but it is hard to spend $150 to accessorize a $100 radio.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2008 : 23:16:54

Dave,

What make and model radio did you buy?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/30/2008 : 08:58:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Dave, What make and model radio did you buy?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Uniden UM525. (Oops--wrong Dave.

)

BTW, check the power consumption--I recall mine was markedly lower than the other model (Icom, I think) that I was considering most seriously. That'll be more important to you than to me.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/30/2008 : 18:54:43

I bought the sea ranger V60 since west marine explained their warranty was good even on discontinued products. Until I saw that radio I was taking Practical Sailor's info and choosing the features and price I wanted; now I have every feature I could imagine and a price I couldn't believe.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.