Josh,

Your reply brings up a question I have for someone familiar with DSC. I've been looking for a way to monitor my boat's position when I leave it unattended on the hook. If I have a handheld with DSC programmed with the same MMSI as the fixed VHF on the boat, can I query, with the hand held, the boat's VHF to find its GPS coordinates?

Neil Gallagher
Weatherly 35-1
Glen Cove, NY


On 1/15/2016 8:53 AM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List wrote:

In the US you can get the MMSI for recreational vessels through boatus. Just Google MMSI BoatUS.

SeaTow offers voice radio checks. Find their website to get a map of nearby locations and associated channel. It is a voice recording and playback system so you hear back your own transmission.

DSC is most easily tested with another DSC radio that has been programmed with a different MMSI (read: friend's boat). That's an important point since the MMSI is assigned to the boat and all the DSC radios on that boat are supposed to be programmed to the same MMSI.

Well what if I just took my portable and DSC called my fixed? Well often times the radios are designed to ignore DSC requests from their own MMSI. Makes sense....sorta.

For recreational vessels in the US no license is required. The voice function of the radio should work fine without programming the MMSI. I've never heard of a mandate to program the MMSI. I could be wrong on the last point but then how would anyone know? Same with the requirement to monitor channel 16. What if I don't? Prove it.

Josh Muckley
S/V Sea Hawk
1989 C&C 37+
Solomons, MD

On Jan 14, 2016 11:15 PM, "Marek Dziedzic via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:

    Bob,

    You need to program your MMSI (an identifier you get when you
    register the radio). In Canada (and I bet in the US) in order to
    operate a DSC radio you are required to have the DSC endorsed
    radio operator's licence.

    Without the MMSI your DSC function does not work - it is like a
    phone without an assigned number. If I recall correctly, it is
    illegal to use the radio without registering it and acquiring the
    MMSI number. And if you don't program the MMSI, the radio would
    probably not work at all (it should prompt you constantly to enter
    that number).

    In order to use the point to point transmission (not any of the
    Distress or Urgency calls) you have to know the other party's
    MMSI. Preferably, you want to have it programmed into your radio
    (so you can select it, like from a "Contacts" list in your phone).

    Ch. 70 is used SOLELY for digital handshake between the DSC
    radios. Using that channel for any conversations is prohibited.

    I am afraid that you won't be able to make the DSC call to the
    passing barges unless you know their MMSI (or can look it up).

    Good luck

    Marek

    *From:*CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com
    <mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com>] *On Behalf Of *bobmor99 .
    via CnC-List
    *Sent:* Thursday, January 14, 2016 21:05
    *To:* cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>
    *Cc:* bobmor99 . <bobmo...@gmail.com <mailto:bobmo...@gmail.com>>
    *Subject:* Stus-List Testing DSC

    Today I received my first grown-up radio, a Standard Horizon GX2200.

    DSC looks like a very nice technology but I am wondering how to
    test/learn it without triggering a bunch of false alarms or
    general chaos.

    I'm docked in a backwater, but there is occasional barge traffic
    that probably has AIS transmitters.

    I'd like to verify that my new radio can easily communicate (via
    channel 70?) with the barges as they pass by.

    Maybe I need to read the fine manual again but am wondering if
    anyone else has done this exercise and if there are any tips or
    gotchas.

    Many thanks in advance,

    --Bob M

    Ox 33-1

    Jax, FL


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