MMSI and Coast Guard Rescue 21/Astoria

[PhoebusGroup]

Hi Dogs,

So, I have installed a new ICOM M504 radio with
the nifty red door to the "rescue me" button. Am
I correct that pressing that button does nothing
helpful yet? Namely, Coast Guard/Astoria does not
yet have this capability.

Thanks and kind regards,

David

[Mark Mc]

Hey thar.....some previous threads had info on the rollout; this might help:

http://www.uscg.mil/rescue21/about/cap.htm

edit / add: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/dsc.htm

Hopefully Dan Shipman will read this & chime in. His ifish name is uscgboating - do a search on his name.


edit: post from Dan
----------------------------------

USCGBoating
Steelhead


Reged: 10/14/04
Posts: 293
Re: DSC, Let's talk about it.. [Re: Sensei-san]
#739506 - 02/04/05 02:21 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



There is a lot of effort being placed on the Rescue 21 (DCS) project. They have ran into some snags and it now looks like 2006 or even 2008 befor it is on line in this part of the country. I will have to do some digging around to get more information out to all of you but it will have to wait until I am back in the office which will not be unitl the 17th.

I to have been displeased with the lack of communication adn information being passed on to the boater. I had this same conversation a few months back with the program coordinator and really didn't get much out of him. I will work on getting you better infromation and post it upon my return. Best I can do for right now.

[PhoebusGroup]

Mark Mc,

Always informative to hear from you. Thanks.

So, the MMSI system isn't available in Oregon
and seems to have some overall problems, as
explained in those links.

The "relay" problem is rather astonishing. Due
to default settings, if my good ship Jeanne-Marie
calls for help, then other ships equipped with
MMSI relay (read: repeat) the call with their
own name and location. Thus the Coasties get
a huge number of calls for help, one of which
is real. Oops...

Meanwhile, ship-to-ship seems to be working and
so I'll register with the local Salty Dogs, who
are emerging as a bigger and bigger part of being
safe on the seas.

Again, thanks.

David

[Robalo Bill]

David

Where did you get your 504. I have been eyeing this radio for months. It was to be released after the Miami Boat show. Everyone that I have called says Icom still has not shipped any due to an issue with FCC.

Thanks
Bill

[PhoebusGroup]

Hi Dogs,

Today I obtained and installed the MMSI
code. www.boatus.com provides the
registration for free. Be prepared with
the basic facts for your boat and the
names/numbers of who to call if there is
an emergency. It's very similiar to
registering an EPIRB.


Then I stopped at Jensen Communications
to talk with their technician, Jerry, who
is quite knowledgeable. I had previously
printed off the links that Mark Mc sent me.

Turns out Jerry had just installed a DSC radio
on the CR Pilot Boat, Chinook. Apparently, in a
situation review regardling the pilot lost earlier
this year, they decided that a "one button" call
for help was a good investment.

Jerry asked them if they'd check with the Coasties
and told them the gist of the situation as we
understand it from Mark Mc's links. And today
Jerry checked with Station Astoria and Cape D and
was told the same by both: no coverage on the CR
and the Pacific by the CG.

* * *
Yesterday I talked with a radio man at Englunds/
Astoria who opined that there is coverage, but
it's not guaranteed and hence always denied.
Don't know about that. Sounds too much like
"Maybe."

* * *
I am going to check with the Coast Guard because
I want to do some testing w/ both the emergency
and companionship functionality of my new radio.

As I understand it, a call for help with the magic
button will alert other ships. I'd like to see
that work in both directions. I.e., I'd like to
be alerted and to test my call for help. And I don't
want to cause a problem.

Any Dog in the area want to test? I think we can do
this from the dock.

Comments and advice accepted, as always.

Kind regards,

[USCGBoating]

The Rescue 21 system will be up and runnning in Puget Sound and Port Angeles by the end of July. Once that is complete they will be moving down the coast.

The problem with the system is that there have been delays in the construction of the new towers but although the shore stations do not have operational systems the boats do. For those of you that have the system on your boat you will recieve an alert if someone within reception distance hits the button. You will receive all the information, position, etc.. so although the high site antennas are not operating it will work.

Dan

[Phil Layer]

Any Dog in the area want to test? I think we can do
this from the dock.

Phoebus,

I too would like to test my new DSC radio but my manual says not to test it under any conditions. You would think that since it is not active in our area yet, we would be okay but you'd best get an ok from the Coasties before pushing the red button.

[flapbreaker]

Phoebus,

I too would like to test my new DSC radio but my manual says not to test it under any conditions. You would think that since it is not active in our area yet, we would be okay but you'd best get an ok from the Coasties before pushing the red button.

Although it might not be active with the coast guard it still will send a signal to other boats in the area with DSC capable radios. I suggest you not test it or you might have some upset boaters looking for you back at the docks. :grin:

[USCGBoating]

To test the system all you have to do is get the MMSI number if another boater and send them a message. If that works the system is functional. Refer to your instructions on how to send messages to other DCS radio's.

Dan