DSC Radios

[Burner]

Anyone using DSC yet? My trophy came with a Ray53 DSC capable radio, but I haven't sent in the paperwork to the FCC yet. Sure would be nice to pass position info along to other ifish members, especially when the wolfpack is on the hunt for tuna.

[Mark Mc]

Hi Burner, DSC is not operating yet. See these posts:

http://www.ifish.net/ubb/ultimatebb....=001294#000000


Also, it may be a little more complex than just a normal VHF conversation & reading your buddy's GPS #s off the screen. But by all means do some more homework, and let us know what you find out. It looks like you have to enter the ID code for one particular station (boat) and then your message (GPS #s) only go to that boat. I guess this would be an advantage if you DIDN'T want more than one boat to hear the #'s.

This is from inmarsat


"To call a coast station or another ship by DSC in order to initiate routine/business communications:

(1) tune the transceiver to the appropriate DSC channel/ frequency for the call;
(2) set up the ship station DSC controller using the following general procedure (see manufacturers’ manuals for specific guidance):
select the format for calling a specific station
enter address (identification) – MMSI of called station
select category of the call – routine or ship’s business
(ship station MMSI is entered automatically)
select type of subsequent communication – R/T or NBDP
enter proposed working channel information if calling another ship (no proposal is normally made when calling a coast station since it is the responsibility of the called coast station to indicate a vacant working channel in its acknowledgement)
select end-of-sequence signal – usually the signal RQ, which means that a mandatory acknowledgement is re-quired, when calling a specific coast station or ship station (the called station terminates its acknowledgement with the signal BQ)
press <Call>
Routine DSC messages should be acknowledged using DSC either on the same frequency or on the appropriate paired frequency either manually (within 4½ minutes) or automatically. If it is not possible to use the working channels suggested in the call, this should be indicated in the acknowledgement. If no channel is mentioned, as would normally be the case when calling a coast station, suitable frequencies or channels should be proposed in the acknowledgement. Following agreement on, and transfer to, the working frequencies/channels the called station prepares to receive the traffic."

[ 07-03-2003, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: Mark Mc ]