VHF HELP NEEDED

[griz066]

What are these VHF radios like are they good quality and what is the price like?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Uniden-Solara...QQcmdZViewItem

[edaw]

these units are great i have one in my boat and cant fault it and they are a lot cheaper than the navman but have all the same features.
i hit myn with the hose after every trip and it doesnt worry it a bit

[edaw]

also bargine with the bloke on ebay i brought my radio of him for $165 inc postage. he is preatty flexable

[MulletMan]

I wouldn't get too excited about the GPS hookup to the VHF as DSC (Digital Selective Calling) may never arrive in the recreational boating industry.

The last I heard was that only vessels over 500 tonnes would be using it.
It is mainly HF (High Frequency) that is using DSC and that has been round for yonks in the industry.

It is a brilliant feature but relies heavily on the availability of land based stations having the equipment to interrogate the DSC signal when intercepted.

I am not aware of any marine rescue stations in Queensland that have this gear as yet though I think one or two may have had a fiddle with the system.

The good news though is that most manufacturers are including the DSC feature in most good VHF radios - maybe one day the Government will get around to making a decision on it!

The rumour is that new technology mobile phones will obviate the need for DSC as it will be possible to enter your entire trip into them and that will be sent to the nearest rescue base who will have you on screen all the time.

Don't forget to get a good quality antenna for the Uniden VHF .............. about $85.00 I think!

I heard somewhere that GME make Uniden and just change the name ................ anybody know if that is true?

[3Vs]

DSC is here. Worthwhile doing a VHF course and getting an MMSI - there are plenty of benefits if you are offshore and it doesn't hurt to have every bit of safety margin you can. Talk to Subzero if you need to, he runs a VHF couse for Vic Point VMR.

[CamH]

When I did my MROCP course I came away with the impression that DSC was useless.

* Most VMR's won't monitor channel 70 (the DSC channel).
* You can only use general text messaging to another DSC enabled radio.
* You have to know the MMSI of the other radio you want to sent messages to (if wanting to just send a general text message - not distress).
* The broadcast mayday will only be picked up by other DSC enabled radios (and only if they are monitoring channel 70).
* The broadcast mayday will be switched off if another boat acknowledges they have received it.
* The standard procedure for a distress sent by DSC is to switch to channel 16 after it's initiated and broadcast a verbal mayday which really defeats the purpose of the DSC in the first place.

[subzero]

This is a massive subject so I dont want to get to involved here. For those who want to keep up to date as things evolve, do a course or a refresher. I used to teach in my courses that I had a low opinion of DSC, I have now changed my mind as the need to keep up with the times has changed, really for the better and more people are starting to use the feature.
PinkPanther, over 300 gross registered tonnes.

I am quoting your reply CamH as it covers a lot of important areas.

When I did my MROCP course I came away with the impression that DSC was useless. It's use has become more widespread, Rescue Units in Qld are slowly comming onboard, not by choice, but because of public demand

* Most VMR's won't monitor channel 70 (the DSC channel). Most still dont, VMR Victoria Point, VMR Point Danger and others widely dispersed throughout Qld are starting to monitor, check out this post for mmsi numbers throughout Australia. Qld in red http://www.ausfish.com.au/cgi-ausfis...1136679468/0#0
* You can only use general text messaging to another DSC enabled radio. Correct
* You have to know the MMSI of the other radio you want to sent messages to (if wanting to just send a general text message - not distress). Same as a telephone, you must know the number of the person you wish to call. Mayday is automaticly addressed to all stations as you say, PanPan can be by default be set to call a single station, or All Stations... check your settings, make sure it is set to All Stations in my opinion, Securitee is automaticly set to All Stations
* The broadcast mayday will only be picked up by other DSC enabled radios (and only if they are monitoring channel 70). Correct
* The broadcast mayday will be switched off if another boat acknowledges they have received it. Correct, no recreational boat should ever use the acknowledge feature of a DSC enabled radio. Only acknowledge using voice on the paired chanel which on VHF is of course chanel 16. Acknowledging a DSC alert via DSC will stop the message scrolling on all sets that are capable and within range of recieving it. This means that if it is connected to a GPS, the possition will not continue to be updated every 3-4 minutes on everyones screen (And the time of the last updated possition), and the message itself it will also dissapear from all the sets that had recieved it. You can all still access its mmsi, last possition, and the time and type of message by going in to your memory if need be. PLEASE, this feature should not be deactivated by anyone except by a Coast, or Limited Coast Station and this wqould normally only be done by them once they are in attendance or the problem is under control.
* The standard procedure for a distress sent by DSC is to switch to channel 16 after it's initiated and broadcast a verbal mayday which really defeats the purpose of the DSC in the first place. Not really. Many mistakes are made passing GPS co-ordintes etc via standard voice or Radiotelephony. The real beauty of it from our perspective as Boaties is that if for some reason we cant communicate well because of noise, storm, panic, weak signal or simply time constraints... hopefully the DSC will alert someone as to our/your plight.
While the radio is still capable of transmitting, it will continue to send our alert over and over again, updating all the time and if the set is no longer transmitting the time is also shown so we can figure out that if it is no longer updating, then it is no longer capable of doing so. It will send it over far greater distances, greater than using a repeater. Their should be full details on record of your vessel providing you have filled in the application for your MMSI number and you hold a valid MROCP or MROVCP to apply for it. The information on the card will tell the authorities the type of vessel/its size/description equipment normally carried, home port, emergency contacts, the maximum number of persons rated for that vessel etc. These details are not readily accessable to the Rescue units, but Water Police can make contact with the RCC in minutes and get all these details. (AMSA). This will help them to determine what resourses etc may be required, and all this without you having to stay and make the radio call if need be. Yes, if you are able to switch to Ch 16, you should do so, somone may be in your vicinity who is NOT DSC enabled that may be able to help you more promptly.

Hope the info helped
Kind Regards
Lloyd

[fishingrod]

Yes, DSC is being used NOW

Sure it is not very popular at the moment. I agree 100%

but it is being used.

If you were in a critical siutation with your family on board you would want want every means of raising help that is available ?

Im a skipper and member of a volunteer organisation in Sydney and we purchased three DSC radios (for our boats and base) One was purchased with the intention that it was to be left on CH70 permantly

Im also on our local the VMR inspection team and during our visits i see that many bases do have DSC and they do have CH70 on

see this post for a listing of registered DSC stations (about half way donw)
http://www.ausfish.com.au/cgi-ausfis...num=1136679468

Im sure there are more stations with DSC than are listed

My own boat does not have DSC and i will admit to that .... but when purchasing again i will be buying a DSC radio.

[subzero]

Gidday fishingrod, you reminded me this is a good time to update the MMSI list.
It has grown to 37 pages and is now to many characters to post on here.
I tried to convert it to pdf but its 256kb and the site limit is only 100kb

I have posted instructions on how to get a full up to date list of MMSI numbers on the other post as well

http://www.ausfish.com.au/cgi-ausfis...=1136679468/15

This is how you get the lot

For the most recent list of MMSI numbers please go to

http://www.amsa.gov.au/search_and_re...MSI_number.asp

Without entering ANY SEARCH TERMS or CRITERIA click on the SEARCH button. This will then display a full list of allocated MMSI numbers

Cheers Lloyd

[fishingrod]

What are these VHF radios like are they good quality and what is the price like?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Uniden-Solara...QQcmdZViewItem

In answer to the original post.
The Uniden stuff is normally OK quality. Its just "garden variety" in my opinion. Nothing wrong with them at all ... OK for notmal use. I own several Unidens myself in my boat and car #

You may find that this model was a private import and not normally sold retail here in Aus, so warranty MAY be a issue. Check with the seller or Uniden Australia what the real story is.

The price looks good for the features. Even $200 for a basic (non DSC) radio would be acceptable

[griz066]

Cheers Guys

[CamH]

Thanks for the reply Subzero - all valid points. Sounds like DSC is becoming increasingly popular and more worthwhile.

[CamH]

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[CamH]

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