On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 07:05:34 -0500, Larry wrote:


You are aware that ships on automatic don't even have people on the bridge
to hear it, right? Call 'em on the radio on 16 and see if you can raise
'em.

But if you call them on 70 with DSC, an alarm will sound.

Those other boats are monitoring their "fishing channel", talking to their
buddies. None of them have full-blown Channel 70 GMDSS systems. If they
have any DSC at all, it's transmit-only just like yours.

Even the primitive SC-101 grade DSC radios will receive DSC calls if
enabled, and will sound an alarm for distress calls.

Unfortunately, some SC-101 radios come with the channel 70 receive
function disabled.

The 406 EPIRB isn't by chance that someone will listen......

I understand that it may take an hour or more after an EPIRB is
activated before the appropriate authorities are notified. DSC
notification is immediate.

IMPORTANT!! - the DSC distress call (and other DSC calling functions)
WILL NOT work unless an MMSI is programmed into the radio. Also, the
radio should be connected to a GPS receiver to permit it to provide
your correct position.



--
Peter Bennett VE7CEI
email: peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info and programs: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/index.html
Newsgroup new user info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq