The fade today for coastal navigation is the DSC (Digital Selective
Calling).
This new breed of VHF is connected to a GPS and has a distinctive signature.
In order to make use of this DSC you have to register it with the coast
guard. They logged in your signature, call sign, boat description,
navigational equipment, emergency and survival gears. Then the information
is programmed into their data bank. As I witnessed, when you call the
coast guard, traffic and other vessel with the proper equipment the name of
your boat with its position appears on the their computer/digital radar
system. This way when your are in distress and use your DSC they know your
GPS position, the name of your boat and monitor your position. When you are
outside of the coast guard radio range some people are using sat/phone and
EPIRB. Last week a 36 foot sailboat was rescued by the US guard at approx
200 NM from the coast of Nantucket.

"purple_stars" wrote in message
ups.com...
hi again folks,

i'm curious what VHF you would suggest for emergencies, the one you're
going to be listening in on when your floating in the middle of the
ocean next to your EPIRB after tragedy has struck. i'm thinking of a
radio that you keep with you at all times when on deck, the one that
never leaves your side.