On Jul 14, 3:56*pm, "claus" wrote:
...
Surely, the CG must have DSC receivers in their much ballyhooed "Rescue 21"
system - at least that is what the relevant U.S. Coast Guard web page says,
viz.
...

If you look around on that web page I think you'll find that only a
handful of groups have DSC numbers and not all of them are
operational. So, while the CG strongly encourages you to get DSC, by
and large they don't have them and they also are having lots of issues
with false alarms. Since DSC isn't reliable as an emergency calling
system and is much less useful than a cell phone I wouldn't even
bother with it. If you need help and are in VHF range use voice
otherwise use the EPRIB. AIS is very cool, IMO, DSC is FUBAR,
YMMV . Still, if you must DSC, I think Larry is right, call your
local group on the phone, or on 16 and switch to 22A, and ask them if
they are DSC operational.

-- Tom.