The other emergency device that the around the world racing sailors are
using is the French Argo system.
This system was primary designed and indented for the French Military. It
uses satellites to receives signal from the Argo buoys locate on vessels
and then shows the position on a digital computer screen. This way they can
track down the position of the racing sailboats at all time and advise of
alternative route to avoid hurricane and storms or just giving updates on
the race. This Argo system is not public and requires permission to use.
Today, if you're looking for audio entrainment while awaiting rescue or just
sailing the new Sat/radio could be a good thing to have on board.

"chuck" wrote in message
...
wrote:
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.




I'm not sure you need to be talking to people while you're floating next
to your EPIRB! You want to be rescued. If the EPIRB is working, they will
know where you are. If it is dark, you might wish you had a flare to help
them. But what are you going to tell them on the VHF? You can't just say
you're 20 yards south of a used car lot or something.

And what would you listen to? The weather?

Save the VHF and bring some water and food instead!

Others will see this situation differently, I'm sure.

Good luck.

Chuck