Anyone try using it yet? Anyone using it regularly. Anyone have their

yes. Semi-regularly.

MMSI? How many people have connected their VHF-DSC radio to their GPS
you can't use it w/o one.

to broadcast position? How many people even know what DSC is, let alone
how to use it?

I find it sorta hit & miss on that -- both sides need to be using gps to make
that part work.

I've had my MMSI installed for a few years now, but I have yet to make
or receive a DSC call, nor have I yet heard a DSC emergency distress
call - which should signal every DSC radio in range. I don't know
anybody else's MMSI, although I do know one person in our boating group
who says he has his (and no, its not because I don't have any friends,
wise guys).

well; you can't make a call w/o his # -- so swap #'s; make friends with him, and
have a reason to call him... or be called...

USPS has a nifty DSC simulator you can load onto your computer and I've

United States Postal Service??

been playing with it (as well as teaching their new VHF-DSC how-to
seminar). DSC is pretty cool, but I can see how it could be a bit
complicated or cumbersome for some.

I'm just wondering how people feel about DSC, and if this is going to
catch on at all.

I think the biggest problem is that people need to BUY a NEW radio. The only
reason I have one is that I bought a boat w/o a radio -- it wasn't much more to
get one with dsc - so i did. Most folks I know have older radios that work; so
they don't get new ones. I'd say 90% of people I know use cell phones for
"person to person" communications. Around here (Puget Sound) it seems most
people use the vhf for pan-pan or mayday calls (some bogus) and mis-placed
'radio test' (ala: cb crap) type calls -- over 1/2 of people that have them
probably don't even turn on their radio for coast-guard announcements, even if
they're required to have it on...

but definately -- the "buy a new radio" is the biggest clincher for why more
don't use it.. followed closely by cell-phone usage.

-j