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United States Power Squadrons ® America's Boating Club ®. If you’re in BIG trouble out on the water, your radio is the most important piece of safety equipment on your boat! Digital Selective Calling What Do We Do With This New Technology? 18 August 2006 Lt. Wayne Rogers JN
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United States Power Squadrons ®America's Boating Club ® If you’re in BIG trouble out on the water, your radio is the most important piece of safety equipment on your boat! Digital Selective Calling What Do We Do With This New Technology? 18 August 2006 Lt. Wayne Rogers JN Patuxent River Sail and Power Squadron USPS - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun
Where Are We Today? • Coast Guard Deployment of Rescue 21 • Proliferation of Partially Installed Radios • no MMSI’s • lack of GPS connection • Technology Issues • new technology • non-technical users • Void in operator knowledge and confidence USPS - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun
What Are We Doing? • Waiting for the next shoe to drop! • Or … procrastinating - I’ll push that little red button when I need it! • Avoidance Behavior - I’ll hook up my radio when I see that there will be some benefit! • For years radio operation and protocol training amongst boaters has taken a back seat. • On the positive side • USPS is working with the GMDSS Work Group • Training course development USPS - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun
What’s the REAL Issue? Boater understanding and confidence So What’s Important to USPS? • Education: help boaters understand DSC • Safety: Emphasize the benefit • Leadership: on-the-water usage And what is USPS good at? USPS - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun
Education • Update our educational materials • ABC • Seamanship • Electronics • Promote the use of DSC Radios as a significantly enhanced safety feature • Posters, handouts • Offer to assist boaters with radio hookup and operational instruction • Squadron Technical Officer • VSC USPS - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun
Safety • Update safety materials - should be included in the “You’re in Command” message • - Wear a life jacket • - Never boat under the influence • - Take a boating safety course • - Get a free Vessel Safety Check • We need to add “Install a DSC radio” USPS - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun
Leadership • “Build it, and they will come” • Not quite so with DSC Radios • Someone needs to show the way • Squadrons ideal for on-the-water demonstration • Proper radio protocol • Group calling (requires new protocols) • Get out the word to local community • Include MMSI’s in our rosters USPS - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun
Conclusion - Questions USPS - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun