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DSC-VHF RADIO. ENS Jodie Knox, USCG Office of Search and Rescue (CG-534). What is DSC?. Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Digital transfer of information between radios Instantly sends an automatically formatted distress alert to the Coast Guard and other vessels nearby.
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DSC-VHF RADIO ENS Jodie Knox, USCG Office of Search and Rescue (CG-534)
What is DSC? • Digital Selective Calling (DSC) • Digital transfer of information between radios • Instantly sends an automatically formatted distress alert to the Coast Guard and other vessels nearby
What does DSC do? • Prevents missed distress calls with continuous transmission* • Transmits Maritime Mobile Service Identities • Transmits GPS location of caller* • Notifies boater of a call and automatically switches to the channel caller is waiting on* • Provides a non-experienced boater a one-touch button for distress • Privately hails other DSC equipped vessels or shore stations* • Decreases non-emergency radio traffic on emergency channels*
How DSC Works DSC Alert Signal Relayed Acknowledgment sent DSC Alert Signal Acknowledgment sent DSC Alert Signal
What is MMSI? Maritime Mobile Service Identities (MMSI) • DSC radios MUST receive an MMSI to function properly • Uniquely encoded nine digit number with vessel/owner’s information (like a phone number) • Stores vessel information, owner, etc… • Identifies and helps find boater in a distress situation • Coast Guard maintains database for distress information retrieval • Store other vessels MMSI’s into your radio (like a ‘contact list’) • You have to know a boater’s MMSI to call them
Getting a MMSI • It is FREE • Only takes a few minutes • Once you obtain your MMSI, enter it into your DSC radio • Some radios only give you two chances; however, a boater can obtain a manufacturer ‘re-set’
Obtaining an MMSI • BoatUS: http://www.boatus.com/mmsi/instruct.htm • SeaTow: http://seatow.com/boating_safety/mmsi.asp • U.S. Power Squadrons: http://www.usps4mmsi.com • FCC Online Licensing System: (for international voyages) https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp • U.S. Coast Guard Background on MMSI numbers: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/Gmdss/mmsi.htm
Questions? ENS Jodie Knox, USCG Office of Search and Rescue (CG-534)