Sea Tow to discontinue Automated Radio Check Service

All U Get · Oct 24, 2020

I spent a little time trying to remember the process. I got the name and MMSI added , turned to Ch 9, looked in the individual list, then called. My radio stayed on Ch 70 so I think that my antenna didn’t work although I receive other radio calls. How can you find the nearest rebroadcast station?

I found the USCG Rescue 21 maps and have three overlapping stations, the closest is Newport News.

Jackdaw · Oct 24, 2020

All U Get said:
I spent a little time trying to remember the process. I got the name and MMSI added , turned to Ch 9, looked in the individual list, then called. My radio stayed on Ch 70 so I think that my antenna didn’t work although I receive other radio calls. How can you find the nearest rebroadcast station?

I found the USCG Rescue 21 maps and have three overlapping stations, the closest is Hampton Rhodes.

As noted above, they all respond to; 003 669 999

shemandr · Oct 24, 2020

After I got mine I spent hours on programming.
If I test it I will need be be within 5 miles or less of the station. That's going to take some research on my part and an understanding of USCG radio technology which I know nothing about. All I know is that for all the money our government spends, I mostly couldn't hear USCG transmissions very well on the boat(s).

Jackdaw · Oct 25, 2020

It work as documented. I got an ACK from the USCG, and also from any known DSC radio in your directory. Got a picture of the boat ACK, the CG one was in a moving car!

It’s a cool feature, but you can’t overlook the fact that DSC was designed to overcome some of the limitations of analog VHF radio. It can recognize the DSC signal through a lot of static and weak signal strength. So I agree it’s not quite the same as getting a 5 x 5 radio check from a boat on the horizon.

All U Get · Oct 25, 2020

But were you on Ch16, by your picture?

Jackdaw · Oct 26, 2020

Brian D said:
I believe these modern radios internally scan channel 70 for DSM messages, even if one is on channel 16. So it probably does not matter what channel you are on. If an emergency DSC message is sent you will receive it.

Older DSC radios would scan ch70 every few seconds, resulting in a tiny dropouts while you listened. New models actually have 2 receivers built-in, the DSC one continually monitoring ch70.

Alan Gomes · Oct 26, 2020

Jackdaw said:
Probably because you can now do the same with with a DSC check. This not only checks your VHF, but also its DSC capabilities.

It was a private party, funding a public service the government now offers. I would have stopped it too.

What would cool if radio manufactures would pre-program 003669999 as USCG DSC TEST into the radios.

Thanks for this! I just now tried it out and it works great! I've programmed this into my directory for the future.