Definiton of "dsc"

Jun 6, 2004
103
- - San Diego
My marine radio keeps using "dsc" but I am dumb enough not to know what it stands for...some one please help. Thanks
 
May 1, 2011
4,967
Pearson 37 Lusby MD
Digital Selective Calling - standard for sending pre-defined digital messages via the medium frequency (MF), high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF) maritime radio systems
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Digital Selective Calling - standard for sending pre-defined digital messages via the medium frequency (MF), high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF) maritime radio systems
Not quite. DSC reserves VHF channel 70 to send and receive encoded digital messages. A header on these messages includes the unique MMSI (the selective part) of the recipient. The rest is payload; the actual message intended for the recipient. This might be a invite to join a voice transmission on a selected channel, a request for your location, or a Rescue 21 'mayday' hail with encode lat/long intended for the USCG.
 
Jul 27, 2011
5,134
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
Last edited:
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
I remember when it was called "SelCal" and was used primarily in aviation. However, a lot of land stations would also use it. It would be an identifier sent by Station X to call Station Y. Back then, receivers would be on but their squelch would be set high so the noise would not disturb other people in the room. When Station Y received the signal from Station X, an alarm would sound and the squelch would break and all the equipment for receiving messages would turn on. This was used during the hey-day of teletype. I loved the chatter of teletype machines going 60 or 100 words per minute.
 
May 1, 2011
4,967
Pearson 37 Lusby MD
Not quite. DSC reserves VHF channel 70 to send and receive encoded digital messages. A header on these messages includes the unique MMSI (the selective part) of the recipient. The rest is payload; the actual message intended for the recipient. This might be a invite to join a voice transmission on a selected channel, a request for your location, or a Rescue 21 'mayday' hail with encode lat/long intended for the USCG.
Tks for the clarification, Jackdaw.
 
Jan 25, 2011
2,436
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
I keep getting multiple alerts on 16 with no info. Basically, i quit listening on 16.....to many trips to the radio to silence them...