Vhf Dsc Wtfo

[rpwillia]

OK, This is one of those you don't know until you see it. I got an MMSI for my VHF radio, programmed it in, and got a friend to do the same. I pull up his number from my stored directory on my radio and call him - radio indicates it has paged him and is waiting for a response. He never sees nothing. I go on his boat and his radio operates basically the same with the same results. Verified everything including that the long MMSI numbers are correct. What am I missing. Since I have never seen it work, how do I know. Also my radio states we are both switched to channel 70, but his radio does not. Thanks Ray

 

[Stu Jackson]

Try BoatUS.com, they have a good description of how it is supposed to work.

 

[Ken Palmer]

Channel 70 is the Digital channel that the initial call is made on. The receiving VHF radio is always monitoring channel 70 when the radio is powered on, no matter what channel they are presently on. It would not normal display 70 while receiving a DSC call. His radio should have automatically switched to your radio's channel when linked, and you should hear some sort of audio "ring" or "beeping" at both radios when linked. If you followed your menu correctly for placing a DSC call, then it sounds like your friends radio is not set up properly. I am assuming you are within normal VHF range.

Try having your friend place a call to you and see if that works. I have set up three other radios besides my own, and they all worked right from the start. Not all brands of radios have the same menus, so it may take a bit of investigation to find a wrong setting on one of your radios.

 

[rpwillia]

Been there done that --- still no joy

So far the only thing I can think of is the radio brands. I have a standard horizon and he has a Cobra. Followed the directions in both manuals, still stumped. BoatUS sit is good, but does not get into the specifics of each radio.

 

[Tom Spohn]

When a DSC call comes in you will not hear a "hail" like you do on Channel 16. Instead there will be a buzz, beep, or whatever plus an indicator on the screen that a DSC call needs to be answered. Ask your friend to make sure to carefully go through the setup to enable DSC calling and that the alarm function is not turned off.

When the call comes in you usually have to hit the menu and find the item that says, "Answer DSC Call" or something like that. Simply pressing the "Press to Talk" button will accomplish nothing.

 

[sailingdog]

First, you should not be on Ch. 70. That channel is now RESERVED for DSC digital transmissions IIRC. You should have been on one of the recreational working channels, like 69. If you try it with your radio on one of the working channels, his radio should indicate that he's being hailed and may indicate who is hailing him, if your MMSI is in his radio's directory.

OK, This is one of those you don't know until you see it. I got an MMSI for my VHF radio, programmed it in, and got a friend to do the same. I pull up his number from my stored directory on my radio and call him - radio indicates it has paged him and is waiting for a response. He never sees nothing. I go on his boat and his radio operates basically the same with the same results. Verified everything including that the long MMSI numbers are correct. What am I missing. Since I have never seen it work, how do I know. Also my radio states we are both switched to channel 70, but his radio does not. Thanks Ray

 

[Marco Garcia]

Choose channel (other than 70, 16, 9, 22 or 68, 69, they are too busy), look for directory of DSC options, choose individual call, choose receiver radio ( your friends name, number) , hit DCS... Call goes out on channel 70. When the other ( receiver ) radio hears the calling (beep, ring or tone) he hits DCS key and both radios go to selected channel. Talk

I have an Icom 402, my friends have other brands, the difference is where the DCS key is, and the tone, beep or noise they make.

 

[rpwillia]

Sounds like I am not far off ...

I have another guy in my marina who claims his DSC works (says he tested it with USCG when they still allowed that) and sent me his connection info. Biggest problem as I see it right now is that very few people have an MMSI and use the DSC. This seems like one of those things that is just crying out for BoatUS to push.

Marco, Your description is right on with what my manual says, and the procedure I followed. I am still on my original questioning about the Cobra radio the other guy had. It was different enough to make me wonder.