nagy592 21 Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 I'm about to buy a new VHF, not because anything wrong with the old one, I just want to relocate it and all newer model on the market lot smaller which is crucial on a small boat. I was looking to get one with DSC function (set up for sending and receiving signal etc). Is it worth it to spend time on this? I know Maritime NZ not monitoring digital transmissions but anyone else does? It seems to be a good idea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,286 Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 Pretty much all international shipping and many cruising yachts have dsc. I think you may find most new vhfs have it anyway. It’s a yes from me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southernman 73 Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 Really does anyone really use it? I think most people would simply pull the Epirb pin instead? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwifish 30 Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Cost about the same as a normal vhf, doesn’t replace epirb. Dial up your buddy for a chat. No brainer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
idlerboat 116 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 A yes from me too.. See earlier posts. Will get a faster response than an epirb if shipping around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southernman 73 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 But who actually has their VHF on these days? Not many do in my mind easier to reach for the Iphone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,286 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Any vessel so equipped is required to monitor ch16. But, like you SM, many don't. And like me, many don't have an iPhone ???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,717 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Not me. Very much dislike the noisy thing Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southernman 73 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Yip with you BP out there to get away from the noise. Ours is off most of the time. 10 Years it be a dead technology would be my guess. Smartphone close but Rum and Coke closer.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,286 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 I agree about the noise, but I don't agree about the tech dying. They are completely different. Cellphone is point to point, VHF is point to multi point. Cellphone means you can't call the boats closest to you. DSC actually helps the noise issue - if you turn the volume down, and adjust the squelch so you don't hear the traffic, the DSC call to you, or broadcast, is still well audible in an emergency. Great feature. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rigger 47 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 IT how many genuine distress alerts have you received on you DSC VHF? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,286 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 I've heard 2, but neither in NZ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rigger 47 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 1 for me while onboard ship in gulf is Aden, VHF Mayday, stopped counting years ago, but 2 in the last month Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 682 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Have a vhf purely for weather report,cannot be bothered listening to B/S but must admit when I have the boy onboard do tend to lodge a t/r with c/g for the just in case,but if another vessel in close proximity is trouble they better let a flare off if they want my attention. About 2 /3 months ago a mayday call was heard and I pity the poor bugger trying to find them,the caller had no idea where they were,had to describe various landmarks,about 20 minutes later figured they were out the back of the noisies,so in that case a flare would of been more use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
armchairadmiral 411 Posted December 25, 2017 Share Posted December 25, 2017 Yeah...stopped listening to VHF. B/S traffic is intolerable. No wonder there's more trouble on the water when some of the clowns actually believe that the mindless chatter is making them 'safe'. In fog in the Colville Channel and through the gaps spot a large ship at right angles to us on a converging course,at speed, heading for Akld. Called and called on VHF Ch.16 to ascertain they had us but no response. Eventually went head to wind and waited. Had MSC on the side of it. Guess they were on auto and not concerned with a mere yacht. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,286 Posted December 25, 2017 Share Posted December 25, 2017 It's very common for a ship not to answer VHF with a voice call. Calling by name is better (ais receiver gives name), DSC call works best... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nagy592 21 Posted December 25, 2017 Author Share Posted December 25, 2017 Thanks for all your thoughts, I think I'll go for the DSC version. Would be great if more people got it (obviously with knowledge to set up) and more and more people made some effort to get vhf operator licence along with call sign and mmsi number as it is a must have to set up the DSC capable vhf radio properly and take all advantage of it. Without those things is just worthless I agree with that. Of course this will not replace epirb (which also should be registered and kept up to date). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fogg 427 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Have a vhf purely for weather report,cannot be bothered listening to B/S but must admit when I have the boy onboard do tend to lodge a t/r with c/g for the just in case,but if another vessel in close proximity is trouble they better let a flare off if they want my attention. About 2 /3 months ago a mayday call was heard and I pity the poor bugger trying to find them,the caller had no idea where they were,had to describe various landmarks,about 20 minutes later figured they were out the back of the noisies,so in that case a flare would of been more use. DSC solves that as well because most modern sets broadcast lat & long position as part of the distress message so the whole world can see where they are. Saves the whole "Where are you?" thing. Given Maritime NZ boasts about having one of the largest SAR regions in the world to look after I can't understand why NZ is dragging its heels to adopt marine safety technology that has been mainstream for over a decade elsewhere in the world. I know VHF is short-range and doesn't help with the large SAR region (much) but it's the message it sends to everyone i.e. "Sorry - no DSC - we're still in the dark ages". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 DSC solves that as well because most modern sets broadcast lat & long position as part of the distress message so the whole world can see where they are. Saves the whole "Where are you?" thing. Given Maritime NZ boasts about having one of the largest SAR regions in the world to look after I can't understand why NZ is dragging its heels to adopt marine safety technology that has been mainstream for over a decade elsewhere in the world. I know VHF is short-range and doesn't help with the large SAR region (much) but it's the message it sends to everyone i.e. "Sorry - no DSC - we're still in the dark ages". Ahh, but that's what we have volatile explosives on board for... Just yesterday I was checking my flares. Had to carefully read the small print to work out which end to hold and which end shoots explosive charges off. Wasn't exactly obvious which ones were orange smoke, red hand helds or the ones better suited to taking down light aircraft. All the price tags were in-tacked, f*ck they are expensive. Then I checked the expiry dates, now I'm in a bad mood... Not sure if I should keep my flares in the gas locker, but I really don't want my young kids finding them and permanently scaring themselves or worse. It is absolutely beyond me why we are required to carry volatile explosives onboard. Never seen one used in anger. Never heard of one used in anger in NZ in the last 10 years. Between VHF with or without DSC, PLB's and now AIS distress beacons I would have though thought the explosives were redundant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 That screams "I have no idea what safety gear I have but that's not a worry as I don't take even 2 or 3 minutes to find out how my safety gear operates anyway" The only aircraft you'd ever be able to take down will be piloted by someone who shares your same slack attitude to safety matters History has very clearly removed without a shadow of a doubt your, mine and everyone elses kids have more to fear from your gas bottle than your flares. Haha KM, your own post proves you are wrong, and can't read. The very fact that I took the time yesterday to inspect my safety gear, check its expire dates, re-familiarise myself with the one orange smoke, three red hand helds and the two red rockets I have, and how to operate them proves you are wrong. I also know (off by heart) the expire date of the battery of my PLB, and have last month checked and serviced all of the inflatable life jackets on board. But I would have thought you'd have worked that out for yourself, when I stated in my post "just yesterday was checking my flares"... its the second line from the top. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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