2005/06 vintage Ray 240 VHF radio Distress

Gimme Time

Active Member
GOLD Sponsor
Jan 7, 2007
907
Charlottesville, VA./ Deltaville, VA. / Tidewater
Boat Info
2006 52SB, Ray Marine E120, Garmin 7612 through BOE site sponsor,
Engines
QSM11s
I have been hammered twice with an Distress Alarm going off on the above listed Ray 240 VHF Radio and it will wake the dead up when she goes off. I’ve read & reread the Operations Manual and still not sure if I have a failing radio or the set has been changed since this was built and installed in our 06 52DB.

The Ray 240 does not have a typical on/off selector as it only shuts down in the Standby mode which means unless you pull the hot wire off or take the fuse out she’s able to wake up as well as wake anyone up in the marina within a 1/4 mile for sure.

Drove 2.5 hrs last night down and arrived around 9:45 as the marina manager got the radio back in the Standby mode without knowing he just got lucky hitting buttons trying to silence the alar.

Enough about the story as I’m hoping someone has already dealt with this before and can enlighten me. My ICOM newer radio installed in the overhead console does not get or go into a distress alarm mode so I’m assuming (ass-u-me) either the radio is toast or the feature proved more nuisance than benefit and has been abandoned on newer radios?

Specific knowledge would be greatly appreciated by reply, PM or call.

John
 
FYI, I’ve found it works just like designed but Ray offered a software to change the operation of such. I will install a additional power switch possibly as the problem below is exactly how mine has reacted.


D.B. of Marina del Rey, California, asks:

"Not long ago I received a phone call from my dockmaster telling me a loud alarm was coming from my boat. I told him I’d be right down, and to keep an eye on things until I arrived. When I went aboard I found the sound was coming from my RayMarine Ray 240 marine VHF. How could it possibly go into an alert mode after being turned off?"

Gordon West replies:

This popular VHF radio incorporates a Class D Digital Selective Calling (DSC) receiver that continuously monitors VHF Channel 70. If anyone in range transmits a DSC distress call it will sound a loud distress alert warble. “To conserve battery power, you can put your marine VHF on standby, with the internal DSC receiver and audio alerting stages still on,” says Raymarine’s Chuck Anderson. “The behavior in question is consistent with the original design of the Ray 240, and a free software update is now available through RayMarine’s factory repair center (raymarine.com/support.com) that will eliminate a DSC alarm when the unit is in standby.” Of course this same feature might save a life if you are out sailing with the radio turned off and someone nearby broadcasts a DSC distress call.

On the other hand, back at the dock when no one is aboard, the feature can be a nuisance, as you discovered. The best way to make sure the radio won’t make noise when you’re away is to turn off the circuit breaker that feeds the power to the unit.”
 

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