Do you have your VHF hooked to your GPS?

[Nehalennia]

I seem to hear many local boaters that don't know what I'm talking about when we talk about DSC capable VHF. I've showed many how my VHF is hooked to the GPS and can send that info to the USCG or others.
So I'd like to see how many of you have the right equipment and is it hooked up yet or not?

 

[charlg]

That's one of the first upgrades I did to my boat. Even though the original VHF was working fine, I wanted the DCS capability. Then I went through Boat US to get an MMSI #.

 

[Pseudomind]

Well apparently mine is connected thought I do not have DCS set up.

I have the older Raymarine 230, and it will surely tell you when a fix is momentarily lost. Sounds like a machine gun for a moment, I think they call it a staccato sound in the manual.

 

[Vince_nj1]

I posted this once before, but if anyone wants to learn about DCS, follow this link:

http://www.boatus.com/foundation/dsc/player.html

 

[tdappleman]

Mine is hooked up and working. I like having the additional information on the VHF display - I keep MPH on my GPS and Knots on the VHF. What I don't have is anyone else's ID# programmed in yet.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I don't have the proper equipment right now. But I will definitely do it when I get the right stuff.

 

[Nehalennia]

Mine is hooked up and working. I like having the additional information on the VHF display - I keep MPH on my GPS and Knots on the VHF. What I don't have is anyone else's ID# programmed in yet.

It's pretty slick. I have about 8 friends in mine. I can be several miles away from one or any of them on the way to a rendezvous and select the "request location" setting and an icon will appear on the GPS screen as a waypoint. They can also ping me and get my location.
Also I can select "individual call" and call that person only via the DSC.

 

[K-9]

:grin: yah I'm gunna doit..the old vhs will be a back-up but I need to find a unit that is Raymarine c120w compatible??? tell me what you know??:grin:

I don't have the proper equipment right now. But I will definitely do it when I get the right stuff.

 

[tdappleman]

It's pretty slick. I have about 8 friends in mine. I can be several miles away from one or any of them on the way to a rendezvous and select the "request location" setting and an icon will appear on the GPS screen as a waypoint. They can also ping me and get my location.
Also I can select "individual call" and call that person only via the DSC.

I just need to get my friends out of the dark ages and have them upgrade their electronics! One just purchased his new radio and GPS this past weekend so at least I'll have one show up on my screen.

 

[Presentation]

I have the proper equipment but have not connected it yet.


Todd, I need to clean my bilge first.

 

[Nehalennia]

:grin: yah I'm gunna doit..the old vhs will be a back-up but I need to find a unit that is Raymarine c120w compatible??? tell me what you know??:grin:

I'm not as familiar with the Raymarine products but I have a Standard Horizon GX1500s VHF I bought here from Jim. If your Raymarine has NMEA in and out you should be able to connect it to the same VHF and be all ready.

 

[Theresamarie11]

All upgraded within a couple of weeks of purchasing. I bought the same radio as you Todd and hooked it up to the lowrance GPS. The little satillite in the corner of the radio screen is always on now.
I love having the radio as well, to me there is nothing more important on the water. We come to the rescue of anyone in radio range (and have done so a 1/2 dozen times this year). Nothing really serious, but one boat was sinking and we played more an intermediary, in getting the coast guard coordinates. The person on the sinking boat had death grip on his cell phone (no gps or VHS) and would not move from his seat. Eventually both the CG and Fire boat (with big pumps) arrived. I assume they got the water out and him back to safety.

 

[mawyatt]

:grin: yah I'm gunna doit..the old vhs will be a back-up but I need to find a unit that is Raymarine c120w compatible??? tell me what you know??:grin:

If the C120 has GPS & NMEA outputs and you get a new VHF radio which has the DSC with NMEA inputs you just hook them togther. If the radio has a NMEA output and the C120 has a NMEA input then hook these together and you should be able to display the location of a DSC caller.

 

[bport]

I have my GPS output to my VHS so I can use the emergency functions on the radio to broadcast my location. Because I do not have a NMEA multiplexer, I connected my electronic compass to the NMEA inputs. As a result, I don't see other DSC callers on my chartplotter, but I don't really have a lot of friends :grin:.

It is IMPORTANT to get a (free) MMSI number and program it into your DSC radio (you can get one at http://www.boatus.com/mmsi/). This provides the Coast Guard with a description of your boat and emergency contact info - which they say can significantly speed recovery. Imagine the difference between a distress call with no info versus a distress call with a complete description of the boat, your cell phone number, relatives info, etc. If I am in trouble, I want them to know as much as possible.

 

[Sundancer]

I just need to find a fancy radio that will allow me to connect. I don't know many people here in Idaho that have a need for MMSI. When we go to the coast it would be a nice feature. I just need to accumulate all the MMSI numbers so that I can ping them if I need to. Somehow the radio is farther down the list behind items like a larger dinghy, outboard, radar, etc.....

 

[roadkingh1]

That's one of the first upgrades I did to my boat. Even though the original VHF was working fine, I wanted the DCS capability. Then I went through Boat US to get an MMSI #.

I have the C120 raymarine receiver and the Stand Horizon radio that can be hooked up. In getting the MMSI #, what would be the reason to have a license to operate a vhf radio? Would that be due to the size of the vessel and whether if it is commercial or not?

 

[AKBASSKING]

I will certainly be equipping my boat with this.

I like the idea of it always communicating with your GPS, so if you do use it, it relays all your GPS information in the first burst!

As additional safety I will be adding this to help enhance rescue efforts:




The next generation in marine safety electronics
The all new GlobalFix™ iPRO EPIRB is the next generation in marine safety electronics. The GlobalFix™ iPRO is a breakthrough product that features a digital display that allows you to see all of the beacon’s operational activities. The screen shows GPS LAT/LON, operating instructions, usage tips, transmission bursts as well as battery power. Self-testing your beacon is simple and easy to understand, with the iPRO digital display visually guiding you through the self test step by step. No more relying on listening to beeps and figuring out LEDs.
The GlobalFix™ iPRO is also the first EPIRB that offers Dual GPS Technology. Interface your iPRO to your onboard GPS to ensure that your LAT/LON is stored inside so your precise coordinates are transmitted in the first data burst. iPRO’s internal GPS is optimized for cold starts so that it will pinpoint your exact location faster than standard GPS enabled EPIRBs. The iPRO is smaller than the original GlobalFix and also includes a non hazardous battery.

• Approvals: FCC, COSPAS-SARSAT, USCG, (Pending) IMO, MED; Meets GMDSS, RTCM standards
• Type: Category 2 EPIRB, Manual Release
• Battery: Non-Hazmat lithium battery, Class 2
• Battery Life: 48 hrs. minimum @ -4° F (-20° C), Replace after 5 years or after emergency use
• Color: ACR-treuse™ (high visibility yellow)
• Frequency: 406 MHz with 121.5 MHz homing
• Material: High impact UV resistant polymer
• Strobe: White, 1 effective candela, Flash rate: 30 ± min
• Waterproof: Tested to 10 min @ 33 ft. (10 m)
• Warranty: Five years

 

[tdappleman]

I have the C120 raymarine receiver and the Stand Horizon radio that can be hooked up. In getting the MMSI #, what would be the reason to have a license to operate a vhf radio? Would that be due to the size of the vessel and whether if it is commercial or not?

The MMSI number is not a license. It's a registration number which is entered into the VHF and is used for the digital transmissions. When you sign up for the number you provide contact information, phone numbers, boat name, call sign, boat length and color, etc. All of this is transmitted in a quick burst to the CG along with your coordinates to aid in rescue efforts.

 

[mawyatt]

All as Travis just mentioned....and it's free. Just go to the boatus site mentioned by bport.

 

[skolbe]

When we raft with some friends and don't want everyone in the marina to know where we are DSC is great. While large raft ups are nice - DSC is discreet.