jmauld
Well-Known Member
- Jun 9, 2020
- 2,845
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sundancer 390
2016 Sea Hunt Ultra 211
- Engines
- Twin 8.1l of gas guzzling iron
Sounds like they want to force retirement of older boats.
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I can't even figure out WHY that would make sense to anybody? I'm going to register in Idaho next year! This is stupid! LOL!!!Sounds like they want to force retirement of older boats.
I need the HH to figure it out! That would be a neat feature and being able to follow another boat when they respond to the PR's would be nice. My main radio is a Standard Horizon Explorer 1600 with DSC. I think I just need a fancy HH to tie to the same MMSI #.
So, your 1600 programmed with an MMSI and connected to the plotter?
The best strategy to learn the functions IMO isn’t to buy a DSC HH but instead to help friend/neighbor boaters to get configured. This way you don’t have to spend any money, AND you’re increasing the safety of your boating territory. 7 boats on my pier have stepped-up, and I hope to more than double that next year.
I’m also planning to coordinate some DSC training on the pier next summer, so people can practice digital calling and position requests. I also want to create a DSC group for our pier.
So, your 1600 programmed with an MMSI and connected to the plotter?
The best strategy to learn the functions IMO isn’t to buy a DSC HH but instead to help friend/neighbor boaters to get configured. This way you don’t have to spend any money, AND you’re increasing the safety of your boating territory. 7 boats on my pier have stepped-up, and I hope to more than double that next year.
I’m also planning to coordinate some DSC training on the pier next summer, so people can practice digital calling and position requests. I also want to create a DSC group for our pier.
... While I have always set my VHF's up with it, I have never tried to use it finding it intimidating!
So reading through this thread a bit, it seems there may be a bit of confusion with DSC calling and how it works. It is true that all fixed VHF's on the same vessel should have the same MMSI entered in them. Hand held's can also have the same but then you can not use DSC calling to reach them. You can only call another MMSI number much like cell phones. DCS calling works like a cell phone in that it uses TDMA protocol's to reach the other radio on channel 70 digitally on the VHF carrier. The "call" as it were actually rings the other radio and it must be answered or accepted just like a cell phone. Once accepted (answered) the radios switch to the selected channel. This only works when each radio has it's own MMSI number. Pretty cool technology,but it does have it's limitations, it uses the VHF as a carrier and that as we know is basically line of sight for the most part. A big plus is that it works where cell phones don't.
Roller,
If you do organize "DSC for dummies", please include me in such a learning session. While I have always set my VHF's up with it, I have never tried to use it finding it intimidating!
It's confusing for sure. Many VHF's can in-fact directly call another unit with a shared MMSI. Some units can't: they'll return an error such as "Station Busy", but since so many can I'd say that limitation is due to MFR/model programming rather than the TDMA protocol.
My Garmin is a VHF 200. It’s a fairly old model as far as Garmin goes, so I bet that most/all Garmins can directly call a shared MMSI.
The portable Standard Horizon HX890 can as well. Mine is even running older software. I think all SH’s can share. I’ve had good luck with SH tech support. That might be something I can ask them.
I don’t know the model number of the Furuno unit, but it looks like a Garmin 210/215…
Also remember the Group option. I just used my own MMSI as the base. Add a leading zero and drop the last digit, add that to both units and you’re done. I think the software update for the 890 is supposed to fix DSC calling issues, but I haven’t experienced any issues with mine.
The happy feeling of first responders having access to our MMSI data isn’t as realistic as I had hoped. I think the plan was reliance on the Rescue21 system? The implementation of that wasn’t wide-spread/comprehensive the last time I discussed it w/ a coastie.
It could absolutely be that newer programming is the impediment, not the fix! I just assumed the other way around.
Are you sure you tried from the 890? I planned to update mine this winter because I have a lot of new directory entires for it anyway. I can make a same-ID DSC test call after the update to see if it loses the ability.
I just bought a boat that has a Simrad VHF and integrated into a Simrad Chartplotter. If the previous owner programmed in his MMSI number and I don't have access to the previous owner, am I going to have a hard time reprogramming? Or is it going to have to be sent to the manufacturer?
Also, why do they make it so difficult to change an MMSI number? Software-wise it should be a snap so I can only think there's some kind of security concern with people changing them?
Well that sucks. Just don't get the reasoning for this.Simrad has to go back to the manufacturer to be wiped.
Stop! The MMSI number stays with the boat. If you have lost contact with the previous owner, there are ways to get them deregistered. The MMSI is sort of like a VIN for the radio/boat. I would check with BoatUS first and put them on the case. I would start here: https://www.boatus.com/MMSI/MMSIAccount/MMSITransferRequest
Jaybeaux