DSC & GPS...how come nobody seems to be using it

[dloop]

I was out last evening dropping some crab pots for our opening day here in marine Area 8-2 and I was listening to a coast guard distress call on channel 16. Like so many distress calls I hear, the coast guard had to ask, "can you provide the location of your vessel?"

It seems that nobody ever calls the coast guard with a GPS enabled DSC radio. Are there just not enough of them out there yet, or do folks have them but find 'em too complicated to use in the heat of the emergency?

Thoughts?

 

[BILLR]

I can think 2.
Possibly the radio is old without the GPS capability.
Non educated boater unfamiliar with the technology.
Bill

 

[Portugeezer]

I have hit a wall trying to figure out how to connect the two units. I have an '08 R21EC equipped with compatible units. The factory installation overlooked this feature, so if anyone can be of assistance, I would be very glad of the help as I am not techno-savvy.

 

[captain's cat]

Give us the make and model of the GPS/Chartplotter and the Radio and we'll do our best to walk you through it.

Charlie

 

[Portugeezer]

Thanks Charlie,

The VHF is a Raymarine 54 (accepts NMEA 0183) and the GPS is a Garmin GPSMAP 540s. I expect the appropriate connections have been routed to the breaker area below the helm, but have not been able to discover them.

John

 

[K7MXE]

The Ray 54 should have a nmea 0183 output with a + and a - and I forget the color code but its in the book and your chartplotter should have the same input and output. The gps should then send a signal to the Ray 54 and show your long and lat on the top of the Ray54 screen. Its been a while so I hope I can remember all this correctly. I had a few extra curves as I added other stuff into a multiplexer box.
Why do not boaters not use it? Well it never even entered my mind when I had a problem with my boat a few weeks ago.
That little cell phone did the trick for me.
Bob Heselberg in Eatonville Wa

 

[captain's cat]

Bob is correct! thanks

Charlie
K4KBA

 

[yuukis]

My understanding of DSC is that it is equal to a May Day call and should only be used if you need immediate assistance and if you are in immediate danger. Most the "distress" calls that I hear are usually not in any immediate danger . Boat US website has a tutorial on the use of DSC, which I have not looked at yet, but will. We are getting a new Ranger in July and I will definitely get an MMSI number and register.
Charlie

 

[captain's cat]

My understanding of DSC is that it is equal to a May Day call and should only be used if you need immediate assistance and if you are in immediate danger. Charlie

You can also use DSC to "hail" another boat if you know his MMSI number. That will show you if it's working. If you lift the little red cover (if your radio has that feature), it will transmit a distress call. Read your manual and it will show you how to use DSC in hailing another boat.

Another Charlie 😛

 

[yuukis]

There is more to DSC than just emergency calling. Very good tutorial on BoatUS.com/mmsi. Takes about 20 minutes, but is very educational.
charlie C.