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Briank
IDO Multi Media Sales Director
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 24046
Fish Bucks: $480.30
Loc: Lakeland, MN
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A year or so ago I bought a marine radio. It has the DSC feature (Digital Selective Calling). Over the winter I connected my gps to it and now when I press the emergency button, my location, speed and registered DSC number is transmitted along with an emergency tone.
The idea is that this would cut through any clutter on the radio and without having to say "mayday", authorities would know there's a boat in distress.
This is a new standard in marine radios...and according to the US Coast Guard web site, the CG would be converted over to monitor for DSC signals by 2006.
While locking through the other day, I was talking with the lock operator and DSC came up. They don't have the ability to monitor DSC...this got me to thinking...am I relying on a system that no one will hear??
I shot off a letter to the USCG and in a very timely response, this is what they had to say about DSC in the Upper Mississippi Sector...
Quote:
Greetings:
Thank you for contacting the USCG Navigation Center. The U.S. Coast Guard offers MF/HF radiotelephone service to mariners as part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS): http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/default.htm Digital Selective Calling allows mariners to instantly send and receive automatically formatted distress alerts to the Coast Guard, other rescue authorities anywhere in the world and other vessels that have DSC capability.
More specifically to your question, and DSC coverage in the 8th USCG District. Sector Upper Mississippi River would not monitor DSC because they are not on the U.S. coast line. Normally sectors on the US Coastline will monitor HF DSC, however VHF DSC is monitored only on cutters. Sectors on the Gulf Coast have HF DSC and will fax a print out of the DSC Alert to the District Command Center. They will then call the INMARSAT number on the printout directly or make contact with the distressed vessel on VHF Chanel 16, 156.8 MHZ. Either way, we (USCG) monitor DSC.
Additional information regarding DSC may be viewed in the folowing link: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/dsc.htm
We hope this addresses your inquiry. In our continuing efforts to provide service to the public, please inform us if this answer was helpful.
Sincerely,
USCG Navigation Center
Navigation Information Service
7323 Telegraph Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22315
Tel: 703-313-5900
Website: www.navcen.uscg.gov
Since that email really didn't clarify the answer to my question...I was going to reply asking for a more direct answer. Before I could...here's the next email.
Quote:
Greetings:
Thank you for contacting the USCG Navigation Information Service. From your location, only other boats equipped with DSC-capable radios would be able to hear this distress alert.
We hope this addresses your inquiry. In our continuing efforts to provide service to the public, please inform us if this answer was helpful.
Sincerely,
USCG Navigation Center
Navigation Information Service
7323 Telegraph Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22315
Tel: 703-313-5900
Website: www.navcen.uscg.gov
So...what this boils down to is that no government agency is monitoring the marine bands using DSC...unless the sheriff or water patrol happens to have one.
Great idea...and it might work...someday.
--------------------
Brian Klawitter
In-Depth Outdoors Sales Director
Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Adventures
IDO TV-Fox Sports Network Sunday's at 8 and 11am or click Here<<<
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eyetroller
Member
Reged: 06/12/06
Posts: 475
Fish Bucks: $9.70
Loc: Holmen, WI
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This is very interesting. I have been thinking of hooking mine up, but haven't because I would rather spend my time fishing. When I bought it I liked the idea of having it for when I fish the Great Lakes. Does the CG monitor DCS on the Great Lakes because they are intercoastal?
Either way, it would be nice to know if I can rely on it in an emergency. 
FDR
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Rootski
Member
Reged: 10/12/03
Posts: 1299
Fish Bucks: $25.98
Loc: South St. Paul, MN
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Brian,
Besides other anglers, who is monitoring the Marine Band frequencies? It seems to me that the USCG suggests you carry a cell phone and call the Sheriff if you need help. That's one of the reasons a VHF rig in the boat hasn't been a big priority to me.
Rootski
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"Illegitimati Non Carborundum"
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Briank
IDO Multi Media Sales Director
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 24046
Fish Bucks: $480.30
Loc: Lakeland, MN
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Shoot the CG an email at the email ad in my first post. They are best at answering the question about the GL's.
Rootski, the CG has responded to a previous email about cell phones along with the Corps of Engineers when I asked for phone numbers for my cell phone. They both replied with "use a marine band radio" and didn't supply phone numbers.
Around here, the locks monitor 14...I guess that's the best bet at 2 in the morning....for reliability.
--------------------
Brian Klawitter
In-Depth Outdoors Sales Director
Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Adventures
IDO TV-Fox Sports Network Sunday's at 8 and 11am or click Here<<<
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Briank
IDO Multi Media Sales Director
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 24046
Fish Bucks: $480.30
Loc: Lakeland, MN
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Here you go...
Eighth-cg-dlnm-wre@cgls.uscg.mil
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Brian Klawitter
In-Depth Outdoors Sales Director
Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Adventures
IDO TV-Fox Sports Network Sunday's at 8 and 11am or click Here<<<
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