Making Dsc Calls - West Marine VHF490 Owner's Manual

8. When the first character is correct, press ENT-1W/25W button. The cursor moves to the next character. Enter the remaining
11 characters of the name. If the name is shorter than 12 characters, press and hold ENT-1W/25W to complete the name entry.
(If you press and hold ENT-1W/25W without entering a name, the radio uses the MMSI number in the directory list.) If you
make a mistake while entering a number, press CLR-SCAN to erase the wrong number and the cursor is moved to left digit.
9. When you finish entering the name, the radio displays the new MMSI number and name and asks you to confirm. To save this
directory entry, select Yes; to cancel this directory entry, select No. The radio returns to the directory list.
10. To change an existing directory entry, select the entry you want to change.
11. To delete the directory entry, select Delete. To edit the code, select Edit, then use CHANNEL UP and CHANNEL DOWN to
edit the MMSI number and the name.
12. When you are satisfied with the directory list, select Exit to close the menu screen.

Making DSC Calls

There are essentially four different types of DSC voice calls:
Call type
Alerts all stations that you need assistance and sends them your
Distress
current position.
Individual Calls a single station using the User MMSL.
Group Calls all the stations that have the same Group MMSL as yours.
All Ships Calls all stations within range of your radio.
Suppose you are coordinating safety for a sailboat race. Before the race starts, you instruct all the racers to enter your group MMSI
number into their radios. During the race:
• Throughout the race, you use group calling to update the racers on the time, race status, and any course corrections.
• A power boat full of spectators comes a little too close to the race path. You use individual calling to contact the power boat and
advise them to stay clear of the race.
• You see a rowboat entering the area, but since it doesn't have a radio, you can't communicate with the rowboat. You use all ships
calling to alert all the other boats in the area of the possible danger.
What it does
VHF490 RADIO
15
In an emergency only.
Any time you want to talk to another station.
Any time you want with the whole group you are
traveling with at the same time.
Safety warnings (e.g., debris in the water) or any
urgent situation.
1-800-BOATING
When to use it