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12 DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING
12.1 GENERAL
This radio is designed to generate a digital maritime distress and safety
call to facilitate search and rescue. To be effective as a safety device,
this equipment must be used only within communication range of a shore-
based VHF marine channel 70 distress and safety watch system. The
range of signal may vary but under normal conditions should be approxi-
mately 20 nautical miles.
Digital Selective Calling is a semi-automated method of establishing a radio
call. It has been designated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
as an international standard for establishing VHF, MF, and HF radio calls. It has
also been designated as part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Sys-
tem (GMDSS). It is planned that DSC will eventually replace aural watches on
distress frequencies and will be used to announce routine and urgent maritime
safety information broadcasts.
This system allows mariners to instantly send a distress call with GPS position
(when connected to the transceiver) to the Coast Guard and other vessels within
range of the transmission. DSC will also allow mariners to initiate or receive Dis-
tress, Urgency, Safety, Routine, POSITION REQUEST, POSITION SEND, and
Group calls to or from another vessel equipped with a DSC transceiver.
12.2 MARITIME MOBILE SERVICE IDENTITY ( MMSI )
12.2.1 What is an MMSI?
An MMSI is a nine digit number used on Marine radios capable of using Digital
Selective Calling (DSC). This number is used like a telephone number to selec-
tively call other vessels.
THIS NUMBER MUST BE PROGRAMMED INTO THE RADIO TO OPERATE
DSC FUNCTIONS.
How can I obtain an MMSI assignment?
In the USA, visit the following websites to register:
http://www.boatus.com/mmsi/ or
http://seatow.com/boating_safety/mmsi.asp
In the Canada, visit
http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/smt-gst.nsf/en/sf01032e.html or
http://www.usps.org/php/mmsi/rules.php
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GX1150
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