2 Marine Radio DSC Question

A

Alyssa Jean

New member
I presently have an Icom 402 as my VHF marine radio. It is DSC/MMSI enabled and registered. I am going to install a second VHF Standard Horizon GX3000 Matrix with loud hailer and fog signals sans outside speaker horn. Having the two will be helpful in CGAux capacities.
Here is the question. What to do with the DSC on the new radio? The only reason I can come up with for registering the new radio is for redundancy if the first one were to fail. Both would be registered to the same vessel. Second question is what will result in the way of interference on the second VHF if I need to activate one of the radios DSC?
Anyone have a thought or answer to this??
 
David,

I did a similar thing and it can lead to some interesting reactions:-

You can input the same MMSI into both units. After all they are on the same boat. but if you do that you really need to program one of the units to NOT respond to MMSI incoming calls, requests for position etc other wise you will get both of them "Sounding off" at the same time which is totally confusing. Have you ever received a mayday on MMSI ? Gets your attention and you think one of YOUR boat alarms has gone off.

You can connect the second unit to the GPS if it only "listens" that should be no problem should you decide to do it. IF it not only listens but reports positions received etc back to the GPS then you may be in the land of multiplexers if you have Raymarine.

A good investment for all the reasons that have been discussed but beware the "side effects"

Merv
 
David,
Since my boat is currently sitting a few (hundred) yards away from you in Cap Sante we coud probably figure out a working demo in the next couple of weeks if you want.

Merv
 
David,
Sounds good to me. I'll talk with them and find our what the schedule is for repairing my "Road Rash". I'm sure you could tie up at their Dock.

Would be good for me too to make sure that mine are correctly set up.
Thanks,

Merv
 
One of my friends here on the island is Cap Santes top mechanic. His name is Ian Campbell is his name. I have docked there a few times to pick up a part or two from him. Shouldn't be a problem.
 
48Deg, 29' 54.96" N
122Deg, 36' 08.07"W

at 12 noon today. David and Barry will be there so I get my 09 sticker check at the same time.

We can probably handle 4 of us.

Merv
 
Well, I'm not going to make it that far today. Sorry, folks. Just write up your findings here and take a picture or two for me, eh? :-)
 
Sorry Tim,

No "Free Press" releases today. For a variety of weather related and Guiness drought related reasons there was no MMSI trial. But we all plead guilty anyway and will ask our executives to pay back their dividends.

Apart from that, many thanks to David who was nearly marooned on an neighboring Island, for a great C-Brat-Chat and to Barry who suffered through the Anacortes Guiness Famine with me.

The good news is that the (other) assembled cast of boating dignitaries arranged by Boat US have agreed that the RF 246 is built to the same specs as the proverbial brick outhouse and that the damages are minor and cosmetic and will therefore only cost about as much as 2 full electronics retrofits.

Let's have an MMSI "Fest" at FH

Merv
 
Posting to bring this back to active. It's a good subject since there are some more boats with dual VHF capabilities, and AIS too.

I am wondering too, about the dual DSC workings. Good idea for the redundancy but agree that two incoming DSC requests, (position or emergency especially) could become somewhat overwhelming. Options like shutting off one radio are less than optimal. I need to find out if those incoming signals can be ignored via some setting I have not found.

My preference is to have both active, to allow for the auto distress and positioning signal to work with the one button (3 second hold) push.

An MMSI class at Friday Harbor sounds like a great idea to me. Did it ever happen?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

January_2010_344.thumb.jpg
 
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