C-BRATS Official Group MMSI call number

[hardee]

C-BRATS Group Call MMSI Number

As the wrap up to the warm up to the Friday Harbor CBGT, there was some discussion about a group call MMSI number for the C-BRATS. See this thread, “Communicating on the Water – MMSI”

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=24129

I did some searching on the site, some PM’s with various parties that were or had interest in the topic, and found the most relevant thread to be:

"Sharing MMSI Numbers" here:
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... ber+cbrats

After some discussion with Bill, one half of the administrators for the C-BRATS, and getting a “go ahead” from him with the number that had been suggested in the mentioned MMSI thread, the “official C-BRATS Group Call MMSI Number” choosen is the one Sneaks shared as his own MMSI # modified to a group number per the FCC protocol, resulting in this number:

036697831 = C-BRATS Group MMSI # on DSC

If you put this number into your VHF radio under a group call list (the nomenclature may vary depending on your radio brand) you will be able to:
1. use it to call other C-BRATS in your area,
2. use it to call another C-BRAT boat you are traveling with, or meeting
3. use it to do a position request for C-BRATS in your area
4. You may also change or delete this number as you wish at any time

There may be other uses available that I am not aware of, and also there could be more uses on the way, who knows.?

C-BRATS moving into the digital age.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[Pat Anderson]

I only vaguely recall what MMSI is about. I guess I will need to review that. But what is wrong with simply making a call on channel 68 for "any C-Dory"? Why is MMSI even necessary for communication among C-Brats cruising in the same area?

 

[BTDT]

I only vaguely recall what MMSI is about. I guess I will need to review that. But what is wrong with simply making a call on channel 68 for "any C-Dory"? Why is MMSI even necessary for communication among C-Brats cruising in the same area?

From uncle otto "You obtain a handful of numbers from your fellow boaters. Then you enter them into your VHF, much like a speed dial phone book. So now let's say you're out cruising the San Juan's and wonder to yourself... "how many other Brats are up here on this fine day?" You reach over and with the touch a few buttons, you send out a digital phone call to everyone in the C-Brats group that you created. You've just silently (digitally) hailed all C-Brats within range, and an alert sounds on their radio indicating they have received a call. Those that receive the call can either accept or decline the call. If you accept, your radio automatically switches to the predefined working channel that the caller has chosen when the call was made. Now you're all connected on the same channel and the chatting commences.

It goes one step further if you want to send a position request to another vessel. This is done in much the same way but only works for individuals - not groups. Once a position request is accepted, the position of the other vessel appears on your chartplotter - if so equipped. This same technology is used for DSC distress calls. The vessel's name automatically shows up on your screen so you can see exactly where the vessel in distress is located. (I believe other detailed information about the vessel is displayed in a pop-up window if your chartplotter supports it.) "

Bottom line- Speed dialing versus tying up channel 16 or 68, plus plotter position display if so equipped.

 

[hardee]

Pat, I have a tendency to agree with you, “just go to 68 and make the call”. That is easy and quick. And it may work well but that depends on the circumstances. We could be a couple of miles apart, when you make that call. Even though I have 3 VHF radios that are always on, I may not get your call. One radio is on 16, one on the local Vessel Traffic channel, ( in our area that would be 5, 14 or 11, depending on position), and the other one could be on another VTS channel, or some other channel (whale watch or 13 for ship to ship traffic.) In that case, I might miss your call with the invitation to come over for an evening concert. (My personal feeling is that there is too much junk on 68 and I am rarely there.)

But, if…

You made your call via the DSC mode, and using either my MMSI or the C-BRATS Group MMSI, my DSC radio would have received you signal even though I was on a different channel, sounded the incoming call notification (read screech), and given me the option to answer your call, I push any button, and it automatically switches my VHF to the channel that you selected to talk on. I pick up the radio and you invite me over for the concert.

And Thank you.

With the C-BRATS Group call MMSI number in your VHF, and having it in mine allows you to call me and any other C-BRATS at the same time. If you have my singular MMSI number in your radio, you can call me specifically, the same way, but only my radio would respond, not every C-BRAT in the area.

The links in the first post in this thread will take you to the significant MMSI threads on the C-BRATS site, if you want to go into the process of where the C-BRATS Group number came from (pedigree), more on how to make a group number, or info on some efforts to gain acceptance for MMSI and the DSC process.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[hardee]

If you have an MMSI number, whether issued by the FCC or by BoatUS, you have the option to post your MMSI number into your profile here on the C-BRATS site. That makes it available for anyone registered to use this site to have access to your MMSI number. I don't think that is a bad thing, and I wish there was a way to have a catalog of C-BRAT MMSI #'s and boat descriptions to carry on my boat. That would be a good supplement to my less than perfect total recall :roll: :cry

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[hardee]

I only vaguely recall what MMSI is about. I guess I will need to review that. But what is wrong with simply making a call on channel 68 for "any C-Dory"? Why is MMSI even necessary for communication among C-Brats cruising in the same area?

Besides the Group call stuff, the next and most important reason to have your own personal MMSI # entered into your VHF radio is for the use in an emergency call. This can be as simple as lifting the red door and holding the emergency button for 3-5 seconds, and that sending your position and boat info to the Coast Guard to being able to send digitally the type of emergency too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[hardee]

Question:

Would there be a reason not to have the official group MMSI number posted someplace, like on the home page or page header or a link to this thread for easy access to anyone interested without having to do a search? Or maybe in the "links" box?

Just a thought. Trying to make it easily accessible and evident.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[hardee]

Or maybe it could be on the official C-Dory or is it C-BRATS Face Book page too. And the U-tube Channel.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[hardee]

back to the top, for some more exposure.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[hardee]

I just mentioned this thread on the 2017 Friday Harbor CBGT thread. Thought I wpould bring this one back up too, for those not going to or interested in FH CBGT but maybe in other areas that are doing "group ups". I just think this is important info for anyone past basic dock to dock boating practice.

Harvey (post number 8000)
SleepyC :moon

 

[Peter & Judy]

I think that a C-Brat MMSI number would be great. I was wondering if this number would be possible to use in both US and Canadian waters and by boaters from both sides of the border. Or would it have to be separate numbers issued by both governments? If you know, I would be interested.

 

[colbysmith]

Peter and Judy, this is not your personal MMSI number, but rather just a uniform callsign if you will, that you can put in the group function of your DSC radio. It allows anyone using it to be hailed digitally by anyone hailing that MMSI number. So I see no reason why it wouldn't work regardless which side of the border you are on. Colby

 

[hardee]

I agree, Colby is right. If your VHF is DSC functional, putting in and calling that number will call any other VHF with that number in their call list. Kind of like the old "Party Line" on the wire phones. :lol:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[hardee]

Wondering if anyone here would like to spear head a group practice, or DSC use type class at FH CBGT?

Just a thought.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon