Dunaruna: DSC part 2

[Peter J Fraser]

Hi Aldo,<br />We have just had our Nat. Boats Show in town this past weekend. An event that is compulsary to attend of course.<br />I had a good look around the exhibitors and quizzed a few on DSC & VHF.<br />The best answer I got was from the GME Electrophone guy who had come in from Australia for the show.<br />He said: <br />"there is no land based monitoring equipment installed in NZ or AUST at this time to pick up a DSC call. Other Mobile Marine units may receive such a call and display the data if they are DSC equiped."<br />Time frame for install of LB equip? not certain.<br />So in the meantime I guess we play the waiting game.<br />Goes a little against what you were told though a couple of months back.<br /><br />I guess it a case of wait and see at this stage for me.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Peter

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Dunaruna: DSC part 2

Originally posted by peterf:<br />[QB] Hi Aldo,<br />We have just had our Nat. Boats Show in town this past weekend. An event that is compulsary to attend of course.]<br /><br />Oh yeah! Gotta go to the boat show.<br /><br />[He said: <br />"there is no land based monitoring equipment installed in NZ or AUST at this time to pick up a DSC call. Other Mobile Marine units may receive such a call and display the data if they are DSC equiped."<br />Time frame for install of LB equip? not certain.<br />So in the meantime I guess we play the waiting game.<br />Goes a little against what you were told though a couple of months back.]<br /><br />I don't understand why he would say that, I spoke to the a guy in the radio monitoring room at the Aust. Coastguard headquarters in Canberra - I couldn't go any higher in rank to get information. <br /><br />I'm going to contact them again and get name/rank/serial number so that I can assure myself it wasn't just a scotch induced hallucination. More to follow.......<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Dunaruna: DSC part 2

Peter, just got off the phone to Marcus Grimblate, Regional Search & Rescue Co-ordinator for Victoria.<br />A few years ago the federal government privatised the monitoring of CB, HF & VHF distress calls. The company responsible for VHF (telstra) threw the towel in about a year ago, their monitoring system was NOT automated (no DSC).<br /><br />This is the situation at present:<br /><br />The Australian Coast Guard monitor HF 24/7 including automated distress generated by DSC, Australia wide including out to sea (NZ?). This is mainly for commercial traffic but anybody can purchase a HF radio.<br /><br />CB radios and VHF are monitored by individual states and the responsibility usually falls on volunteers, the volunteer coast guard service is extensive. Boat clubs & marinas offer their own monitoring.<br /><br />Marcus thinks that VHF automated monitoring is still 3 to 5 years away.<br /><br />When I spoke to the Coast Guard last time they were referring to HF, either my mistake or a miscommunication - dunno.<br /><br />Because of the possible 5 year time frame I am concidering not buying a DSC radio, what do you think?<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: Dunaruna: DSC part 2

Right on.<br />HF DSC is alive and working but is best for those doing long sea passages as comms with a HF radio has been the only option up until the advent of SAT PHONE.<br />I think that what we have here is that most of the equip is made for the USA & European markets and we are now seeing the benefits of that technology. Trouble is as we see it is the new toys have all the bells but the whistle is only whispering.<br />All good things come to those who wait!!!<br />The equip on display here this past weekend started from about NZ$399.00 (A$360.)upwards.<br />Prices were OK but I think I'll continue to use my Uniden MC1020 for a little longer. No point in replacing a good radio with one that you cant utilise all the benefits of yet.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Peter

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Dunaruna: DSC part 2

Sounds like a plan, wait and see.<br /><br />Wifey has released the funds for immediate use, its burning a hole in my pocket. Oh well, I'll look for another toy for the boat <br /><br />Aldo

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: Dunaruna: DSC part 2

Good luck with the plan (whatever it is).<br />A boy has to have toys.<br /><br />The measure of a man's success is the size of his toys.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Peter

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Dunaruna: DSC part 2

Originally posted by peterf:<br /> All good things come to those who wait!!!<br />Regards<br /><br />Peter

Thats the plan, wait and see.<br /><br />Aldo