Nothing comes close to a Cobra
®
Maritime Mobile
Service Identity (MMSI)
9
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
•
An MMSI is a nine (9) digit number used on a marine radio capable of using digital
selective calling (DSC). It is used to selectively call other vessels or shore stations
and is similar to a telephone number.
For your CobraMarine
™
radio to operate in the DSC mode, you must enter your
maritime mobile service identity (MMSI) number. See page 51 for instructions
on how to enter it.
The MMSI Number Is Available In The U.S.A. From Any Of Three (3) Sources:
■
BoatU.S.: 1-800-563-1536 – www.boatus.com/mmsi
■
Maritel: 1-888-Maritel (1-888-627-4835)
■
Sea Tow International: 1-631-765-3660 – www.seatow.com
In Canada, Contact:
■
Industry Canada Spectrum Management Office (only available on the Internet):
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/vwGeneratedInterE/sf01742e.html
To Obtain An MMSI Number Outside The U.S.A.:
Users can obtain an MMSI from their country’s telecommunications authority
or ship registry. This may involve amending or obtaining a ship station license.
WARNING
This equipment is designed to generate a digital maritime distress and
safety signal 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 to distress and safety watch system.
The range of the signal may vary, but under normal conditions should be
approximately 20 nautical miles.
8
English
Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
The vessel Corsair calling the vessel Vagabond:
Corsair: “Vagabond, this is Corsair.”
Vagabond: “Corsair, this is Vagabond. Reply 72 (or any proper working channel).”
Corsair: “72” or “Roger”
■
After communications are completed, each vessel must sign off with its
call sign or vessel name and switch to Channel 16.
NOTE
For best sound quality at the station you’re calling, hold the microphone/speaker
at least two (2) inches [five (5) cm] from your mouth and slightly off to one (1)
side. Speak in a normal tone of voice.
Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
•
Digital selective calling is a semi-automated system for establishing a radio
call. It has been designed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
as an international standard for VHF, MF, and HF calls and is part of the
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
DSC will eventually replace aural (listening) watches on distress frequencies
and will be used to announce routine and urgent maritime safety information
broadcasts. Until DSC is fully implemented, it is still necessary to maintain a
listening watch on Channel 16.
The DSC system allows mariners to instantly send a distress call with GPS
position coordinates (requires a GPS receiver to be connected to the radio)
to the Coast Guard and other vessels within range of the transmission.
DSC also allows mariners to initiate and receive distress, urgent, safety,
routine, position request, position send, and group calls between vessels
equipped with DSC capable radios.
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
For Example
