DSC radio but no GPS unit (as yet)

[maxhar]

I have a DSC VHF radio but it is not connected to a GPS unit for position information.

The coordinates on the radio show at 99"99.999 for both lat and long because I have no GPS connection.

Is there still an advantage to having a DSC radio without having the position correct. If I hit the distress button, would it still alert nearby boats and the CG of my situation? Obviously, i'd have to to follow up with a real position by voice.

Thanks

[ashbypower]

Useless unless it sends the data, you may just as well have a non DSC set. Because all it will send is a DSC Distress alert, the Nature (if you have selected one) and your MMSI.

[maxhar]

Ok, there's no advantage in a distress situation but i'll still be able to call other boats by MMSI number.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by maxhar

Ok, there's no advantage in a distress situation but i'll still be able to call other boats by MMSI number.

some sets allow you to enter your position manually if you don't have a GPS connected.

[9D280]

By the time you've done that...... Also if you know your position in DD.MM.SS to type it in, you must presumbaly have something to tell you what your position is!

For what it's worth you don't need an expensive plotter to feed the Lat / long into the radio- somethig like a Garmin Etrex or a GPS12 will do the job. (Just make sure if you are buying an Etrex from your favourite auction site that it's not one of the "1st gen" ones which don't have an interface - the newer ones have a data connection). GPS 12s, although a bit "brick-esque" seem to be going for about £40 and will run for nearly 24 hrs even with the data out switched on.

[maxhar]

Do they have a NMEA interface?

Could you link to one please.

Thanks.

[9D280]

Yes, they both do (as I think all Garmins with a data connection do) but you'll need to go into the setup menu to turn it on.

IF you type "Garmin GPS12" or Etrex" into Ebay you'll find them The 12 had a few variants like the XL (external antenna) CX (Colour screen) & MAP (no prizes for guessing that one!) but they are allusually more expensive. If you replace the 12 with 72 or 76 you will see the current versions of it, with suitably increaced prices!

Type that lot into Google and the top hit from Garmin is the page with all the datasheets, manuals etc.

For what it's worth if you get one without a data cable, the 12 has almost the same connector as the 72/76, so if your ebay purchase is without lead and youfind yourself where I did 3 years ago (no way to connect the GPS & VHF) you can use a 72/76 lead with a minor modification to the plug.

[Courageous]

YBW forums have discussed this issue and someone was advocating using a gps mouse for this? I haven't followed this up (even though I was looking for a gps feed for my beneteau as I wasn't keen to use my removable plotter). I would have thought that anything USB would need a 5v feed and wasn't sure that this setup would be viable. Anyone used that method here at all?

In the end I succumbed to linking it through to my Garmin plotter and will just have to let that go with the boat as and when I choose to sell........

[Erin]

Don't forget you can buy a standalone GPS antenna, e.g. a Garmin GPS17 HVS which will connect to 12v and give out NMEA 0183 which you could connect direct to your DSC radio.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Useless unless it sends the data, you may just as well have a non DSC set. Because all it will send is a DSC Distress alert, the Nature (if you have selected one) and your MMSI.

Not withstanding the comments of the others about a Garmin 12 (or similar - last time I looked there were Serial/RS232 GPS "Mice" available for about £20+postage) - I would suggest that DSC Distress via the red button still has some value even without the position information.

(1) It will wake up any vessel within radio range by triggering the alarm.
(2) The DSC message is very simple for anyone to send in a panic situation - lift flap hold down button for 5 seconds. A voice call from a panicked wife might not get even the basic info this will have across - and your "crew" may not be in a position to give a good location immediately anyway.
(3) The distress alert keeps repeating until acknowledged allowing you to tend to casualties, bail, pee on your burning outboard etc.

Some people have suggested a DSC message may be more likely to get through over long distance too (although I know Codprawn always argued analogue was more likely with a weak signal).