MMSI reset

[CJR]

A question and a thought ...

Question ... how do I reset the MMSI number in a Cobra F55 DSC Radio? Cobra say "the reset procedure is not available. In the past we have had requests such as yours, and we have made the decision not to distribute the reset procedure". So what do I do to reset the number that does not involve a skip?

The thought ... why all the secrecy about the reset procedure? Job protection? Jobs for the dealers?

[Solent Ranger]

Send it back to the distributor for re-programming. Or find a local dealer who has the code.

Why do you need to reset it? Unless of course you have taken it out from one boat to put in another.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Solent Ranger

Send it back to the distributor for re-programming. Or find a local dealer who has the code.

Why do you need to reset it? Unless of course you have taken it out from one boat to put in another.

I can't believe it is this hard to reprogram an mmsi. Plenty of people change boats, sell radios etc and need to reprogram the mmsi. Why the secrecy. I know a couple of peeps on here have radios with the previous persons mmsi still in it. What does that mean for the future. Give it a couple of years and we are going to have thousands of mixed up mmsi's going round. Not very good for a system that was supposed to improve safety. Just think how much time will be wasted trying to work out who is sending that Mayday via MMSI. When I sell my boat I won't be taking the radio out and I won't be paying to reset the MMSI. If the new owner doesn't get it done because he can't be bothered, can't afford it, or just doesn't realise how long before a question of identification raises its ugly head.

Come on manufacturers give us a break, this stinks of a follow up from car radio codes and we all know how much they charge to get things done. There again in the case of car radios, your life doesn't depend on it and it doesn't matter if the car changes hands several times.

[Mark Halliday]

CJR
Its a job for a dealer or service agent.

The MMSI belongs to the vessel not the owner of the radio.

At the Coastguards, recieving a MMSI will display size, displacement and max numbers of passengers/crew.
Also, if the information is kept up to date it will also display owner details and emergency contact details (next of kin or similar).
You should only need to change the MMSI if you transfer the radio to another craft. In which case it will have been removed and a trip to a dealer will not be a problem.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

CJR
Its a job for a dealer or service agent.

The MMSI belongs to the vessel not the owner of the radio.

At the Coastguards, recieving a MMSI will display size, displacement and max numbers of passengers/crew.
Also, if the information is kept up to date it will also display owner details and emergency contact details (next of kin or similar).
You should only need to change the MMSI if you transfer the radio to another craft. In which case it will have been removed and a trip to a dealer will not be a problem.

So if I sell my boat how does the CG know that someone else has it. I must admit I am under the impression the MMSI relates to the person who has registered the radio and the boat. You pay your £20 and its like a Car tax disc. It belongs to you and the boat and your pre registered details. Anybody please feel free to say otherwise.

Therein lies my problem the system is good but not fault free. By locking the MMSI in they are creating a balckmarket. Life is expensive enough without having to pay someone £30 (I'm guessing here) to reprogram a £200 radio after you've bought a 10 K boat. Thats the reality. Everybody thinks they won't need to use the mayday facility and if they do they can use ch 16. Now that is not what GMDSS is all about. But the maufacturers locking the MMSI code in is negating a lot of the functionality of the GMDSS safety system.

Thats how I see it and I should imagine that within 2 years this problem will reared its ugly head in an emergency situation.

By the way can anybody in the know tell me how many times the GMDSS MMSI feature has been used since its inception. Very little I should imagine.

Ever since I did my course, and given the fact that I have been involved in radios for 30 years, I have been sceptical about the real world use of these new digital radios.

By the way I have a Navman 7100 with GMDSS and the only time I have got it to work was on land for a test. When used in the Solent with the RIBNET MMSI I didn't get a reply.

So come on you RIBNETers please answer me so I can justify buying my MMSI set.

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by Biggles

So if I sell my boat how does the CG know that someone else has it.

There is a change of ownership section (4) on the back of the letter (Ships Radio Validation Document) that contained the disc. It is the section that starts "N.B. Licences are NOT transferable between vessels or persons."
Also there is a form in the booklet that came with your Radio Licence. If you have discarded both of those you can amend details on line.

Originally Posted by Biggles

You pay your £20 and its like a Car tax disc. It belongs to you and the boat and your pre registered details.

The "tax disc" is a Ships Radio Licence and relates to radio equipment installed on that ship.
You presonally hold a Short Range Certificate which authorises you to opperate a licenced VHF-DSC and VHF-ONLY radio telephone station.

Originally Posted by Biggles

Therein lies my problem the system is good but not fault free. By locking the MMSI in they are creating a balckmarket. Life is expensive enough without having to pay someone £30 (I'm guessing here) to reprogram a £200 radio after you've bought a 10 K boat. Thats the reality. Everybody thinks they won't need to use the mayday facility and if they do they can use ch 16. Now that is not what GMDSS is all about. But the maufacturers locking the MMSI code in is negating a lot of the functionality of the GMDSS safety system.

The MMSI stays with the boat. If you sell the boat and want to keep the radio, the reprogramming charge is some thing you will have to live with.
Perhaps it is better to sell the radio with the boat and get a new (unprogrammed) one to fit on your replacement.

Originally Posted by Biggles

By the way can anybody in the know tell me how many times the GMDSS MMSI feature has been used since its inception. Very little I should imagine.

Sorry, no idea.

Originally Posted by Biggles

Ever since I did my course, and given the fact that I have been involved in radios for 30 years, I have been sceptical about the real world use of these new digital radios.
By the way I have a Navman 7100 with GMDSS and the only time I have got it to work was on land for a test. When used in the Solent with the RIBNET MMSI I didn't get a reply.

I imagine time will tell. I think when people become fully aware of what DSC can do it will become more accepted.
Has any one entered the Ribnet group number in their set? I am sure that if someone had recieved your call, the would have replied.
My set is 18 months old and I have still not entered any MMSIs in the "phone book". I really want to try and use it this season, it has got to be better for calling up other vessels than calling on Ch 16 and hoping you are heard over the wind and engine noise. I also want to try the position polling so I can find a friend (I think I have one somewhere) by asking their DSC to transmit their position and display it on my plotter. Very handy to know which end of Priory Bay to go to.

For Jon Brooks.
How about a DSC practical day Jon? I am sure there are many like Biggles and I who would like to try DSCs non-distress functions in a live situation. I am sure that there would be a good day on the water and a beer or 2 in it. Not that you drink, eh Jon?

[Biggles]

Just seen this on another site. So you can do it over the phone.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/printthrea...03/type/thread

Come on manufacturers come clean !!!!!

[codprawn]

Well the impression I had from my VHF course is that DSC is a load of bollocks.....

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by Biggles

Just seen this on another site. So you can do it over the phone.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/printthrea...03/type/thread

Come on manufacturers come clean !!!!!

Yes it can be done, but why do it? There are times when you do need to change it, but normaly it will not be necesary.

OK lets look at cars. Your car has a registration number. You sell it, do you want to keep the plate?
If it is a special number to you then you can do it, and live with the paperwork.

Boats. If your boat has SSR registration would you try to take that to your new boat? No? Why not?

In the ybw thread the old licence had expired, and the new owner wanted to have "his own number". Ofcom may have reallocated the old number, but I bet the have not. There is not a shortage of new numbers so recycling them is probably not happening yet.

From September this year, the Ships Radio Licence will be free and be issued anualy to the registered owner, until notification of change of ownership is recieved. Hopefull this will help people think of "The boats MMSI" rather than "My MMSI"

CJR
Why do you need to change the number?
Is it a 2nd hand unit bought without a boat? Or do you think that you need your own personal MMSI?

Codprawn
Were you listening?

[Biggles]

Mark,

It would seem that you are implying that the radio is now becomeing an integral part of the boat. Therefore when you sell it you lose your MMSI that you've had for two or three years and have to go to the trouble of telling everyone the new one. No great hassle, but hassle none the less.

My issue is that on selling the boat you should be able to reset the MMSI to 00000000. Therefore the new owner has to register it before use. This could avoid said new owner getting in trouble using DSC and the CG thinking thats its you making the call, all these details are now held on computer. Does that mean your missus gets a call from the CG saying your in distress or does it mean the CG can't work out who they are helping.

The way I look at it, there is potential for a quite serious problem here. the only way round it at the moment is to treat your MMSI and radio docs like a vehicles V5. How many people do that. As I said there are people on here with other peoples MMSIs. Just check the MMSI numbers on the side details on RIBNET.