VHF DSC Controller - operation and controls
The DSC Controller should have been programmed with your
individual MM SI (see Appendix V) by your equipment supplier. This
MMSI will be included in every DSC transmission you may make.
Your controller will respond to:
'All Stations' Calls (e.g. Distress, Distress Relay, Urgency and Safety
calls).
Calls addressed to your individual MMSI.
Calls addressed to any 'Group' MMSI (Appendix V) programmed
into your equipment.VHF Ch70 watch receiver
The Ch70 watch receiver does not normally require any operator
action, except to ensure that power is on and that the receiver is activated.
Distress button
All DSC controllers have a distress button for initiating and sending
distress alerts. On most (but not all) makes of equipment, the first touch
of the 'Distress' button opens a 'menu' - allowing you to select a nature
of distress and update your position, if required. Distress 'nature' will be
selected from:
- Fire/ explosion
- Listing
- Flooding
- Grounding
Sinking
Collision- Piracy/armed attack • Disabled & adrift • Abandoning ship
- Undesignated • Man overboard
If your problem does not fall exactly into any of the above categories
leave it as undesignated. The Distress Alert is used to get others to
listen for your voice Distress Call/Message on Ch16 - where you
can explain your problem in more detail (voice distress procedures -
Chapter 5).Call button
Used to set up all types of call - Distress, Urgency, Safety and
Other (e.g. routine intership; ship'S business and link calls). The types of
DSC call that may be available to you are:
Distress Alert.
Distress Relay Alert (all stations and individual).
Urgency (all stations and individual).
Safety (all stations and individual).132 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE