I just came from a boat show where DSC handhelds were prominently displayed. It seems from the literature that if I am a foreign flagged boat, the authorities will permit the DSC # assigned on my license to be inputted into the radio. If I am a locally flagged boat, the government will issue unique DSC # for these hand held radios. In 'their waters" a foreign flagged boat using a dcs # radio NOT associated with the boat will have civil, and potentially "criminal" ramifications. It is unknown how it would work the other way. So, if I do get a dsc radio, and if I do input my number into it, it will NOT be the radio I take when I go on another boat for a cruise. Lee Turkey On Nov 24, 2010, at 7:00 , passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com wrote: From: Mike Maurice <mikem@yachtsdelivered.com> ...If you have any interest in handheld DSC radios, you will find this web page to be fascinating.... Summary: what does all this mean to US users and those in other countries? I'll be hanged if I can figure it out. [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/pkcs7-signature which had a name of smime.p7s]

Lee, My attempt to clarify this, a little! A DSC radio is a VHF radio being used in DSC mode. A DSC enabled radio does not have to be used in DSC mode. If not being used in DSC mode does not require a MMSI number and may not need a "license" depending upon where used, etc. For the sake of discussion: forget about the regulatory issues. DSC transmissions need to be identifiable, which means a MMSI number input into the radio. And, secondly that if transmitting a distress signal to have the Lat/Lon included in the signal. In the case of a distress, the Lat/Lon is more important than the MMSI. Handheld radios are less liable to have GPS (Lat/Lon) than fixed radios, and may not get the MMSI number installed. The regulatory attempts to bring all this under control is in a state of flux, worldwide. Draft standard "H" is I believe under debate even now. For routine DSC transmissions the MMSI number is important and such a set without one is not of much use until it has the number. For distress purposes DSC marine radios are becoming more like 406 EPIRBs. Maybe they should have a preassigned MMSI number installed in every set with emphasis on registering the set, similar to the EPIRBs, once an owner buys one. > So, if I do get a dsc radio, and if I do input my number into it, it > will NOT be the radio I take when I go on another boat for a cruise. Lee, I don't think you have to discontinue the use of the radio as your sentence above indicates. Not sure about that. If the boat has DSC radio and you have one on you that is waterproof AND you fell overboard, you could trigger the alarm on the boat right after you went into the water. Then you could direct them to you. You might not carry the radio all the time, but if you were alone at night conning the boat or going forward under poor conditions, etc. you would be well armed to have one with you. Regards, -- Capt. Mike Maurice Tigard, Oregon