Ocean Kayakers-Anyone getting an VHF/DSC Handheld and MMSI #?

[Remix]

The price of GPS equipped VHF/DSC handhelds is dropping like a rock, and these things are much better for emergency when you are paddling than EPIRB or SPOT (assuming you are close to shore and things have gotten to point where self- or assisted rescue is out of the question).

Here is a video to explain what these things can do for you in an emergency.

Note-The video talks about hooking your GPS up to your radio, but this is unnecessary for a radio with built-in GPS.

 

[Jay H]

I have a Uniden VHF Marine radio that supports DSC, however, it's an earlier model and only supports DSC through the charging base (it sits in a little cradle which is then connected to an AC outlet). Who is going to bring the cradle along?? I hope the newer models are designed better now... Mine wasn't too expensive either but it is a bit bulky, at least when compared to other handheld marine radios. It has a gazillion waveforms, including AM/FM so I can listen to tunes on the kayak...

Jay

Just checked some of those units, yeah, they seem to start selling VHF radios with built-in GPS, which is more useful than my old unit which takes GPS input and sends it. of course, mine was only about $175...

 

[spider solo]

Looks pretty interesting. I already have Spot and a VHF so I'm all tapped out for purchases for a at least a couple of years. If I were starting a fresh I would give it a good long look with an eye to buy .

A couple of things I'm a little fuzzy on

..in the specs it again gives reference to hooking it up to a fixed mount gps, so I'm not sure why a person would do that if it's already built in.

...it gives reference to a $65 3 yr flat rate, so I'm assuming that is not a flat rate of $65 per year but for all 3 years.

for someone like myself I would need to know if it works in Canada (Quebec in particular).
...same with the weather alerts are they in both languages ? (I assume they would be just like a VHF if your up there.)

I like the concept and the idea that it calls the Coast Guard on channel 70 then kicks over to channel 16 .
(I would want to know how many days it can send a distress call)

It looks like the screen is small for me to read, but I like the fact the coordinates are sent automatically, if I understand correctly (with out it being hooked up to a GPS, but for the "go to".. find waypoints, and things.
I would need a "big print less info" option, so that varyies from person to person but something to keep in mind.

If you pic one upit would be nice to find out how you like it. Technology is happing so fast it's hard to keep up with what works etc.

Nice concept, one device to do so much.

 

[Bill and Sheep]

..in the specs it again gives reference to hooking it up to a fixed mount gps, so I'm not sure why a person would do that if it's already built in.

I think the purpose of the input for a 2nd GPS is if you keep this unit below deck and don't have satellite access. You can still connect it to another gps unit up above. This doesn't seem to be an issue for kayakers.

I'm glad this was posted. My kayak skills are still so limited that I never travel far enough from shore to need such a device, but it's nice to know this is an option as I get more skilled.

 

[Remix]

..in the specs it again gives reference to hooking it up to a fixed mount gps, so I'm not sure why a person would do that if it's already built in.

I believe the radio can output GPS information for use by appliances on big boat-- for example a chart plotter-- not much use for kayaker.

...it gives reference to a $65 3 yr flat rate, so I'm assuming that is not a flat rate of $65 per year but for all 3 years.

The warranty is 3 years. If something happens after that, it costs $65 to fix, whether its a broken knob or busted LCD or flooded radio. There is no charge for DSC/Distress.

for someone like myself I would need to know if it works in Canada (Quebec in particular).
...same with the weather alerts are they in both languages ? (I assume they would be just like a VHF if your up there.)

I am not sure you want to get an MMSI from Boat US if you are using it in Canada. The databases are not merged. In fact any American who wishes to transmit in Canadian waters has to pay for an FCC license and has to get an MMSI from the FCC, afaik. I do not know if the Canadian agencies have deployed the equipment to receive the distress call.
In America, its a big deal and the program is called Rescue 21. Also, the Canadian frequencies are different, and you have to setup the radio to use the Canadian channels. Most VHF's support US, International and Canadian channel numbers.

(I would want to know how many days it can send a distress call)

It will continue to send distress calls until someone acknowledges the distress or its batteries die. From what I read, any boater will receive your distress call, as well as the Coast Guard...its like peer-to-peer rescue. Finally, larger maritime vessels have radios which hear your distress call and retransmit the distress call...again like peer-to-peer data sharing.


I like the feature of being able to call kayaker buddy if you know his MMSI number. I think you can set the radio to go to a chat channel like 67 or 68 after your buddy's radio acknowledges the call. Also, if that buddy has permitted his radio to do so, you can query his position and get a distance and bearing...might be useful for a leader and sweeper in less than ideal conditions...well Ill just admit Im a big gearhead, lol.

 

[spider solo]

I didn't double check but I am wondering how long is the battery life considered to be when sending the distress call.

I know I should take a course on how to use the VHF. Aside from protocol, which I have a rough idea of, I am confused as to wheter you can make a phone call with a VHF.

I was reading the writings of a fellow who paddled a 1,000 mile journey from Lake Champlain down the St Lawrence out to the Ocean and down the coast of Maine and eventualy down to Boston Ma ( I forget if it was all in one year)
Anyway... I know when he needs to go through various Locks he's communicating with the VHF,
but
He doesn't want to run the La Chine Rapids, somewhere around Montreal,
he calls an outfitter who runs the rapids in a motor boat
and makes the arrangments to run the rapids as a passenger/boat et al.
so
The big question, to me, is does he make a VHF call which is then picked up and relayed as a ship to shore call ? Which must cost money and how is it paid? (confident it wasn't a telephone or cell phone)

I know he is in and out of both countries during the trip so it has me quessing.


ahh..the quest for knowledge...

 

[Remix]

I didn't double check but I am wondering how long is the battery life considered to be when sending the distress call.

It takes 1/3 of a second to transmit for each attempt, and it will continue to try until someone acknowledges the signal. It has to switch to receive mode to listen for an acknowledgement and to make sure no one else is transmitting, so the transmission is not continuous. So the battery life will probably be better than a couple hours. If a shore station or another boat does not get your call in that amount of time, then you are probably too far offshore for a VHF anyway.

The only other issue I can think of is keeping the radio as high above the water as possible. The EPIRBS have a line of sight path...thats not true for a VHF radio bobbing low on the water.