Live Demonstration of HF-DSC "Test", "Routine", and "Safety" Calls to USCG and WLO

Live Demonstration of HF-DSC "Test", "Routine", and "Safety" Calls to USCG and WLO, etc.. Detailing the exact procedures and showing exactly how everything works in the real-world, LIVE as it happens!

[@iibobsworthnameingceremony5883]

Hi Capt John 49
As a new owner of a Icom M802 thank you for your videos, although I am in Australia your videos are US based they are clear and information you impart is easy to follow and have helped me to become more comfortable with my new radio installation on my yacht. SV Antipodes II VNQ9951
Cheers

[@captainjohn49]

You're welcome! :)

[@apdr15]

good video but could you shed more light on the J3E single sideband?

[@captainjohn49]

J3E is just another way of saying SSB, it's just the more technical or regulatory description....but in this situation J3E = SSB.

[@gabrielrosales4434]

How do you know which frequency to use Captain?

[@captainjohn49]

In a Distress, you'd either use 8414.5khz, or let the radio use all six GMDSS-DSC freqs.
For Ship-to-Ship calling, you should know something about Rdaiowave Propagation, which I explain in video #16 in this HF-DSC Playlist.
ruclips.net/video/fMTWgIvyro4/видео.html
But, in brief, try 8414.5khz as you default.
Please watch that video or the whole playlist, it will help.

[@kg7aronny]

Thank you captainjohn49 for the video. You have Rich, criticizing you on your procedure. I don't understand... I'm always looking for correct procedures and I can tell you got permission from the USGC. Please advise???

[@captainjohn49]

Ronny, to be honest, I just now saw your question (and Rich's as well), sorry to 6 to 12 months late! :( Seriously, the ITU and IMO/SOLAS designated certain freqs (under the GMDSS) for "safety, urgency, and distress", some for SSB Voice and some DSC and these are the freqs I used in these videos (fyi, there are also different freqs for SITOR/NBDP, but I do not use them). And, obviously these are the freqs that you MUST use, as they are the ones being monitored...there is nobody monitoring the other GMDSS DSC freqs, and except for WLO (and their duplex freqs), nobody is monitoring any maritime HF freqs, except for the GMDSS SSB Calling Freqs (for safety, urgency, or distress) Oh and yes, I did contact the USCG well ahead of time to let them know what I was doing....I spoke with a LT. Cmdr in Wash DC, and two chiefs (one the senior chief at NMN), and they all thought it was a wonderful idea....but, fyi, they specifically said they will not alert their watch crews, as that would defeat the purpose!! (you know, why would tell everyone exactly when you were going to run a drill...defeats the purpose.) If you wish to see the details, please watch the entire playlist....cuz then it's pretty clear.. ruclips.net/p/PLnN6ygtZ3h2n3z5nlv-ga2zYuPozhUXZX I'm hesitant to delve into too much detail here, as this is NOT the place (it should be done in your GMDSS course), but I will hit the highlights and hope it doesn't confuse the issue. :) While the original GMDSS plan (from 1988 thru 1992) had additional HF-DSC freqs set-aside for "routine" DSC calling, they were ALL duplex freqs, designed for ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship signaling (remember this was all designed well before affordable/reliable PACTOR and Sat Comm gear was ubiquitous), so there is no way to use these additional "routine" DSC freqs for any ship-to-ship signaling....so, under GMDSS rule refinement it is now possible to use any of the HF-DSC "ship transmit" freqs in a simplex-mode, for routine simplex DSC signaling, and this has been used by some rallies, but no shore stations, nor any SOLAS merchant vessels are so equipped...so nobody is listening to any of these additional DSC freqs, except the few sailors/yachties who have reprogrammed their radios and use these on a very rare occasion ('cuz there is nobody else to call) Also, it is written into the IMO/GMDSS rules / master plan, that this GMDSS equipment and these freqs SHOULD be used regularly and routinely, and now under further rule refinement, the IMO has recommended that all SOLAS-grade GMDSS-equipped vessels USE their GMDSS equipment (and these HF-DSC "safety, urgency, and distress" freqs) on a regular basis in order to keep all personnel familiar with procedures and keep watch for any equipment anomalies, and this includes occasional use for "routine" traffic!! Yes, under international radio communications rules, occasional "routine" traffic is allowed on "safety, urgency, and distress" calling freqs!! (this change was made about 10 years ago....and is in all GMDSS Master Plans since.) So, while the original intent (from 20 - 25 years ago) was to have many ships routinely receiving and sending DSC calls, to/from many shores stations, technology and economics changed....and the IMO and GMDSS changed a bit as well, from just "allowing" routine calls, to "encouraging" them!! To a lesser extent, this was/is also the case for the GMDSS SSB Voice freqs....where they are now designated as "GMDSS SSB Calling Freqs", for "safety", "urgency", or "distress"....and are actually programmed into radios (Icom and Furuno, I'm familiar with) as "Safety" channels, not "Distress" channels...as "Distress" is still assumed to be handled via a DSC-Distress Call. And, as everyone should be aware the exact designation of "type" of DSC Call is done by the operator, using the radio controls....so DSC all-ships call is sent out only if needed to contact all ships within range, and you designate it as "safety" or "urgency" or "distress"...so, while all HF-DSC calls are sent out on the same set of freqs, different types are sent out as different types, and ONLY a DSC-"Distress" call will set off any "alarm" on a ship's bridge and/or a shore station's watch standing position!! (not a urgency or safety call....yes, these will "beep" the radio, letting the crew know of an incoming message, and yes it does happen to me too, but this is simply one "beep" and nothing else! :) As I wrote above, this is NOT the place for this information....this is handled in a GMDSS course....these youtube videos are for small boaters who do not have professional training, to better understand the systems, and learn how to use them to save their life someday....The small amount of transmission and LIVE on-the-air demonstration is important to convey how things works in the real world, rather than a simulation in a lab....and nobody, not the USCG, not the shore stations, nor any commercial vessels contacted had anything but praise for the effort...if someone finds this to not be to their liking, they can produce their own videos!! fair winds and 73,John