NorthStar Navigation Explorer 721EU, Explorer 721US Distress Calls, Send a Distress Call

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Section 6 - Distress Calls

A valid user MMSID must have been entered to access this DSC function. If you don’t have a user MMSID, see Appendix D.

IMPORTANT: This Northstar radio is designed to generate a digital maritime distress call to facilitate search and rescue. To be eﬀective as a safety device, this radio must be used only within the geographic range of a shore-based VHF marine Channel 70 distress and safety watch system. The geographic range may vary but under normal condi- tions is approximately 20 nautical miles.

6-1 Send a Distress Call

DISTRESS CALL

>ABANDONING PIRACY OVER BOARD

DISTRESS CALL

>PIRACY

HOLD DISTRESS 2 SECONDS..

DISTRESS CALL

SENT! WAIT..

PRESS ESC

TO CANCEL...

1.Open the red cover labelled DISTRESS.

If time is available to specify the nature of the distress, go to step 2. Otherwise, go directly to step 3.

2.Press the DISTRESS key to display the following categories. Scroll to the category that describes your situation, then press ENT:

UNDEFINED

FIRE

FLOODING

COLLISION

GROUNDING

LISTING

SINKING

ADRIFT

ABANDONING

PIRACY

OVER BOARD

3.Hold down the DISTRESS key for about 3 seconds, until you see the distress call message (DISTRESS CALL SENT!) on the LCD. The whole display starts to ﬂash and beep loudly.

The distress call repeats ﬁve times continuously. It then repeats randomly every 3.5 to 4.5 minutes until a distress acknowledgement (DISTRESS ACK) is received from a search and rescue authority or until you cancel the distress call manually.

The radio selects CH16 automatically so that you can hear any incoming voice contacts from search and rescue authorities or other vessels within range.

Press ESC if you need to cancel the distress call. This is the only key that operates in distress mode.

6-2 Receive a Distress Acknowledgement (DISTRESS ACK)

The Coast Guard is the only agency allowed to send a Distress Acknowledgement (DISTRESS ACK).

When a distress acknowledgement is sent from the Coast Guard, your radio automatically cancels the distress mode transmissions and CH16 is selected.

Press PTT to talk with the Coast Guard.

Northstar Explorer VHF Series: 721US, 721EU Operation and Installation Manual

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Contents Explorer 721US / 721EU Important Safety Information Contents Send and Receive DSC Calls Industry Canada How to Display and Navigate Menus FeaturesGeneral Information Customize your Northstar VHF RadioLCD Symbols and Meanings How to Enter or Change Alphanumeric DataNormal Menu Mode Edit Mode Push Space Symbol How the Microphone and Optional Handset Work Together Basic Operation and Key Functions Weather alert mode is on CH2 or CH3 symbol disappears oﬀ the LCDMenu see and the DSC set up menu see Section Then push to backupComplete listing of channel charts Power transmission setting is incorrectMatically exits you from menu mode and stops scanning You must release PTT to receive a signalRadio Menu Options Menu Show Weather, SNR or Happy Fish on Handset Info Data Add an Entry Maintain Your Buddy List Buddy ListEdit an Entry Set Distance Sensitivity Local or Distance Sensitivity LOCAL/DISTSet Local Sensitivity Backlighting Backlight and Contrast ContrastSet the Contrast Level Set the Backlighting LevelGPS Data and Time GPS/DATA Manually Enter Position and UTC Time ManualLocal Time Time Offset GPS/DATA Manual SettingTime Offset Time Display Options Time Display Select GPS/DATA, then Setting Select LL DisplayPosition Display Options LL display Course & Speed Display Options COG/SOGGPS Alert Options Alert Reset to Factory Defaults ResetGPS Simulator GPS SIM Select GPS SIM, then select on or OFF as desiredRadio Setup Menu Options Radio Setup Radio Setup Menu Radio SetupSelect the Channel Bank UIC Change Channel Names CH Name Ring and Beep Volume Ring Volume and KEY BeepInternal Speaker Connections INT Speaker Select Radio SETUP, then WX Alert Set the Priority Channel Watch ModeWeather Alert WX Alert Nmea or Navbus protocol COM PortBarometric Displays Baro Sensor Select Radio SETUP, then COM Port Select Baro & TempTemperature Display Temperature Switch the Barometric Display on or OFF Baro DisplySet the Temperature Units Units Calibrate the Temperature Reading CALDSC Setup Menu Options DSC Setup MenuMaintain Your Groups Group Setup Create a Group Group SetupResponse to Individual Calls Indiv Reply Edit Group Name or Group MmsidAtis Mmsid & Atis Functionality Enable Atis Functionality Atis FuncEnter or Edit Your Atis Mmsid DSC Functionality DSC Func Select DSC SETUP, then LL ReplyResponse Type to LL Polling Calls LL Reply Push the rotary knob to conﬁrmSend and Receive DSC Calls What is DSC?DSC Call Menu Options Call an Individual Individual Distress only when there’s a distress situationRetry a Routine Call Acknowledge an Individual Incoming CallCall a Group Group Call the Most Recent Caller Last CallCall All Ships ALL Ships This facility is useful and used frequentlyCall using the Distress Log Dist LOG Call using the Call Log Call LOGSet the channel and continue as explained in Section Track Your Buddy Track Buddy Request the LL Position of a Buddy LL RequestDSC Call Call LOG Dist LOG LL Request SET Buddy BUDDY1 On OFFReceive an Individual Call RCV Indiv Receive an All Ships Call RCV ALL ShipReceive a Geographic Call RCV Geograph Receive a Group Call RCV GroupReceive a Polled Position Call Rcvposition Send a Distress Call Distress CallsReceive a Distress Acknowledgement Distress ACK Open the red cover labelled DistressReceive a Distress Relay RCV Distress Relay Receive a Distress Call RCV DistressRelay a Distress Call from the Distress Log Relay Northstar Explorer 721US and 721EU Appendix a Technical SpecificationsGPS/NMEA input Yes Comm. port Baud NMEA, 38400 baud Navbus Rotary channel selector YesTransmitter Channel Naming YesAppendix B Troubleshooting International EU-DSC on Appendix C VHF Marine Channel ChartsSpecial Notes on International Channel Useage Page USA Channel Chart Send Receive Traffic Type Ship Name TAG Wx02 RX Only 162.400 Wx01 RX Only 162.550Wx03 RX Only 162.475 Wx04 RX Only 162.425Canada Channel Chart 156.025 160.625 Public Correspondence, Duplex Yes 28B RX Only 162.000 Public Correspondence, RX Only62A 156.125 Canadian Coast Guard Yes 156.225 160.825 Public Correspondence, Duplex YesWeather Digital selective calling for distress EU Inland Waterway Channels Country Specific162 156.85AIS Page Appendix D Mmsid and License Information Installation Options Install the ExplorerChecklist There are two ways to install the radio. You can chooseGimbal Installation Change the Viewing Angle Recessed InstallationDrill the two pilot screw holes where marked Install the Microphone Bulkhead MountConnectors are on the rear of the base unit, as follows Connect the Radio CablesMmsid Store Cancel User Mmsid Input Again Set Up the RadioEnter Your User Mmsid GND. a ground connection is not usually requiredCompleted Installation with Optional Handset 0560