Raymarine Ray54 manual Digital Selective Calling DSC

Chapter 5: Digital Selective Calling (DSC) 31

Chapter 5: Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

The Ray54 includes equipment for Class “D” Digital Selective Calling (DSC). DSC protocol is a globally applied system used to send and receive digital calls. DSC uses a unique Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number to direct DSC calls directly to your radio, much like a telephone number. When the DSC signal is received, the radio quickly switches over to channel 70 and performs the corresponding operation.

Note: An MMSI number is required to operate the DSC equipment in this ra- dio. You can obtain an MMSI from BoatUS (www.boatus.com). Once ob- tained, you can program the MMSI number yourself one time only using the operation described in My MMSI ID on page 72. Otherwise, your Rayma- rine dealer can program or change the number for you.

The Ray54 includes a separate dedicated receiver just for DSC communications on channel 70. When a DSC call is received, the Ray54 automatically responds based on the type of call. When receiving a DSC call from another vessel or a coast station, an alert sounds and DSC data appears in the LCD–such as time of a call, the caller and the type and priority of a call.

The Ray54 can make the following type of DSC calls:

•INDIVIDUAL (routine) Calls are made to a specific station identified by its MMSI number. See page 34.

•GROUP (routine) Calls send transmissions that are only received by radios that share a common Group MMSI number. See page 38.

•ALL SHIPS Calls send out a message to all vessels within range. See page 42. The Ray54 can make two different types of All Ships calls:

1.SAFETY Calls for advisory alerts —or—

2.URGENCY when the assistance is required but the situation is not serious enough for a Distress Call

•DISTRESS Calls send your vessel’s position and time information to other ships and shore stations, along with (optionally) the nature of your Distress situation. See page 45.

•POSITION REQUEST calls enable you to request GPS position infor- mation from any station for which an MMSI number is known. You can also send out your position to others.