West Marine VHF580 manual Using Digital Selective Calling DSC Features, What is DSC?

When you have entered the last value, the radio returns to the GPS Setup menu.

Using Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Features

What is DSC?

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is a standard that allows you to call other stations using their unique identification code (the Maritime Mobile Service Identity or MMSI number), just like you would call a phone number. To call another station, just enter that station’s MMSI number and choose the voice channel you want to talk on. The radio uses channel 70 to transmit your MMSI number to the other station along with the voice channel you requested. If the other station accepts your call, both radios automatically switch to the requested voice channel so you can talk to the other station.

DSC provides a system for automated distress calls. At the touch of a button, the radio can transmit your MMSI number, the nature of your distress, and your current position based on data from your GPS receiver. The radio repeats the distress call every few minutes until it receives an acknowledgement.

The DSC standard dedicates a VHF channel—channel 70—to digital transmissions only. Since digital transmissions require less bandwidth voice transmissions, channel 70 avoids the problems of busy voice channels.

Advanced DSC features

Your radio supports the following DSC features:

Feature	Menu Item	Function
Individual Call	Individual	Contact another vessel from your directory.
Group Call	Group	Contact all vessels that share your group MMSI
		code.
All Ships Call	All Ships	Broadcast to all vessels within range (used for
		safety or advisory messages).
Position Request	POS Request	Request the current location of another vessel.
Position Send	Position Send	Transmit your current location to another
		vessel.
Test Call	Test	Make sure your radio is working and configured
		correctly/
Name and MMSI	Directory	Store a list of 20 names and MMSI identification
Directory		codes for DSC calls.
Standby Mode	Standby	Automaticcally respond to all DSC calls within
		an “Unavailable” status.
Received Call Log	Receive Log	Display the last 10 distress calls received by the
		radio and the last 20 general calls.

What is an MMSI number?

In order to use DSC features, you must be assigned an MMSI number and program that number into your radio. There are two kinds of MMSI numbers: individual numbers for

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