Marine electronics is becoming more and more integrated. This trend is starting to spread to VHF DSC equipment, with manufacturers producing new equipment with some very innovative features.
This section of the VHF DSC website highlights new DSC products that are pushing the boundaries of traditional marine radio systems.
Scroll down, and check back frequently.
VHF DSC man overboard system
The Australian company Mobilarm has developed an innovative man overboard emergency beacon using VHF DSC.
The Mobilarm V100 is fitted with an inbuilt GPS receiver. When activated (automatically by water immersion, or manually), the V100 transmits a VHF DSC distress alert, with the nature of distress set to MAN OVERBOARD, the subsequent communications field set to “no information” and the position and time fields set to “no information”.
As soon as the GPS receiver is able to
produce an accurate fix, the beacon will automatically transmit a second
Distress format DSC call with position.
After this second transmission, the
beacon will then operate with a randomly selected duty cycle of a
transmission every 4.9 to 5.1 minutes for 30 minutes (i.e. 6 transmissions).
After 30 minutes have elapsed, the
beacon will then operate with a randomly selected duty cycle of a
transmission every 9.9 to 10.1 minutes until the batteries are exhausted or
the beacon is turned off.
Synthesised voice transmissions of
position on Ch. 16 or another voice channel are possible using the same duty
cycle as the DSC transmissions.
More details here
VHF DSC class D radio with inbuilt GPS and AIS receiver
Another very interesting radio from Standard Horizon, the GX2100 combines a class D VHF DSC radio with a dual channel AIS receiver.
More info here
VHF handheld radio with DSC and inbuilt GPS
Well.....it had to happen - Standard Horizon have released a new VHF hand held radio with DSC and GPS built in.
The HX850S offers
• Built-in Parallel 12 Channel GPS Receiver
• FLOATING - Submersible JIS-7
/ IPX7 (3.3 feet for 30 minutes)
• 6 Watt Transmit power
• DSC (SC-101 - not class D) functions include:
o Distress call with position
o All ships,
Urgency, Safety
o Individual call
o Position Request
o Position
Report
o Group call
• NMEA
output on cradle of DSC, DSE, GLL, RMC, GSA, GSV and GGA
• Channel names on
display
• SOS Strobe light
Specifications:
Material: Polycarbonate housing, die cast
frame
Controls: 10-button keypad
Scanning Modes: Programmable Scan,
programmable Priority Scan, Dual Watch
Weather Alert: Yes
Antenna:
Flexible whip
Transmit Power: 6/5/2/1 Watt
Battery life: 1000mAh Li-Ion,
More than 7 hours
Waterproof: Floating, JIS-7 / IPX7, submersible 3’ for 30
minutes
Dimensions: 2.5” (W) x 5.6” (H) x 1.8” (D)
Display Type: LCD
Screen size: 1.6” (W) x 0.9” (H)
Weight: 11.5 oz.
Included Equipment: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery, AC/DC chargers, Charging cradle, belt clip and antenna
GPS: 12 Channels Time to Fix: cold start 50 seconds(Typical), Hot start 9 seconds(Typical)
VHF handheld radio with DSC
Standard Horizon (aka Yaesu/Vertex) have produced a new VHF hand held radio with integrated DSC.
To quote from the website:
The HX471S is supplied with a NMEA Charging cradle that allows the radio to be connected to any GPS. Connecting the HX471S to a GPS allows your position of your vessel to be stored inside the HX471S.
In the event of an emergency, simply grab the HX471S lift the Distress cover and depress the DISTRESS Key (on the RH side) and a DSC Distress call containing your position will be transmitted.
After the DSC distress call is sent, the radio scans channels 70 and 16 for replies. The DSC call is repeated automatically if no reply is received.
The radio is fitted with a wideband receiver, which provides coverage on the AM/FM broadcast bands, the marine VHF band (obviously..) and the VHF aviation band.
It even offers a strobe that blinks SOS in Morse code....
More info here
VHF DSC with integrated AIS receiver
Icom have produced an integrated AIS receiver for their M603 and M505 VHF DSC radios.
Over to Icom:
Icom UK is pleased to launch the world's first VHF/DSC’s with integrated AIS (Automatic Identification System) receiver.
Both the IC-M603 and IC-M505 VHF/DSC’s can now be purchased with integrated AIS Receiver.
An innovation providing a way for boat owners to receive AIS information from just a single unit. This new integrated solution provides a range of essential features, VHF, DSC, Hailer & Foghorn capability and now AIS Receiver - all in one unit.
Each radio comes, as standard, with a cable which simply connects to your PC or chart plotter and then you are up and running. You will then be able to display AIS equipped vessels over your cartography and work out their speed and trajectory. In addition you will be able to gain other information such as MMSI number, name of vessel and destination, useful to know in case you need to use the DSC to arrange to speak on a calling channel.
The full release may be found here.