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 beacon

The Perth (Australia) based company Mobilarm has developed a VHF DSC and radiotelephone based Marine Survivor Locating System (MSLS), or Man Overboard system. 

The Crewsafe V100 beacon uses DSC on ch 70 and synthesized radiotelephone transmissions on ch 16 as the alerting mechanism.  It is designed to be used with any VHF DSC radio.  When activated, the beacon transmits a DSC distress alert with the nature of distress set as 'man overboard' with position/time inserted from the inbuilt GPS. 

The V100 is a small, lightweight personal beacon, designed to be attached to the users clothing.  It is fitted with an inbuilt GPS receiver and a strobe light to assist in location.




The principal advantage of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) in a Man Overboard application is that (unlike 121.5 MHz based systems) all commercial ships carry VHF DSC and VHF DSC is spreading into the recreational marine sector.

However, although some recreational craft have fitted DSC equipment, there are still many that have only a basic radiotelephone VHF radio.  For this reason,  the beacon has been designed to also transmit a synthesised voice message on VHF marine Channel 16 once activated.  The voice message will only be transmitted once the internal GPS has provided a position. 

Mobilarm have created a website for the new system - it is well worth a look.

VHF handheld radio with DSC and inbuilt GPS

Well.....it had to happen - Standard Horizon are about to release 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 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.