VHF DSC equipment for shore stations

Unfortunately, Class D VHF DSC equipment is not suitable for shore stations, as it does not allow the operator to generate DSC distress alert acknowledge and relay messages.  

These messages are mandatory for coast stations of all types - volunteer and professional.

Shore stations wishing to fit VHF DSC therefore have two broad options:

• use a Class A VHF DSC radio; or

• use a Personal Computer (PC) based coast station DSC system.

 
Class A DSC radios are priced at approximately 2500 dollars (Australian). They represent a viable alternative for volunteer marine radio stations wishing to establish a basic, locally controlled DSC distress and safety service.


More information on Class A radios may be found here.



A PC based VHF DSC system is a cost effective solution for shore stations wishing to provide an enhanced DSC service, such as electronic tracking of vessels via DSC position polling. 

These systems offer far more versatility than a Class A DSC radio, are simple to use and allow storage of an unlimited number of messages.

More information on PC based DSC systems may be found here.