Canadian Yachting June 2023 - 41

VHF RADIO VERSUS CELL PHONE
- by John Gullick, CPS-ECP Manager of Special Programs
Quite often I get asked about the value of VHF marine band
radios as a means of communication versus a cell phone.
The answer to that is quite simple. With a VHF radio you
have a means of direct contact with a Coast Guard Search
and Rescue Center. Your distress message will also be picked
up by other vessels of convenience who may be in a position
to provide assistance close at hand.
The problem with a cell phone is related to how often we
call someone and all we get at the other end is: " We are
unavailable right now, please leave a message. " What good
is that if you need assistance right away? For a cell phone
you also require active cell service at your location.
All new VHF radios, both fixed mount and hand-held, are
now equipped with an automatic Digital Selective Calling
(DSC) system. I often receive questions about the use of the
VHF maritime radio and specifically DSC so I am going to do
a brief Q and A on a few of those questions.
Q - Will the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) continue to monitor
channel 16 (Mid Frequency (MF) 2182 kHz)?
A - Canadian Coast Guard currently have no plans to discontinue
this service. In 2014, I contacted CCG HQ on the
issue of monitoring Channel 16 and was advised as follows:
" Canadian Coast Guard continues to monitor Channel 16
and has no plans to discontinue this service. If they do visit
it in the future, it would demand public consultation. "
Q - How do I activate the Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
feature in my VHF maritime radio?
A - Contact a regional Industry Canada Spectrum Management
office and get a Maritime Mobile Service Identity
(MMSI) number and then follow the DSC set up instructions
in the radio's Owner's Manual. DSC cannot be activated
without a MMSI number.
Q - Can I use the DSC feature for routine calling?
A - In addition to the automatic distress-alerting feature
of VHF-DSC radios, the initial contact with another vessel,
a " routine " call is made digitally on channel 70. The
channel for voice communication is indicated utilizing the
vessel MMSI in a manner similar to that of a pager. Another
vessel's radio is digitally contacted and advised to go to a
specific channel for voice communications.
Q - How can I find out which VHF channels to use for voice
communication in my cruising area?
A - In the CPS-ECP Maritime Radio Course student's notes
and the Maritime Radio Course Module Two student's notes
you will find a copy of Industry Canada's RIC 13 as Appendix
1, Table of Transmitting Frequencies for the VHF band 156
-174 MHz in the Maritime Mobile Service. This chart clearly
identifies each of the channels 01 to 88, their areas of operation,
the types of service and the types of traffic that can
use the various channels. You can also go to the Industry
Canada Spectrum Management web site and search RIC
13 for this chart.
Summary:
The DSC radio automatically, silently and continuously maintains
a listening watch on the appropriate DSC channel,
VHF channel 70.
DSC capabilities are not limited to emergencies. " All Ships " ,
Urgency and Safety alerts may also be received and sent to
or from CCG Coast Stations and to establish routine contact
with other DSC equipped vessels and coast stations directly
without having to use the voice calling/distress channels.
One final note. Anyone operating a VHF radio, equipped
with DSC or not, must have a Restricted Operators Certificate
(Maritime) (ROC(M). This program is managed exclusively
for Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Canada (IC) by Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. Register
for a Maritime Radio course at: www.boatingcourses.ca
Video Summary: John Gullick from the Canadian Power
and Sail Squadrons tells Canadian Yachting magazine editor
Andy Adams about DSC, VHF radios and the Power
Squadron courses.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/cMUvDqu2Xlk ■
CANADIANYACHTING.CA
41
http://www.boatingcourses.ca https://www.youtu.be/cMUvDqu2Xlk http://www.CANADIANYACHTING.CA
Canadian Yachting June 2023

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