The last time I was on a ship (late 90's) I talked with the
communications/electronics officer. Even got a tour. He showed me that
equipment.
They had a backup shortwave and VHF radio just in case that equipment failed
but they didn't use amateur frequencies.
Which brings me to a question. Assuming they are not handling commercial
traffic, what exactly does the MMSN do? I've never listened to them. Do they
just chat about where they are and what they're doing, etc?
73, Zack W9SZ
On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 1:54 AM, SP1NY <sp1ny@wp.pl> wrote:
> This MMSN petition sounds ridiculous for me.
> I spent 25 years at sea on merchant vessels operating world wide, at
> first as a Radio Officer
> then as Electronic Technician Officer. I was a witness of the end era of
> old fashion emmergency
> communication on 500 kHz CW and 2182 SSB. Since begining of '90 a new
> GMDSS (Global Marine
> Distress and Search System based on sat comm has been implemented. All
> big MF/HF transmitters
> gone and small boxes with few buttons took their place. Thats why I had
> to shift to ETO because
> R/O position was not necessary anymore. There are still some freq on 4,
> 6, 8 Mhz designed for
> emergency maritime traffic but I don't think if there is any.
> In case of distress is much more easier to push "red button", type kind
> of distress or choose
> it from the list and go to save own life. Distress call reaching
> Maritime Rescue Center in the matter
> of seconds and coordinated rescue operation begins. No need wasting time
> to tune radio, discuss
> with NET control etc...
> On te other hand most HF radios which are included in GMDSS console on
> board of the vessels
> have wide range Rx but Tx can transmitt only on maritime freqencies, and
> they are with
> power 150-300W in to 5m whip ant.
> Some info about GMDSS you can find here:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Selective_Calling#Digital_Selective_Calling
> That's my two cents.
>
> 73's Mirek SP1NY
>
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