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Old 02-24-2015, 05:37 PM   #12
tpbrady
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City: Gooding ID/Wrangell AK
Vessel Name: Silver Bay
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 42-002
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,040
The SH GX2150 makes things easier than the ICOM and I've had both on the same boat. DSC is just a poor implementation of what should be a good thing. The other limitation of DSC select calling is the station you select to complete the communications. You have no way to determine if it is in use on the initial call unless you tune to it first. If you go to it and it is busy, then you have to start the process all over again and change the station. DSC should have a few channels set aside for communications and should be able to listen and assign an open channel. That might increase usage, but it needs to be a lot easier to use.

I know of only two people other than me that use it. The first time I heard a DSC all station call from the Canadian Coast Guard, I thought something was broken on the boat and went on a gauge scan. It got my attention.

Tom
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