DSC Operations Flashcards

What types of DSC call can be made on a VHF radio?

Answer: Distress, urgency, safety, routine, and group calls

DSC supports multiple call types: distress alerts, urgency calls, safety calls, routine individual calls (to a specific MMSI), and group calls (to a fleet or group of vessels).

What information is automatically included in a DSC distress alert?

Answer: The vessel's MMSI, position (from connected GPS), UTC time, and nature of distress (if selected)

A DSC distress alert automatically includes the vessel's MMSI number, current GPS position, UTC time of the position, and the nature of distress if the operator selects one from the preset categories.

What is a DSC 'individual call' used for?

Answer: Calling a specific vessel or coast station using their MMSI number, like making a phone call

A DSC individual call contacts a specific station by entering its MMSI number. If the target station has its radio on, it receives a ringing alert and can accept the call, then both switch to a working channel.

What is the difference between a DSC 'all ships' call and a 'group' call?

Answer: An 'all ships' call alerts every DSC station within range; a 'group' call alerts only stations with a matching group MMSI

An 'all ships' call goes to every DSC-equipped station within range and is used for distress, urgency, and safety messages. A group call targets only vessels programmed with a specific group MMSI number.

What nature of distress categories can be selected on most DSC VHF radios?

Answer: Categories including fire/explosion, flooding, collision, grounding, capsizing, sinking, adrift, undesignated, and abandoning ship

Most DSC radios offer preset distress categories including: fire/explosion, flooding, collision, grounding, listing, sinking, disabled/adrift, undesignated, piracy, man overboard, and abandoning ship.

If your GPS is not connected to the DSC radio, what should you do before sending a distress alert?

Answer: Manually enter your position and the current UTC time into the DSC radio before transmitting

If GPS is not connected, the operator should manually enter the vessel's position (from chart or other source) and the current UTC time before transmitting the distress alert, ensuring rescue services know where to search.