Overview
For boats operating in coastal waters, VHF (very high frequency) two-way radiotelephone has for many years been the accepted method of communicating with ships, other boats, and shore stations. In the U.S. and Canada, respectively, 5 million and 700,000 recreational sail and power boats carry VHF radio. VHF radio has become an integral component of the worldwide emergency marine radio communications system, and in U.S. waters, the Coast Guard requires any boater with a VHF radio in operation to continuously monitor Channel 16, the emergency channel, for distress calls. Many more boaters carry and monitor VHF radios than actually use them, however. They are a convenient source of coastal weather forecasts, and it's often entertaining to eavesdrop on the conversations of other boaters and commercial operators, but the thought of going ""on the air"" can be a little intimidating. There's protocol to be observed - phonetic spellings, station ID's, channel switching, etc. And many boaters do not feel confident in their ability to broadcast effective distress calls if, god forbid, the need should ever arise. Compounding this fundamental timidity, VHF communications are undergoing a revolution of sorts, for two reasons. The first is that the familiar analog VHF radios are gradually being replaced by a new generation of radiotelephones offering Digital Selective Calling (DSC). This introduces a level of automation to marine communications and reduces the need for a continual listening watch on calling channels - a bonus on a relaxing boating weekend - but it also introduces another learning curve for boaters. The second, related development is the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), which was introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1999 as a major upgrade to the radio communications systems prescribed for ships at sea under the Safety of Life at Sea Treaty (SOLAS), the roots of which date all the way back to the Titanic disaster in 1912. The new system incorporates the INMARSAT maritime satellite system, satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), and new automation features. It also calls for a major upgrade of communications facilities on large oceangoing ships over 300 tons, including a switch from analog VHF to VHF-DSC radios. The marine VHF radio is about to undergo its biggest revolution since it was first used on boats, and its digital selective calling aspects will alter the way boaters call for help, report safety issues to the Coast Guard, call other vessels, and make phone calls to shore. GMDSS and VHF-DSC principles have been incorporated into boater education courses. Laws, customs, and practices at sea are driven by the needs of commercial shipping, so GMDSS and VHF-DSC radio are the wave of the future for recreational boater. This book covers both traditional analog VHF radio and VHF-DSC, since the changeover will be gradual and the two will coexist for years to come. By means of a straightforward, nontechnical text; tips and warnings sidebars; ""Geek-speak"" boxed definitions; detailed table of contents and index; and an inside cover Quick Reference chart, the book helps all boaters get the best out of whichever system they choose. A Boater's Guide to VHF and GMDSS has been endorsed by the director of the U.S. Coast Guard's GMDSS Task Force.
Full Product Details
Author: Sue Fletcher
Publisher: International Marine Publishing Co
Imprint: International Marine Publishing Co
Edition: Canadian ed
Dimensions:
Width: 15.00cm
, Height: 1.30cm
, Length: 22.60cm
Weight: 0.284kg
ISBN: 9780071388023
ISBN 10: 0071388028
Pages: 176
Publication Date: 16 July 2002
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Out of Print
Availability: Out of stock
Author Information
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