Hi,

I have been looking at VHF DSC radios and amazed by the price
difference between USA models and UK models. For example, a neat ICOM
402 is readily available in USA for around $170 and in UK you cannot
get a VHF DSC radio for less than £199.

I understand that there are two classes of DSC - Class F and Class D
which may account for the price difference.

Can anyone explain the situation???

TVMIA

Check out the owner of All Gadgets web site
http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/default.asp
as he sells UK and European sets and may be will be able to advise you.

I think I saw a thread on another group which said it was to do with the
Marina frequencies used outside the UK i.e. M1 or M2

Regards

Dave






"Rob" wrote in message
m...
Hi,

I have been looking at VHF DSC radios and amazed by the price
difference between USA models and UK models. For example, a neat ICOM
402 is readily available in USA for around $170 and in UK you cannot
get a VHF DSC radio for less than £199.

I understand that there are two classes of DSC - Class F and Class D
which may account for the price difference.

Can anyone explain the situation???

TVMIA

On 29 Dec 2003 03:38:23 -0800, (Rob) wrote:

Hi,

I have been looking at VHF DSC radios and amazed by the price
difference between USA models and UK models. For example, a neat ICOM
402 is readily available in USA for around $170 and in UK you cannot
get a VHF DSC radio for less than £199.

Can you say "value added taxes" without cursing? USA doesn't have
them.....Shhhh....we don't want them, either!

I understand that there are two classes of DSC - Class F and Class D
which may account for the price difference.

There are as many classes as their are letters in the alphabet, I
think. It keeps changing and expanding, exponentially. The higher
the class, the more complex the capabilities of the equipment.

Class F equipment is simply capable of transmitting basic GMDSS
information, basically MMSI and position, an if it gets a reply it
will go to channel 16 or whatever the high class station has told it
to go to, for voice comms only. A good example is the Icom M59 basic
marine VHF radio. That's a class F radio. It isn't much of a
GMDSS-enabled radio, but will kick off the alarm in that containership
over there and alert them you are in trouble.....or that's the theory.


Can anyone explain the situation???

TVMIA

Class A and B are compulsory ship classes that have full GMDSS
capabilities. If you want to read the ITU's manual, it'll cost you 60
Swiss Francs, even to download it from:
http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/publication...=mm2002&lang=e
Er, ah, ships are REQUIRED to have this manual aboard. It's just good
business....(c;

On 29 Dec 2003 03:38:23 -0800, (Rob) wrote:

I understand that there are two classes of DSC - Class F and Class D
which may account for the price difference.

Can anyone explain the situation???

F is not allowed, not recommended and should be avoided.

Class D is the only one suitable for recreational boating.

(F was never allowed in Europe, and is not allowed any more for sale
in the US & Canada either).

See also

http://www.icselectronics.co.uk/icsnet/GMDSS/classF.htm

Comment: Handhelds DO have their own class, E.


http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/dsc.htm

Comment: See specifically "Class F has been discontinued by ITU and is
not recognized by the FCC"


/Marcus

--
Marcus AAkesson
Gothenburg Callsigns: SM6XFN & SB4779
Sweden
Keep the world clean - no HTML in news or mail !

"Rob" wrote in message
m...
Hi,

I have been looking at VHF DSC radios and amazed by the price
difference between USA models and UK models. For example, a neat ICOM
402 is readily available in USA for around $170 and in UK you cannot
get a VHF DSC radio for less than £199.

I understand that there are two classes of DSC - Class F and Class D
which may account for the price difference.

Can anyone explain the situation???

TVMIA


THe classes run from A through F with A being the fullest most
comprehensive system as used on the big ships.

Some of the USA cheepies are class F which is not accepted over in
Europe...very basic and can lead to tricky situations in crowded waters due
to its limitations. IE some transmit a Tone on channel 70 and don t do much
else leaving it to the operator
to manually go through procedures for changing channel to a working
frequency where as the more sophsticated ones do this for you.

The lowest class used in the UK etc is class D which is slightly more
comprehensive.

This of course is only part of the story because we have to compound this
with what the manufacturers tell us is the advantage of a large market..in
the UK we pay the penalty


Joe......you got any comments ?????


John