Jack Painter wrote:

Unfortunately, the entire database maintained by BoatUS/West etc turned out
to be useless. It was a great idea and encouraged boaters to be instantly
registered with an MMSI. But that database went nowhere and is of no use to
a Rescue Coordination Center. I do not know what went wrong with that plan,
but only the FCC issued MMSI are considered international, and we certainly
can't maintain dual-systems. If a boater already has a BoatUS MMSI they
should apply to the FCC for a new one.

It must have seemed like a good idea to someone (in WM marketing
probably) but I agree that unless the info is maintained by one
governmental entity it is difficult to see how the system can work properly.

GMDSS has been a bit of a mess since day one in many ways but I cannot
fault the FCC for making the issuance of an MMSI part of the vessel
station license.

It seems like many users do not bother to license a voluntary ship
station so perhaps the manufacturer should preprogram the MMSI in each
unit and the seller would then mail in a card with the purchaser's
information to the FCC.

Rick

Larry W4CSC wrote:

To repair GMDSS equipment, there's a repairman's license, too. I hold both
so have an operator/maintainer's license (elements 1,3,7 and 9) called a DB
license.

So how about posting the License number of that "DB" ticket. We can then
go to: http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ and select "search licenses" then
"advanced license search" and enter your license number in the
"callsign" block, hit "submit" and see what happens.

Or we could enter W4CSC to get the other info and use that to search for
all license held ...

Rick

"Rick" wrote
Jack Painter wrote:

Unfortunately, the entire database maintained by BoatUS/West etc turned
out
to be useless. It was a great idea and encouraged boaters to be
instantly
registered with an MMSI. But that database went nowhere and is of no use
to
a Rescue Coordination Center. I do not know what went wrong with that
plan,
but only the FCC issued MMSI are considered international, and we
certainly
can't maintain dual-systems. If a boater already has a BoatUS MMSI they
should apply to the FCC for a new one.

It must have seemed like a good idea to someone (in WM marketing
probably) but I agree that unless the info is maintained by one
governmental entity it is difficult to see how the system can work
properly.

GMDSS has been a bit of a mess since day one in many ways but I cannot
fault the FCC for making the issuance of an MMSI part of the vessel
station license.

It seems like many users do not bother to license a voluntary ship
station so perhaps the manufacturer should preprogram the MMSI in each
unit and the seller would then mail in a card with the purchaser's
information to the FCC.

That's the best idea I agree. And it's so simple that it must confuse the
FCC. Along with that, should be a preventer to retain that MMSI in the
radio, changeable only if the radio was no longer on that registered vessel.
At least a maintainer could be required to seal and date his entry into the
unit, and log why he was there. That might discourage some of the
unauthorized mods to a transmitted MMSI.

It is a common trick for ships to alter the number (for whatever reason we
do not know) and inundate the HF distress frequencies with safety tests (and
USCG reply requested) using all zeroes or 23456789 etc as their ID. If
pleasure boaters on VHF behave anywhere near as badly as professionals have
on HF, then the GMDSS system may be doomed.

Jack

I think current radios will shut down that function if you enter an MMSI
number more than three times. It just won't let you enter it the fourth
time.

--


Keith
__
"Bachelors know more about women than married men; if they didn't, they'd be
married too." - H. L. Mencken
"Jack Painter" wrote in message
news0gHc.498$sj.110@lakeread02...

"Rick" wrote
Jack Painter wrote:

Unfortunately, the entire database maintained by BoatUS/West etc
turned
out
to be useless. It was a great idea and encouraged boaters to be
instantly
registered with an MMSI. But that database went nowhere and is of no
use
to
a Rescue Coordination Center. I do not know what went wrong with that
plan,
but only the FCC issued MMSI are considered international, and we
certainly
can't maintain dual-systems. If a boater already has a BoatUS MMSI
they
should apply to the FCC for a new one.

It must have seemed like a good idea to someone (in WM marketing
probably) but I agree that unless the info is maintained by one
governmental entity it is difficult to see how the system can work
properly.

GMDSS has been a bit of a mess since day one in many ways but I cannot
fault the FCC for making the issuance of an MMSI part of the vessel
station license.

It seems like many users do not bother to license a voluntary ship
station so perhaps the manufacturer should preprogram the MMSI in each
unit and the seller would then mail in a card with the purchaser's
information to the FCC.

That's the best idea I agree. And it's so simple that it must confuse the
FCC. Along with that, should be a preventer to retain that MMSI in the
radio, changeable only if the radio was no longer on that registered
vessel.
At least a maintainer could be required to seal and date his entry into
the
unit, and log why he was there. That might discourage some of the
unauthorized mods to a transmitted MMSI.

It is a common trick for ships to alter the number (for whatever reason we
do not know) and inundate the HF distress frequencies with safety tests
(and
USCG reply requested) using all zeroes or 23456789 etc as their ID. If
pleasure boaters on VHF behave anywhere near as badly as professionals
have
on HF, then the GMDSS system may be doomed.

Jack

On Thu, 8 Jul 2004 12:56:58 -0400, "Jack Painter"
wrote:

inundate the HF distress frequencies with safety tests

Which reminds me to ask...is there any way to test the distress button
capability on my VHF? I mean a legal way...

Larry W4CSC wrote:

You are posting the nonsense. See my other post and READ THE REGS I posted
there. You must NOT operate any GMDSS on a LICENSED SHIP STATION until you
have the GMDSS Operator's License, even if your boat is a goddamn rowboat!

I did read your posts, Larry ... including the ones where you claimed to
have a "DB" license, and how you get all goggle-eyed looking at the
"First Class Radiotelephone" license above your desk, and disgusted you
are at how easy it is for anyone to get a license these days.

You are making your claims in a glass house, Larry.

So how come the FCC database that lists all licenses held, operator and
station, only lists a ham license when I enter:

http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsS...chAdvanced.jsp

and type in BUTLER, LARRY E in the name block?

That
Rick

"Dick Locke" wrote
Which reminds me to ask...is there any way to test the distress button
capability on my VHF? I mean a legal way...

Hi Dick,

The one word answer is Never. But when Rescue-21 is fully implemented, there
may be a way to send a safety test message w/reply requested to a particular
MMSI (ie: USCG, or any ID) on VHF. But pressing and holding the "DISTRESS"
button alone will never be allowed for "testing". That will initiate
callouts on Ch-16 and start a SAR case rolling. It already happens in my
local area once or twice a month, and the operator inevitably claims "the
thing just went off, sorry". The thing will go off when the plastic cover
is lifted, and the distress button held down for at least three seconds. I
guess we wll always here about how guns "just went off" too... ;-)

Best regards,

Jack

Larry W4CSC wrote:

To keep my captain from being arrested, when I leave the boat, I toggle it
back to marine-channels-only transmit...(c;


Hey, Larry, who keeps you from being arrested? According to the FCC
license database neither you nor "your captain" hold any kind of license
that allows you to operate that Icom.

The boat has a station license (WDB6254) but if "your captain" is also
the owner and licensee Geoffrey you guys had better have someone aboard
who is licensed to operate that radio ...

Did the FCC miss something Larry?

Rick

Larry W4CSC wrote:

Here I'll give you some help. The ONLY people who should operate the HF
SSB radio are those who are WELL EDUCATED in its use. Each operator in the
USA is REQUIRED to have a "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Permit" to
be legal.

So who has one of those on "Lionheart"? According to the FCC the owner
doesn't and neither do you ...

There seems to be something missing here, Larry. For all your talk about
following the rules and requirements and moaning about how it is now too
easy to get a worthless piece of paper compared to what you have, how
come the FCC doesn't list you as having anything besides a ham license?

Is the FCC missing something?

Rick