Table of Contents

Foreword by Captain Jack Fuechsel Introduction About This Book Acknowledgments Part 1. Your VHF Radio Chapter 1. Overview of the VHF-DSC System Why Digital Selective Calling? How Long before I Need to Buy a New Radio? Benefits of Using DSC Chapter 2. Non-DSC VHF Radios Chapter 3. Portable Radios Chapter 4. VHF-DSC Radios Equipment Classes VHF-DSC Radio Controls and Functions Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) Numbers How to Get an MMSI Number Radio Buyer's Clinic Chapter 5. Radio Installation Where to Situate the Radio Antenna Radio Signal Emergency Antennas Testing the Radio Chapter 6. Setting Up the DSC-Equipped Radio Programming the Directory Manual Position and Time Entering a Group MMSI Number Self-Test Feature (if Fitted) Chapter 7. The Batteries Small, Internal Batteries Ship's Battery Battery Care Chapter 8. VHF Marine Radio Channels Channel Numbering Single- and Dual-Frequency Channels and Half-Duplex Communciations Capture Effect GMDSS VHF Channel Usage Part 2. VHF Radio Protocol Chapter 9. Standard Procedure Language Requirement Position, Course, Distance, and Speed Geographical Names Time Phonetic Alphabet Phonetic Numerals Procedure Words Transmitting Rules: The Radio Creed Microphone Skills Chapter 10. Calling Etiquette Calling Channels Initial Calls Who Chooses the Working Channel? Watchkeeping Garbled Calls Unanswered Calls Call Planner Part 3. Using Your VHF Radio Chapter 11. Distress Distress Alerting by DSC Distress Menu The Distress Call and Message Designated Distress Alert and Mayday Message Mayday Procedure Card Acknowledging Distress from a Ship Station Distress Relay Distress Signals Mayday Relay CH16 Communications Control Direction Finding Canceling a False Distress Alert Chapter 12. Urgency Traffic Urgency Alerting by DSC Pan-Pan Message for DSC and Non-DSC Radios Urgent Medical Advice Receiving an Urgency Message Chapter 13. Safety Traffic Sending Safety Alerts Safety Alerts by Ship Stations: Passing a Safety Message to the Coast Guard Receiving a Safety Message Chapter 14. Calling Another Vessel Intership Channels Collision Avoidance Communications on Board Intership Calls Chapter 15. Calling the Coast Guard Coast Guard Services Weather and Safety Information Float Plans Direction Finding Routine Calls to the Coast Guard Chapter 16. Weather Information Weather-Wise Boating Where to Find Weather Forecasts Chapter 17. Making a Phone Call Coast Radio Stations Phone Calls Step-by-Step Chapter 18. VHF Radio versus Cellular Phones Cell Phones on Boats Chapter 19. Port Operations and Marinas Chapter 20. Marine Radio Legal Requirements in the United States and Canada United States Canada Part 4. The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Chapter 21. What Is the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System? Chapter 22. Other GMDSS Equipment EPIRBs Search-and-Rescue Transponders (SARTs) Navtex Systems Chapter 23. The Last Word: Training Part 5. Appendices 1. U.S. Maritime VHF Bandplan 2. Canadian Maritime VHF Bandplan 3. International Maritime VHF Bandplan 4. U.S. Coast Guard Weather Broadcast Schedule 5. Maritel Coast Radio Station Channels 6. U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard MMSI Numbers 7. Contact Information 8. Glossary 9. Making the Call: Quick Reference Index

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