15
three seconds. The radio switches to Ch. 16 and a three-second on
screen timer begins to count down in the bottom right corner of the
screen. When it reaches zero, the call is sent out. To stop the call, let go
of the
DISTRESS
key. No message will be sent unless the timer counts
down to zero. Press the
16/9
key to cancel.
NOTE
If an inadvertent Distress call is sent out, make sure you're on Ch.
16 and quickly transmit a message to all vessels, canceling the Dis-
tress call.
If the
DISTRESS
key is held down until the timer expires, the radio will
switch to Ch. 70 and a distress call will be sent out. The DSC Distress
message is transmitted at 25 watts.
The Distress message contains your MMSI, your position and the UTC
time acquired from your GPS, if you're using a GPS unit. The
D
ISTRESS
ANNUNCIATOR
is displayed during the transmission.
A loud 2-tone alarm sounds. This alarm cannot be stopped unless the
mode is canceled. Pressing the
16/9
or
PTT
key cancels the
D
ISTRESS
W
AIT-
ING MODE
. If the mode is not canceled, the radio transmits the Distress
message again every 4 minutes. A
DISTRESS
WAIT
message will be dis-
played on the screen.
NOTE
The Coast Guard is the only agency allowed to acknowledge a Dis-
tress call. An individual vessel's DSC radio will not automatically
respond with an acknowledgement.
3-second
timer
Distress
Message
being sent
Timer
expired
