Rya - Vhf/src/dsc Radio Course - Page 2

codprawn · 10 October 2004, 20:32

Talking of training and bits of paper just seen that Steve Curtis had to take his level 2 for the Southampton Boat show - obviously his years of experience means absolutely nothing!

Rogue Wave · 10 October 2004, 20:36

Fair enough , radios on a loop are Ok. but that still involves some form of equipment expediture and actual hands on experience for the student or I don't care if you make your own simulators by the way. I know of courses where the instuctors have turned up with no kit (other than a portable PC) and have had the students speaking into their hands to simulate a microphone including pressing the vitual PTT button with your actual thumb

Louise · 10 October 2004, 20:41

That sounds pretty poor - I didn't imagine this kind of thing could happen! My course used radios on a loop and I thought that was great 'cos it was so realistic. Incidentally, I believe they are one of only a handful (at most) of buildings to hold a ship's radio licence.

Rogue Wave · 10 October 2004, 20:43

where was your course.

Louise · 10 October 2004, 20:43

Bisham Abbey Sailing School on the Thames near Maidenhead in Berkshire.

Rogue Wave · 10 October 2004, 21:33

I fort tHat woz were the footy skool waz

Louise · 10 October 2004, 21:35

It is! The England team train there sometimes but they weren't there on the day I was!

Rogue Wave · 10 October 2004, 21:38

were you using Svenrad simulators

Louise · 10 October 2004, 21:42

No they were real radios - Simrads. We talked into them and listened to them just like in real life. The only difference is that the co-ax joins them all together so they don't transmit externally.

robin · 10 October 2004, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Svenrad

England team training ground.

Louise · 10 October 2004, 22:23

D'oh! Thanks for pointing that out, Robin!

robin · 10 October 2004, 22:24

I had to look twice. arf

Jono Garton · 11 October 2004, 08:04

We now use a simulator (2 x dsc vhf's joined together), in the instructions it says the set may transmit a few meteres. Only problem is we are in the harbour masters Building (100yds away in the same building) and it transmits as clear as a bell on low power, we are also 150yds from part of the marina and 200yds to the lifboat station.

Paul, have you had any probs with simulators as you are close to the marina and marina office?

Solent Ranger · 12 October 2004, 09:30

Interesting your comment on the simulators actually transmitting. I'm in the process of having some simulators made up by a radio engineer. Will to all intense and purposes look like a real set, but will just have an amplifer and speaker in them. The cost of full Simrad sets are too expensive for me. These sim sets will come in at about £50 (TBC) a pair. Will come with fist mikes at al.

Rich L · 12 October 2004, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

Only problem is we are in the harbour masters Building (100yds away in the same building) and it transmits as clear as a bell on low power, we are also 150yds from part of the marina and 200yds to the lifboat station.

Hey Jono

Surely you mean 10yrds away from the harbour master or have they extended the building?! Have you tested how far they transmit?

Hope you're OK.

Rich

Mike Martin · 12 October 2004, 13:47

Here's an interesting angle for you from the point of view of the bloke who gets all the phone calls, emails and letters from those poor unfortunates who have done the "shortened" 1 day SRC and have actually retained little or none of the info delivered to them.

The course when introduced was a 2-day course with the upgrade (from VHF Restricted) being 1 whole day in it's own right. However, under presssure the MCA agreed that the course could be condensed and the bits that aren't specified in the ITU syllabus could be left out.

I personally re-took from scratch (even though I already had Restricted) on the grounds of checking the course content and how the other (non-RA) candidates took it in. My memory was refreshed.

As it was 2 days there was enough time to teach IN DETAIL all the things that people continually ask me about now, a couple of popular ones:
How do I call when MMSI isn't known?
I know how to do MAYDAY, how do I call another boat?
Why can't anyone hear me on C70?
I Know how to press the red button but how do I actually call someone?
How do I get an MMSI number?
Can I take my MMSI number from boat to boat (several various forms)?
Is it OK for me to use SSB with my SRC?

Just a taster

peteb · 12 October 2004, 14:24

Maybe with DSC they should simplify the buttons with a choice of one of the first three and a choice of one of the second three like :-

1. Immediate help needed
2. Need help ASAP
3. May need help

A. Sinking
B. Had a Collision
C. Casualty on board

So if you press 1 A you should get help quick e.t.c. better than all the chattering and panic you hear. If you are half sensible then you could also go manual, but this would help the ones that have forgotten their training, like 70% of the other casual boaters. The DSC would give out your position.

I am sure more experienced people could fine tune the categories.

Jon Brooks · 12 October 2004, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solent Ranger

Interesting your comment on the simulators actually transmitting. I'm in the process of having some simulators made up by a radio engineer. Will to all intense and purposes look like a real set, but will just have an amplifer and speaker in them. The cost of full Simrad sets are too expensive for me. These sim sets will come in at about £50 (TBC) a pair. Will come with fist mikes at al.

Will you be able to send DSC messages?
Or will it just be for voice?

Our simulators and those made by Simrad give real life radio's.
They are a great toll for teaching.
I think it would be like doing your Level II in a bath using Action Man and Barbie boats.

There is a place for PC simulators and voice simulators but there is nothing better that real radio's.

Having taught radio for many years the biggest fear from most students is picking up a mic and talking to someone else.
Being able to practise with something that is as near to the real thing has got to be better.

IMHO the course should be longer to allow students to play radio.
The SCR in its current form does not allow for lengthy "radio play"

Like doing you driving test and only ever had 15 mins in a car!

When I first went in to instructing many moons ago a wise old sage said to me something that I never have forgotten and always try to include in my talks:-

What I hear I forget
What I see I remember
But what I do I understand.

Regards

Jon Brooks · 12 October 2004, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Fair enough , radios on a loop are Ok. but that still involves some form of equipment expediture

Surely as Powerboat instructors you have to buy a boat?
As a driving instructor you would need a car?
So why as a SRC instructor should you not have radio simulators?

You can't tell me the PC simulator is anything like real life?

Or am I missing something here?

Regards

David Hickman · 12 October 2004, 19:23

PC Simulator is not like the real thing!! Besides, most of my pupils have or are inteneding to but 1 until DSC/VHF and not 2 units linked together.
Your 601 sets are great in the classroom. The scanner picks them up in the same room but nothing yet from Brixham CG(300m down the road).
What is the real transmitting power of a simulator Jon? What sit he difference between a demo/simulator and the real thing??