What is DSC?

DSC uses digital data, rather than voice, to transfer information between radios. Using this mechanism provides several important benefits including increased volume and accuracy of data and the ability to direct the information to specific addressees (hence selective call).

The effective range of communications when sending digital signals is also improved. DSC is primarily intended to initiate ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and shore-to-ship radiotelephone and MF/HF radio-telex calls.

DSC calls can also be made to individual ships or groups of ships. DSC distress alerts, which consist of a preformatted distress message, are used to initiate emergency communications with ships and rescue co-ordination centres.

When fully implemented, DSC will eliminate the need for persons on a ship’s bridge, or onshore, to continuously monitor radio receivers on voice radio channels, including VHF Ch16 (156.8MHz) and 2182kHz. The 2182kHz listening watch aboard GMDSS-equipped SOLAS ships ended on 1 February 1999. The VHF Ch16 watch is currently scheduled to end on 1 February 2005.

07/11/2003