Craig Jungers wrote: > That's what I love aboug governments; clear and easy-to-follow rules. Can't > use a cellphone any more, You can use a cellphone - 911. Just don't use *CG. The USCG is dropping the use of the quick dial code since it's not properly and consistently implemented. Blame the phone companies for that. USCG is _not_ dropping telephone use. VHF is preferred because many can hear the call; with cell phones, only the called person can hear. If the coast guard is an hour away but Joe Boater is two minutes away, you might prefer that he listen in. > channel 16 may work but then again it may not Channel 16 is being replaced with channel 70 - DSC - Digital Selective Calling. DSC provides a digital signal that contains your identifier, your GPS position and your distress signal. That means they can identify you and your registered craft uniquely and know your precise position without having to make a voice call. Altogether a better system, but not widely implemented in handheld units yet. Once DSC is widely used, channel 16 will be obsolete as a distress call channel and can revert to a station-to-station calling channel (like 9 in the US). In some areas, DSC is apparently the only mechanism for making a distress call. I know that the Canadian Coast Guard has guaranteed that they will monitor ch 16 in the Great Lakes for the foreseeable future. Note that, AFAIK, DSC does not replace ch 16 for pan pan and securite calls. Melinda wrote: >> Of course 22 will end up costing you $. Why? 22 is a direct channel to the CG. It is only if you request a phone connect through 22 that you pay - and that goes, in part, to the phone company. If you need to phone someone and you can, use your cell phone instead. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Nov 15 2006 - 14:18:33 PST
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