JohnAbercrombie
Paddler
More and more I hear recommendations for DSC VHF handheld radios because of the 'SOS' button which will 'squawk' a distress signal with the lat-lon (GPS) coordinates of the radio.
Ideally the radio will be powered on while paddling, I guess, but I tend to keep the radio off, thinking I am 'saving' the energy in the battery pack to use if I am in a real emergency situation.
So, what happens with a DSC radio in this scenario:
Radio is off.
I end up swimmng. I pull the radio out of my PFD.
I turn on the radio and push the DSC SOS button.
I'm swimming with the radio tethered to me, trying to hold on to the boat and paddle and radio.
Does the radio squawk a DSC SOS right away?
What GPS co-ordinates does it transmit?The ones from the last time it was powered up, or none, until it gets GPS satellite signals and calculates a position?
How long does it take a DSC radio to calculate a GPS position from the time it is turned on?
Where is the GPS antenna? Does the radio 'face' have to be pointed at the sky? That's difficult; most folks grab a VHF to point the VHF antenna vertical.
In the water, in rough conditions with a kayak beside my head doesn't sound like a ideal spot to get good GPS signals.
Are there many documented cases of kayaker rescues using DSC VHFs?
Thanks!
Ideally the radio will be powered on while paddling, I guess, but I tend to keep the radio off, thinking I am 'saving' the energy in the battery pack to use if I am in a real emergency situation.
So, what happens with a DSC radio in this scenario:
Radio is off.
I end up swimmng. I pull the radio out of my PFD.
I turn on the radio and push the DSC SOS button.
I'm swimming with the radio tethered to me, trying to hold on to the boat and paddle and radio.
Does the radio squawk a DSC SOS right away?
What GPS co-ordinates does it transmit?The ones from the last time it was powered up, or none, until it gets GPS satellite signals and calculates a position?
How long does it take a DSC radio to calculate a GPS position from the time it is turned on?
Where is the GPS antenna? Does the radio 'face' have to be pointed at the sky? That's difficult; most folks grab a VHF to point the VHF antenna vertical.
In the water, in rough conditions with a kayak beside my head doesn't sound like a ideal spot to get good GPS signals.
Are there many documented cases of kayaker rescues using DSC VHFs?
Thanks!