'MAYDAY' Distress Hailing

[DCockey]

A quick look through several 2011 catalogs of US dealers showed several portable combo VHF/GPS units but no fixed mount units. My guess is combos will become the norm in the next several years in the US market given the low cost of receivers and antennas. Fixed mount installatins may need an external antenna depending on mounting location.

[Submarine Tom]

Yes, I am well familiar with how they work. It is Michael who seems most confused and now I know why.

-Tom

[Landlubber]

"Next you'll be trying to tell me there is a special name for the pointy end and the blunt end of a boat!!"

...I don't think so Poida, what for instance if it was blunt ended.....there would be sooooo many names that the Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea would need to be created just to deal with then all......

[yipster]

do think it would be wise to read up what is involved using this sort of equipment
but see the Solas-threaty and Bazel agreement has since 2008 determent licences redundant
and replaced this by a registration duty where user also gets his MMSI-nummer

[WestVanHan]

Originally Posted by Poida

It is better to make an emergency call as such. "Help me I am sinking,"

Might not be such a good idea.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSdxqIBfEAw

[Poida]

I notice that the radio operator did not respond to the Mayday call. Only responded to the word sinking.

As Brian pointed out Mayday is from a French word.

Who the hell speaks French any more???

Poida

[hoytedow]

Originally Posted by yipster

that i hear first time, was thinking it was a more comon popular expression good for all sorts of sixpacks
but no wrong and sorry, i never learn, hope people can still read my drift and should have stayed when younger

You are right that it has various meanings here.

[hoytedow]

Originally Posted by Poida

I notice that the radio operator did not respond to the Mayday call. Only responded to the word sinking.

As Brian pointed out Mayday is from a French word.

Who the hell speaks French any more???

Poida

The French?

[yipster]

And when in distress we all are fluent nato alfa bravo charly's

[Submarine Tom]

Delta, Echo, Foxtrot...

It is the international language of transport communications.

Damn lucky for me as it's the only language I've got!

But lets not muddle the waters here. Mayday was merely taken from French, the rest of your distress call would be in the language of the area. Because your most likely rescuer is going to be a "vessel of opportunity" who is not only near-by, but likely speaks the local language or has someone on board who does.

-Tom

[Poida]

Hoyt, your kidding, the French still speak French. Man, they are sooo far behind!

[hoytedow]

Alors!

[Frosty]

may day is the first day of the 5th month is it not.

Not a good word if you stutter.

MMMM--MMMM -MMM Fcking mayday !!!!

[powerabout]

Originally Posted by michael pierzga

GMDSS gear that Ive used, including VHF DSC, are interfaced with the GPS. I thought all DSC radios were GPS interfaced.

Im presently probing a Sat C with a voltmeter to find out why its lost...no MNEA GPS signal ? always something to fix.

many of the handheld VHF radios I see in the shop have built in GPS.

Not being interfaced with GPS seems to ruin the whole concept.

Perhaps the regulations need to catch up with technolgy

measuring rms voltage on a nmea wire may not show you anything
scope is the only way to check for sure or laptop with hyperterm