Hello folks-
I'm a bit lost... I have my nice new GPIRB, PLB, and DSC handheld, and will be replacing the built in VHF with an AIS one (different discussion/post for later). My questions are:
1. Do the GPIRB, PLB need an MMSI? It seems like one can just register them with NOAA?
2. If they need an MMSI, does it need to be... a BoatUS MMSI (domestic only), or an FCC MMSI (international, for an extra $220 or whatever)?
3. I wish to emulate Christian and someday sail to Hawaii... which is not international, but the water in between is.... do I need an FCC MMSI for international? Or is that just if I go to Canada or Mexico?
4. For $220 a license, it seems perhaps best to wait and see if one is *really* going to Mexico, and if so maybe buying a new radio for the trip. Do any of you SoCal folks actually go down there enough to need the FCC license?
This is all worse since I don't want my DSC handheld VHF to have the same MMSI as the boat VHF, since if I fall overboard I want to be able to call the folks on the boat... so I'd need two FCC licenses = $440. I'm inclined to skip it, since who can pick up DSC in mid Pacific anyway... that seems like InReach territory, unless the GPIRB requires the FCC license...
I suspect some of you are more experienced with this stuff than you ever wanted to be... advice definitely appreciated.
I'm a bit lost... I have my nice new GPIRB, PLB, and DSC handheld, and will be replacing the built in VHF with an AIS one (different discussion/post for later). My questions are:
1. Do the GPIRB, PLB need an MMSI? It seems like one can just register them with NOAA?
2. If they need an MMSI, does it need to be... a BoatUS MMSI (domestic only), or an FCC MMSI (international, for an extra $220 or whatever)?
3. I wish to emulate Christian and someday sail to Hawaii... which is not international, but the water in between is.... do I need an FCC MMSI for international? Or is that just if I go to Canada or Mexico?
4. For $220 a license, it seems perhaps best to wait and see if one is *really* going to Mexico, and if so maybe buying a new radio for the trip. Do any of you SoCal folks actually go down there enough to need the FCC license?
This is all worse since I don't want my DSC handheld VHF to have the same MMSI as the boat VHF, since if I fall overboard I want to be able to call the folks on the boat... so I'd need two FCC licenses = $440. I'm inclined to skip it, since who can pick up DSC in mid Pacific anyway... that seems like InReach territory, unless the GPIRB requires the FCC license...
I suspect some of you are more experienced with this stuff than you ever wanted to be... advice definitely appreciated.