Sharing MMSI numbers

uncle_otto · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:21 pm Post subject: Sharing MMSI numbers

Here's a thought... Would there be any interest in posting our MMSI numbers to allow individual and/or group calling while on the water? This could also be followed up by a position request to see other Brats within the range of your VHF signal. This is an alternative to the conventional voice hailing on VHF16 (or any other working channel). Perhaps this is something that we could add to our profiles...??

For those of you not familiar with this technology, here's how it works: Each person who has registered with the Coast Guard has a 9 digit unique MMSI number, much like a phone number. You obtain a handful of numbers from your fellow boaters. Then you enter them into your VHF, much like a speed dial phone book. If you desire, you can create a nickname for each entry. As you enter numbers, you can assign them to different groups. So now let's say you're out cruising the San Juan's and wonder to yourself... "how many other Brats are up here on this fine day?" You reach over and with the touch a few buttons, you send out a digital phone call to everyone in the C-Brats group that you created. You've just silently (digitally) hailed all C-Brats within range, and an alert sounds on their radio indicating they have received a call. Those that receive the call can either accept or decline the call. If you accept, your radio automatically switches to the predefined working channel that the caller has chosen when the call was made. Now you're all connected on the same channel and the chatting commences.

It goes one step further if you want to send a position request to another vessel. This is done in much the same way but only works for individuals - not groups. Once a position request is accepted, the position of the other vessel appears on your chartplotter - if so equipped. This same technology is used for DSC distress calls. The vessel's name automatically shows up on your screen so you can see exactly where the vessel in distress is located. (I believe other detailed information about the vessel is displayed in a pop-up window if your chartplotter supports it.)

Now I realize that a few issues arise here...

1) Equipment. Not everyone has the equipment to take advantage of this technology, but for those of us with an MMSI number, chances are you have a DSC radio and (hopefully) have it connected to your GPS. For those of you without this equipment, I urge you to consider the investment.

2) Privacy. I'm sure there are those among us that would rather not reveal their whereabouts or may not feel compelled to join in the conversation. That is solved by simply not sharing your MMSI number, or declining the call request. We'll just assume you're fighting a really big fish.

3) The geek factor. Ok, I'm a geek. But this technology can not be used without knowing other's MMSI numbers. A little too high tech for you...?? Well, it's this same high technology that can and will save lives in the future once the DSC system is fully implemented nationwide with the Coast Guard. I propose that we all get a little bit of practice and familiarity with our electronic equipment before the need arises to use it in an emergency.

For those that have read through the "rescue" thread, consider how much quicker the response would have been had a functional DSC system (VHF+GPS) been on board.

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject:

Hey Uncle Otto, great explanation. If I'd had time, I'd have dug this out by myself. I'm a self trained geek (well maybe with the help of NC State and the USN Post Graduate School) , Ham Radio Operator, etc.... We've got a system called APRS which will put the location of a ham station, mobile or fixed on a moving map GPS display. Would be great for us in the Bay here.

Art (Sea Angel) and I will try it at the Langford Bay gathering this summer and see if we can come up with a way to put it on the chartplotter. Art has already mentioned it.

charlie

TyBoo · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:41 pm Post subject:

Yes sir, that is a good idea. In fact, Sea Angel made a similar suggestion in a PM a few days ago (great minds think alike, huh?).

Bill is looking into adding or modifying a field in the member profile for entering the MMSI info. Being a geek himself, he wants to make sure that what is entered by users fits the acceptable format for the number and other nerd stuff. Bill is weird that way. To wit: I came by my bald pate via heredity; Da Nerd pulled his hair out.

I am thinking this is a good service to provide, as much for sharing the numbers by/with those interested as well as encouraging the technological slackers such as myself to join the current century. Anyone with privacy concerns has simply to not add the info.

Bill will be on this soon. He probably already has it figured out and ready to go, but he always runs a bunch of tests with new stuff to make sure there's no way I can screw it up.

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject:

I think this would be 1. fun to play with. 2 good for getting to know the capabilities of our radio/gps units. 3. Ultimately could save time on a rescue.

@ C · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:25 pm Post subject:

This is a great idea. I'm now thinking about replacing the vhf on my Trophy to talk to my SH plotter.
Nothing like being safe on the water and having others know where you are - especially if there is a problem.
Thanks,
Bill

starcrafttom · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:11 pm Post subject:

count me in. I have programed my number into the radio, a raymarine 54, and It reciecives the gps location from the chart plotter but how do I tell if it will display others localtion onto my chartplotter?? there is nothing in the mauanl about it but It has to be getting the info from hte chart plotter right? so why would it not work in hte other direction?? How do i tell or do I have to wait and get one of you to give me your number?

uncle_otto · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject:

Exactly! We can't start using it until we plug in some MMSI numbers. At least I don't think so... I have the same radio - a Ray54. There's no documentation on how to test it, or simulate a call, so once the nerds create a place for our MMSI# in our profile, we can look up the numbers of some of the Brats in your vicinity (use the brat map) and plug them in. Then the next time you're out, give it a try. It might take a while until we get more people online with the DSC technology, but it's well worth it!

oldgrowth · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:12 am Post subject:

otto & tom - I am glad both of you have programmed it into your radios. I do not have a number, however I plan on getting one and if I have trouble programming my radio, I know where to go for help. I have the Raymarine 54 radio also.

starcrafttom · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:27 am Post subject:

just follow the direction in the ray54 manual really easy to do.

tpbrady · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:06 am Post subject:

I started looking at this in my radio manual last night and I think what we are looking for is a C-Brat group MMSI number. That way you enter the group MMSI in the radio and you can either call the group or answer a call from the the group. I found this on a Coast Guard site:

I own a small fleet of boats, each equipped with DSC-equipped VHF radios. I have already programmed each with an individual MMSI number. These radios also allow programming with a vessel group MMSI, which I need for calling all of my vessels. How do I obtain a vessel group MMSI assignment?

Your individual MMSI assigned by the FCC should end in a zero. To obtain a vessel group identity, take any one of your individual MMSI numbers, remove the zero at the end of the number, and add a zero at the beginning. That new number will be your vessel group identity. For example, if your individual identity is 366123450, your vessel group identity is 036612345. If your individual identity does not end in a zero, you will need to obtain a group identity from the FCC or the agency which assigned you your individual identity. See the MMSI Webpage.

I looked at my MMSI number but it ends in 8 and not 0. So it would seem to be simple if someone has an MMSI ending in 0.

C-Hawk · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:18 am Post subject:

Registered last night. Now to figure out how to input info into my Horizon Intrepid radio. I also need to hook up to the GPS.

Perhaps we could get the nerds to add a place for the MMSI in our profiles?

Frogpawg · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:08 pm Post subject:

Take a look at the post I put on the Lankford gathering discussion. It is on Page 9. It has a great frequently asked questions run down on MMSI. Should I move it over hear?

Joe Reighard
Soapy Joe
22' cruiser

Sneaks · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:33 pm Post subject:

Here's the MMSI number for the "Jenny B".

366978310

Feel free to digitize us any time you're within range.

Don

tpbrady · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:09 am Post subject:

Don,

See my previous post on a group MMSI number. You have the magic BB. If we drop the 0 from the end of your number and add it at the beginning, it will make it a group MMSI. If you load that group MMSI into your radio, any C-Brat can just put in the group call, and your radio would respond. You don't have to know who is there, just that somebody in the group is there.

If my understanding is right, we could use 036697831 as the group call for the C-brats.

Sneaks · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:01 am Post subject:

Very interesting, Tom. Intuitively, dealing with "gummint" entities in the past, it appears that group numbers may not be monitored at all, just as we are ignored if I programmed your number in my VHF as an individual "caller ID" and gave you a specific MMSI call. I wonder if any 9 digit number starting with 0 and ending with something other than 0 would work as a group number? DSC has great potential and I would bet there's very little use in the boating community beyond programming for the red button and ignoring it

What's needed is a little experimentation by at least three DSC equipped C-Brat boats in the same physical location. If a registered MMSI number ending in zero is needed for a group number, the brats can certainly use mine by moving the zero from the end to the beginning:
036697831

They need only be careful to enter the group number in the "calling list" on their VHF and not reprogram their radio's primary number.

Don

Edited to make sure the group number was clearer