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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Hi Andy</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I guess you wouldn't remember me for the
short time I spent with North Comms after my initial training period with
you and the other training staff.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Anyway, I subsequently left and rejoined
the Maritime Safety Organization after being made redundant when it changed
hands from Telecom to BCL (which was why I joined your organization) and BCL
eventually becoming Kordia. So it was a shift from Auckland to Wellington
where I still reside and doubt very much that I'll be heading back Auckland way
any time soon.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I digress......... in answer to your
question below (sorry it's taken so long to respond, it's was one of those
years) I hope this enlightens you and others who may have been
interested:</SPAN></P><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">1. The first message is an incorrectly formatted station
call from MMSI 412081780 (Zhuohai/BUWO) to Shanghai MRCC. Zhuohai should
have indicated the R/T frequency they wished the subsequent communications to be
on. It was also sent on the wrong frequency as the Category for the
message was only routine, at a minimum it should have been
Safety.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">2. The second message is an Urgency Geographic area
call transmitted by RCC Australia/VIC and which preceded their Pan Pan call on
8291 kHz, as you mentioned. This was the correct use of DSC.
And one would hope so since the communications unit is run by
Kordia.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">3. You are correct, there is a lot of DSC
test traffic. Probably more than there should be. We see on average
6000 - 7000 messages a day on the DSC frequencies 4/6/8/12 & 16 MHz.
Most are either incorrectly formatted or on the wrong DSC frequencies.
Correct procedure is for ship stations to test their DSC units once a week and
only on one frequency (if successful with the first test). This is plainly
not happening. One of our staff wrote up a report for an ITU
survey on this issue about 5 years ago. The only traffic we should see
these frequencies are:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">a)<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">Distress messages -
Subsequent comms on R/T distress or NBDP distress frequencies</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"></SPAN><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">b)<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">Urgency messages-
Subsequent comms on R/T or NBDP using frequencies as directed by the originating
station in the RX/TX frequency fields. At the MOC we always use the R/T
distress frequencies for our message traffic.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"></SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">c)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT face=Verdana>Safety (includes Test & All
Station messages). - Subsequent comms as directed by the originating
station.<BR><BR></FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">NB: We have noticed that both Korea and Vietnam Coast
Radio Stations precede their scheduled Maritime Safety Information broadcasts
with a DSC Station call. GMDSS regulations states that this is not
required.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">4. Telecommand 1. Dependant upon the type of
message this field can serve different purposes. On some messages it will
indicate the subsequent mode of communications. On other times it will
serve as a formatting instruction for the message (usually distress
acknowledgments and distress relays). It can also be used for requesting
position reports and polling commands.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">5. Telecommand 2 is designed for use in commercial
services, so will not be used for messages on the Distress, Urgency and Safety
frequencies. (I can hear the big "yeah right").</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Hope you Xmas and New Year went well.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Best wishes to you n yours for the New
Year</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Cheers</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Ditz</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Is there anyone on here with some knowledge of the procedures used on HF<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Digital Selective Calling (DSC)?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I've just started decoding this traffic and was wondering about the large<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">numbers of apparent test messages to and from coast stations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Like this:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><Selective call to a particular individual station><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Called MMSI station address: ØØ41221ØØ [Coast station: Shanghai MRCC<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Shanghai/MRCC China] (China)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Category: Routine<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">MMSI self-identifier: 412Ø8178Ø [Ship] (China)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Telecommand 1: J3E telephony<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Telecommand 2: No information<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Neither RX/TX frequencies nor position supplied<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Check Sum: OK<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Date and time of decoding: 31/12/2Ø1Ø Ø8:12:44<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">There are occasional obvious distress or urgency calls such as this copied<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">on 8414.5:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><Selective call to a group of ships in a particular geographical area><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Zone: ØØ°N Side=Ø6° 143°ESide=Ø6°<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Category: Urgency<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">MMSI self-identifier: ØØ5Ø3ØØØ1 [Coast station: Charleville/Wiluna RCC<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Australia] (Australia)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Telecommand 1: J3E telephony<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Telecommand 2: No information<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">RX frequency: 8291.Ø KHz TX frequency: 8291.Ø KHz<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Check Sum: OK<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Date and time of decoding: 31/12/2Ø1Ø Ø7:51:36<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">This preceded a PAN PAN voice call by RCC Australia/VIC on 8291kHz about an<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">overdue dugout canoe.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Does anyone know the purpose of all the other calls with no Telecommand or<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">RX/TX frequencies specified? Random button presses or do they have a<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">purpose?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Happy New Year<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Andy<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>