Bassman, 179 and some other members and I speculated a few weeks ago about whether there would be interest in setting up a S-B member group MMSI number for VHF DSC calling. DSC-capable VHFs have a group MMSI calling feature with which members of a group (any bunch of boaters whether recreational or commercial who want to talk to each other on the water without others listening) can call the group and automatically shift to a pre-determined channel. With scrambling, it could be a confidential discussion. I finally got around to checking out what would be required to do this.
First, people with DSC-capable VHF units would have to have an MMSI number, which is obtainable from BOATUS, the FCC, and other places. Then, a group is established by people wishing to call one another while underway. DSC-capable VHFs have a data entry routine for entering the group MMSI number agreed to my members of the group, and then apparently it's all automatic after that.
Now, the issue: The USCG site explained that to create a group MMSI number, only one member of the group simply would make a small change in his/her MMSI number, or any other groupmember's MMSI number, to use as the group number. Then all members of the group would enter that number as the group number, and off they would go.
The CG site said you take your FCC-derived MMSI number, all of which have a zero at the end of them as the 9th digit, move the zero from 9th in the series of numbers to the 1st (so, 336123450, for example, would become 033612345), and that would be the group number.
FIRST QUESTION: Does anyone that has an MMSI number have one with a zero on the end of it? Mine has a 7 as the 9th digit; Bassman's is a 9. I got mine from BOATUS.
SECOND Question: Does anyone know how to get one with a zero on the end, and how to replace one without a zero on the end with the new one???????
Group MMSI Number for S-B members
Threaded Mode