VHF Poll

[Skip]

Just a few points of technical clarification....

In order for the DSC feature to work on your VHF/DSC capable radio, you must have a GPS receiver interfaced with your VHF radio. I have seen a great number of VHF/DSC radios installed where the owner was not aware he needed a separate GPS input. Manufacturers are now selling both fixed and handheld VHF radios with built in GPS receivers to simplify ownership and installation.

VHF radios can be triangulated, but the only facilities capable of doing so presently are some US Coastguard facilities all located on the coast. Additionally distance from the triangulation receive site increases location error, and any fixes on an inland boat on Winnipesaukee (if two or more coastal stations could even receive such a transmission concurrently) would not only have a significant location error, but it would take a considerable amount of time and numerous inter-agency phone calls to even atempt such a fix.

Dialing 911 on your cell phone instanly transmits your location, usually accurate to within meters, to the 911 call center. This information is then instantaneously transmitted electronically and via voice to the nearest responders that would be necessary to go to your emergency. The constant inference that there are serious delays when you call 911 are again not only inaccurate, but could prove deadly if you listen to this bad advice.

The best of both worlds? Carrying both a VHF radio and a cell phone, as several astute posters here have already indicated. As mentioned a VHF radio can help you gain assistance from nearby boats also equipped with VHF radios and a cell phone can pinpoint your location if you are unsure or unable to relay it, such as after dark, in fog or bad weather or in a location unfamiliar to you.

Finally remember that at any given time you or your regular boating crew that knows how to operate the radio could be incapacitated. A boating guest unfamiliar with the radio may be hesitant or unable to operate that same radio. Something that seems natural or easy to us can be very frightening to someone who has never operated a two way radio. But virtually anyone that knows how to dial a cell phone can pick up any model and simply dial 911.

Whenever I boat, wherever I boat I always carry both a VHF radio and a cell phone....

[lawn psycho]

Originally Posted by Skip

Dialing 911 on your cell phone instanly transmits your location, usually accurate to within meters, to the 911 call center. This information is then instantaneously transmitted electronically and via voice to the nearest responders that would be necessary to go to your emergency. The constant inference that there are serious delays when you call 911 are again not only inaccurate, but could prove deadly if you listen to this bad advice.

Strike a nerve did we?

I think you may have stretched some inferences but I must challenge you on your declaration.

First, nobody said not to call 911. We are discussing the need of aid (degree of which was not specified) while on the water. An overheated boat is not an emergency while a drowning or cardiac event is.... When you press the talk button on Ch 16 you are in essence making your 911 call to MP with the added benefit of alerting anyone on the water of the situation who may be nearby and able to assist.

Second, I have served in the fire-rescue as a FF-EMT(I) as well as at a major medical center in cardiac care both clinically and in research. I can't even begin to tell you the number of times I've seen centralized 911 calls get screwed up with the wrong agency, equipment, and location dispatched. That is delay.... It's part the callers fault for providing inadequate details of the situation as well as the 911 operators lack of local knowledge. Example1: 911 dispatches to the wrong town because of the callers location even though another town may be closer to the scene, etc.
Example2: You call centralized 911 who then dispatches MP. That is slower than hailing directly to MP.

A cell phone is a risky proposition in the Lakes Region. I have AT&T and it's very common to have no phone service. The cells phones are nice when they work but the VHF is a much better option in an emergency.

Not trying to split hairs. By all means people should call 911 ASAP but while on the water a call via VHF has several benefits. If you have multiple passengers have one call on VHF and one on the phone. It would be interesting to see if they would dispatch the same agencies and have the same response tree......

[Skip]

Originally Posted by lawn psycho

Strike a nerve did we?...Not trying to split hairs. By all means people should call 911 ASAP but while on the water a call via VHF has several benefits. If you have multiple passengers have one call on VHF and one on the phone. It would be interesting to see if they would dispatch the same agencies and have the same response tree......

Nope, didn't strike a nerve at all...I am more interested in getting the most correct information out to folks that boat in New Hampshire waters.

Each State runs a different type of E911 dispatch center. For example, Maine's PSAP system is completely different than New Hampshire's.

In New Hampshire you will get the quickest and most accurate response by utilizing our centralized E911 system. That is not conjecture, but a simple fact. I have worked as a firefighter in New Hampshire under the original localized 911 system when it first arrived in the seventies. I have also worked the newer centralized system as a police officer for well over 20 years. I have worked first hand with the existing system for the past 14 years.

The emergency response system in New Hampshire has been designed to originate from Concord for a variety of safety, technical and personnel reasons. To bypass that system and attempt to contact local agencies direct, either by phone or radio, bypasses the safety features of the system. Additionally, many local dispatch centers are designed to have limited personnel on duty as there function is to dispatch local response personnel and not be tied up directly on the phone with multiple calls. For example If an agency only has one dispatcher on duty and they are inundated with direct calls or a lengthy single call it can and does delay dispatch of appropriate first responders.

You are obviously unfamiliar with New Hampshire's system and are giving out bad, potentially deadly advice.

But as not to beat a dead horse here I have made my point. The reader is free to determine which advice is more appropriate to follow.

Skip

[lawn psycho]

Skip we are taking about aid on the water not "in general". CH16 is monitored.

I know all too well about centralized dispatching and it's not infallible (far from it actually).

[Skip]

Originally Posted by lawn psycho

Skip we are taking about aid on the water not "in general". CH16 is monitored.

I know all too well about centralized dispatching and it's not infallible (far from it actually).

I sent you a PM as I don't want to monopolize this very important and informative thread....

[jrc]

Pretty much every family has at one cell phone so having a cell phone on the boat is a no-brainer.

As to VHF, you can buy a handheld for less than $100. For the lake that will do. Anybody would be better off with one than without.

Personally when I broke down, I used my cell phone to call the boatus 800 number. They called the local guy, who called me when he was able to come get us.

This was a non-emergency situation, engine wouldn't start while floating in the Broads. In an emergency...OK I'm trying to think which I would do. I would dial 911, guaranteed successful connection. The VHF might get a response, might have to wait for the MP to realize what I said. Might be out of range, might get stepped on by some chucklehead, who knows.

Obviously any delay would send me to the backup. But today, with the coverage and the stability of the phone network, 911 would be first.