|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
Subject: RE: [worldcruising] Introduction / Communication (long)
From: Rick the Mouseherder (nh2f@XXX.XXX)
Date: Sat Sep 29 2001 - 10:32:18 EDT
Not to beat a dead horse, but a last thought occurred to me last night on
Deaf people and cruising.
Newer VHFs are already coming with Digital Selective Calling (DSC), which is
a small part of a larger system called GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress
Signaling System--or something like that). Already you can tie together a
GPS and a DSC-ready VHF to automatically broadcast at the push of a button a
Mayday message that gives your GPS location and identity. This signal is
both speech synthesized and digital. So buy a state-of-the-art VHF and tie
it to your GPS. No hearing is required on the part of those sending the
message as these systems are completely digital and automatic. Already, as
part of GMDSS, larger ships are tying VHF, Marine SSB HF and their satellite
radio gear together for a comprehensive automated distress system--the radio
operator may or may not be present when distress signal is relayed out. So
even if a ship is just on your radio horizon and while it may not see you or
even know it has done it, it will passed the distress message. This
interwoven technology will soon be filtering down to us mom & pop cruisers.
(Which is the reason, BTW, FCC licenses are required to get a DSC number for
DSC-ready VHFs. While your VHF emergency transmission is line of sight, it
can now be relayed automatically by a ship at sea through GMDSS HF or
satellite channels to a rescue center. So now that just anyone can launch
a million dollar rescue effort with the push of a button from hundreds of
miles offshore with a 10-watt, 15-mile VHF, maritime governments around the
world want to know who is spending their money.)
You should also get a 406 GPIRB. Not only does it require no voice signal,
but all the indicators to test the unit to be assured that it is working are
visual. An added bonus is that once a 406 GPIRB is activated, the USCG is
going to call people you've submitted to them with your registration
paperwork to verify that you are at sea. At that time the people the USCG
contact can brief the rescue services about your deafness, so helicopters or
ships at sea responding to your 406 activation will know what to expect.
Finally, and I'm sure you're more up on this than I am, speech recognition
software and speakers, like what Stephen Hawkin's uses to give lectures,
could be useful. Hell, for all I know, with the right program you can now
translate English into spoken Spanish, which makes you a better linguist
than I am.
When you get to the Caribbean, look us up. I'd be glad to share an
anchorage with you--as long as you don't run your genset all night.
Rick
----------------------------------------------------------
Rick the Mouseherder - nh2f
Westsail 32 Xapic, Hull #438
Cabo San Juan, Puerto Rico
A small boat and a suitcase full of money
beats a 40 footer tied to the Bank.
Creative graphic solutions in vinyl for your boat lettering & designs
http://www.mouseherder.com
Visit our Westsail 32 Xapic
http://www.mouseherder.com/xapic
The Westsail Owners Assn. Homepage
http://www.westsail.org
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
FREE COLLEGE MONEY
CLICK HERE to search
600,000 scholarships!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/ujOgTC/4m7CAA/ySSFAA/_0TolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
=====================================
to unsubscribe email to: worldcruising-unsubscribe@onelist.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|