Test the red button

Have you ever checked whether the red button works on your DSC VHF radio? Gilbert Park puts his own radio to the test

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On a busy day in the summer in the Solent you’ll hear countless voice radio checks on Ch16 and Ch67 to HM Coastguard and now also on Ch65 to the National Coastwatch Institution.

However, the RYA and all other bodies recommend that the first step in a Mayday call is to press the red button on the radio and send a DSC call.

The RYA website says: ‘In the distress signal stage, the DSC or red button on your VHF is king. It is the first signal to the coastguard that you are in distress, but newer models will send your location via GPS too.’

This gives the coastguard essential information such as position, MMSI number of the boat (from which they can retrieve the details of the vessel) and, if selected in the menu, the nature of the distress.

The subsequent voice message enables the distress to be confirmed and further information to be obtained. It is also important to recognize that a DSC message may get through and a voice message may not.