In an effort to help boaters understand the latest advances in marine radio communication, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has launched a free, online marine DSC VHF radio tutorial for anyone interested in the new technology.
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Coast Guard, the online tutorial "Can You Hear Me?" is designed to educate boaters on all of the basics of DSC VHF radios.
When boaters understand how these radios work they will be able to take advantage of the latest innovations in search-and-rescue technology.
The 35-minute, narrated Web-based program covers all the basics and allows viewers to push various radio buttons and play sounds on their computers to simulate how a DSC VHF radio would operate. Topics covered include emergency signaling, how to install a DSC VHF radio and an overview of the U.S. Coast Guard's "Rescue 21" program.
No special computer program is needed to view the tutorial and it's compatible with PC and Mac formats.
