Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- emergency_signal_devices [2025/05/06 15:52]
pstureavley
+++ emergency_signal_devices [2025/10/26 16:26] (current)
pstureavley
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
             * //[[https://recent-radio.co.za/how-to-obtain-an-mmsi-number/|recent radio]]// instructions to acquire MMSI
           * **USA**  If your plans include travels to foreign ports (including Mexico, the Bahamas, and, yes, Canada), you'll need to [[https://www.fcc.gov/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/ship-radio-stations|get a Ship Station license and MMSI from the FCC.]][[https://transition.fcc.gov/Forms/Form605/605.html|https://transition.fcc.gov/Forms/Form605/605.html]] Mariners not required to carry a marine radio (e.g. recreational boaters) and who remain in U.S. waters can obtain an MMSI through approved organizations such as [[http://www.boatus.com/mmsi/|BOAT US]] 1-800-563-1536 ($25), [[http://www.usps.org/php/mmsi/home.php|U.S. Power Squadron]] (free/donation), and [[http://www.shinemicro.com/AboutMMSI.asp|Shine Micro]] ($25 per MMSI for handhelds).
+            * <font inherit/inherit;;#e74c3c;;inherit>You can register an MMSI for a handheld radio without assigning it to a vessel (which would make perfect sense if you use your handheld with more than one boat), but some USA sites that provide MMSI #s do not make this obvious or even possible. Of the sources listed above, only Shine Micro seems to make it obvious how one can get an MMSI for a handheld that is not assigned to a specific vessel.</font>
       * [[http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3136|ContinuousWave discussion of DSC Worth for Kayakers 2018]]
       * [[:dsc_test_calls|DSC Test Calls]]
@@ Line 95: / Line 96: @@
       * rinse them off with fresh water afterwards if they got wet during your paddle
       * some use "[[https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Away-Salt-Remover-Spray-Fl/dp/B003HFZ5PA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8|Salt Away]]" to remove recent salt stains and protect against further accumulation. But don't expect it to remove long standing salt deposits/rust
-      * some use vasoline to protect against corrosion - don't use on charging/conducting elements (use dielectric grease instead if you go this route)
+      * corrosion - use dielectric grease on charging/conducting elements
-      * [[:vhf_corrosion|VHF Corrosion Discussion]]
+      * [[:vhf_corrosion|VHF]][[:vhf_corrosion| Corrosion Discussion]]
+  * **Galvanic ****Corrosion**
+      * Periodically you may notice that your battery will not charge, or your radio will not turn on even though you know you have a charged battery (tested in a separate radio?).
+        * **Not Charging**  - remove galvanic corrosion from conducting points in charger and radio then apply dielectric grease on those conducting points
+        * **Radio Won't Turn On **- remove galvanic corrosion - both on battery contacts and radio battery compartment contacts, once radio is working again apply dielectric grease on conducting points in radio and on battery
+        * **Removing Corrosion**  you can abrade the contact points or clean them either with baking soda or vinegar (there a multiple youtube videos on this) //But abrading//// the contact points repeatedly over a long period of time may reduce the strength and reliability of contact, so ultimately using dielectric grease is the better long term solution as soon as you have contacts that are working//
   * **"Waterproofness"**  - the weak point on some VHF radios can be the covering over charge ports (make sure they are completely closed and if you need to - cover the closure with tape). Trouble has been reported with some models that have a cover (possibly due to forgetting to make sure the cover is on correctly). Some models like the Horizon HX40 have solid exposed pins for charging which may provide a more reliable water tight seal but is still subject to corrosion.
       * See [[:waterproof_ratings|Electronics water resistance ratings]]
-      * Sealed charging pins will lose their connection over time for charging due to corrosion on the radio pins and/or the connections in the charging cradle. You can restore good connections by rubbing the connectors with a fine abrasive. Eventually you may not be able to restore the charging via the cradle. Cradle replacements can be expensive but **another alternative**  is to use the rechargeable battery pack that some manufacturers like Horizon include with your radio. Typically the AAA batteries you use in such a pack will not hold as much charge as the original single battery, but you should easily be able to keep fully charged batteries of this type ready to go with your radio. Some boaters have solved this charging corrosion problem by **keeping an extra radio**  that does not go in the water exclusively for charging their batteries. They pull the charged batteries from their charging radio and put them into their on-water use radio.
+      * Sealed charging pins will lose their connection over time for charging due to corrosion on the radio pins and/or the connections in the charging cradle. See Galvanic Corrosion in section above. Cradle replacements can be expensive but **another alternative**  is to use the rechargeable battery pack that some manufacturers like Horizon include with your radio. Typically the AAA batteries you use in such a pack will not hold as much charge as the original single battery, but you should easily be able to keep fully charged batteries of this type ready to go with your radio. Some boaters have solved this charging corrosion problem by **keeping an extra radio**  that does not go in the water exclusively for charging their batteries. They pull the charged batteries from their charging radio and put them into their on-water use radio.
       * **Jeff Hegedus <jhegedus@…>**11/06/11 #11683 "I rinsed my IPX7 rated waterproof handheld after every paddle, and the two copper electrodes between the gasketed snap-in rechargeable battery pack and the main unit still fully corroded (they are spring loaded for a good connection, and the spring failed). Its something that you wouldn't normally notice until failure occurs; I had it serviced, and now keep the radio in a dry bag when in my pfd pocket. The dry bags can be purchased at West Marine. Handhelds are not really designed for daily immersion, but rather for boaters that occasionally get them wet…"
-        * **Followup 2012 \\ Caution: Toasted VHF Radio \\ Jeff Hegedus** \\ 10/14/12 #13446 GEAR CHECK TIME. Crap, my waterproof IPX7 rated VHF radio, always carried in a dry bag in my PFD pocket, was destroyed. The dry bag had a pin hole leak; I end each paddle with a swim, and the bag stored the unit in water. The bag was three years old and had a ton of wear, not its fault. The radio is not designed for continuous immersion, not its fault. Glad I checked.
+        * **Followup 2012 \\
+   Caution: Toasted VHF Radio \\
+   Jeff Hegedus**  10/14/12 #13446 GEAR CHECK TIME. Crap, my waterproof IPX7 rated VHF radio, always carried in a dry bag in my PFD pocket, was destroyed. The dry bag had a pin hole leak; I end each paddle with a swim, and the bag stored the unit in water. The bag was three years old and had a ton of wear, not its fault. The radio is not designed for continuous immersion, not its fault. Glad I checked.
 ==== Brands ====

Surfski Knowledge Base

User Tools

Site Tools

Differences

Page Tools