§ 80.359   Frequencies for digital selective calling (DSC).

   (a) General purpose calling. The following table describes the calling
   frequencies for use by authorized ship and coast stations for general
   purpose DSC. There are three series of paried frequencies. One series
   is for worldwide use; the other two series are for regional use. The
   “Series A” designation includes coast stations along, and ship stations
   in, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. The
   “Series B” designation includes stations in any remaining areas.
   Stations must initiate contact on the appropriate regional frequency
   depending upon the location of the called station and propagation
   conditions. Acknowledgement is made on the paired frequency. The
   worldwide frequencies may be used for international calling, if calls
   on the appropriate regional frequencies are unsuccessful, or the
   regional series does not contain the appropriate band (e.g., 2 MHz).
   During normal working hours, all public coast stations capable of DSC
   operations must monitor the worldwide and regional frequencies
   appropriate for its location. The specific frequencies to be monitored
   will vary with propagation conditions.

   General Purpose DSC

   [In kHz unless otherwise noted]
        Worldwide         Series A       Series B
     Ship      Coast    Ship    Coast   Ship    Coast
       458.5     455.5
      2189.5  ^12177.0
      4208.0    4219.5  4208.5  4220.0  4209.0  4220.5
      6312.5    6331.0  6313.0  6331.5  6313.5  6332.0
      8415.0    8436.5  8415.5  8437.0  8416.0  8437.5
     12577.5   12657.0 12578.0 12657.5 12578.5 12658.0
     16805.0   16903.0 16805.5 16903.5 16806.0 16904.0
     18898.5   19703.5 18899.0 19704.0 18899.5 19704.5
     22374.5   22444.0 22375.0 22444.5 22375.5 22445.0
     25208.5   26121.0 25209.0 26121.5 25209.5 26122.0
   ^2156.525 ^2156.525

   ^1The frequency 2177.0 kHzs is also available to ship stations for
   intership calling and acknowledgement of such calls only.

   ^2MHz.

   (b) Distress and safety calling. The frequencies 2187.5 kHz, 4207.5
   kHz, 6312.0 kHz, 8414.5 kHz, 12577.0 kHz, 16804.5 kHz and 156.525 MHz
   may be used for DSC by coast and ship stations on a simplex basis for
   distress and safety purposes, and may also be used for routine
   ship-to-ship communications provided that priority is accorded to
   distress and safety communications. The provisions and procedures for
   distress and safety calling are contained in ITU-R M.541-9
   (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7), and § 80.103(c).

   (c) Working frequencies. Coast and ship stations may use DSC techniques
   for general calling purposes on their assigned working frequencies in
   the 2000-27500 kHz band and on those frequencies in the 156-162 MHz
   band which are allocated for maritime control, commercial,
   non-commercial and public correspondence communications.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  54 FR 49995 , Dec. 4, 1989;
    56 FR 9890 , Mar. 8, 1991;  56 FR 14150 , Apr. 5, 1991;  68 FR 46969 , Aug.
   7, 2003;  73 FR 4485 , Jan. 25, 2008;  76 FR 67612 , Nov. 2, 2011]

   return arrow Back to Top