Discover the Advantages of the New RS-38M Handheld Marine VHF Radio with DSC

Imagine talking loud and clear to Cape Town Radio coast watch, as if they were in the boat with you, all along the South African coast. Clear voice communication with your buddies when you are not sure where they are, or talking to the NSRI vessel, or the nearby fishing vessel, when you require assistance.

With the RS-38M handheld marine VHF radio, communication becomes easy. Send your GPS position by text message using the built-in DSC and GPS and the one-touch distress button when required. The mariner carrying an RS-38M radio is always easily contactable, easily found, and will know where his/her buddies are and if they are safe.

Features:

• Built-in DSC (text messages)
• Built-in GPS (allows exact position to be sent automatically in distress situations, and used for navigation)
• Built-in MOB function
• Dedicated one touch DSC distress button
• Active noise reduction on transmission and reception for improved audio quality
• IPX7 waterproof with audible and flashing alarm if dropped in the water
• Floats on water
• Water draining function
• Dual/Triwatch function
• Programmable address book for MMSI numbers and waypoints
• Built-in compass, SOG, COG and coordinate display
• GPS navigation screen: navigate to preset waypoints, MOB’s, or buddy radio’s
• DSC distress calls, individual calls, position requests and position reports
• ICASA approved

Specifications:

What’s in the box:

• 1 x RS-38M handheld marine VHF radio
• 1 x Lithium Ion battery
• 1 x spring loaded belt clip and mounting screws
• 1 x antenna
• 1 x charging cradle with integrated charger and mounting screws
• 1 x adapter for optional battery only charging in the cradle
• 1 x 220V AC power supply
• 1 x 12V DC power supply
• 1 x lanyard
• 1 x operator manual

Access the operator manual here:

Why do I need a handheld marine VHF radio with DSC and GPS…

…for Yacht Racing

• When the adrenaline is flowing, every second counts and you have your mind on so many things, you want reliable equipment in close reach, keeping you safe and providing you with the essential information quickly and easily. Carry a handheld radio on you to ensure that you hear the race control announcements clearly, wherever on the boat you may be, and be able to transmit a message instantly without leaving your station.
• With the Recent RS-38M, you can save the race buoys as waypoints and use the uncluttered navigation screen as a pointer to show you the way to the next mark, including bearing, range and your SOG and COG.
• Broadcast your GPS position via DSC in a MOB emergency.
• Call a specific ship with DSC Individual Call without disturbing the entire fleet.
• Listen to race control on the handheld while monitoring Ch16 and/or Port Control on the fixed mount radio.

Use a harness to keep the radio snugly out of harm’s way and hear every transmission clearly. More info below.

…for Cruising

• Carry a Recent RS-38M radio with DSC and GPS GPS radio on you when on night watch to be able to alert your crew if you are lost overboard. You can send a DSC MOB distress message including your GPS position to your vessel with the touch of one button, triggering an audio alarm to alert the crew. Your message with GPS position will be saved to the vessel’s radio, providing a life saving reference for the recovery operation.
• Keep a handheld radio in your grab bag, use it as an emergency backup or simply use it to call your dinghy when going ashore!
• The fixed mount radio may be useless when it is needed most: When the mast breaks, the antenna is lost. A lightning strike will almost certainly destroy the fixed mount radio, and the house battery can die easily if not managed correctly. When fire breaks out, the radio may become inaccessible. A handheld radio can be a life saver in these situations!

…for Ski Boats

• DSC offers vast improvements, and Ch16 monitoring is being phased out. Rather than replacing an old fixed mount radio, supplement it with an RS-38M with DSC and GPS.
• A handheld radio in your pocket is easier to hear over the engine noise than a fixed mount radio.
• A handheld radio works, even when the boat has capsized, or the boat batteries have failed due to flooding, corrosion or poor battery management.

…for Paddling

Paddlers of surfski’s, SUP’s and kayaks fall into a special category of ocean users, and face a special set of dangerous circumstances:

• Very small craft, difficult to spot. Worse yet, paddlers almost invisible if they become separated from their craft at sea.
• Frequently paddle in strong winds and large swell, often actively seeking such conditions.
• Venture far offshore beyond swimming range.
• Unstable and exposed craft, making them vulnerable to changes of weather or equipment failure.
• Difficulty of maintaining visual contact with their buddies due to low vantage point and difficulty of looking around and maintaining balance.
• No hands or eyes free to check phone messages etc.
• Limited speed easily results in slower paddlers straddling behind, unable to catch up and communicate with the group.
• The icy waters of Cape Town leave very little time for rescue operations.

The Recent RS-38M fits conveniently into the pocket of most paddling jackets to ensure that you have it accessible even if you lose your boat, and causes minimal obstruction during remounts. It is rated IPX7 waterproof (1m depth for 30 minutes), floats, flashes its lights when wet, weighs a mere 315g (with antenna and belt clip) and measures 61.2 x 141.4 x 43.2mm (W x H x D).

With Recent RS-38M marine VHF radio you will be able to:

• Paddle confidently, knowing that your buddies are safe and contactable even when you cannot see them.
• Contact your buddies when there is an unexpected change of plans or diversion.
• Contact other boats and marine traffic around you.
• Contact a shore station and emergency personnel quickly and easily.
• Send a distress DSC message with your GPS coordinates with the push of one button.
• Request the position of your buddies automatically and navigate towards them.
• Navigate to preset waypoints, useful when visibility suddenly deteriorates in fog.
• Have fun responsibly.

In applications of such extreme exposure to water, it is important to keep the radio in a waterproof pouch to ensure reliable function and keep wind noise and water off the microphone. More details below.

Why choose a handheld VHF with DSC and GPS

Navigation and safety benefits of DSC

The DSC GPS capability of the Recent RS-38M radio’s allows users to request each other’s positions and even provides a simple navigation screen to locate each other.

While we absolutely advocate the use of life jackets, safety leashes, and the Safetrx app for paddling, these measures can prove insufficient:

• Paddlers could separate from the group and be difficult to locate.
• poor cellphone signal and extreme conditions could make voice communication impossible.
• paddlers could be in trouble near us without our knowledge.

With the use of handheld marine VHF radio’s, paddlers can easily grab the attention and communicate with their buddies with an immediate voice transmission, thereby preventing many potential distress situations from developing.

Distress Situation benefits of DSC

Should all this be insufficient and the paddler finds him/herself in a distress situation, then the Recent RS-38M radio features a dedicated distress button which sends a DSC message to all radios within range.  This triggers their audio alarm and displays a text message with the GPS coordinates, nature of the distress and the MMSI (identification code). Shore stations such as Cape Town Radio are also alerted to this message, and rescue personnel can be dispatched to the exact GPS location.

NOTE: DSC distress messages are a last resort measure and are taken very seriously! It is a criminal offence to send a distress message when human life or the vessel is NOT in grave and imminent danger.

DSC distress message vs voice-only Ch16 distress call:

DSC Distress Message	Channel 16 Distress Call
Text message is clear and unmistakable.	Voice message can be garbled by background noise, wind noise, water on the microphone and poor reception.
Quick distress activation with the touch of one button.	Lengthy Mayday transmission with many details to remember (MMSI number, GPS coordinates and Mayday message format).
Sounds loud alarm on recipient radio, hard to ignore or overhear, regardless of what volume the radio is adjusted to.	Voice mayday message may easily be overheard due to background noise or lost among the garble of other voice messages.
Is received by all marine radio’s within range, regardless of the channel their radio is set to.	Voice Mayday message will not be received by other mariners if they are not be monitoring Ch16.
Details of Distress DSC including GPS coordinates are displayed in text form.	Recipient may not have the facility to note down GPS coordinates contained in Mayday message.
DSC message with details remains stored on recipient radio.	Ch 16 voice Mayday call leaves no record on recipient radio to refer back to later.
GPS coordinates update automatically with subsequent distress calls as victim location changes due to drift.	Updated GPS coordinates need to be calculated and transmitted by subsequent voice communication. Rescue boats may have difficulty hearing transmissions clearly with their engine, boat and weather noise.
Greater transmission range.	Shorter range, requires stronger signal to be of use.
Latest technology, monitored by shore stations.	Ch 16 monitoring by shore stations being discontinued.
Rescue services can send DSC position requests or automatic polling to casualty radio for position updates.	Rescue services must rely on voice reports to locate the casualty.

Be Prepared:

In order to get the full benefit of the Recent RS-38M radio, it is wise to familiarize yourself with the functions and take some steps to prepare.

Unpacking the radio and recommended basic settings:

DSC settings and functions

Preparing at home:

• A SRC operator license is required to operate this radio legally. Contact us for assistance.
• Enter your MMSI code into the radio. (Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to register you radio and get your MMSI)
• Ensure that all settings are set correctly and to your satisfaction.
• Memorize your call sign and MMSI or note them down where you will be able to access them at sea.
• Enter the MMSI numbers of your buddies into the address book.
• Enter the GPS coordinates of important waypoints (e.g. launch site, race buoys, etc)
• Ensure that the radio is fully charged.

Preparing on the beach:

• Switch the radio on and check that it can obtain a GPS fix.
• Agree on a communication channel with your buddies (e.g. Channel 06, 08, 72, 77), make sure that the channel is free and legal to use, and switch your radio’s to Dual Watch this channel plus channel 16.
• Adjust the volume so you can hear broadcasts comfortably.
• Keep the radio on you in a secure position where you can readily access it in a distress situation.
• Place your radio inside a waterproof pouch for redundant protection and to reduce wind noise and keep the mic free of water.

Recommended Accessories

Waterproof Pouch for paddling

The RS-38M is designed to withstand occasional exposure to water, but it is highly recommended to use a waterproof pouch in applications where heavy exposure to the elements is expected, particularly when paddling, kiting, surfing or dinghy sailing. The pouch will keep wind noise and water off the mic for clearer transmissions, and safeguard the radio to ensure reliable function when you need it most, and it will extend the life of your radio. This Aquapac pouch fits the RS-38M snugly and can be added it to your basket at checkout.

Chest Harness for sailing

The ideal position to keep your radio is on your chest, where it is kept out of harm’s way, easily accessible and clearly audible. Use a harness to free up your hands and keep your mobility, while hearing every transmission clearly and responding easily when required.

This harness fits the RS38M perfectly and includes a useful phone pouch.

Additional Recommendations

Self contained AIS locator beacon

To add a further layer of safety, consider complimenting the RS-38M handheld VHF with an RS-109M AIS locator to allow NSRI and other surrounding vessels to conveniently see you on their MFD chart plotters.

Waterproof phone pouch

Did you know? You can get an authentic Aquapac pouch for your phone, keys and other valuables directly from us. Don’t forget to add it to your basket at checkout or get it directly here.

Experience extraordinary adventures responsibly.

R100.00 donated to NSRI for every radio sold from the above link!