🔍 Key Concepts

• VHF-DSC distress alert minimum required information (MMSI, position, time) • What is automatically included by the radio vs. what must be manually selected by the operator • Possible errors or omissions when GPS or MMSI data is not properly set up

💭 Think About

• Think about what information a DSC radio can obtain automatically from connected equipment, and what it cannot know unless the operator chooses it • Consider whether course and speed are normally part of DSC distress data, or if only basic identification and position/time are sent • Ask yourself if pushing the distress button guarantees that all data is correct, or if there are situations where the position or MMSI might be wrong or missing

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify what minimum data fields are required in a standard DSC distress alert (per GMDSS training material or your course notes) • Check whether nature of distress is mandatory or optional in a DSC distress alert • Confirm if GPS connection and MMSI programming are always perfect in real life, or if there can be configuration errors affecting the transmitted data