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MF/HF equipment
MF/HF equipment is for sending distress alerts over
long range. We need to test MF/HF equipement to be
sure of its functionality. Lets see what all test we need
to do on MF/HF equipment.
I will show this on JRC equipment MCU-331F. If you
have worked on this system, it has a remote mode
and local mode. The options to select the tests can be
accessed from both modes.
1. Daily Test
Depending upon the equipment make, we need to do
few of the daily tests on MF/HF. Whatever the
equipment, the test generally involves
2. Weekly tests
Go to Menu#1
This will send the DSC test call to shore station. Test
will pass if you receive the response back with EOS
as ACK BQ.
It is important that these test calls are not made on 2
MHz frequency and are not made as an all station
call.
Now ask the other ship to send you the test call. See if
you can receive her test call. Try it on lower
frequencies like 4 MHz. If you do not receive the other
ships test call, your receiver is not OK.
Now that you know if the problem is with your
receiver, transmitter or both, lets troubleshoot it
further.
Problem with Transmission
If MF/HF is not transmitting, the JRC manual just ask to
call for the service engineer. But there are few other
things we can do to avoid this.
1) if you were able to test the DSC with ship but
could not test with shore station.
Though this is acceptable sometimes but if your all
the last few tests are with ship, it is not acceptable as
this can be interpreted as a defect.
In this case transmission of MF/HF is OK, but the
transmission power is greatly reduced. This is how you
can proceed to solve this problem.
Even after setting the power to High, still you may not
get acknowledgment from shore station. In this case
first switch off the MF/HF equipment and clean the
transmitting antenna. This Antenna is located on the
Monkey island.
Monthly Test
Monthly test of MF/HF equipment include the
inspection of aerials and insulators. It is important
that Electrical officer and 2nd mate check condition of
aerials and insulators atleast every month. While
checking the condition look for following
Conclusion
MF/HF equipment is a very important part of GMDSS
and bridge equipments. If a similar equipment was on
board Titanic, it is possible that not a single person
would have died.
Keeping this in a perfect shape is the responsibility of
ship staff. Testing MF/HF regularly and religiously
helps us achieve that. In case of unsuccessful test, we
should find the reason for that and correct it.