Operation Manual

10 Ray218E and Ray55E Marine VHF Radios
Important Information
Licensing
Prior to using your Ray218E or Ray55E, please check your national requirements
for both operators and equipment licensing.
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
The Ray218E and Ray55E include equipment for Class “D” Digital Selective
Calling (DSC). A nine-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number is
required to operate the DSC equipment. In some areas, a radio operator license is
required before an MMSI number will be issued.
Note: You can request an MMSI number from the same agency that issues radio or Ship
Radio licenses in your area. Once obtained, you can program the MMSI number into your
Ray218E/Ray55E as described in this handbook.
Group MMSI ID
A Group ID MMSI number can also be entered for vessels that are part of a group,
such as a flotilla or racing fleet, enabling DSC communications within the group.
Automatic Transmitter Identification System (ATIS)
If you purchased your Ray218E/Ray55E to include use on the inland waterways of
the contracting governments of the “Regional Arrangement Concerning the
Radiotelephone Service on Inland Waterways”— also known as the Basel
Agreement
1
— your Ray218E/Ray55E will be programmed by your dealer to
include Automatic Transmitter Identification System (ATIS) functionality. ATIS
includes data at the end of radio transmission that identifies your station. ATIS
operation can be turned on or off as needed via the radio’s Menu mode.
Your ATIS ID number is derived from your vessel’s call sign. If your call sign is
suitable, your authorized Raymarine dealer can assist you in decoding your ATIS
ID number, which you can then program into your Ray218E/Ray55E using the
operation described on page 63.
1.The Basel Agreement includes Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France,
Hungary, Luxembourg, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation,
the Slovak Republic, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia.