VHF MMSI

Pirate Lady

Pirate Lady

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2020
7,533
Chesapeake Bay, Middle River
Boat Info
Sundancer 250 ‘91
Engines
7.4 Bravo 1
so i first bought the wrong VHF and put my MMSI in it. Then i bought a new VHF with gps. Getting the MMSI out of the first one has proven to be a pita. Can i just put my MMSI into the new one?
 
I know they are linked to your boat, and I know that once you program a radio, most of the time it needs to sent in to have the MMSI removed or reprogrammed.

I’m not sure as to the validity of a second radio having a previously programmed MMSI. I wouldn’t think that would be limited as you could have multiple radios onboard a vessel.
 
As long as the MMSI information is still valid then the new radio can have the original MMSI input to it. The issue is with the old radio is very few can have the MMSI replaced or changed once it is entered. If you are keeping the old (original) vhf then you should get a new MMSI for the new radio. If you sell it, then you need to transfer the MMSI to the new owner.

You can have multiple MMSI's to the same boat, but not multiple boat's to the same MMSI. If you registered through Boat US, then you can have multiple MMSI's and boats to that account. But still need to pay for the individual MMSI's.
 
I was going to try to sell the original vhf. I think i will just trash it. Only paid a few beers for it. Put my MMSI in the new vhf and use the original one as a science experiment. Will that work?
Reason i ask is my new one keeps bitchin when i turn it on that it doesnt have an MMSI number.
And it aint the only thing bitchin. I got a person on my left yelling turn that damn thing off.
 
Pirate Lady said:
I was going to try to sell the original vhf. I think i will just trash it. Only paid a few beers for it. Put my MMSI in the new vhf and use the original one as a science experiment. Will that work?
Reason i ask is my new one keeps bitchin when i turn it on that it doesnt have an MMSI number.
And it aint the only thing bitchin. I got a person on my left yelling turn that damn thing off.
Click to expand...

The MMSI isn't used for anything other then DSC calling/Distress signal. Not all VHF's support DSCc alling, but do support the distress signal. So as long as the old VHF isn't used on the water or on a system that will be connected to an AIS system then you should be fine. If the new VHF is in the boat registered to the MMSI then it should absolutely be entered in the new VFH.
 
Sky, let me see if i got this. I went thru Boat/us. I registered the boat, got an MMSI number. Entered into a vhf, then got a new vhf, that i want to use the new MMSI number in case i start sinking. Thats the situation. Can i enter the MMSI into new radio? The original is now in a box on a shelf in my work room.
 
Oh, PS, wife refuses to learn how to operate the yacht. So if anything happens to me i need her to be able to hit the red button and get me assistance.
 
I’ve already offered to buy the old one! YES, program your MMSI into the new radio, and pm me with a price on the old one. I’ll clear it and pass it along to someone without DSC.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Sky, let me see if i got this. I went thru Boat/us. I registered the boat, got an MMSI number. Entered into a vhf, then got a new vhf, that i want to use the new MMSI number in case i start sinking. Thats the situation. Can i enter the MMSI into new radio? The original is now in a box on a shelf in my work room.
Click to expand...

Yes - just transfer the MMSI info if it is sold. There is a link on the Boat US site to do that.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Sky, let me see if i got this. I went thru Boat/us. I registered the boat, got an MMSI number. Entered into a vhf, then got a new vhf, that i want to use the new MMSI number in case i start sinking. Thats the situation. Can i enter the MMSI into new radio? The original is now in a box on a shelf in my work room.
Click to expand...
Yes, you can use the same MMSI in multiple radios ON THE SAME VESSEL.

Don’t give the old radio away with the MMSI still in there, or use it on a different boat.
 
b_arrington said:
... Don’t give the old radio away with the MMSI still in there, or use it on a different boat.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, you can transfer the MMSI to someone else via the Boat US site if give or sell the radio to someone else. Most VHF's do not allow the MMSI to be removed without going back to the factory.
 
this is where it gets weird.
1. i dont know what i gonna do with former radio.
2. i want to use MY mmsi number in new radio.
3. so I put my mmsi number in new radio.
4. I give or sell the former radio away with the mmsi still in it because its a MAJOR pita to remove it.
5. Catch-22. there are 2 radios with same MMSI in them, which is no good, but the CG makes it a pita to remove it from one of them.
6. I hit the red button and the CG is scrambling multiple helos and ships to Kent Narrows and Middle River cause they dont know which boat is sinking.
Am i missing something?
 
Last edited:
SKybolt said:
Just to be clear, you can transfer the MMSI to someone else via the Boat US site if give or sell the radio to someone else. Most VHF's do not allow the MMSI to be removed without going back to the factory.
Click to expand...

SH does, with the help of their customer service. We determined that in his original thread, but he doesn’t seem to see my posts…
 
Last edited:
Pirate Lady said:
this is where it gets weird.
1. i dont know what i gonna do with former radio.
2. i want to use MY mmsi number in new radio.
3. so I put my mmsi number in new radio.
4. I give or sell the former radio away with the mmsi still in it because its a MAJOR pita to remove it.
5. Catch-22. there are 2 radios with same MMSI in them, which is no good, but the CG makes it a pita to remove it from one of them.
6. I hit the red button and the CG is scrambling multiple helos and ships to Kent Narrows and Middle River cause they dont know which boat is sinking.
Am i missing something?
Click to expand...

1) put your existing MMSI in the new radio
2) either trash your old VHF, or have its MMSI removed by the manufacturer
3) there is no step 3
 
cool - I'll look for it. For some reason I can't send you one?

I'm curious to try the process of clearing an MMSI from a SH and I have several candidates around the marina to make use of it.
 
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