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Where Does NBDP Fit in GMDSS and How To Use It

This document discusses NBDP (Narrow Band Direct Printing), which allows ships to communicate via text messages rather than voice calls. It is an often overlooked component of the GMDSS system. The document explains what NBDP is, how it can be used to send routine or distress messages between ships via typing and printing text, and the different transmission modes of ARQ and FEC.

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Mori Shan24
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119 views

Where Does NBDP Fit in GMDSS and How To Use It

This document discusses NBDP (Narrow Band Direct Printing), which allows ships to communicate via text messages rather than voice calls. It is an often overlooked component of the GMDSS system. The document explains what NBDP is, how it can be used to send routine or distress messages between ships via typing and printing text, and the different transmission modes of ARQ and FEC.

Uploaded by

Mori Shan24
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Where Does NBDP Fit in

GMDSS and How to Use It ?


Written by Capt Rajeev Jassal on January 30, 2017

Raise your hand if you think NBDP is more ignored equipment


of GMDSS system.

If I was with a group of deck officers right now, I am sure I


would see many hands raised. NBDP is surely an ignored
equipment.

But it is ignored because NBDP is a dead horse, hardly used


and gathering dust at one corner of the bridge.
Even only few coast stations these days have the NBDP facility.

All agreed but if we have this equipment on board, we must


know about it. That remains the logic for all the equipments on
board.

So in this post, I will go through all that one may have to know
about NBDP.

Let’s start.

What is NBDP ?

In simple terms, NBDP (Narrow Band Direct Printing) is a telex.


A way to communicate with text rather than by voice.

It is said that NBDP was introduced in the GMDSS to help


seafarers whose first language was not English. They did not
have to speak to broadcast their distress message, instead
they could type and send.
If we go by the literal meaning of the NBDP, then we can
understand that

 It uses narrow band width for transmitting the message


and
 When a message is received, it prints the message on the
screen and on the printer connected with NBDP

So what can NBDP do..

 NBDP can send and receive text messages with to and


from a single station

 NBDP can transmit text message stored in the equipment


(SD card or floppy)

 NBDP can broadcast a message to all the stations that


have their NBDP tuned in to the frequency on which message is
transmitted

You can easily draw an analogy between NBDP and whatsapp


or viber.

Is NBDP really required on board ?


NBDP is required for sea area A2 as per SOLAS chapter IV,
regulation 9.3.1

But if you had noticed, on some ships you will find that there is
no NBDP.

This is because as per SOLAS chapter IV, regulation 9.3, the


requirement of having NBDP can be fulfilled by providing an
additional Inmarsat ship earth station.

So on the ships with no NBDP, you may find additional Sat-C


terminal.

What is ARQ and FEC mode ?


If you wish to know about NBDP, you must know about ARQ
and FEC.

These are two modes of transmission for NBDP.

ARQ Mode
ARQ mode is used for one to one communication. For example
when our ship wish to communicate with a specific ship or
coast station.

With ARQ,

 you send an information (text) when you are transmitting


station

 You press Over key (F9) and you become receiving


station. You now can read the message what other station is
sending

 When other station presses “Over”, you again become the


transmitting station and this process goes on.
FEC Mode
FEC (Forward error correction) mode is for one station to one
or many stations type of communication. This mode is
used for broadcasting the message. For example if a ship need
to broadcast a distress telex message, FEC mode should be
used.
Unlike ARQ mode, FEC is only one way. That is, with FEC we
can transmit our message and then end the communication.

With FEC mode


 You send the information you wish to send

 Once the information is sent, you disconnect the


connection

 You cannot switch between transmission and receiving


mode

So if you want to communicate with other station, you need to


choose ARQ mode. But if you just want to transmit your
message, you can choose FEC mode.

So when transmitting a distress message to all station through


NBDP, you must use FEC mode

Options on NBDP screen and what these


mean ?

A NBDP screen typically looks like this.


The options you see on top of the screen are accessed by
function keys. I see sometimes the keyboard functions keys
marked with these options for ease of use. Even if it is not
there, we can always mark it like this.
Lets see what each of these functions are for

WRU, HR and OVER keys


The literal meaning of the first two terms is

WRU (Function Key F7): who are you ?

HR (Function Key F8): Here is…

This is the way identity is exchanged between the stations


interacting with each other.
When you are connected with a station and before you start
transmitting any telex message, you need to press these two
keys.

This will send your identity and ask for the identity of another
station.

Logically this is similar to how we start any communication. For


example, during R/T communication we pronounce the ships
name and call sign.

The Over (Function key F9) is used to switch the direction of


traffic. The information sending station becomes the
information receiving station and vice versa. As two way
communication is only possible in ARQ mode, Over key is used
when communicating in ARQ mode.

One station finishes his message, presses “over” and then


waits for receiving the message of other station.

The function of this key is similar to saying “over” over walkie


talkie after we finish our message.

GA+?
This is the code that you will see when communicating through
NBDP.  The meaning of this code is “Go ahead”.

When you see this code on you screen, this means that now
you are the transmission station and you are ready to send
your message. Again this code will appear in ARQ mode.

Methods of sending message

On NBDP, we can either

 Send a message file stored in floppy or SD card of the


NBDP or

 Manually type the message on the keyboard.


In ARQ mode, when you are the transmitting station, you can
just start to type the message and it will be received by other
station as you type.

Or you can choose the file to send and it will be transmitted


to the receiving station.

To choose the file on Furuno NBDP, after exchanging the


answer back (WRU, HR)

 Press the function key F3 then 3 key to open the [File to


Send] window
 Choose the file to send from the list by pressing up/down
arrow

 Press enter to send the file

How to send / Receive a routine message on


NBDP ?

Now that we know something about NBDP, let us discuss how


we can send a routine message to another ship on NBDP.

I will show this on Furuno GMDSS station.

First thing is to know the MMSI number of the other ship and
agree on the working frequency.

To communicate with another ship, both your station and


station of other ship need to be on same frequency and NBDP
station should be active.

To make the connection with other ship station (on Furuno


equipment).

Press the function key F3 to open operate menu and set the
working frequency by choosing option 9.
After operating frequency is set, press function key F3
(Operate) and choose “manual calling” option
Select the ARQ mode (remember for one to one communication
we have to use ARQ mode) and then input the ship’s MMSI
number in the ID.

Press enter. After you hit “Enter” one of these two message will
appear. It will either show

 Channel busy check, if the frequency is busy. or

 Connect Send Lock, if the frequency is open for


communication

Now if “Connect send Lock” is highlighted on screen, you are all


done to communicate with the other ship.
When you are connected with the other station, it will show the
station’s ID and frequency you are communicating on.

Exchange answer back by pressing F7  (WRU) and then F8


(HR) keys and start communicating.

As I said earlier, when you are done with sending your


message, press F9 (over) key to switch the transmission to
other ship.

When you see GA+? on your screen, it mean that the other
station has switched the transmission to you and you can again
start to transmit your message.

To end the conversation

 Exchange the answer back by pressing F7(WRU) and F8


(HR) keys

 After exchange of answer back, press F10 (End) key to


disconnect the line.

How to transmit a distress message on NBDP ?

Usual way of GMDSS distress communication is


 Send the DSC alert to all ships and coast station on an
appropriate distress DSC frequency

 Switch to corresponding Radio Telephony (RT) frequency


and broadcast your distress message starting with Mayday
Mayday Mayday

Now when we have transmitted the DSC alert, how a ship


receiving it know where they can listen to your distress call ?

This information is right there in the DSC alert message. In the


DSC alert message that a ship sends, it need to mention

First is the Mode of communication it will broadcast its


message. That is if the message will be broadcasted on RT or
NBDP. J3E is the code for RT communication and F1B is for
NBDP.

Second, the frequency on which the receivers need to switch


on. The frequency will be the corresponding frequency on which
DSC alert is received.

So now if you want to communicate the distress message on


NBDP, first step will be to let that know to ships and coast
stations who would receive your DSC alert by choosing the
Telecommand as “F1B”
After you have sent the DSC alert, switch to NBDP
corresponding frequency.

To transmit your Mayday message,

 You can either type and save the Mayday message in


floppy drive or SD card of NBDP, or

 You can type directly while transmitting your message

Either way, you have to follow these steps.

Press Function key F3 and select manual call.

Choose the FEC option. Remember for broadcasting to all the


parties we cannot use ARQ mode which is for one to one
communication.

Leave the station ID as blank. This is to be entered only if we


are sending the message to a particular station.

Press enter. If the frequency is clear, you will see Connect


Send as highlighted.

Now you are ready to either send your message by input to the
keyboard or by choosing a pre-typed file.
To Send the stored message, press function key F3 and then
select “File to send” option.

Press enter and your file will be transmitted.

How to receive a distress communication on


NBDP ?

When you receive a distress DSC alert. Check if the


telecommand is J3E or F1B. If it is F1B, you need to be on
NBDP to receive the distress message.

To receive the distress message on NBDP, switch to NBDP


frequency corresponding to the frequency on which DSC alert
was received.

Press the function key F3 and choose “Manual Reception”.


Select FEC mode and press enter key. When a call is detected,
Lock will get highlighted.

When the line is connected, [Connect] is highlighted.

When the receiving the message is complete, the NBDP


connection will automatically cancel.

The received message will be stored in the Floppy (or SD card)


of the NBDP.

NBDP Test procedures


Now that we know how to operate NBDP, testing of NBDP
should not be an issue.

Actually NBDP does not require much of the testing. There is a


self test in the equipment that should be done as per the
maker guidelines.

Apart from that, it is a good practice to communicate with


another ship at least monthly and keep the records.

Conclusion
NBDP is hardly put in use onboard ships. Many ship owners are
now preferring to have another set of Sat-C on board rather
than having NBDP fitted on board.

In spite of all that, if we have NBDP on board, we must know


about how to operate it. After all if it is on board, it is very
much a part of GMDSS station.

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