Nautilus Lifeline Radio

[Dan]

My Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS (new generation w/o VHF radio), already comes with its own MMSI stamped on the device. No fuss. I just stick in 2 Lithium battery CR123 and I’m good for 5 years.

 

[Dogbowl]

My Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS (new generation w/o VHF radio), already comes with its own MMSI stamped on the device.

When I get my 2nd generation one, and have put both into use, I will try to write a report comparing them.

 

[Dan]

When I get my 2nd generation one, and have put both into use, I will try to write a report comparing them.

Cool! Please do.

 

[Dan]

Batteries, Chargers, LED Flashlights, and More! seems like a good shop to get CR123.

 

[divinh]

According to my buddy, who owns the old Nautilus Lifeline, you have to apply for an MMSI #/account.
MMSI Info - Nautilus Radio | Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS

Yes, I went to that webpage and it says to go to http://www.usps.org/php/mmsi/home.php, which I did and the page is different from what Nautilus describes. You can't register for an MMSI directly on that webpage. Instead, it's an information page and in order to go deeper into the website, you need to set up an account. The question is whether this webpage is still current for registering MMSI's, as if you go to the new website from this webpage, you come upon this: Maritime Mobile Service Identity - US Power Squadrons, which appears to be notes on what the new MMSI registration page would have.

 

[divinh]

My Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS (new generation w/o VHF radio), already comes with its own MMSI stamped on the device. No fuss. I just stick in 2 Lithium battery CR123 and I’m good for 5 years.

According to Nautilus' website, the 2nd gen's come with a Nautilus assigned MID number. It doesn't say how it differs from an MMSI number.

FAQ | Nautilus GPS & Nautilus Radio

"The Nautilus MMSI number was an inventive idea to take advantage of and use the existing system for vessels to acquire their MMSI numbers for onboard VHF radios. Authorities worldwide became unhappy with the vast number of MMSI numbers which were being issued to divers and began restricting the ability of individuals to get their MMSI number. For that reason, we had to come up with a new technology. The new Nautilus GPS incorporates our own internally issued MID numbers as a very clean solution for divers getting found within full approval of government authorities worldwide."

 

[Dan]

According to Nautilus' website, the 2nd gen's come with a Nautilus assigned MID number. It doesn't say how it differs from an MMSI number.

FAQ | Nautilus GPS & Nautilus Radio

"The Nautilus MMSI number was an inventive idea to take advantage of and use the existing system for vessels to acquire their MMSI numbers for onboard VHF radios. Authorities worldwide became unhappy with the vast number of MMSI numbers which were being issued to divers and began restricting the ability of individuals to get their MMSI number. For that reason, we had to come up with a new technology. The new Nautilus GPS incorporates our own internally issued MID numbers as a very clean solution for divers getting found within full approval of government authorities worldwide."

In another words that MMSI 972696005 on the back of my MRG is fake?

 

[divinh]

In another words that MMSI 972696005 on the back of my MRG is fake?

View attachment 450341

Well that's confusing. Their webpage says it's their own "internally issued MID" because the "authorities worldwide became unhappy with the vast number of MMSI numbers which were being issued to divers and began restricting the ability of individuals to get their MMSI number".

 

[divinh]

Yes, I went to that webpage and it says to go to http://www.usps.org/php/mmsi/home.php, which I did and the page is different from what Nautilus describes. You can't register for an MMSI directly on that webpage. Instead, it's an information page and in order to go deeper into the website, you need to set up an account. The question is whether this webpage is still current for registering MMSI's, as if you go to the new website from this webpage, you come upon this: Maritime Mobile Service Identity - US Power Squadrons, which appears to be notes on what the new MMSI registration page would have.

Well, I should have read steps 1-3 instead of jumping straight to step 4, which details what to fill in for the form for the MMSI request! Steps 1-3 says I do have to create a new account and then request an MMSI. Following the all the directions, it was straight-forward to get an MMSI immediately. As soon as the form is submitted, a certificate is issued.

The security is a bit weird on the usps.org site. There's no encryption when you enter your details nor is the password obscured in anyway. You see it as you type it in and it's in plain text when you look at your profile. Further, after registration, you get an email with your password in the body!

MMSI obtained.

Nautilus replied to my battery inquiry and said the battery was replaced September 2017. Great!

 

[tursiops]

That number 972696005 decodes as follows:
Man overboard DSC and/or AIS devices (972yyzzzz)
yy = 69 = (presumably Icarus Aviation Limited)
ZZZZ = 6006 = sequence number chosen by the manufacturer, in your case the numbers appended to your S/N.

It is a number that functions under the MMSI system, but is not actually an MMSI as they were originally intended to be used, because there are too many.

My MMSI for my Gen 1 is 338131687, which decodes to:
338 = US (intended to be for a ship)
131687 = no meaning other than this is me

So you have a unique identifier that allows you to be searched for and hopefully found!

I don't know why Nautilus calls your number a NMS, but it probably means something like Nautilus Maritime Service.