Uniden Marine VHF Position Request Received — Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

'Position Request Received' means another vessel (or the Coast Guard) used DSC to request your current position.
If you trust the requester, your radio can automatically send your position.
Most Uniden radios let you configure this: auto-respond, prompt for confirmation, or always reject.
Default is usually 'prompt' — check the screen and confirm or deny the position request.

Affected Models

Uniden UM385
Uniden UM625C
Uniden MHS75
Uniden MHS335BT

Common Causes

Family/friend boat checking in (auto-position request)
Coast Guard or marine assistance verifying your position
Marine traffic monitoring system request
Accidental request from nearby boat
Test request from a fellow boater

How to Fix It

Check the requester's MMSI.

The radio displays the MMSI of the requesting vessel.
If you recognize it (family, friend, group), accept.
If you don't, decide based on context — if you're near a marine assistance area, it may be official.
If suspicious, reject.
Respond via menu.

Most Uniden VHF radios offer Accept or Reject options on the screen.
Accept: your position is sent automatically.
Reject: nothing is sent.
Choose based on who's asking and context.
Configure auto-response (optional).

Menu → DSC → Position Request Settings.
Options typically include Auto-Accept, Prompt, or Always Reject.
Auto-Accept: your position is sent without prompting (useful for family group monitoring).
Prompt: each request needs your acceptance.
Always Reject: privacy preference.
Add MMSI to a group for auto-response.

If you want family or specific friends to always get position responses without prompting, add their MMSI to a group/contact list.
The radio can auto-respond to known MMSIs while prompting for unknowns.
This is useful for boating families.
Reject suspicious requests.

If you don't recognize the MMSI and aren't expecting a request, reject.
You're under no obligation to respond.
Privacy is a legitimate reason to decline.
The Coast Guard typically uses voice (channel 16) for legitimate inquiries, not DSC position requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would Coast Guard send a position request?

Mostly during search and rescue operations.
If they're looking for an overdue vessel, they may DSC-poll nearby vessels with similar names or characteristics to verify they're not the missing boat.
If you receive an unexpected request from Coast Guard, accepting is usually appropriate.

Does responding reveal my exact location?

Yes — DSC position responses include precise GPS coordinates (assuming your radio has GPS).
This is by design — the requester sees where you are.
If privacy is a concern, reject the request.
Don't worry about regular boating use — most position requests are family checking in or legitimate marine assistance.