The United States Coast Guard maintains radio receiver stations for communication between Coast Guard units, Coast Guard units and early politics entities, and Coast Guard units and the general public. Most communications take place on the VHF marine bands. For long-range communications with aircraft, Coast Guard stations use shortwave single-sideband communications. Weather and base hit of navigation forecasts involve fax ampere well as other modes over shortwave and mediumwave transmissions. According to the NTIA, the Coast Guard is the seventh-biggest user of radio spectrum in the United States. The U.S. Coast Guard maintains a network of VHF radio stations at its shore stations and on cutters and boats, a well as stations of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. In addition, the Coast Guard maintains a chain of high frequency ( HF ) and medium frequency ( MF ) radio stations that provide communications in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Coast Guard VHF Radio stations are presently being upgraded through the Rescue 21 program to meet the US obligations under the Global Maritime Distress Safety System .
history of Coast Guard land stations [edit ]
The first gear Coast Guard land stations were established after 1924, when the Coast Guard ‘s mission expanded. The beginning land station was at Rockaway Point Coast Guard Station, located at Fort Tilden, New York ; and the network expanded to Nahant, Massachusetts ; New London, Connecticut ; Cape May, New Jersey ; Cape Henry, Virginia ( with the birdcall sign NMN ) ; Fernandina, Florida ; Fort Lauderdale, Florida ; Mobile, Alabama ; San Francisco, California ; San Pedro, California ; Port Angeles, Washington ; and Anacortes, Washington in the 1930s.
The network expanded even further in the 1940s, adding radio station NMH in Washington, D.C, among others. however, in the 1970s, the increasing use of automation caused the phone number of stations to contract. In 1976, for exercise, NMN ( then at Communication Station ( COMMSTA ) Portsmouth ) assumed the duties of NMH in Washington, and took over distant operations from Miami in 1993, Boston ( NMF ) in 1996, and New Orleans in 1998. With the introduction of the computer-assisted Rescue 21 system, the ability of the Coast Guard to provide coverage on the marine VHF dance band in marginal areas has increased .
current Assignments [edit ]
There are respective Coast Guard radio stations responsible for operating more than one station or with a across-the-board sphere of province. communication Command ( COMMCOM ) is located on the site of U.S. Naval Security Group Northwest ( near Newport News, Virginia ), and has a staff of approximately 100 people. COMMCOM provides technical foul communications aid and discipline to other Coast Guard units. It operates the postdate stations :
- COMMCOM Chesapeake, Virginia: call sign NMN (directly)
- RCF Miami, Florida: call sign NMA (remotely)
- RCF Boston, Massachusetts: call sign NMF (remotely)
- RCF New Orleans, Louisiana: call sign NMG (remotely)
- RCF Point Reyes, California: call sign NMC (directly)
- RCF Honolulu, HI: call sign NMO (remotely)
Communication Command Detachment Kodiak ( COMMDET Kodiak ) reports to COMMCOM and is responsible for communications in the Alaska area of operation and operates
- COMMDET Kodiak, AK: call sign NOJ (directly)
Modes of infection [edit ]
These stations broadcast navigation and nautical condom messages through several means, including Navigational Telex [ NAVTEX ] transmissions on 518 kilohertz ; facsimile transmissions of National Weather Service charts ; one sideband transmissions ; and Simplex Teletype Over Radio SITOR narrow-band direct-printing broadcasts. In the 1960s through the 1980s, these transmissions were broadcast know, with the time interval bespeak of “ Semper Paratus ” ; however, now, using Voice Broadcast Automation ( VOBRA ), a computerize voice ( “ Perfect Paul “ ) reads the voice messages. NAVTEX transmissions are identified by the survive letter of the callsign of the station. Each place transmits a NAVTEX broadcast six times a day, including two rebroadcasts of the general calculate. A NAVTEX broadcast includes nautical navigation warnings, weather forecasts, ice warnings, Gulf Stream locations, radio navigation data, rescue messages, and marine advisories. Each place has 2 NAVTEX transmitters. Besides air messages, Coast Guard stations handle direct traffic between aircraft, cutters, boats, and prop up stations on VHF, MF, and HF frequencies, including the HF Data Link encrypted e-mail system and Digital Selective Calling ( DSC ), which uses radio receiver telephone to send digitally encrypted signals to either one recipient or a group or receivers .
Concerns [edit ]
The use of the radio spectrum by the U.S. Coast Guard, like all U.S. Government agencies, is assigned by the Department of Commerce ‘s National Telecommunications and Information Administration ( NTIA ). specific frequency allocations are handled by the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee .
The function of the Auxiliary [edit ]
Coast Guard Auxiliary stations are privately owned stations that have been offered for consumption of the Government and have been approved by the Coast Guard. They may be on the nautical VHF band or use HF communications. In addition, many Coast Guard Auxiliarists are stipulate radio watchstanders at existing Coast Guard stations.
Read more: Maritime on Audiotree Live (Full Session)
Coast Guard call signs [edit ]
Most Coast Guard land-based VHF radio receiver stations do not use three-letter predict signs as the larger communications stations do ; alternatively, they identify themselves by the bodily process name, such as “ Sector Baltimore ”, “ Station Washington, D.C. ( or Station Washington ) ”. All Cutters ( CG vessels 65 feet in length or greater ) have four-letter international radio call signs, such as USCGC Citrus /NRPQ. Cutters normally identify themselves as “ Cutter ( identify ) ”. Boats identify themselves with the last digits of their registration number, for example, a Defender-class boat with the adjustment 25123 would be “ Coast Guard 25123, while a 41-foot boat would be “ Coast Guard 41345. ” Aircraft identify themselves by their issue. A numeral beginning with “ 15,17,20 ” is a HC-130 ; “ 21 ” is a HU-25A/C/D ; “ 23 ” is a HC-144A ; “ 60 ” is a MH/HH-60J/T helicopter ; “ 65 or 66 ” is a HH/MH-65 ;. Auxiliary aircraft and ships identify themselves as “ Auxiliary # # # ” .