It was the end of an era. This past July 12, coastal radio
stations WNU, WCC, KPH and KNF ceased Morse code, also known
as CW or wireless telegraph, operations. They were the last
commercial CW operations in North America and their closure was
marked by a series of transmissions involving the four stations,
the Liberty Ship S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien and the White House. The
end of wireless telegraph operations by WCC was particularly
poignant; this was the call sign assigned in 1901 to the South
Wellfleet, Mass., facility operated by Guglielmo Marconi.
But the end of wireless telegraphy does not mark the end of the
coastal radio stations. Far from it. In these days of satcom,
terrestrial radio is actually flourishing and showing that, in
some respects at least, it can outperform satcom.
WNU, WCC, KPH and KNF are part of the Globe Wireless worldwide
network of 16 interconnected high frequency (HF) radio stations
offering a 24 hour worldwide service for shipping. The Global
Radio Network offers a reliable and low cost means of communications
between ship and shore, with GlobeEmail messaging providing an
easy to use, Windows-based interface for sending and receiving
messages and data files. Since terrestrial radio is far less
costly than satcom, GlobeEmail messages are also likely to be
more timely than Inmarsat-transmitted messages (which are often,
for cost reasons, batched up and sent all together, maybe once
a day, to a shoreside "hub.")
Paradoxically, HF radio seems to have been given a shot in the
arm with the advent of GMDSS, the Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System. GMDSS saw the end of the requirement for ships
to carry a traditional radio officer and has brought satcom on
board many ships for the first time. But it has also brought
on board modern HF radio installations.
In May, Globe Wireless merged with Marinet Systems, a specialist
in providing e-mail and data transfer over satellite. Globe
now offers the Globe Communications Center, a single shipboard
system that enables messages and data files to be sent via the
Global Radio Network and via satellite. An important element
of this system is a least-cost routing feature. Another plus,
since all communications go through one system, is integrated
invoicing.
VHF: CONSOLIDATION AND TRANSFORMATION
Put down your cellphone. Another area of terrestrial radio that
is undergoing a transformation is U.S. marine VHF. In February,
MariTEL won all nine Federal Communications Commission maritime
licenses, giving it sole rights to 20 channels in the 156-162
MHz spectrum range. The nine licenses cover 43 states and 100%
of U.S. navigable waterways.
The license acquisition is enabling MariTEL to revolutionize
the marine VHF industry by creating a single nationwide system
and offering maritime subscribers superior telecommunications
capabilities.
The company currently offers a number of attractively priced
subscription plans that make a vessel's existing VHF radio a
powerful alternative to cellular telephony, but more is on the
way.
MariTEL has started construction of MariNET. This will provide
fully encrypted and automated fax, e-mail, data transmission
and voice capability up to 100 miles offshore. MariNET's seamless
coverage will be fully integrated with the Public Service Telephone
Network and with GMDSS.
The MariNET has four elements:
· Public Coast Stations
· A national wireline and fiber optic network (ATM)
· MariTEL Call Centers and
· The MariTEL Operations Control Center.
Earlier this year, MariTEL finalized two significant agreements.
The first was with American Tower Corporation, which owns and
operates some 3,200 wireless communications towers in 44 states.
The deal saw American Tower investing in MariTEL and covers
development of a 250-300 tower network that will serve as the
physical backbone of MariNET. The second agreement, with Harris
Corporation, covers development of the Public Coast Station Electronics
(PCSE) that will be installed at the tower sites. The PCSE consists
of the radio equipment and software that provide the connection
between marine VHF radiotelephones and the Public Service Telephone
Network.
MARINE LOG HIGHLIGHTS
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