U.S. Coast Guard radio stations

The United States Coast Guard maintains radio stations for communication between Coast Guard units, Coast Guard units and other government entities, and Coast Guard units and the general public. Most commnications take place on the VHF marine bands. For long-range communications with aircraft, Coast Guard stations use shortwave single-sideband communications. Weather and safety of navigation forecasts involve facsimile as 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, as 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 currently being upgraded through the Rescue 21 program to meet the US obligations under the Global Maritime Distress Safety System.

History of Coast Guard shore stations

The first Coast Guard shore stations were established after 1924, when the Coast Guard's mission expanded. The first shore 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 call 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 number of stations to contract. In 1976, for example, NMN (then at Communication Station (COMMSTA) Portsmouth) assumed the duties of NMH in Washington, and took over remote operations from Miami in 1993, Boston (NMF) in 1996, and New Orleans in 1998.

Current Assignments

There are several Coast Guard radio stations responsible for operating more than one station or with a wide area of responsibility.

Communication Area Master Station Atlantic (CAMSLANT) is located on the site of U.S. Naval Security Group Northwest (near Newport News, Virginia), and has a staff of approximately 100 people. CAMSLANT provides technical communications assistance and training to other Coast Guard units. It operates the following stations:

* CAMS Chesapeake, VA: call sign NMN (located near Norfolk) (directly)
* COMMSTA Miami, FL: call sign NMA (remotely)
* COMMSTA Boston, MA: call sign NMF (remotely)
* COMMSTA New Orleans, LA: call sign NMG (remotely)

Communication Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC) operates

* CAMS NMC Pt. Reyes, CA: call sign NMC (directly)
* COMMSTA Guam: call sign NRV (remotely)
* COMMSTA Honolulu, HI: call sign NMO (remotely)

Communication Station Kodiak (COMMSTA Kodiak) is responsible for communications in the Alaska area of operation and operates
* COMMSTA Kodiak, AK: call sign NOJ (directly)

Modes of transmission

These stations broadcast navigation and marine safety messages through several means, including Navigational Telex [NAVTEX] transmissions on 518 kHz; facsimile transmissions of National Weather Service charts; single sideband transmissions; and Simplex Teletype Over Radio SITOR narrow-band direct-printing broadcasts. In the 1960s through the 1980s, these transmissions were broadcast live, with the interval signal of "Semper Paratus"; however, now, using Voice Broadcast Automation (VOBRA), a computerized voice ("Perfect Paul") reads the voice messages.

NAVTEX transmissions are identified by the last letter of the callsign of the station. Each station transmits a NAVTEX broadcast six times a day, including two rebroadcasts of the general forecast. A NAVTEX broadcast includes maritime navigation warnings, weather forecasts, ice warnings, Gulf Stream locations, radio navigation information, rescue messages, and marine advisorys. Each station has 2 NAVTEX transmitters.

Besides broadcast messages, Coast Guard stations handle direct traffic between aircraft, cutters, boats, and shore stations on VHF, MF, and HF frequencies, including the HF Data Link encrypted e-mail system and Digital Selective Calling (DSC), which uses radio telephone to send digitally-encrypted signals to either one receiver or a group or receivers.

Concerns

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. There is increased concern about the scarcity of public service radio spectrum, including selling portions to private users.

The role of the Auxiliary

Coast Guard Auxiliary stations are privately-owned stations that have been offered for use of the Government and have been approved by the Coast Guard. They may be on the marine VHF band or use HF communications. In addition, many Coast Guard Auxiliarists are qualified radio watchstanders at existing Coast Guard stations.

Coast Guard call signs

Most Coast Guard land-based VHF radio stations do not use four-letter call signs; instead, they identify themselves by the activity name, such as "Sector Baltimore", "Station Washington, D.C. (or Station DC)". Boats identify themselves with the last three digits of their registration number, for example, a Defender class boat with the registration 25123 would be "Coast Guard 123." Cutters identify themselves as "Cutter (name)". Aircraft identify themselves by their number. A number beginning with "1" is a HC-130; one with "6" is a helicopter. Auxiliary aircraft and ships identify themselves as "Auxiliary ###".

External links

* http://www.nws.noas.gov
* http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/default.htm -- USCG Navigation Center Maritime Communications website
* http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/camslant/station.htm -- CAMSLANT's website
* http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/camspac/index.htm -- CAMSPAC's website
* http://pollux.nas.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/UNTM/200608/NtM_08-2006.pdf (Adobe Acrobat file) -- Notice to Mariners discussing changes to the Coast Guard's NAVTEX service
* [http://home.comcast.net/~jay.schmidt/nmf/ USCG Boston Radio/Communications Station History]
* [http://jproc.ca/radiostor/cw500pt1.html 500 kHz watches] at NMO in 1977, described by Jeffrey Herman