Eighth District BOATRACS Test and Evaluation: Advanced Communications Technology
Abstract
This report documents the test and evaluation of the BOATRACS system as part of the ongoing Mobile Communications Infrastructure project. The goal is to determine whether a satellite data communications system, such as BOATRACS, can be effectively used to meet the Coast Guard's umque communications requirements. Parameters examined include coverage, availability, reliability, accuracy, interoperability, bandwidth, latency, ease of use, and cost. The BOATRACS system was installed on several Eighth Coast Guard District WPBs, UTBs, and 19-ft RHIBs and evaluated over a six month period. System testing was performed in the field and in the Coast Guard R and D Center's Advanced Communications Laboratory. Results showed that the system provided full coverage with an average end-to-end delay of one to eight (I to 8) minutes. The conclusion is that a data communications system such as BOA TRACS would be useful for augmenting existing systems aboard smaller Coast Guard cutters, especially in situations where large amounts of data must be communicated accurately.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- AD1210513
Entities
People
- Amy Grable
- Greg Johnson
Organizations
- United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center