The Coast Guard's VHF-FM National Distress System: Analysis for Recapitalization

Abstract

Twenty years ago the U.S. Coast Guard established the National Distress System (NDS) of VHF-FM remote-controlled transceivers to provide nationwide maritime distress coverage and Coast Guard C2 communications. The NDS was designed to provide radio coverage along the coasts, the inland waterways, and the Great Lakes. The current NDS equipment is reaching the end of its useful life and the new requirements placed upon the system have mandated its replacement. In this thesis the author first details the C2 structure of the Coast Guard and identifies its major missions, and then relates history of the NDS. An examination of the NDS' current configuration is performed, the requirements are identified, and applicable technology is explored. The author concludes that present technology and commercially available equipment is available to solve the present and anticipated requirements placed upon the NDS. The author provides a model of the proposed system and presents an implementation schedule for replacement of the NDS. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA246040

Entities

People

  • William C. Glidden

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude Modulation
  • Bandwidth
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Data Links
  • Digital Communications
  • Direction Finding
  • Local Area Networks
  • Loran
  • Multiple Access
  • National Security
  • Navigation
  • Navigational Aids
  • Radio Communications
  • Radio Equipment
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Maritime Security/Maritime Homeland Security