USCG NC radio down - long term?

[hpeer]

Well this is disturbing news.

https://www.marinelink.com/news/comm...ns-loses437162

USCG Loses Radio Communications Along NC Coast

U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina reported a loss of radio communication capability Thursday.

With radio communications down, the Coast Guard cannot monitor radio traffic offshore and is urging mariners to use extreme caution throughout the North Carolina Captain of the Port Zone.

The Coast Guard said mariners in distress should attempt to call Sector North Carolina at 910-343-3880.

The Coast Guard said a C-130 was launched Thursday night to monitor communications in the area on a temporary basis, but this solution is not sustainable.

The estimated repair time is unknown, but the Coast Guard is developing a radio coverage plan in the event repairs cannot be made for an extended period

[billknny]

Before anybody gets too scared...

https://www.marinelink.com/news/comm...restores437169

U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina has restored radio communication capability Friday.

Repairs were completed at approximately 4 a.m. after communications went down Thursday evening, leaving the Coast Guard unable to monitor radio traffic offshore

The Coast Guard said HC-130 Hercules airplane had been launched Thursday night to monitor communications in the area on a temporary basis.

[hellosailor]

Sounds like somebody kicked a plug in part of the great new 21st-century networked radio systems, and unplugged it for the whole sector. Great Nooze coverage, no details of any kind. No indication of whether it was component failure, human error, malicious attack....Like the dozens of attacks on power substations and telecommunications trunks that are happening mainly in the Pacific NW every year now.

[CaptTom]

Yeah, that new system has some bugs. Not the least of which is getting watchstanders to actually use all the features. I know for a fact some of them don't really like (or understand how) to use the feature that allows them to get a fix on a transmission.

Another human factor is that they can broadcast from multiple transmitters. That's a feature they DO use. Even when they only need to cover a small area. So you hear useless calls from far away, stomping all over local traffic.

I don't know how reliable the hardware is, but like anything, the more complex, the bigger the failure.

[rlevin73]

HelloI work for the USCG at HQ and answer many questions on maritime communications issues. If you have a communications question email
Russell.s.levin@uscg.mil snd I will try to assist.