US Coast Guard transmissions - Always low audio?

[W2PSK]

Does the Coast Guard teach it's people to talk quietly into the microphone or to talk too far from it? Every time I hear a broadcast on Channel 16, no matter if it's at home or in my car, their audio is very low. Is it just me, being an old man, not hearing so good or is it them?

 

[trimmerj]

I've noticed that too....

 

[ecps92]

Does the Coast Guard teach it's people to talk quietly into the microphone or to talk too far from it? Every time I hear a broadcast on Channel 16, no matter if it's at home or in my car, their audio is very low. Is it just me, being an old man, not hearing so good or is it them?

same as with some Public Safety, talking "away" from the microphone

 

[kc2asb]

Does the Coast Guard teach it's people to talk quietly into the microphone or to talk too far from it? Every time I hear a broadcast on Channel 16, no matter if it's at home or in my car, their audio is very low. Is it just me, being an old man, not hearing so good or is it them?

I've noticed that too - your ears are fine. I also noticed that one of the Coast Guard Sector NY operators pronounces GMT as "Green-itch Mean-which Time".

 

[prcguy]

Can someone measure their deviation? The USCG uses a lot of Motorola commercial radios, especially for base stations and they could be accidently programmed for narrow band.

 

[ecps92]

Can someone measure their deviation? The USCG uses a lot of Motorola commercial radios, especially for base stations and they could be accidently programmed for narrow band.

Audio varies by Desk Operator, some are Loud and Strong others are the silent type

 

[RichM]

I live near a Coast Guard city and it has always been like this, especially the information broadcasts on ch 22. I will add that when the choppers are using digital tg’s the modulation is fine from both the pilots and the sector guard at the base, not the case with VHF analog.

 

[presw]

Can someone measure their deviation? The USCG uses a lot of Motorola commercial radios, especially for base stations and they could be accidently programmed for narrow band.

Speaking of deviation, several of the NOAA station audible in Long Island (Riverhead, Bridgeport and NYC) all measure a stunning 15-17KHz deviation (calibrated IFR). I can't believe that even works.

 

[rk911]

I've noticed that too....

As have I.

 

[lamarrsy]

Don’t forget that we have now younger peoples who are more familiar with hands-free or “speakerphone” cellphones concept, than with two-way radios.
We were raised playing cops with walkie-talkie (talking two inches from the mic) but the actual generation at work hasn’t been raised with walkie-talkies at two inches from their mouth…

 

[prcguy]

Don’t forget that we have now younger peoples who are more familiar with hands-free or “speakerphone” cellphones concept, than with two-way radios.
We were raised playing cops with walkie-talkie (talking two inches from the mic) but the actual generation at work hasn’t been raised with walkie-talkies at two inches from their mouth.

USCG personnel you hear on ch 16, 22A, etc from Sector are trained on how to use the radio including proper use of the mic and more. I can't believe they are mumbling or talking at arms distance to the mic. I've gone through some of the training and have worked next to the people on air and they know what they are doing.

 

[CollinsURG]

I noticed recently when in Volusia County Florida, every time Sector Jacksonville was on Channel 16 the audio was very low, the same person that announced a channel 1022 broadcast on 16, they were much louder when they made the announcement on 1022 (22A). Made sense they switched transmitters since 16 must always be open. Gave the impression it was equipment differences. Either transmitter or audio link.

 

[INDY72]

Along the Mississippi River, 16 is always Lima Charlie, while 22 and other ones are "softer". I always thought it was on purpose.

 

[prcguy]

I noticed recently when in Volusia County Florida, every time Sector Jacksonville was on Channel 16 the audio was very low, the same person that announced a channel 1022 broadcast on 16, they were much louder when they made the announcement on 1022 (22A). Made sense they switched transmitters since 16 must always be open. Gave the impression it was equipment differences. Either transmitter or audio link.

The USCG might use a combination of a local radio with mic at the base and remote controlled Rescue 21 system transmitters. I've seen the huge matrix of frequencies and locations on their computer screens at a base and it could be the audio for remote systems are not properly aligned.

 

[harrycaul11]

this is almost always operator error or just operator doesn't care by not checking the audio level setting on their console, remember that they are not talking into a radio mic that is directly connected to the radio. they talking into a telephone headset that may or may not be a correct impedance match. they need to be trained on how to go into the software and adjust it for THEIR individual speech level. after that then the levels at the actual radio transmitter located in a tower somewhere needs to be optimized. it will be getting worse as far too many agency's allow the IT tech to pretend he's a radio tech. just because wires are involved does not mean the jobs are the same. add P25 digital into the equation and forget about it.

 

[prcguy]

this is almost always operator error or just operator doesn't care by not checking the audio level setting on their console, remember that they are not talking into a radio mic that is directly connected to the radio. they talking into a telephone headset that may or may not be a correct impedance match. they need to be trained on how to go into the software and adjust it for THEIR individual speech level. after that then the levels at the actual radio transmitter located in a tower somewhere needs to be optimized. it will be getting worse as far too many agency's allow the IT tech to pretend he's a radio tech. just because wires are involved does not mean the jobs are the same. add P25 digital into the equation and forget about it.

Have you seen the computer or software? I have not seen a telephone handset for a Rescue 21 console, just a speaker and a mic with a computer display of what is active. I don't think anyone has plugged a wrong mic in, its designed and installed and active duty people are probably not connecting wrong mics, etc.

 

[CollinsURG]

this is almost always operator error or just operator doesn't care by not checking the audio level setting on their console, remember that they are not talking into a radio mic that is directly connected to the radio. they talking into a telephone headset that may or may not be a correct impedance match. they need to be trained on how to go into the software and adjust it for THEIR individual speech level. after that then the levels at the actual radio transmitter located in a tower somewhere needs to be optimized. it will be getting worse as far too many agency's allow the IT tech to pretend he's a radio tech. just because wires are involved does not mean the jobs are the same. add P25 digital into the equation and forget about it.

Heaven forbid operators could adjust line levels. If air traffic controllers could have adjusted line levels, I would have been much busier than I was. No IT techs involved. Air Field Systems techs are trained in IT, not the other way around. Probably the same with USCG.

I cannot attest to how USCG handles communication systems, but line levels to transmitters in ATC have a set line level with audio AGC. However, audio AGC cannot compensate for every headset or person. I expect it is the same for USCG.

 

[tvengr]

Speaking of deviation, several of the NOAA station audible in Long Island (Riverhead, Bridgeport and NYC) all measure a stunning 15-17KHz deviation (calibrated IFR). I can't believe that even works.

Are you speaking of deviation or bandwidth? The radios should be 5 KHz deviation. if the radios were that hot, the audio would be very distorted. Our news department's old radios were licensed as remote pickup and used 15 KHz deviation. Some of our low-power radio microphones also used 15 KHz deviation.

 

[prcguy]

Are you speaking of deviation or bandwidth? The radios should be 5 KHz deviation. if the radios were that hot, the audio would be very distorted. Our news department's old radios were licensed as remote pickup and used 15 KHz deviation. Some of our low-power radio microphones also used 15 KHz deviation.

I would agree and expect distortion with a typical weather or commercial LMR or amateur radio.

 

[Ubbe]

it could be the audio for remote systems are not properly aligned.

Our marine coastal stations where handled by one tech guy for the east coast, maybe 10-15 stations, and where never any issues but then he retired and since then it is a constant problem with audio levels. Sometimes there's hardly any audio after the annual checkup and I'm wondering why there's a silent carrier on the marine channel. But turning up the volume I can hear the dispatcher from the distress central talking. It probably where something like a 10% modulation level.

It stays like that for a year and then it instead could be too much audio for the next year that makes the squelch in a radio to clip the audio. A boat owner could then say that he had difficulties hearing the dispatcher and he or she would then talk even louder that made the situation worse. They couldn't figure out what was wrong and reverted to a phone call instead of radio. That happened several times. At the moment the audio are set a bit too low, maybe a 25% modulation level.

/Ubbe