Maritime digital in the future?

[NS9710]

I am just curious if maritime will go digital in the future or if the analog channels currently in use going to remain the standard?

If they go digital, what format would they likely use?

Also, when out at sea, how is a cargo vessel able to contact other vessels, or USCG if needed?

What about the ability to use their phones to contact loved ones?
Would they have to wait til they come close to land to use their personal devices?

 

[hill]

It will a long while.

I have heard it could NXDN.

It will need to be an open standard.

 

[nd5y]

Marine band going digital

Marine band going digital with a modified version of the dPMR the ECC have produced a report and ETSI modifying the DPMR standard with manufacturers. https://docdb.cept.org/download/3503?fbclid=IwAR1tGdhlzA5PkEWEi36JdbN1D5_sRmIQz_FSqLmv9YuR-Cpw_S_59DQc0Pk...

forums.radioreference.com

VHF marine Radio Voice

What is the status on VHF marine radio band going digital Did anyone hear any updates

forums.radioreference.com

 

[mmckenna]

The ITU (International Telecommunications Union) has been looking at this. There's probably a link in the links above from nd5y.

Short term plan was narrow band FM and then eventually digital. Not sure what will happen when. Seems like a waste at this point to go narrow band and not just jump to digital.

Plan was for something similar to the NXDN standard. I think the ITU testing used Kenwood VHF radios running NXDN, however the standard did NOT specifically say NXDN.

 

[ka3jjz]

In the HF maritime world, this transition is already here. While a few stations still use SITOR-A (Istanbul being an example), most have transitioned to Pactor and many with a compression technique that makes the message unreadable

Mike

 

[PACNWDude]

I am not holding my breath.....it took a long time to get Digital Selective Calling (DSC) as a requirement on maritime radio equipment. My employer at the time held out until the last minute, with a fleet of commercial vessels spread across the country, where most still had older Motorola VHF Marine Radios (Triton/TritonII/TritonII+/M100's mostly).

Then, getting two transceivers on larger craft, instead of one transceiver and two control heads (which does meet US Coast Guard regulation), but is not practical.....when you need two "radios" you often really need two very separate radios on board. On a 200 foot whale watching vessel for example, carrying a hundred passengers, when some of those passengers fall overboard looking at killer whale's in the water.....you find that two transceivers and a couple of handhelds in the hands of your deck hands to be very useful.

Analog will most likely stay for a long time, with digital possibly being phased in over a couple of decades once the decision has been made. Should any maritime regulation seem vague, like only specifying "DMR" digital mobile radio, expect each vendor to shill their own method (NXDN, iDAS, Trbo, etc.), with analog still being the primary method like with American Citizen's Band 26-27 MHz.....analog but adding in FM after years of Cobra poking the FCC to add in FM to that band.

 

[kc2asb]

Analog will most likely stay for a long time, with digital possibly being phased in over a couple of decades once the decision has been made. Should any maritime regulation seem vague, like only specifying "DMR" digital mobile radio, expect each vendor to shill their own method (NXDN, iDAS, Trbo, etc.), with analog still being the primary method like with American Citizen's Band 26-27 MHz.....analog but adding in FM after years of Cobra poking the FCC to add in FM to that band.

I agree, change will be slow and analog seems to still fit the bill for VHF maritime comms. Even if they do switch to NXDN or some other digital standard, most scanner hobbyists will still be able to listen in using any of the readily-available Uniden/Whistler digital scanners and those from other manufacturers.

 

[Chris155]

There’s so many analog marine vhf units in use it would have be to a slow transition. I would think emergency and coastguard broadcast would have to remain analog for a very long time.

 

[mmckenna]

It would be a slow transition. Recreational users like to hang on to old gear and usually will spend more money on a new ice chest than they will on safety equipment.

But mixed mode radios are a thing. Radios capable of analog and digital are an option. Likely 16 would stay analog or mixed mode for a very long time.

Interesting read if you feel like it:

https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/opb/rep/R-REP-M.2530-2023-PDF-E.pdf

Keep in mind this is from 2019.

 

[mmckenna]

Also, when out at sea, how is a cargo vessel able to contact other vessels, or USCG if needed?

Depends on how far out they are.
The Rescue21 system was designed for a minimum of 20 miles out, but that was for a 1 watt radio at sea level (think someone in a kayak or floating in the water).

A large vessel with VHF antennas up on the mast would see much more range. Along mountainous coastline, antennas are up much higer.

HF radio is still an option, but fading.

GMDSS has taken over, automating a lot of the stuff a dedicated radio officer used to do. Satellite is the heavy hauler in this application.

What about the ability to use their phones to contact loved ones?

Satellite telephone, but more often than not, ships have satellite based internet access and provide computers for e-mail/zoom or WiFi in crew areas.

Would they have to wait til they come close to land to use their personal devices?

WiFi through the ships network to satellite uplinks are the standard now. It's become a necessity for dang near any large ship with an owner that wants to keep the crew happy.

 

[MTS2000des]

Another solution in search of a problem. Just like the question about aviation, the maritime world is also international. Changing out a long time, reliable and agreed upon ITU standard with little benefit and at a great cost doesn't make sense.

 

[wirelesssamurai]

I am just curious if maritime will go digital in the future or if the analog channels currently in use going to remain the standard?

If they go digital, what format would they likely use?

Also, when out at sea, how is a cargo vessel able to contact other vessels, or USCG if needed?

What about the ability to use their phones to contact loved ones?
Would they have to wait til they come close to land to use their personal devices?

The US Coast Guard recently issued an RFI seeking information on new technologies, so maybe they will start to implement some new technologies. Sam Acquisition 360

 

[kc2asb]

The US Coast Guard recently issued an RFI seeking information on new technologies, so maybe they will start to implement some new technologies. Sam Acquisition 360

Interesting. Even so, the USCG will have to monitor analog for some time to come.

 

[trentbob]

I was always an avid boater and a licensed Baymen working on fishing boats Etc and I can remember when VHF marine radio was first introduced..

They will have to monitor both systems for quite a while LOL. We even needed a license with call letters. I was WM 6934😀.

 

[mmckenna]

The US Coast Guard recently issued an RFI seeking information on new technologies, so maybe they will start to implement some new technologies. Sam Acquisition 360

I wouldn't be too confident that this is related to Marine VHF going digital. Last I looked, the ITU had not settled on a standard yet, and anything that would be used in this realm would need to match the ITU standards.

Likely, this is just updated equipment and new technology to make the current system work better.

 

[ecps92]

The US Coast Guard recently issued an RFI seeking information on new technologies, so maybe they will start to implement some new technologies. Sam Acquisition 360

or just an upgrade to the existing Rescue 21 equipment, since much of it is EOL