A Wireless Based Ocean Observation Buoy System and Legal Status of Underwater Radio Wave Communication in Japan

摘要

In recent years, outdoor long range wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies have been developed as IEEE 802.11 series, and wireless based ocean observation systems have been developed all over the world. Wireless technologies may look easy to be installed, but there might be some trouble with communication stability caused by under and surface water environments. This paper provides a configuration of a prototype of wireless based underwater observing buoy system using unlicensed spectrum and a result of experiment performed to demonstrate the ability and of real time video data transmission by observation buoy system using WLAN equipment. In addition to the technical aspect of this development, legal status of underwater radio wave communication in Japan is provided as a result of this research. It is necessary to make continuous efforts to remove a gray zone area for social implementation of the underwater radio communication technology.