Development of an Experimental Spread Spectrum Maritime Communication System: Phase II. Volume I. Concept Description and Test Results

摘要

The need for a reliable, inexpensive maritime distress alerting system can be met by the use of low-power transmitters signaling via geostationary satellites. Total system costs can be minimized by using existing or planned maritime commercial communication satellites and their associated coast earth stations. The possibility of multiple concurrent distress alerts can also be accommodated. A particular concept embodying these characteristics is a Satellite-Aided Maritime Search And Rescue System (SAMSARS). SAMSARS includes a float-free Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) buoy with five to ten watts output power. Distress information is translated into a spread spectrum signal. The SAMSARS EPIRB signal is relayed through a conventional commercial satellite (MARISAT or INMARSAT) to a coast earth station. There the signal is processed in the SAMSARS receiver to recover message data.