Feasibility of wireless data transmission on ships
David S. Hosom · Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution eBooks · 1997
This report wi present the results of an investigation into the feasibility of several modes of wieless data transmission including: (1) radio frequency modems, (2) acoustic modems (using the ship's steel hull for a path with a "HulIhone"), (3) power line systems, such as X-lO units, and (4) possible power line utiliation of telephone modems.There is a need for wieless data transmission on both Voluntar Observg Ships (VQS) and research ships for short-term instalations.The availability of cables from remote areas on these ships is usualy not good, and restnctions on installng cables prevent some useful measurements from being made.A case in point is the real time avaiability of measurements of sea sudace temperature (SST) from VOS by sensors mounted inside the hull.Instruments for measunng SST are installed in sealed comparments that are near the waterline of the ship and often four decks below the mai deck.Other applications include transmission of data from automated XBT launchers located on the af deck to the science area and transmission of data from a cluster of meteorological instruments located at the bow of the ship to the bndge for intedace to Servce Argos or Inmarsat satellte links.Surveys of existing equipment have been made.Typical equipment has been purchased and was tested in a ship environment, including the "HulIhone".The results of these tests are presented.Suggestions for system confgurations to meet the applications noted above are made with note of the product development required.