In article 8L_Gd.18132$B95.563@lakeread02,
"Jack Painter" frothed out his ass:


Are you still interested in answers to your questions, or would you two just
rather continue your back-slapping stories? Your replies to each other sound
pretty cozy, and I don't want to barge in between your barstools while the
two of you solve the world's problems.

For the rest of the group still following G here is my universe:

1. "Squelch" is NEVER adjusted on any USCG guard receiver, VHF, MF, or HF.
This applies equally to every Boat Station, Group, Sector, Activity,
Communication Station and Communication Area Master Station. Anyone not
drunk will also understand the following:

I don't know where your Universe is, or what Dimension it is in, Jack,
but do you REALLY expect us ALL to believe that EACH VHF Receiver on
ALL USCG RADIO's don't have an "Adjusted Squelch" and that white noise is
eminating from all the speakers????? This is just SO MUCH BULL****, that
even the most imcompitant Mooorooon knows it is CRAP.
I have been in a number of CommSta's around in the REAL UNIVERSE, and I
can STATE Catagorically that this is JUST NOT THE CASE.

2. Volume is NEVER turned down, as was foolishly suggested above. Lets be
serious for a moment. During critical SAR comms, volume will be turned UP on
affected systems, this will have the same effect as turning others "down".
That is not a long term condition, and SSB receivers are in a separate area
from the VHF consoles anyway. This is something some of you could observe if
you asked for a tour of a Group watchstanding system.

Yes Jack, volumes ARE turned down in CommSta's in the REAL Universe. It
happens quite often. Speakers are also MUTED, for specific situations,
so that other speakers can be copied better. Any reports, otherwise are
just not creditable.

3. Boat Stations do NOT have SSB capability, their AOR is always within VHF
range.

4. Some small patrol boats DO have SSB capability, namely all new 47' MLBs's
which systematically replace the aging 41' patrol boats. Some 41's also have
SSB. All aircraft have VHF/MF/HF systems.

5. Most Groups (or "Sectors" as they are transitioning to) and Activities
have multiple towers (called "High Sites" ). Location of these high-sites
normally allows significant overlap of the adjoining Group/Sector's AOR.

and most CommSta's don't have the MF/HF Receivers right there in the room
either. Most of that equipment is remoted out at the Antenna Farms, and
is brought in on Phonelines, or other longhaul communications links.
The reason for that is if the receivers were actually in the Consoles at
the CommSta, they would be STONED Deaf because of all the computer, and
network noise that is zipping around in there. Some of us actually have
designed systems for USCG CommSta's, Jack.......

6. There are still areas of the Coastal-Continental United States that have
small gaps in VHF coverage. Maine and Florida used to be the last ones on
the East coast reporting this problem (there may be others we are not aware
of). USCG AUX in Florida remedied that state's problem with volunteer
funded, erected and maintained towers and repeater systems in the thousand
islands area of SW Florida.

Even if it has slipped you mind, Jack..... Alaska IS in the North
American Continental United States!!!!

7. Rescue-21 when fully implemented, will maintain full VHF coverage in all
areas, and between 20-40 miles seaward. The first Group to have this system
completed is adjacent to me, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Even with
Rescue-21 up and running there, that Group NOW has full MF-DSC-GMDSS
capability on 2187.5 khz and of course monitors 2182 khz (the IMO-regulated
adjoining voice channel to 2mhz-DSC) on a 24/7 basis, just as all USCG
Groups do.

8. Each of a Group's several high-sites now has their own set of VHF
receivers and transmitters. Group watchstanders monitor a guard receiver
speaker from EACH high site, all playing "white noise" all the time.

9. The SSB/MF/HF systems of every GroupSector/Activity serves many other
purposes than just guarding 2182 khz, which is required by International
treaty for declared Sea Area A-2 (the range between VHF and HF shore
coverage of guard frequencies). IMO regulations are beyond the scope of this
discussion, but I will be happy to try to elaborate some that relate to ship
to shore communications later.

9. Automatic Direction Finding equipment with display on computer-screen
charts is selectable from all or individual high-sites.

10. Digital recording devices capture 100% of all incoming traffic to USCG
Group receivers.

11. Auto-alarms received on 2182 khz (that are NOT during the
testing-periods allowed) occur up to several times a week. In no case that I
can remember, has the pleasure boat, fishing vessel or commercial ship that
sounded them ever "cancelled" with apologies. Callouts and urgent marine
information broadcasts across wide areas result.

When was the last time you actually SAW a TG-502 connected to a SSB Radio
on a noncommecial Vessel??? You do know what a TG-502 is, right Jack????


12. Auto-alarms received on VHF-DSC Ch-70 (156.525 mhz) with no
acknowledgement or cancellation occur at least weekly. Testing of VHF-DSC
auto-alarms is illegal, so I guess it's no surprise that most don't
acknowledge. I have heard a commercial fishing captain call us to say "the
darn thing just went off". He was DF'd and hunted-down before he
acknowledged this. It cost him nothing to apologize yet cost the Coast Guard
an hour of SAR-callouts, boat-team launch, preparation for aircraft launch,
etc.

Better go back and get your TERMINOLOGY Staight Jack..... AutoAlarms
went out with Morse Code, and 500Khz.... DSC Distress Signals are not
refered to as AUTOALARMS.....


13. Valid MAYDAY calls for USCG SAR-response are received on 2182 khz as the
first communication used on average of once every two weeks or so along the
Eastern seaboard.

14. HF is the ONLY 24hr skywave-reliable SSB system in use. MF is only for
short range (20-200 miles), and only intended as a bridge between VHF line
of sight and HF skywave. This doesn't stop us from completing hours of
SAR-case communications exclusively on 2182 khz as long as it remains
successful.

Hope this clears some of the fog spreading from various
barstool-scuttlebutt.

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia




Me who actually does live in the REAL Universe........