Coastal and Harbor Ship Radiotelephone Service from Norfolk, Virginia

This paper deals with the engineering and operation of a radiotelephone service for harbor and coastal vessels in the Norfolk area. The instrumentalities discussed in companion papers are employed for this purpose. First, the need for such a service is developed from maritime data concerning the character of water transportation. Then radio-coverage-survey results show that a radiotelephone station of only moderate power can reach satisfactorily the commercially more important parts of this area. A discussion of the power radiated from antennas on the smaller craft logically leads to the determination of suitable receiver locations. The paper contains a general description of the plant installed at the Virginia Beach radio transmitting station, the radio receiving stations, and the control-switchboard positions in Norfolk, together with a discussion of the interconnection and interplay of these components to give service. After telling of the facilities available for use by the switchboard operator, the paper concludes with a tracing of the steps followed in handling calls to or from vessels reached through the Norfolk marine operator.