Marine Broadband Framework for coastal fishings

Abstract

This report provides an account of a ldquomarine broadband frameworkrdquo wireless LAN coastal communication system constructed for the purpose of improving productivity and safety of commercial fishing operations. The marine broadband framework proposed in this report is a wireless communication network that can maintain a regular Internet connection at fast xDSL transmission speeds for low cost in coastal areas worked by small fishing vessels. The wireless LAN system uses an OWS 2400 (Strix Systems, Inc.) with IEEE802.11j specifications. An initial trial using small fishing vessels and ferries demonstrated that a wireless LAN connection could be maintained within a range of 10,000 m, along with actual throughput of around 6,000 Kbps. This trial was followed by a detailed assessment of transmission quality within the service area using a scientific research vessel. As a result, it was found that stable transmission with a receiving signal of -90 dBm and higher was maintained within a range of 14,000 m from a stationary base station. Additionally, actual throughput of 8,000 Kbps and higher from within about 2,000 m of a station, and 4,000 Kbps and higher from within about 12,000 m of a station was also confirmed. Consequently, these trials confirmed that a wireless LAN network with IEEE802.11j specifications can be used to construct a marine broadband communication framework in coastal regions with xDSL transmission speeds.