Operating position or remote control unit
designation; and
Remarks, as appropriate.
QUALITY MONITORING
In recent years, the volume of communications has
increased dramatically. This rapid expansion has led to
the installation of increasingly sophisticated
equipment. Such factors as frequency accuracy, dc
distortion, inter-modulation distortion (IMD), and
distribution levels are critical to the operation of
communications systems.
Satisfactory operation of these systems demands
precise initial line-up and subsequent monitoring.
System degradation is often caused by many small
contributing factors that, when combined, render the
system unusable. Simply looking at the page printer or
listening to the signal is inadequate.
Simply stated, quality monitoring is the
performance of scheduled, logical checks that will
ensure continuous, optimum performance and, in many
cases, prevent outages before they occur. Some
communications personnel quite often fail to realize the
benefits of quality monitoring. An attitude develops
that questions the need for quality monitoring. The
result of this incorrect attitude is that circuits are either
UP or DOWN. Personnel with this attitude perform no
quality monitoring when the circuits are UP and are,
therefore, forced to treat each outage as if it were a
unique occurrence.
With no precise information concerning the trend of
the system’s performance, personnel must jump from
one assumed probable cause to another assumed
probable cause, while valuable circuit time is lost. A
ship with an aggressive quality monitoring program
usually has personnel who are thoroughly familiar with
all installed communications systems.
QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM
The primary function of the quality monitoring
program is the direct measurement of signal quality
characteristics, including:
Dc distortion;
Audio distribution level;
Frequency accuracy of RF signals;
Spectrum analysis; and
Loop current.
These measurements are broad categories and can be
broken down to specific tests for specific systems.
Quality Monitoring System
Figure 1-14 is a diagram of a quality monitoring
system and RCS interface. The system was designed to
provide a means of monitoring and evaluating
performance of any communications system used by
forces afloat.
The monitoring system is a grouping of specific test
equipments into a console designated as the AN/SSQ-
88 Quality Monitoring Set. The set contains equipment
for measuring and analyzing signals sampled by sensors
installed in each communications circuit interface. The
system should be operated only by personnel with
sufficient knowledge to analyze the signals being
transmitted and received via the ship’s circuits,
including individual channels of the multichannel
circuits.
The console configuration shown in figure 1-15
may not be compatible with all ships; however, most
ships can use equivalent test equipment to establish a
quality monitoring test system.
SUMMARY
Your commanding officer must be able to
communicate with ships and shore stations to maintain
effective command and control of the situation at hand.
Communications are, and always will be, the “voice of
command.” In the age of nuclear weapons, guided
missiles, supersonic aircraft, and high-speed ships and
submarines, top performance is required of our fleet
communicators. You, as a Radioman, and your
equipment must always be in constant readiness to meet
this formidable challenge.
Distress communications are methods that have
been developed for use in times of distress. They
indicate the need for immediate assistance and have
priority over all other traffic. Various publications and
local instructions will assist you in carrying out your
required responses to these situations.
Communication systems are periodically tested to
ensure that they operate efficiently and accurately. The
combined tests, checks, and measurements help
determine the condition of systems, subsystems, and
individual equipments. Tests and measurements of
communication systems and equipments range from the
very simple to the very complex.
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