Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes:
Even with the latest communications technology available in the world today, radio remains indispensable.
Japan, a country known for its state-of-the-art technology, has a network of coastal radios to communicate with fishing vessels, transmitting in medium and shortwaves. In this audio I made, the Okinawa coastal station broadcasts weather reports and an alert for typhoon category 5 Surigae, which is currently heading south in Japan.
The signal was listened yesterday in Porto Alegre, Brazil, at 9 am (UTC).
You’ve a very good point, Carlos. Even though there are advanced satellite systems that help maritime traffic with weather, they still rely on real-time reports over the air when systems fail, and when cloud cover or stormy seas might interfere with sat comms.
Interesting information on these shortwave transmission, my question is what further information is there available to monitor other or/all of these stations. A website for a schedule and contact information..
Thank you
Edward Kusalik
Oh don’t even tell me, a list of the frequencies of Japanese fishing stations would be fantastic!
I even tried to find it on the Internet, but no success so far.
This is a list of sea radios published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
I hope it helps.
https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/resource/j/material/dwn/06.pdf
This is a treasure, thanks a million!