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.