Redefining Coast Guard Radio Tower Sites Using a Software-Defined Radio

Abstract

The Coast Guard monitors 33 remote radio tower sites in Alaska using conventional hardware that requires frequent maintenance and lacks flexibility. This capstone demonstrates that a single software-defined radio (SDR) can replace these systems. Using an Ettus USRP B205mini SDR and GNU Radio Companion, the system simultaneously receives and demodulates signals including Channels 16 and 13, NWR, AIS, and DSC. AIS data is visualized in ArcGIS Pro using NMEA strings. Results prove that VHF signals can be processed simultaneously without quality loss, providing a scalable solution for modernizing remote sites.