HF radio course for Fiji Navy.

Barrett Communications, in conjunction with Fiji sales and service agents, Elcom Services, recently conducted an HF email and data training course for the Fiji Navy.

Martin Johnson, Business Development Manager for Barrett Communications, flew to Suva to conduct the training which consisted of two days classroom training followed by a two day sea trial. Four data stations were set up in the classroom, where the students were instructed in equipment assembly and operation including configuring stations and local networks. They then passed data in a number of formats, including MS Outlook email, file attachments and pagecall. Three of the four stations were then set up on patrol boats that deployed to sea, the fourth was set up in the Navy Communications Centre. The vessels successfully passed data between themselves and the communications centre, sending position and situation reports, digital photographs and weather information. Course attendees remarked on the speed and simplicity of the data transfer.

Previously, situational reports had been sent by voice, which was time consuming and not always completely accurate. There was no previous capability for transfer of photographs. Automatic linking options on the Barrett 2020 system ensured the correct frequency was automatically chosen and the error correction capability ensured the information passed was both timely and accurate.

Fiji is now the fourth country in the South Pacific to utilize Barrett email fax and data systems for defence, police and emergency service operations.