Glossary of Terms GLOSSARY
AAlC
Accounting Authority Identification Code - issued by the ship's radio
accounting company to allow calls, made through coast radio stations,
to be charged back to the vessel's account.
AF
Audio Frequency - sound waves produced by voice, or from a radio
receiver loudspeaker/handset after conversion from radio frequency.
AF Gain
Audio Frequency Gain - the volume control in a radio receiver.
AIS
Automatic Identification Systems - a VHF DSC system for reporting
ships MMSI (and other information) in response to a DSC interrogation.
ALRS
Admiralty List of Radio Signals - a series of reference publications
documenting shore-based maritime radio services around the world.
Published by The Hydrographer of the Navy, Taunton, England.
Antenna Coupler (see ATU/ASMU)
ATO 'Authority to Operate'
Associated with your radio operator's qualification - whereas nobody
can 'take away' the fact that you've passed a particular examination (like
your driving test) - you can lose your 'authority to operate' if you abuse
the radio service.
ATU/ASMU
Antenna Tuning Unit/Antenna System Matching Unit - used to match
the whip/wire antenna to the transmitter output stages of your MF /HF
SSB radio - often called an 'Antenna Coupler'
Callsign
More correctly 'radio callsign' an individual identification group for use
with radio, to identify one vessel from another (especially where they
may have the same name).
CES
Coast Earth Station - a land station in the Inmarsat service, for connecting
calls/passing messages between ship and shore (also known as a Land
Earth Station (LES)).MARINE COMMUNICATIONS 209