The second meeting in the 2008-2011 cycle of working party 5B (WP 5B) of ITU-R Study Group 5 (SG 5), concerning maritime mobile service, including the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS), aeronautic mobile service and radio-determination service, was held from 29 October to 7 November 2008 in Geneva.
The 135 documents submitted for the consideration of WP 5B were divided according to subject matter among three subgroups, as follows:
- Subgroup 5B-1 - Radio-determination;
- Subgroup 5B-2 - Aeronautic;
- Subgroup 5B-3 - Maritime.
The following particularly stand out among the subjects analysed:
- Revision of the new Recommendation on mathematical models for radar antenna systems to be used in interference analyses;
- Revision of the new Recommendation on technical and operational aspects of terrestrial weather radars;
- Modification of Recommendation ITU-R M.1842 on the characteristics of VHF radio systems and equipment for data interchange and electronic mail in maritime mobile service (RR appendix 18);
- Revision of the new report on theoretical analysis, tests and relevant results for determining the criteria for protection against interference from terrestrial weather radars;
- New Question on compatibility between digital audio broadcasting in the 87-108 MHz band and aeronautic radionavigation service in the 108-117.975 MHz band and aeronautic mobile service (route) in the 117.975-137 MHz band;
- New Question on technical characteristics and operational requirements in wireless avionics intra-communications (WAIC).
The following documents also stand out, as they require either more development or more thorough study, and will thus be considered at the next meeting:
- Revision of the channels in Appendix 17, in order to implement new digital technologies for maritime mobile service;
- Study and development of the possible new framework for the maritime manual;
- Study and development of the possible new framework for the ITU service lists (lists IV and V);
- Revision of the new Report on improved AIS satellite detection.
