Abstract:
A marine radio wireless communication system ( 10 ) incorporating a remote wireless handset ( 26 ) and a fixed mount marine radio ( 18 ) for wireless communication on board a waterborne vessel ( 12 ) is disclosed. At least one marine radio remote wireless handset ( 26 ) is associated with and wirelessly linked to the fixed mount marine radio ( 18 ) for onboard remote acoustic communications between the two. Each fixed mount marine radio ( 18 ) and marine radio remote wireless handset ( 26 ) incorporates a speaker ( 80, 106 ) and a microphone ( 72, 102 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/206,502 entitled “Mobile Marine Communications Apparatus” filed Jul. 26, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,980,770. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates, in general, to the transmission of marine radio frequency communications between a fixed mount marine radio station and remote marine radio stations and, in particular, to a fixed mount marine radio and a system and method for communications on board a waterborne vessel. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A shipboard radio station includes all of the transmitting and receiving equipment installed aboard a ship for communications afloat. Depending on the size, purpose or destination of a ship, its radio station must meet certain requirements established by law or treaty. For example, large passenger or cargo ships that travel on the open sea are required by the Communications Act and by international agreements to be equipped with a radio station for long distance radio communications. Passenger ships that travel along the coast must be able to communicate at shorter range with coast stations. These are examples of “compulsory ships” because they are required or compelled by treaty or statute to be equipped with specified communications equipment. 
   Smaller ships used for recreation, e.g., sailing, diving, fishing or water skiing, are not required to have radio stations installed but they may be so equipped by choice. These ships are known as “voluntary ships” because they are not required by treaty or statute to carry a radio but may voluntarily fit some of the same equipment used by compulsory ships. 
   A shipboard radio station may communicate with other ship stations or coast stations primarily for safety, and secondarily for navigation and operational efficiency. The FCC regulates marine communications in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, which monitors marine distress frequencies continuously to protect life and property. Ship station equipment often includes a fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver, a radar system, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIBs), single sideband radiotelephones and satellite radios. 
   In particular, marine radio frequency transceivers, generally referred to as “marine radios” or sometimes “marine transceivers”, are an important part of a marine communication system. A marine radio can be employed to call a remote ship station, place a call through a public coast station, receive a shore to ship call or initiate a marine distress call. For example, an operator places a call to a remote ship station by first ensuring that the fixed mount marine radio is operational. The operator then selects Channel  16  (156.8 MHz) and listens to make sure it is not being used. Alternatively, Channel  9  (156.45 MHz) may be used by recreational vessels for general purpose calling. This frequency should be used whenever possible to relieve congestion of Channel  16 . When the channel is quiet, the operator places the call to the ship. The operator speaks directly into the fixed mount marine radio microphone in a normal tone of voice with clarity and distinctiveness and states “[name of ship being called] THIS IS [the name and call sign (if applicable) of the ship where the call is being placed].” Once contact is made on Channel  16 , the ships switch to a ship-to-ship channel. For example, if the call regards a noncommercial message, Channel  71 ,  72  or  78  may be selected. Alternatively, if the call regards a navigational message, Channel  13  or  67  may be selected. After communications are completed, each ship provides its call sign or ship name and switches back to Channel  16 . 
   Typical marine radios are fixed mounted at the radio station of the vessel. Usually, the radio station of the vessel is positioned at the bridge. Although a fixed mount marine radio can be very useful for communications between the bridge and vessels and locations outside of the vessel, a fixed mount marine radio generally has little utility for communication between points onboard the vessel. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention disclosed herein comprises a mobile communications apparatus for wireless communication onboard a waterborne vessel having a fixed mount frequency transceiver. The system and methods of the present invention enable crew members to send and receive communications between one another at any time and between any two locations in the vessel. 
   According to a first embodiment, the present invention is a method of communicating between a first wireless marine radio component and a second wireless radio component of a marine radio frequency communication system disposed on-board a waterborne vessel. The method comprises the steps of establishing a first wireless communication link between the first wireless marine radio component and the second wireless marine radio component, receiving an acoustic input signal at the first wireless marine radio component, processing the acoustic input signal within the first wireless marine radio component to generate a first electrical signal representing the acoustic input signal, transmitting a wireless signal incorporating the first electrical signal from the first wireless marine radio component to the second wireless marine radio component across the first wireless communication link, receiving the wireless signal at the second wireless marine radio component, processing the wireless signal within the second wireless marine radio component to generate a second electrical signal representing the acoustic input signal and generating an acoustic output signal at the second wireless marine radio component representing the acoustic input signal. 
   According to a second embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus for communicating within a marine radio frequency communication system disposed on-board a waterborne vessel. The apparatus comprises a first wireless marine radio component, a second wireless marine radio component and a pair of transceiver-antenna assemblies for establishing a wireless communication link between the first wireless marine radio component and the second wireless marine radio component. The apparatus further includes a microphone for receiving an acoustic input signal at the first wireless marine radio component and processing the acoustic input signal within the first wireless marine radio component to generate a first electrical signal representing the acoustic input signal. A first antenna is incorporated for transmitting a wireless signal incorporating the first electrical signal from the first wireless marine radio component to the second wireless marine radio component across the wireless communication link along with a second antenna for receiving the wireless signal at the second wireless marine radio component. Finally, the apparatus includes a transceiver for processing the wireless signal within the second wireless marine radio component to generate a second electrical signal representing the acoustic input signal and a speaker for generating an acoustic output signal at the second wireless marine radio component representing the acoustic input signal. 
   According to a third embodiment, the present invention is a wireless marine radio system comprising first and second wireless marine radio components. The first wireless marine radio component incorporates a first microphone, a first speaker, a first local wireless transceiver operably connected to a first local wireless antenna and a first processor operable to coordinate communication between the first microphone, the first speaker and the first local wireless transceiver. The second wireless marine radio component incorporates a second microphone, a second speaker, a second local wireless transceiver operably connected to a second local wireless antenna and a second processor operable to coordinate communication between the second microphone, the second speaker and the second local wireless transceiver. The first local wireless transceiver and second local wireless transceiver are operable to establish a local wireless link through the first and second local wireless antennas, and each of the first and second processors communicate signals from the respective first and second microphones across the wireless link and communicate signals received across the wireless link to the respective first and second speakers. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration with partial cut away of a wireless marine communications system of the present invention employed on a marine vessel; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of the wireless marine communications system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of the wireless marine communications system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a message flow diagram depicting a message flow within the wireless marine communications system of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart depicting a method of communication according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the present invention. 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a wireless marine communications system  10  of the present invention is shown employed in a marine vessel  12 . A first shipboard radio station  16  positioned at the bridge  14  of marine vessel  12  is fitted with a first fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver, or “marine radio”  18 . A loud speaker  20  and antenna  22  are coupled to fixed mount marine radio  18  to provide audio and wireless marine communications, respectively. Preferably, fixed mount marine radio  18  is a very high frequency (VHF) frequency modulation (FM) transceiver that allows shipboard radio station  16  to communicate with other remote shipboard radio stations (not shown) and coast stations (not shown) over relatively short distances by generating and receiving frequency modulated electromagnetic (EM) signals at certain predetermined radio frequency channels, specifically marine radio frequency channels. In certain embodiments, fixed mount marine radio  18  is able to send and receive on all USA and International marine radio frequency channels. 
   On the deck of vessel  12 , seaman  24  is holding a marine radio remote wireless handset  26  which wirelessly communicates with fixed mount marine radio  18 . In certain embodiments, the marine radio remote wireless handset  26  may enable an operator to send and receive marine communications from any position on waterborne marine vessel  12 . For example, as illustrated, seaman  24  is positioned towards the bow of the marine vessel  12  and away from the bridge  14  and fixed mount marine radio  18 . Marine radio remote wireless handset  26 , however, provides communication capability between seaman  24  and bridge  14  via wireless communication with fixed mount marine radio  18 . As such, marine radio remote wireless handset  26  provides intercom communication with the bridge  14 . In addition, marine radio remote wireless handset  26  may also provide the capability to make and receive marine radio frequency calls via fixed mount marine radio  18 . It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that while fixed mount marine radio  18  sends and receives inter-vessel marine communications on a wide band of marine frequencies, such as VHF band, over relatively great distances, marine radio remote wireless handset  26  may receive intra-vessel marine communications at a different frequency band. 
   A second shipboard radio station  36  positioned at the stern of marine vessel  12  is fitted with a second fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  38 . As above, a loud speaker  40  and antenna  42  are coupled to fixed mount marine radio  38  to facilitate audio and marine radio frequency communications, respectively. Similar to fixed mount marine radio  18 , fixed mount marine radio  38  is in certain embodiments able to send and receive on all USA and International marine channels. Accordingly, fixed mount marine radio  38  may serve as a fully-functional backup radio in the event that fixed mount marine radio  18  experiences a malfunction. Seamen  44 ,  48  are holding marine radio remote wireless handsets  46 ,  50  respectively which wirelessly communicate with fixed mount marine radio  38 . In certain embodiments, the marine radio remote wireless handsets  46 ,  50  may enable seamen  44 ,  48  to send and receive marine radio frequency communications through fixed mount marine radio  38  from any position on marine vessel  12 . 
   Each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50  is operable to transmit messages to and receive messages from the fixed mount marine radio  18  or  38  to which it is wirelessly linked. Further, in certain embodiments each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50  is operable to communicate with each of the other marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50  in the marine communications system  10 . In such embodiments, seaman  24  is able to communicate with seaman  44  by means of the marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46  carried by the two. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , wireless marine radio communication system  10  is illustrated schematically. A first fixed mount marine radio  18  is in direct wireless communication with marine radio remote wireless handset  26 , marine radio remote wireless handset  52  and fixed mount marine radio  38  as represented by communication lines  56 ,  58  and  64  respectively. A second fixed mount marine radio  38  is in direct wireless communication with marine radio remote wireless handset  46 , marine radio remote wireless handset  50  and fixed mount marine radio  18 , as represented by communication lines  60 ,  62  and  64  respectively. In certain embodiments, the wireless communication may occur at 900 MHz, 2.4 Ghz or 5.8 GHz. It should be understood, however, that fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  and marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  may communicate at other frequencies depending on multiple considerations including technological limitations, manufacturing costs and government regulations. 
   Each fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  includes a fixed transceiver base  68  and a hand microphone  70 . Fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  are selectively operable to transmit marine radio frequency communications in a sending mode and receive marine radio frequency communications in a receiving mode. Each hand microphone  70  connected to a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  may include a microphone  72 , function keys  74  and push to talk actuator  76 . Each hand microphone  70  may receive acoustic inputs for marine radio frequency communication when a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  is in the sending mode. Push to talk actuator  76  may selectively operate a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  to which it is attached between the sending mode and the receiving mode. With this arrangement, when push to talk actuator  76  is depressed, acoustic input signals received by microphone  72  are transmitted by the attached fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  over the currently selected marine radio frequency channel. As illustrated, function keys  74  may include 16/9 channel function keys, channel selection keys and hailer keys. A 16/9 channel key tunes the fixed mount marine radio to Channel  16  (156.8 MHz) with one click and to Channel  9  (156.45 MHz) with two clicks. Channel  16  is the international distress, safety and calling channel. Boats and ships required to carry a fixed mount marine radio maintain a listening watch on this channel, as does the United States Coast Guard. Boaters use this channel to get the attention of another station in an emergency, and may also use this channel to initiate non-emergency contact with other vessels. Once contact is initiated on Channel  16 , extended communication between vessels is carried out on one of the other channels. Channel  9  is the boater calling channel established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a supplementary calling channel for noncommercial vessels and recreational boaters to ease the congestion of Channel  16 . Accordingly, the ease of access that the 16/9 channel function provides to Channels  16  and  9  is very valuable on navigable waterways. 
   Each channel selection key provides easy channel selection with an up arrow that switches to the next channel up and a down arrow that switches to the next channel down. Each hailer key changes the mode of marine communication from wireless to auditory by switching the output of the attached fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  from its antenna  22 ,  42  to the attached loud speaker  20 ,  40 . 
   A wireline  78  connects each hand microphone  70  to the fixed transceiver base  68  of a fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  18 ,  38 . Each fixed transceiver base  68  includes a speaker  80  that generates sound associated with marine communications when the fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  is in its receiving mode. Push-select knobs  82  facilitate navigation of software menus. Displays  84  display information about the function of fixed marine radios  18 ,  38  such as the currently tuned channels. Power/volume controls  86  control transceiver power and audio output volume level. 
   As illustrated, function keys  88  may include distress call keys, menu keys, weather (WX) alert keys, scan memory keys and 16/9 TRI keys. A distress call key sends out a distress call in Digital Selective Calling (DSC). In general DSC is used to establish communications with ship or coast stations or to receive calls from other ships or coast stations. DSC works in conjunction with VHF, MF and HF radio systems and employs a two tone digital signal protocol to selectively call a particular station or to call a group of stations, all stations in a particular geographic area, or to call all stations. 
   The menu keys provide access to the software menus. The software menus provide features such as a programmable memory. The WX alert keys change the channel to the last used weather channel. Alternatively, the weather alert function may be equipped with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME). The scan memory keys scan preprogrammed channels. The 16/9/TRI keys access Channel  16  and Channel  9  and provide a triple watch mode. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that although the fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  are illustrated and described above as having certain functions, other functions known in marine radio frequency communications are within the teachings of and do not depart from the present invention. For example, a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  is often equipped with a squelch control key in order to eliminate output noise when no marine communication or an extremely weak marine communication is received. 
   Each of the four marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  may maintain one or more wireless links to one or more wireless components of the system  10 . As an example, marine radio remote wireless handset  26  is shown maintaining wireless link  56  to fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  18  and wireless link  54  to marine radio remote wireless handset  46 . Similarly, marine radio remote wireless handset  50  is shown maintaining wireless link  62  to fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  38  and wireless link  66  to marine radio remote wireless handset  52 . At other times, marine radio remote wireless handset  50  may establish a wireless link (not shown) to marine radio remote wireless handset  26  or marine radio remote wireless handset  46 , as examples. In certain embodiments, marine radio remote wireless handset  50  may be capable of establishing a direct wireless link (not shown) to fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  18 . 
   In certain embodiments, wireless links between fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  and marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  are established and maintained through the menu systems of fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 , which can be controlled via the menu keys described above. Using the menu system, a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  could be set to establish a wireless link to one or more of marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  and/or another fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38 . In certain situations, the wireless link(s) may be full-duplex communication links providing for two-way communications between a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  and other wireless components while in other situations the wireless link(s) may be half-duplex communication links providing for one-way communications. Fixed mount marine radio  18  might, for example, be set to transmit a one-way announcement to a set of other wireless components. Conversely, fixed mount marine radio  18  might be set to monitor, or listen to, a set of other wireless components. As another possibility, the entire wireless marine communication system  10  may be set up to provide full, open conference capability among all of the wireless components. Accordingly, a wide variety of potential wireless link configurations is possible. 
   In certain embodiments, less than full wireless connection flexibility may be provided for. In one embodiment, only one of the two marine radio frequency transceivers  18 ,  38  may have the capability to establish wireless links to marine radio wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52 . In another embodiment, each of the fixed mount marine radio frequency transceivers  18 ,  38  may have the capability to establish wireless links to one or more marine radio remote wireless handsets, but the marine radio remote wireless handsets linked to one fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  18 ,  38  may not necessarily have the capability to communicate with the marine radio remote wireless handsets linked to the other fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  18 ,  38 .  FIG. 1  would reflect this embodiment if wireless links  54  and  66  were deleted. 
   Wireless links  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  are used by the wireless components of system  10  to transmit various forms of data. At certain times, the data transmitted over wireless links  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  may be system handshaking and other data periodically shared between the wireless components. At other times, the data transmitted over wireless links  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  may represent voice data communicated between seamen  24 ,  44 ,  48 . In the latter mode, an acoustic transducer incorporated within one wireless component converts an acoustic signal to an electrical signal, with is further processed and converted into a wireless signal. The wireless signal is transmitted over one or more of wireless links  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  to one or more other wireless components. At the receiving end of the one or more wireless links  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  the wireless signal is processed and converted to an electrical signal, which is then converted by another acoustic transducer into an acoustic signal at the wireless component receiving the wireless signal. In most embodiments, one or more wireless components at the receiving end of the wireless links  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  will have the capability to transmit a signal as well, thereby facilitating two-way communication. Such a signal may be sent over the same wireless link  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  over which the original signal was received, or may be sent over a separate wireless link  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , a push to talk actuator  93  is positioned on the side of each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52 . Similar to push to talk actuators  76 , push to talk actuators  93  selectively operate marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  and in certain embodiments fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  between the sending mode and the receiving mode. In certain embodiments any marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  can send a signal to fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  to switch fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  to the send mode whenever the push to talk actuator  93  is depressed. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that although a particular system of control interrupts has been presented, alternative interrupt schemes are within the teachings of the present invention. 
   Each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  includes a display  92  to provide a functionality similar to display  84  of fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 . Functions incorporated into marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  may include menu/hail keys  94 , scan memory keys  96 , 16/9 TRI keys  98  and WX alert keys  100 . These function keys  96 ,  98 ,  100  may be essentially identical to the function keys  74  and  88  positioned on the transceiver base of each fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38 . As briefly described already and as will be described in more detail hereinbelow, when a function is selected on marine radio remote wireless handset  74 , the function is sent to fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  where the function is performed and an output is sent back to marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52 . Similar to functions  74  and  88  of fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 , other functions known in marine communications may be employed with the marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  of the present invention. Further disclosure of the manner of operation of fixed mount marine radios and marine radio remote wireless handsets is shown and described in United States utility patent application Ser. No. 10/206,502 entitled “Mobile Marine Communications Apparatus” filed Jul. 26, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes and specifically for these teachings. 
   Within each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  a microphone  102  receives acoustic input for wireless communication to other components of system  10 . A scroll/select knob  104  provides a navigation tool for the software menu. A speaker  106  generates acoustic outputs representing the content of received wireless communications. A waterproof casing  108  is disposed about each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  to provide protection from water. Optionally, each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  may include a belt clip or other suitable carrying mechanism. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although only four marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  are presented communicating with fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 , more or fewer than four marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  may be employed to communicate with fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 . 
   In a similar manner to that described above with respect to the menu systems for fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 , wireless links between fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  and marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  can also be established and maintained through the menu systems of marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52 , which can be controlled via the menu keys described above. Using the menu system, a marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  could be set to establish a wireless link to one or more of marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  and/or a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38 . In certain situations, the wireless link(s) may be full-duplex communication links providing for two-way communications between a marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  and other wireless components while in other situations the wireless link(s) may be half-duplex communication links providing for one-way communications. A marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  might, for example, be set to transmit a one-way announcement to a set of other wireless components. Conversely, a marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  might be set to monitor, or listen to, a set of other wireless components. As another possibility, the entire wireless marine communication system  10  may be set up to provide full, open conference capability among all of the wireless components. Accordingly, a wide variety of potential wireless link configurations is possible. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  includes a channel selection mechanism  90 . By turning channel selection mechanism  90  to the left or right, a marine radio channel may be selected. The marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  relays the channel selection to the connected fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  on a frequency, such as 900 MHz, 2.4 Ghz or 5.8 Ghz. The fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  then tunes in to the selected channel and relays marine communications to the marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52 . Fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  may tune into Coast Guard Channel  22 A (157.1 MHz), the “piloting” Channel  13  (156.65 MHz) or ship-to-ship safety Channel  6  (156.3 MHZ), for example. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the marine communications system  10  of the present invention is depicted in a functional block diagram. Fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  and marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  50  are operable to form mutual wireless links as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  and marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  may communicate at 900 MHz, 2.4 Ghz, 5.8 Ghz or other frequencies in the narrowband Personal Communications Spectrum (PCS) spectrum. 
   A microprocessor  116  controls the operations of each fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38 . Loud speakers  20 ,  40  are electrically coupled to the microprocessors  116  and positioned outside fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  as depicted by the placement outside the dashed lines. When a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  is in the sending mode and the hailer function is activated, microprocessor  116  routes the marine communication through the respective loud speaker  20 ,  40  for local auditory marine communications. Microphones  72  and speakers  80  are electrically coupled to microprocessors  116 . A microphone  72  receives sound for marine communication when the fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  is in the sending mode. A speaker  80  generates sound associated with received marine communications when the fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38  is in the receiving mode. 
   Displays  84  are electrically coupled to microprocessors  116  to provide visual output for data such as the status of the hailer function and the current channel, for example. Inputs  126  are coupled to microprocessors  116 . Inputs  126  represents functions such as volume control and 16/9 key, as examples. Transceivers  128  are electrically coupled to microprocessors  116  to convert received radio frequency signals into electrical signals for processing by microprocessors  116  and to convert electrical signals into radio frequency signals for transmission. Transceivers  128  send and receive radio frequency signals via antenna  130 . Transceivers  128  and antennas  130  communicate with marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  via wireless links  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 . 
   Similarly, transceivers  132  are electrically coupled to microprocessors  116  to convert received marine radio frequency signals into electrical signals for processing by microprocessor  116  and to convert electrical signals into radio frequency signals for transmission. Push to talk actuators  76  operate transceivers  132  and fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  between sending and receiving modes. Antennas  22 ,  42  radiate radio frequency signals toward remote stations, such as remote ship stations or coast stations, and receive radio frequency waves from remote stations. Memory modules  138  store the data necessary for the operation of fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 . Although fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  are illustrated with a particular configuration, fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  may have a different configuration. For example, the transceivers  128  and antennas  130  may be separate units connected to the fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  via an input port (not shown). Moreover, antennas  22 ,  42  may represent antenna arrays rather than discrete antennas. Additionally, fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38  may employ any power source such as a DC connection to a ship generator or batteries. 
   Marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  incorporate many components similar to those found in fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 . For example, a microprocessor  140  controls the operations of each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52 . A microphone  102  and speaker  106  within each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  is coupled to the microprocessor  140 . As described above, each microphone  102  converts acoustic inputs to electrical signals. Each speaker  106  converts electrical signals to acoustic outputs. Displays  92  and inputs  142  are coupled to microprocessors  140  and operate similar to displays  84  and inputs  126 . Transceivers  144  are electrically coupled to microprocessors  140  to convert received radio frequency signals into electrical signals for processing by microprocessor  140  and to convert electrical signals into radio frequency signals for transmission. Push to talk actuators  93  switch transceivers  144  between sending and receiving modes for marine frequency communications via a fixed mount marine radio  18 ,  38 . Antennas  146  radiate radio frequency waves to and receive radio frequency waves from fixed mount marine radios  18 ,  38 , and marine radio remote wireless handsets  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  and more specifically, antennas  130  and  146 . Each combination of microprocessor  140 , transceiver  144 , push to talk actuator  93  and antenna  146  constitutes a complete radio-frequency communication apparatus. It should be understood, however, that a marine radio remote wireless handset may comprise additional or different electronic communication elements, only some of which are depicted in  FIG. 3 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , a memory module  148  may be included to store the data necessary for the operation of each marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52 . Preferably, marine radio remote wireless handset  26 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  is powered by a battery (not shown). 
     FIG. 4  depicts a message flow diagram depicting the flow of a wireless communication through marine wireless communication system  10 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the flow of a marine radio wireless communication proceeds in much the same manner without respect to whether the communication originates at marine radio remote wireless handset  26  or fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  38 . Similarly, the flow of the communication will proceed in generally the same manner without respect to whether the communication is directed to marine radio remote wireless handset  46  or fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  18 . Accordingly, the following written description of  FIG. 4  relates to any such communications between wireless marine radio components and will be described with reference to marine radio remote wireless handset  26  and fixed mount marine radio frequency transceiver  18  for purposes of illustration. 
   A wireless communication originating at marine radio remote wireless handset  26  could begin as an acoustic input (not shown) received at microphone  102 , which converts the acoustic input to an electrical signal  164 . Electrical signal  164  is communicated to the microprocessor  140 , which sends a repeated electrical signal  166  to the transceiver  144 . The repeated electrical signal  166  is converted in the transceiver  144  to a radio frequency signal  168 , which is transmitted from antenna  146  across wireless link  56  (see  FIG. 2 ) in the form of wireless signal  170 . 
   Wireless signal  170  is received by fixed mount marine radio  18  via antenna  130 , which communicates radio frequency signal  172  to transceiver  128 . Radio frequency signal  172  is converted by transceiver  128  to electrical signal  174 , which is communicated to microprocessor  116  and repeated to speaker  80  in the form of electrical signal  176 . Speaker  80  then converts electrical signal  176  to an acoustic output (not shown). 
   A response to the original wireless message may originate in the form of an acoustic input signal (not shown) to microphone  72  of fixed mount marine radio  18 . Microphone  72  converts the acoustic input signal to an electrical signal  178 , which is communicated to microprocessor  116  and repeated to transceiver  128  in the form of electrical signal  180 . Transceiver  128  converts electrical signal  180  to radio frequency signal  182 , which is communicated to antenna  130  and then across wireless link  56  in the form of wireless signal  184 . 
   Wireless signal  184  is received by antenna  146  of marine radio remote wireless handset  26 , at which point it is communicated to transceiver  144  in the form of radio frequency signal  186 . Transceiver  144  converts radio frequency signal  186  to an electrical signal  188 , which is communicated to microprocessor  140 , repeated to speaker  106  in the form of electrical signal  190 , and converted to an acoustic output (not shown) by speaker  106 . 
   The above-described process of wireless communication is depicted in flowchart form in  FIG. 5 . Process flow begins in block  200 , where a wireless link is established between two wireless components of system  10 . In block  202 , an acoustic input is received at one of the wireless components. This acoustic input is converted to an electrical signal in block  204 . The electrical signal is converted to a radio frequency signal in block  206 , which is transmitted over the wireless link in block  208 . The radio frequency signal is received by the other wireless component in block  210  and converted to an electrical signal in block  212 . Finally, the electrical signal is converted to an acoustic output in block  214 . 
   While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.