Anthorn transmitting station
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The Anthorn Transmitting Station is located near Anthorn, Cumbria, England and is operated by VT Communications. It has two transmitters: one VLF and one LF.
The characteristic triangular pattern of roads, clearly visible on the aerial photograph, is a remnant from the World War II military airfield which was operated by the Royal Navy Air Service as HMS Nuthatch.
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[edit] VLF transmitter
The VLF transmitter is used primarily for transmitting orders to submarines on 19.6 kHz. Its callsign is GBZ.
It is a NATO facility, controlled from Northwood Headquarters along with three other VLF transmitters in Norway, Germany and Italy.[1]
[edit] LF transmitter: National Physical Laboratory time signal
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has installed three atomic clocks at Anthorn and on 27 February 2007 Britain’s national time signal transmissions, retaining their original call sign of MSF, were transferred there on a trial basis, moving formally on 1 April 2007. Monitoring and logging of the clocks and control of the transmissions is by internet link from the NPL offices at Teddington, using comparison with GPS signals at both locations. Signal monitoring is by radio. To ensure accuracy, dynamic adjustment of the aerial according to local conditions (such as wind distortion) is controlled from computers on site.[2] The signals, transmitted at 60 kHz, also provide a national frequency standard. The effective radiated power is 15 kW.
[edit] LORAN
The General Lighthouse Authorities for Britain and Ireland have contracted VT Communications to develop eLORAN (enhanced LORAN) radio navigational aid for mariners. The transmitter is at Anthorn.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ John Ainslie (October 2005). The Future of the British Bomb. Clydeside Press.
- ^ MSF the time from NPL. National Physical Laboratory. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
- ^ The GLAs award a 15-year eLoran contract to VT Communications. Trinity House (2007-05-31). Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
[edit] Further reading
- Hall, L.L. (1965). Anthorn Very-Low-Frequency Radio Station. Post Office Electrical Engineers' Journal, Vol. 58 (July 1965), p.114.
[edit] External links
- Russell W. Barnes' page about the wartime history
- Pictures of Anthorn
- Information on MSF relocation to Anthorn
- Press release about MSF relocation to Anthorn
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