Anthorn transmitting station

Location map
Cumbria
lat=54.911
long=-3.280
width=180
float=right
caption="Anthorn transmitting station shown within Cumbria" (gbmapping|NY179581)

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 mmuknr photo|317950|558150|10|aerial photograph, is a remnant from the World War II military airfield which was operated by the Royal Navy Air Service as "HMS Nuthatch".

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. [cite web
url=http://www.comeclean.org.uk/content/future_of_the_british_bomb.pdf
title=The Future of the British Bomb
author=John Ainslie
month=October | year=2005
publisher=Clydeside Press|format=PDF]

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. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =MSF the time from NPL
work =
publisher =National Physical Laboratory
date =
url =http://www.clockco.co.uk/documents/msf.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-20 ] The signals, transmitted at 60 kHz, also provide a national frequency standard. The effective radiated power is 15 kW.

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. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The GLAs award a 15-year eLoran contract to VT Communications
work =
publisher = Trinity House
date = 2007-05-31
url = http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/media_centre/press_releases/press_release.html?id=15001
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-09]

ee also

*Rugby transmitting station

References

Further reading

* Hall, L.L. (1965). Anthorn Very-Low-Frequency Radio Station. "Post Office Electrical Engineers' Journal", Vol. 58 (July 1965), p.114.

External links

* [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~rwbarnes/defence/longcft.htm Russell W. Barnes' page about the wartime history]
* [http://www.visitcumbria.com/car/anthorn.htm Pictures of Anthorn]
* [http://www.npl.co.uk/time/msf/ Information on MSF relocation to Anthorn]
* [http://www.npl.co.uk/time/msf/msf_anthorn_news_release.pdf Press release about MSF relocation to Anthorn]