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Any idea what these strange looking aerials are up Box Hill?

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 7:50 pm
by teckniqs
Does anyone have any idea what these aerials are for on the two outer towers (far left and far right) ???

....They appear to have 4 dipoles in each direction "double stacked" and look very similar to an Ofcom direction finder which was situated up at Werneth Low golf club near Manchester.

I'm pretty sure they are for direction finding does anyone know what are they for? :whistle

Image

Re: Any idea what these strange looking aerials are up Box Hill?

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 9:27 pm
by teckniqs
Someone I know thinks they might be something to do with Air Traffic Control or Aviation Beacons, any ideas?

Re: Any idea what these strange looking aerials are up Box Hill?

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:55 pm
by Zozo
I tried to find the "Ref No." but it's unlisted for some reason. Must be "Top Secret" :D

EDIT Here's the GR Number "TQ194513" if someone else wants to try finding out what they are, and do.
Tower X2.png

Re: Any idea what these strange looking aerials are up Box Hill?

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:15 am
by teckniqs
Hmmmm well now I really do want to find out what they are!

....Hopefully someone on here might know, or I might email the picture to that Ringway guy from Manchester and see if he has any ideas.

Re: Any idea what these strange looking aerials are up Box Hill?

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 10:06 am
by mpx
The size of the elements could be Airband. At a guess, configuration phased omnidirectional and two masts possibly for diversity switching, or one for each side of duplex.

Re: Any idea what these strange looking aerials are up Box Hill?

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 10:43 am
by Mr.S
That's the ATC link between LGw and LHR.

Re: Any idea what these strange looking aerials are up Box Hill?

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 11:48 am
by Zozo
Mr.S wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 10:43 am That's the ATC link between LGw and LHR.
Would this be Analogue or Digital link repeater?

Re: Any idea what these strange looking aerials are up Box Hill?

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 5:30 pm
by reverend
It's most likely ATC site. The top single antenna is the transmit antenna and the four around each edge of that are, as you rightly suggest, combined for direction finding which has all kinds of uses from extra situational awareness of aircraft location to correlating with radar information to ensure that any transmission from an aircraft tallies with its approximate position. They can also be used to direction find any interference on the ATC channels.

Rev