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+--- Thread: Capalaba Monitoring Station facility saved.. (/thread-972.html)
Capalaba Monitoring Station facility saved.. - VK4ADC - 05-07-2020
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/queensland-saves-radio-station-where-nation-learnt-wwii-was-over-20200703-p558w4.html
While the details in the article are not completely correct, the building WAS used by the Dept of Communications, later called Spectrum Management Agency and now ACMA as a HF and VHF radio monitoring facility from at least back in the 60's until at least 1996 and beyond. The latter years it also hosted part of their Australian HF/DF network.
I worked there occasionally in short periods from about 1985 until 1996 and can tell you that the photo supposedly 1970's and 80's was taken sometime after I left the organisation in '96. It is probably a modern day photo captioned by someone not in the know. The 19" racks back in those days were filled with Racal and Eddystone receivers, frequency measurement generators and a circular trace, and reel-to-reel tape recorders. These were later replaced with the likes of Icom R8500 receivers, IC-R71 HF and IC-R7000 VHF/UHF receivers plus PC controllers, and that was back in the early 90's - I undertook a lot of that upgrade back then. The door shown on the end of the building was the second entry into the transmitter room, which housed an exciter and 1KW PA in a standard 19" rack. Feeders to the two large HF rhombics were all 600 ohm open wire, low loss and capable of handling high power well.
There used to be a couple of 'monitors' on staff, two shifts, at Tech Assistant and Technical Officer or Senior Technical Officer level. About 1992, the monitoring staff were relocated to Upper Roma St, Brisbane, and the receivers were then remotely accessed via a microwave link system. Extra remote HF and VHF/UHF receivers at Beechmont, Moreton Island and Maleny were also accessed via other legs on the same microwave system.
If you were ever cautioned on-air by VNA4 for doing 'naughty' things (and there were plenty that were), this was where that transmission emanated from.
RE: Capalaba Monitoring Station facility saved.. - VK3RX - 06-07-2020
Interesting.
It would be nice to see pix taken of the ops room at various stages.
The monitoring station in Adelaide was in suburbia at Somerton Park in an Army supply depot compound. I used to ride past it each day going to/from school about a block away. I assumed the tower and antennas were Army-related, and it was only later when I developed an interest in radio I discovered it was the then Dept. of Post and Telecommunications facility.
And yes. in the early illegal CB days it would come up from time to time with a VNA5 callsign and "caution" someone
RE: Capalaba Monitoring Station facility saved.. - VK4ADC - 17-03-2021
Another news article about where Capalaba Monitoring Station was located :
Quote:Redland community asked for input on future of 62-hectare Birkdale Land Precinct
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-16/birkdale-land-precinct-redland-city-community-consultation/13250322