Who Tried To Blow Up This Radio Tower? And Why?

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  • Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 254

  • @IndaloMan
    @IndaloMan 7 місяців тому +102

    As you are referring to microwave links I am reminded of 40 years ago when I worked in Saudi Arabia on the TEP4 contract. One of the longest microwave hops in the world was between a mast in the grounds of Dr Kayals summer villa in Taif (2000m amsl) to a mast in Sudan. I used to climb the towers for fun!

    • @georgeorwell8501
      @georgeorwell8501 6 місяців тому +5

      How was the temperature on top of those things? That’s a mean stretch of the earth.

  • @noelwalterso2
    @noelwalterso2 7 місяців тому +69

    When I worked on telephone exchanges in the 70's I learned that most, if not all, exchanges had a so called Trunk Offering Circuit. The official explanation was that it enabled a remote operator to intrude on a local call to inform one of the callers of an incoming trunk call - a hangover from the days when operator connected calls were the norm. But unlike most operator intrusions there was no "intrusion tone". In truth in allowed GCHQ to listen in on just about any phone call they fancied.

    • @edwardbyard6540
      @edwardbyard6540 7 місяців тому +16

      I spent a lot of time in SystemX exchanges and in some, near "important" sites there was always a set of markers on the frame for "private circuits". When I asked what they were for, I was told in no uncertain terms that I shouldn't ask too many questions. One exchange was near a nuclear research facility and had a large number of these circuits.

    • @noelwalterso2
      @noelwalterso2 7 місяців тому

      @@edwardbyard6540 I worked mainly on commisioning TXE 2 and TXE 4 "PENTEX" systems at the Plessey factory in Nottingham. System X was just coming in when I changed jobs.

    • @philreeves7361
      @philreeves7361 7 місяців тому +21

      Ex system X programer here. The X phone overlay allowed hook bypass to be enacted from exchange office to several hundred important desks in central London. No need to run a bug, they could hear you anyway.

    • @lukejennings3128
      @lukejennings3128 7 місяців тому

      ​@@philreeves7361 and they Still can. system x equipment is still used.

    • @thomasshepard6030
      @thomasshepard6030 7 місяців тому

      @@philreeves7361your right my mate worked in a telephone exchange and he said they could listen into any conversation 1974

  • @merlin5476
    @merlin5476 7 місяців тому +71

    Your video's, narration and editing and research are awesome, you should be on national tv 👍

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому +13

      Thanks so much!

    • @petersmith5199
      @petersmith5199 7 місяців тому +4

      Yes, I agree and came here to make the same comment. A huge amount of your time must go into them, and I'm sure all viewers are very grateful even though a lot of us can't afford to show our appreciation financially! Just waiting for my big lottery win!

    • @ballinonwheels
      @ballinonwheels 6 місяців тому +2

      Exactly what I was thinking!

    • @yanmetcaluire
      @yanmetcaluire Місяць тому

      I agree too !

  • @whuffer5103
    @whuffer5103 7 місяців тому +56

    Dang. Its like their own AT&T Long Lines

  • @delmare1
    @delmare1 7 місяців тому +47

    Talking of blowing things up in Radio. In 1984 there was a radio station called Radio Lazer broacasting from the North sea off Essex. After complaints which fell on deaf ears at the time about Lazer taking listeners away from the BBC and Independent Local Stations, one board member of BBC Radio Essex threatened to go out and blow the ship (Communicator) up and put Lazer off the air. We know this because someone had palced a radio bug in the offcies of BBC Radio Essex, and this individual was heard on the tape recording saying that he would authorize the deed.

    • @rhodaborrocks1654
      @rhodaborrocks1654 7 місяців тому +10

      There was an actual attack on one of the offshore broadcasters in the early '70s, Radio North Sea got firebombed off the Dutch coast, but that was down to a feud between rival Dutch broadcasters.

    • @Dunbar0740
      @Dunbar0740 7 місяців тому +11

      I have foggy memories of listening to a radio station in East Anglia in the mid '80s, "Laser, 558"? If I recall correctly, it was one broadcaster that wasn't squeamish about playing Frankie's "Relax".

    • @rhodaborrocks1654
      @rhodaborrocks1654 7 місяців тому +4

      @@Dunbar0740 I heard Rosko play Max Romeo's "Wet Dream" on Radio Caroline just last year which is arguable even more risque.

    • @phoenixsmith6026
      @phoenixsmith6026 7 місяців тому +7

      @@Dunbar0740 you recall correctly, use to record them on tape, yep that old

    • @trestruant9941
      @trestruant9941 7 місяців тому +10

      It's interesting that Ted Albeury (prolific, top spy story author ) started off in counter-intelligence in the cold war, and moved on to man a pirate radio station ship in the English Channel.

  • @raymondmartin6737
    @raymondmartin6737 7 місяців тому +26

    That's nice to see both cities from
    one location.
    I always like going up Bear Mountain
    in Harriman State Park, NY, at 1200
    feet asl, plus a 100 foot tower to climb.
    The view of the New York City skyline
    to the south, about 40 miles away is
    great, near the Hudson River, off the
    Palisades Partkway, below the USMA,
    West Point, NY, where I worked as a
    Civilian Employee some years ago.
    You can reach many repeaters and
    simplex from there.
    I used to go up there to operate 6
    and 2 M SSB, portable years ago,
    especially during contests.
    Our.club, of which my wife and I are
    Charter Member around 2000,
    W2NYW, operated our June ARRL
    Field Day operation there for a few
    years too. 73 de Ray W2CH NH.😊

    • @DanielleWhite
      @DanielleWhite 7 місяців тому +1

      I remember visiting Perkins Memorial Tower in the spring of 2016. I appreciated the markers in the tower for the landmarks and they were difficult to make out due to haze that day

    • @raymondmartin6737
      @raymondmartin6737 7 місяців тому +1

      @@DanielleWhite 😊 Thanks. That's correct.

  • @mpsmith35
    @mpsmith35 5 місяців тому +3

    In the early 80’s I was a student engineer at Pye Telecom. During one of my periods of work experience, I got the job of digitising points on paper strips taken from OS maps using a puck (sort of an early mouse with a pointer) into a VAX11 computer which then plotted a diagram to see if two antenna sites were in sight of each other taking into account of the curvature of the earth. I was told that this was for Project Mold and all the radio kit was modified to be EMP-proof. So it was interesting to see this project mentioned in this film.

  • @anthonyfranz8317
    @anthonyfranz8317 7 місяців тому +31

    Amazing video. Thanks for taking the time to create this.

  • @neonsigns6721
    @neonsigns6721 7 місяців тому +11

    This reminds me of the at&t long lines in the u.s. that was a crazy awesome system. Thanks for the video

  • @StreakyP
    @StreakyP 7 місяців тому +16

    the only mast-fellings I know are the commercial mast that the gb3pa paisley repeater was originally on having its guys chopped & falling down due to "taxi wars" & the Peterborough tv mast getting destroyed by fire (that they think may have been caused by a fireworks rocket getting caught in a vertical cable riser & setting the plastic insulation on fire).
    Bullet holes or shotgun peppering of dishes are a constant problem in the sporting areas of Scotland.

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому +1

      Wow didn’t know about about PA! Interesting

    • @peterh9238
      @peterh9238 7 місяців тому +1

      Not just Scotland, had some feeders and waveguide shot up at a site near Daventry. And have lost count of the amount of sites where the lightning tape was nicked....

    • @kevinmarchbank1636
      @kevinmarchbank1636 7 місяців тому +1

      @RingwayManchester The PA mast at the time also hosted the Police, ambulance and Fire service Coms not just the Taxis, there was even talk it was a local cber who was after the coax.

  • @daveirwin6903
    @daveirwin6903 7 місяців тому +6

    “Don’t worry, I’ve not resorted to click-baiting….yet….” 😂

  • @thomasshepard6030
    @thomasshepard6030 7 місяців тому +8

    In the early 1970s we had a shared line you would be on a conversation with your girlfriend and some old woman would come on and start telling her pal about her bunions 😂my mate worked at a local telephone exchange so he managed to get me a private line he also told me they could listen into everyone’s conversations he said if they were bored on the night shift they would listen into peoples conversations and interrupt their conversation for a laugh changed days 😂

  • @chrissmith7655
    @chrissmith7655 7 місяців тому +8

    Great stuff Lewis, one of your best info videos, must have taken a while to research and ages to edit. Many thanks.

  • @PrincipalAudio
    @PrincipalAudio 7 місяців тому +5

    Ahh, Old Pale Hill! Delamere is a favourite of mine to walk around. I find something strange there on my AOR AR8200 mk3. I can receive BBC Radio 1 on around 3MHz or so when in close proximity of the transmitter site. It's very wideband, too. Possibly some weird intermodulation or nearfield RF effect. Hope you had a good walk there. It is a nice area.

  • @rafbarkway5280
    @rafbarkway5280 5 місяців тому +3

    When i stayed at RAF barkway, the MOLD equipment, (mostly PYE) had already been removed; the racks remain as the space is not needed.
    I used to have a rule of removing one old antenna every time I climbed he mast. I'd got nearly all of them before I left. PS my picture is DUGA.
    I wanted to climb DUGA on a trip to Chernobyl, but didn't have time because there was too much to explore. I was 15min late for the bus!

  • @TechGorilla1987
    @TechGorilla1987 7 місяців тому +5

    Funny you should mention "click bait" as I actually thought this video was about the "missing" AM radio tower in the U.S.A. Much to my surprise and delight - you made a legitimately interesting piece.

    • @mikesmith-po8nd
      @mikesmith-po8nd 7 місяців тому +1

      There is a fellow on YT that went to the tower site for the supposedly stolen tower, and it looks like it has been abandoned for many years.
      Rumor (and I stress just rumours) has it that it's some kind of scam.
      We'll see how it plays out.

  • @davehornby4859
    @davehornby4859 7 місяців тому +2

    I live within 3 miles of the Gwaenysgor towers - Fascinating insight!
    Thank you.

    • @GaryRowlands
      @GaryRowlands 5 місяців тому

      I can see Gwaenysgor from my radio room window in Abergele.

  • @dunxy
    @dunxy Місяць тому

    This is such a good channel! Im not a ham or even enthusiast really, but i enjoy the videos immensely.

  • @markharpen7417
    @markharpen7417 7 місяців тому +12

    Amazing research and history! Great video.

  • @dw7920
    @dw7920 7 місяців тому +10

    It’s been mentioned before but if you want a definitive snapshot of the state of civil preparedness for WW3 in the early 80s - and with a thorough rundown of emergency comms - get hold of a copy of Duncan Campbell’s Attack Warning Red. Campbell was a thorn in the side of HMG at the time and is a most diligent researcher. Therefore his writing is always well worth your time (IMHO). Excellent work as always Lewis, thank you. 🙏🏻

    • @paulcharlton4788
      @paulcharlton4788 7 місяців тому +5

      Duncan Campbells book is called "War Plan UK". "Attack Warning Red" is the history of the Royal Observer Corps. "Beneath The City Streets" is another one worth reading.

    • @dw7920
      @dw7920 7 місяців тому +1

      @@paulcharlton4788 Ah, sorry, my mistake. I have known and owned both very well and that’s a complete brain fart on my part. 🤬

    • @paulcharlton4788
      @paulcharlton4788 7 місяців тому +1

      I’m impressed to find someone who has even heard of either book! :-)

    • @dw7920
      @dw7920 7 місяців тому +1

      Ha. Cheers Paul. I’m still utterly ashamed at mixing the two up! I must have had the ROC on the brain at the time.. 😅

    • @badgertheskinnycow
      @badgertheskinnycow 7 місяців тому +1

      @@dw7920 I understand perfectly how this happened - they are two 'must have' books on the topic of Cold War infrastructure and organisations. That's why I have them both (I'm on my second copy of War Plan UK!). You are forgiven buddy.

  • @Pilotltd
    @Pilotltd 7 місяців тому +7

    British Gas (North West Gas) had a network of microwave links primarily for grid control (sending high pressure gas where it was required according to demand) radio comms and data on large towers throughout the country, generally in larger area depot sites. Not missing out on various other users paying for the privilege they rented space to BT, HM Gov, Military and other telecoms and radio users. The ones I'm aware of were Altrincham (NW HQ), Gould Street Manchester, Stretford, Hattersley, Hartford Manor Cheshire, Partington, Frodsham, Chester, Warrington, St Helens, Wavertree Liverpool, Bootle, Birkenhead, Bolton, Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool, Morecambe - there may have been other sites I forgot or never visited as part of my job at the time.

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому +5

      Thanks so much! I started a video on the British gas ones about 5 years ago and never finished it! I did altrincham, collyhurst, Partington and Stockport.

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому +5

      Could you drop me an email I’d like to ask you a couple of bits. RingwayManchester@mail.com

    • @merlinonline67
      @merlinonline67 7 місяців тому

      @@RingwayManchester Have you done anything on the NTL Microwave network (now Arqiva) There is a mast on Winter Hill from memory, But the part of the network I knew about is the tower at Great Offley in Hitchin (literally at the end of my dads back garden!), which linked into another tower on Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire, which is on a back lane from the near the National Trust shop/Cafe to the village of Whipsnade (not far from the zoo). The network isn't easy to track as from the east of Great Offley the nearest NTL tower is near Haverhill in Suffolk. I do know that it was connected to the old Gas powered power station in Letchworth which was built by the CEGB and became part of N Power before it was demolished. A lot of people used to think the NTL mast carried phone signals and that it was linked to the BT tower at Zouches Farm on Blows Down near Luton but this was not the case. Although up until the late 80's NTL towers did have microwave horn antennas they were replaced like the BT Towers by drums made by the Andrew Microwave Corparation

    • @COD_Dory
      @COD_Dory 7 місяців тому

      ​ @RingwayManchester national grid also have a network of towers i believe for a similar purpose. there is one in sheffield 53.406231, -1.430777. although i believe they are removing a lot of their microwaves now. the one in sheffield i believe only has telco but is still owned by national grid

    • @Pilotltd
      @Pilotltd 7 місяців тому

      @@RingwayManchester I did reply via email but have not heard from you.

  • @CharlesStearman
    @CharlesStearman 7 місяців тому +8

    At the risk of stating the obvious, if the tower was monitoring phone calls between the British mainland and the Irish Republic, could the attack have been related to the Troubles in Northern Ireland?

    • @inregionecaecorum
      @inregionecaecorum 7 місяців тому +6

      Most likely I would have thought.

    • @krashd
      @krashd 7 місяців тому +2

      That was my first inkling.

  • @richardmillican7733
    @richardmillican7733 7 місяців тому +4

    In my first job after leaving school (1984) I was working for Holyhead Shipping Agency, and in 1987 we had Cable & Wireless cable laying ship under our Agency working on the lines between Holyhead/Dublin and Colwyn/Heysham.
    On occasion I remember military personnel (that I assumed were from RAF Valley) present both on board and parking vehicles near to the (then brand new) Holyhead Coastguard Station..

  • @iron_rat_87
    @iron_rat_87 7 місяців тому +2

    In 1961 domestic terrorists blew up two AT&T Long Line microwave towers in Utah and Nevada in the US. Long Lines teams had temporary service restored in three days and permanent fixes within a month, iirc.

  • @Teknofobe
    @Teknofobe 7 місяців тому +4

    I'm at the stage now. Where i watch ur uploads as much for the awesome video work as i do for the knowledge u provide. Either way. Bravo & kudos to u for what is always interesting & informative viewing. Gratitude!

  • @willV6F1
    @willV6F1 4 місяці тому +1

    Re link from Holyhead to Dublin, am pretty sure there was a MW link between a mast near Holyhead (close to South Stack Lighthouse?) and Three rock mountain in south Dublin. Certainly back in the day, Three rock had a MW dish pointing east across the Irish sea.

  • @lazylad8544
    @lazylad8544 7 місяців тому +1

    Fantastic insight and information on radio masts and communication towers. 👍👍

  • @minigpracing3068
    @minigpracing3068 7 місяців тому +13

    Just think what you could do if you were allowed to put Meshtastic devices up on the unused towers!

  • @fieryfredthebeaconlighter2259
    @fieryfredthebeaconlighter2259 7 місяців тому +5

    Don’t forget that the Post Office Tower (BT tower) was bombed by the IRA in 1971, and if you are correct about the interception of traffic to the RoI, then it would suggest a more concerted effort to disrupt the intelligence gathering operations.

  • @RealWorldNLPAndHuna
    @RealWorldNLPAndHuna 7 місяців тому +1

    Hi Lewis, I love your channel. After studying electronics at UMIST I moved to Macclesfield in 1984. I was always fascinated by the microwave tower on what I knew as Croker Hill. I walked up there once and was greeted by a guy with a shot gun! It also features in a book The Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier by Duncan Campbell. I'd be really interested in you doing a reccy and a history.

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому +1

      Hey) leave it with me! Have you seen my umist videos?

    • @RealWorldNLPAndHuna
      @RealWorldNLPAndHuna 7 місяців тому

      @@RingwayManchester No! I'll have a look now.
      Were they about the nuclear power plant?

    • @RealWorldNLPAndHuna
      @RealWorldNLPAndHuna 7 місяців тому

      @@RingwayManchester the ones about the radio society on the roff. I have yes. Great memories.

  • @marklivingstone3710
    @marklivingstone3710 7 місяців тому +1

    I love it when the pic is of a site with three 100ft high radio masts visible for miles around…….and it’s described as a secret site😂. In a bit like the MI6 building in London. Cracked up when the tour guide stopped narrating the ride the Thames, someone asked What’s that building? And the response was we’re not allowed to say. Obviously, if you don’t say its name, it doesn’t exist.

  • @tibblescat2918
    @tibblescat2918 7 місяців тому +6

    Not a structural engineer, but the only things that a "surveryor" would be asked to examine due to "cracks" are the concrete pads.
    So if there were an explosion it was very poorley designed/executed.
    Wana take down the tower, attack the steel !
    Not go boom sort of next to it,

    • @myshopkeeper5726
      @myshopkeeper5726 7 місяців тому

      Not true - I worked for a structural engineering company in the south of England in the late 80's and we had the contract to inspect the structural integrity of all government towers. Had to pass the amazingly titled 'Aerial Mast Erectors' course run by the RAF to do the job.

  • @hadleymanmusic
    @hadleymanmusic 7 місяців тому +7

    And to all the people that built these they are majestic

  • @LawpickingLocksmith
    @LawpickingLocksmith 6 місяців тому +1

    Tower opposition is extreme in Australia where greenies want free power yet oppose windmills and solar. Then comms well we are back to strings between cups.

  • @TheElectronicDilettante
    @TheElectronicDilettante 7 місяців тому +5

    Have you heard of the antenna tower that was apparently stolen right out from under the noses of the radio station to whom it belonged. There’s a video on ytube about it. I forget the channel but it’s the RF /Tech channel and the host is interviewing his RF engineer Father about the heist.

    • @AvroVulcanXH607
      @AvroVulcanXH607 7 місяців тому +3

      Geerling Engineering!

    • @raygunsforronnie847
      @raygunsforronnie847 7 місяців тому

      Turns out it's a hoax. The tower, whatever became of it, was brought down at least a year ago.

    • @luisderivas6005
      @luisderivas6005 7 місяців тому +1

      WJLX tower in Alabama, USA. It was an 101.5 FM/1240 AM broadcast tower. Some one took the whole 200ft tower and most of the equipment in the broadcast building!!

    • @raygunsforronnie847
      @raygunsforronnie847 7 місяців тому

      @@luisderivas6005 The tower has been gone at least a year, from Google Earth pictures...

  • @philsharp758
    @philsharp758 7 місяців тому +3

    I am missing the castles already. Well done on pronouncing Fazakerley correctly.

    • @randovids7147
      @randovids7147 7 місяців тому +4

      However langolen wants a word……

    • @theonlywoody2shoes
      @theonlywoody2shoes 7 місяців тому +4

      @ran….
      However langolen wants a word……
      It (Llangollen) probably is also wondering where it’s 3rd and 4th letter L’s have gone? 🤔🤔🤔

  • @dumptrump3788
    @dumptrump3788 5 місяців тому +1

    I never saw anyone try to knock down a radio tower, but I've seen plenty that have had CB antennas put on them, with coax discreetly coiled up just above head height.

  • @rev.randall2292
    @rev.randall2292 7 місяців тому +2

    Not long ago just north of me in the boonies of Nebraska , a tower *tripod* was found downed. Evidence concluded guy wires cut. Now , this takes more than bolt cutters. Probably cordless grinder or saw. Dont know if anything came about from that.

  • @seananon4893
    @seananon4893 7 місяців тому +27

    Some people just knocked a radio tower down here in Texas, and they stole the copper out of it. $600,000 worth of damage, for $600 worth of copper. Atleast that's the story we are being told.

    • @trespire
      @trespire 7 місяців тому +5

      Wouldn't put it past nafarious players for some faraway land.

    • @DUKE_of_RAMBLE
      @DUKE_of_RAMBLE 7 місяців тому +10

      I also wouldn't put it passed out own homegrown idiots... 😔
      As I could _easily_ see this being folks still hellbent on the notion of 5G causing cancer, and deciding _"while we're at it, let's take all the wire make a few bucks";_
      Occam's Razor, after all. (the simplest idea/answer likely being the correct one)
      But, since I don't know what said tower was used for, *_and_* given the current state of world affairs... we certainly can't discount that outside parties being involved as a possible answer, either.

    • @pap3rw8
      @pap3rw8 7 місяців тому

      The Texas thieves were apparently caught when selling the copper/ Another tower in Alabama was felled for scrap in February.

    • @jeremygalloway1348
      @jeremygalloway1348 6 місяців тому

      Where at in texas?

    • @violinfanatickamraz1403
      @violinfanatickamraz1403 6 місяців тому

      ​@@trespireits more likely local people who did it. When my ex mother in laws trailer burnt down, someone broke in and tried to steal all the copper wiring from the sockets.

  • @Kw1161
    @Kw1161 7 місяців тому +2

    Looking at some of the almost empty towers, your club should ask the government to set up your repeaters on them. I also wonder if the tower explosion was a test for vulnerabilities of the equipment. Well I guess if I knew they would have to kill me…😂! or send me to the “island “ like Sir Patrick M.
    Have a great day!.

  • @richardsanders4624
    @richardsanders4624 7 місяців тому +1

    Interesting Sir..! I have posted previously regarding "Train Stop" within Delamere at this time period. In connection with video Capenhurst Tower.

  • @MrBreadman1966
    @MrBreadman1966 7 місяців тому +1

    There is a rather large microwave tower on the final approach to Bristol, its that large its now considered something of a landmark. You can see it just before the off ramp down to Fishponds.

  • @flatlyna2223
    @flatlyna2223 7 місяців тому +3

    Fascinating video Lewis, thanks for the insight and great drone footage.

  • @donchaput8278
    @donchaput8278 7 місяців тому +7

    @6:55 "Yes sir we have done all the math and the tower definitely needs 2 protruding mounds in order to work" What a legend.

    • @NeneExists
      @NeneExists 7 місяців тому +1

      They're rotatable mounts for microwave horns😂

  • @outaspaceman
    @outaspaceman 7 місяців тому +3

    Err… are the drone shots of Menwith Hill yours…? In my experiences the MoD Bobbies get an upset about that sort of thing..😂

    • @adamaglionby7438
      @adamaglionby7438 7 місяців тому +2

      Remember the hot air balloon tour of Menwith Hill 😊

  • @Max_Marz
    @Max_Marz 7 місяців тому +2

    Did the UK develop the designs for the periscope horn antenna's? AT&T used the same design for the long-lines system in the US and I'm curious if there was any design sharing there.

    • @metalicminer6231
      @metalicminer6231 7 місяців тому +1

      Without a doubt, same thing happened with nukes, suddenly every powerful country has them.

  • @dreamok732
    @dreamok732 7 місяців тому +2

    There was a microwave tower near Loughborough. Not a mast, a sort of pylon shaped thing. You could see it from the M1. It blew down in a storm. Cant remember when. Maybe early 80s. Perhaps it wasn't felled by a storm after all?

    • @DaveGuyon
      @DaveGuyon 7 місяців тому

      It's still there

  • @MrOhdead
    @MrOhdead 4 місяці тому

    Craig-Y-Ddualt-Army Radio Station-Nr. Llangollen, is that what you were after ?
    Found in a parliamentary answer in Hansard.

  • @SIGINT007
    @SIGINT007 7 місяців тому +1

    Those horn antenna uW sites look a lot like the Bell System Long Lines network

  • @lewiski1
    @lewiski1 6 місяців тому

    I believe Llangollen linked to Colwyn Bay somehow. The exchange in Colwyn Bay had two big drum antennas and also connected to another exchange that hosted the undersea connection to Heysham. I always believed this was to provide a diverse circuit past Manchester.

  • @marcus1503
    @marcus1503 7 місяців тому +1

    I do believe this tower was on an episode of Schofields (Phillips Schofield from CBBC’sBroom cupboard back in the day) quest and ITV program on Sunday evening, I believe it was, where he would investigate things, this would’ve been the mid 90s, This episode, if it can be tracked down may have more information for you, or is it happened to have Phillips Schofield’s telephone number?. does anyone else remember this episode of Scofield quest?

  • @BarryRowlingsonBaz
    @BarryRowlingsonBaz 7 місяців тому +2

    Is it just my hearing or did you say they were receiving television and *radar* signals around 7:56? Was that for air-traffic control?

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому +3

      Yeah radar feed from multiple sites for atc and mil

  • @spencereagle1118
    @spencereagle1118 7 місяців тому +8

    There was an entire 200ft radio station tower stolen just couple of weeks ago in Jasper, Alabama. Maybe the 'explosion' was an attempt at stealing scrap? The lightning conductor alone on a tall tower is worth tens of thousands. It wouldn't be the first time in the UK that large quantities of scrap has vanished in one go. In January 2003 almost two miles of railway line was stolen near Sunderland.

    • @cdorcey1735
      @cdorcey1735 7 місяців тому +8

      That tower was "discovered" to be stolen a couple of weeks ago. According to a UA-camr who filmed on-site, no one had been there for at least a year (based on corrosion of metal components left behind and dead weeds in front of the door).

    • @secretlab2205
      @secretlab2205 7 місяців тому +4

      ​@@cdorcey1735There are so many anomalies about the situation that the FCC and the local authorities are clearly obligated to do a thorough investigation.

    • @inregionecaecorum
      @inregionecaecorum 7 місяців тому

      Had the mains cable nicked from my block of flats when the block was being rewired.

    • @COD_Dory
      @COD_Dory 7 місяців тому +1

      what is likely to have happened is a contractor demolished and removed the wrong tower and wont own up to it. yes it could have been stolen for scrap but the infrastructure needed to demolish it and remove it would be huge

    • @spencereagle1118
      @spencereagle1118 7 місяців тому

      @@cdorcey1735 'according to a UA-camr who filmed on-site' ....that's got to be right then. Read the news reports. It was operational up to the theft, the station was actually forced off air for two weeks.

  • @stevekelly5166
    @stevekelly5166 7 місяців тому

    Llangollen seemed to repeat traffic between Pale Heights and Albrighton and further south towards Birmingham. Call it diverse routing.

  • @rolly4x4
    @rolly4x4 7 місяців тому

    Would be great to get a peek inside some of the transmitter buildings if you ever get the chance 👍

  • @Subgunman
    @Subgunman 7 місяців тому +1

    Interesting! Too bad Amature radio operators don’t have access to these sites for repeaters. It would make for a really nice simulcast setup for both analog and digital repeaters.

  • @CharlesDickson-nv2ol
    @CharlesDickson-nv2ol 7 місяців тому +14

    The Backbone concrete towers were designed to survive atomic attack but the dishes would be destroyed so BT bought around 200 portable microwave links with 1m diameter dishes that after the attack they expected BT. Engineers to install and set up.

    • @davidcronan4072
      @davidcronan4072 7 місяців тому +8

      The location of these towers was a state secret and did not appear an any Ordinace Survey Maps. This included the famous "Post Office Tower" located in central London!

    • @inregionecaecorum
      @inregionecaecorum 7 місяців тому

      @@davidcronan4072 They did feature on aviation maps though, of necessity.

    • @barrieshepherd7694
      @barrieshepherd7694 7 місяців тому

      @ronan4072 Some , along with earlier HO towers ,were recorded on OS maps but there was a clearing up when the maps went from 1 inch to the mile to metric. There is a tower near me, which is still there for all to see, not on the current map but clear on the old map. It was the same time as the town of Aldermaston and the establishments in the area were sanitised down to a 'village' and empty space.
      Peter Laurie's "Beneath the City Streets" has a lot of information about the communications for the cold war period.
      In more recent times, in my role a a radio systems engineer, I came across a 30 metre town angle ground down because the locals thought it was being used to coordinate police operations during the miners strike (it was not) and needles hammered into co-ax cables by residents who blamed a tower for jamming their TV (it was not). Then spending two days investigating residents TV interference "from your mast" which turned out to be an illegal VHF radio remote control device on one of the residents air conditioning controllers.

  • @WilliamAshleyOnline
    @WilliamAshleyOnline 7 місяців тому +1

    What I find interesting is how similar the round towers are to the AT&T bunker system that was built in the 1960s onward for contiuty of government, I wonder if these sites had bunkers like the US ones that were used as emergency shelters including some that were used and still in use as the first presidential emergency shelters such as Ravenrock etc.. they seem like it was the same game plan but no mention of underground bunkers being in the UK ones.

    • @dananorth895
      @dananorth895 7 місяців тому

      Wouldn't surprise me. Although the oringinal ATT sites were quickly constructed and typically only had enough supplies for a couple of weeks.
      They were temp untill a more robust system could be build, which makes you wonder.....
      There are some exploration sites on ytube of guys nosing around these old cold war systems/caves/bunkers/tunnels. Amazing how much you can't see!

    • @GeoNeilUK
      @GeoNeilUK 7 місяців тому

      @@dananorth895I'd like to have seen the bunker that was apparently in my town, except there's now a Lidl, McDonald's and Travelodge built on top of it!
      I still wonder how much of it is left and how accessible it is...

    • @inregionecaecorum
      @inregionecaecorum 7 місяців тому

      They did.

  • @spike178
    @spike178 7 місяців тому +1

    Must of been Aliens 👽

  • @wisteela
    @wisteela 7 місяців тому

    That viewing platform looks great for a bit of radio, and those towers would be great for repeaters.
    M7TUD

  • @chrissewell1608
    @chrissewell1608 7 місяців тому +1

    So.... Did you place a meshtastic node on that tower, or what? 😂

  • @donbunson5031
    @donbunson5031 7 місяців тому

    So what do they use now? Is it all satellite and Airborne? We have things like the the E-3 surveillance planes.

  • @Milcom34
    @Milcom34 7 місяців тому

    Thanks RM. another Super Video****

  • @nickgriffithsm0ccg247
    @nickgriffithsm0ccg247 7 місяців тому

    Great video - the amount of knowledge and research you must put in is immense - really interesting thanks!

  • @Josh-of-all-Trades
    @Josh-of-all-Trades 7 місяців тому +1

    I wonder if it has anything to do with the AT&T outage last week in the US. Military analists thought it was all about that Chinese balloon that the media seems to have forgotten about already.

    • @john_in_phoenix
      @john_in_phoenix 7 місяців тому +2

      Still ongoing at a smaller scale as of today.

  • @craignehring
    @craignehring 7 місяців тому

    I really enjoy these videos

  • @TymexComputing
    @TymexComputing 7 місяців тому

    Picturesque pictures! - So who was eavesdropping on ireland?

  • @RCAvhstape
    @RCAvhstape 7 місяців тому +1

    Does blowing up a radio tower constitute "criming the radio fans"?

  • @davedavies8002
    @davedavies8002 7 місяців тому +1

    Mint bit of drum & bass at the end 👌
    Where can i find it?
    Brilliant vid as always 😊👍

  • @irechopshop
    @irechopshop 5 місяців тому

    There is no under ground cable to tree rock mountain, maybe microwave link

  • @esoxlucius2649
    @esoxlucius2649 7 місяців тому

    Brilliant research as usual Lewis. 👍 Alex M0UTA

  • @martinploughboy988
    @martinploughboy988 7 місяців тому +1

    Why would the security services have needed to intercept microwave signals when they could have official access to the telecoms network?

    • @barrieshepherd7694
      @barrieshepherd7694 7 місяців тому

      They did not want anyone to know what they were doing as they could not trust the PO / BT staff who would make the connections. It is quite possible that NO 10 did not know what they were up to. Additionally they would have required multiple warrants which were probably not available for monitoring a link anyway - warrants are designed for monitoring endpoints.

    • @martinploughboy988
      @martinploughboy988 7 місяців тому

      @@barrieshepherd7694 It was not unknown for security staff to make changes in exchanges, unknown to site staff. It's relatively easy to tap at source, much easier than to intercept on air.

  • @bobroberts2371
    @bobroberts2371 7 місяців тому

    Time 508 What are the copper looking pipes ( coax ? ) and curved wall at the end for? Part of an abandoned tower feed?

    • @GluteMaximuz
      @GluteMaximuz 7 місяців тому

      If it's what I think you are looking at, suggest emergency generator exhausts and protection/divertor shield. Been on top of quite a few exchanges and other buildings with massive rusty exhausts. waiting...

  • @DominicMazoch
    @DominicMazoch 6 місяців тому

    The largest explosion near a radio antenna was at the power station for the radio: Chernobyl.

  • @SammYLightfooD
    @SammYLightfooD 7 місяців тому

    Why can't some YT videos be added to "watch later"?

  • @gurglejug627
    @gurglejug627 6 місяців тому

    Electrical pylons and IIRC a radio mast were attacked by a terrorist group in Sweden called "vi som byggd sverige" (We who built Sweden) oh about 25-30 years ago. But I cannot find anything about it on the internet now, strangely. Anyone know any details?

  • @gzk6nk
    @gzk6nk 7 місяців тому

    Didn't there used to be a Nuclear Bunker in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, that had a lattice tower about half way along the Sutton Common to Heaton Park microwave link?

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому +1

      This is the one
      ua-cam.com/video/6cOieO05L-I/v-deo.htmlsi=aN5gpYhS3eLgg9-1

    • @gzk6nk
      @gzk6nk 7 місяців тому

      @@RingwayManchester Thanks! So the mast is still there. Is it the original one that was there when the bunker was there? Is it pure chance or deliberate that it is on the microwave link between Sutton Common and Heaton park?

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому +2

      It opened in I think 1952 so probably coincidental. It was taken out of its intended use by the late 1960’s so probably had no microwave links to anywhere. I’d suspect it had a phone line for comms, possibly VHF radio and the radio tower was probably added later

    • @gzk6nk
      @gzk6nk 7 місяців тому

      @@RingwayManchester Thanks for that. Great info!

  • @malcolmyoung7866
    @malcolmyoung7866 7 місяців тому

    Fascinating stuff...

  • @Allan_aka_RocKITEman
    @Allan_aka_RocKITEman 6 місяців тому

    @RingwayManchester >>> Great video...👍

  • @outaspaceman
    @outaspaceman 7 місяців тому

    In my childhood, Hunter’s Stones was a significant “obelisk..” on the horizon…

    • @Wasdale7
      @Wasdale7 7 місяців тому +1

      Used to work at Hunters Stones. Only site I knew with a warning to beware of snakes (adders) in the compound. It’s in a forest.

    • @outaspaceman
      @outaspaceman 7 місяців тому

      @@Wasdale7 I knew it (locally) as, “Norwood Edge “

  • @thefenrisianssweatshop
    @thefenrisianssweatshop 7 місяців тому

    BUUUUT YOU USE KM INSTEAD OF MILES LEWIS…. WAAAGGGHHHHH IM A MASSIVE PHANNY!
    Now where’s me Splosion at? 🤘🏻🤣🇬🇧

  • @ulfpe
    @ulfpe 7 місяців тому +7

    You could find russian trawlers in line with these radio links.."fishing"

  • @lesjones5684
    @lesjones5684 7 місяців тому +1

    Unreal 😂😂😂😂

  • @odakyuodakyu6650
    @odakyuodakyu6650 6 місяців тому

    Mark Thomas did a thing about that tower, it was on a nuclear site so it was protected by offical secrets.

  • @terry6131
    @terry6131 7 місяців тому

    I find the content very interesting although I have no interest in being a radio operator. So could someone tell me what TAP means, as it was mentioned at the beginning. Thanks

  • @stevendavies3563
    @stevendavies3563 7 місяців тому

    What’s the history and current use of the site at Simon’s lane frodsham?

    • @RingwayManchester
      @RingwayManchester  7 місяців тому

      ua-cam.com/video/xpmdUx9dM8A/v-deo.htmlsi=3Bfkkt2Det4QqDDl
      ua-cam.com/video/xnNTjelkM4A/v-deo.htmlsi=eSV7LWAzVUQjY2xo

  • @paultomlinson528
    @paultomlinson528 7 місяців тому +2

    No castles.... brilliant work!

  • @jamesaddis8726
    @jamesaddis8726 7 місяців тому

    Seen the tower at delemere when i visitied with my partner 110% could tell it was non standard mod operations

  • @aerial558
    @aerial558 7 місяців тому

    Excellent work and video 👍

  • @gravelyetigravelyeti4284
    @gravelyetigravelyeti4284 7 місяців тому

    fantastic footage and info mate, big Gday from australia

  • @murphychris9811
    @murphychris9811 7 місяців тому +1

    ive rode down that hill so many times and YES its a bitch hill to walk back up

  • @coolsnake1134
    @coolsnake1134 7 місяців тому +1

    If this Tower was monitoring telephone communications between the UK and Ireland i would not be surprised if the IRA was behind attacking it. Especially since it was active during the troubles

  • @agathacrisps4957
    @agathacrisps4957 7 місяців тому +2

    There is a 20 year rule on the release of classified documents in the Uk. I would recommend looking theough those releases to see if you can find anything related to the tower that seems a bit terroristy.

    • @eliotmansfield
      @eliotmansfield 7 місяців тому +4

      Is it not 30 years?

    • @agathacrisps4957
      @agathacrisps4957 7 місяців тому +1

      @@eliotmansfieldno they changed it to 20 a few years ago. I thought that and when i checked to see if the records were easy to find the Kew Records website said it has reduced to 20.

  • @KittenisKitten
    @KittenisKitten 7 місяців тому

    More of these sort of videos please!

  • @dazednconfused31337
    @dazednconfused31337 7 місяців тому +1

    Good timing. Started watching and it sounded like I was being dive bombed by a plane called DREAD66 ✈️

  • @fluke196c
    @fluke196c 7 місяців тому

    When in the video do we get to the story?

  • @lexinexi-hj7zo
    @lexinexi-hj7zo 7 місяців тому +1

    Why would you cut off phone lines? Anyone sophisticated enough to make a mass attack would have vhf or HF radios. Seems like it would just cause chaos and panic.

    • @Satters
      @Satters 7 місяців тому

      firstly to prevent the exchange being over loaded with ordinary subscribers calls preventing priority calls,
      also lines being required to be diverted to emergency use such as ROC that did not have lines normally connected

  • @BobAbc0815
    @BobAbc0815 4 місяці тому

    IT wasnt me!

  • @dodgydruid
    @dodgydruid 7 місяців тому

    The problem is, the enemy out there namely the SCO of Russia and China lead off the bat with EMP's before any terra firma invasion or attack and thus above ground comms is a weakness to rely upon. Also gains in the cable industry which transmit almost to the speed of light, above ground comms are pedestrian in comparison hence the drive to push military and establishment communications below earth, to withstand the EMP opener and remain secure even after a ground zero nuclear burst its likely the comms will still function. So in a way, these towers are kept alive to draw the teeth of the Russkies pretty much, they cannot ignore them so have to task to destroy them whilst the real military is operating under ground impervious to Russian onslaught.

  • @iyeetsecurity922
    @iyeetsecurity922 2 місяці тому

    It was me! MEEEEEEE!!! They wouldn't stop playing crappy pop music!