Portishead Radio

Last updated

The Portishead Radio receiving station, Highbridge, c.1986 Portishead Radio entrance building.jpg
The Portishead Radio receiving station, Highbridge, c.1986

Portishead Radio (callsign GKA) was a radio station in England that provided worldwide maritime communications and long-range aeronautical communications from 1928 until 2000. It was the world's largest and busiest long-distance HF maritime radio station. [1] In 1974, the station employed 154 radio operators who handled over 20 million words per year. [2] It was originally operated by the General Post Office (GPO), then the Post Office (1969–1981), and subsequently by British Telecom, which was privatised in 1984.

Contents

1920–1939

The UK's long-range maritime service commenced from a site at Morgan's Hill, Devizes, Wiltshire, in 1920. In 1925, a remote receiving centre at Highbridge, near Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, was opened, and in 1928 a transmitting station was opened at Portishead, from which the name "Portishead Radio" was derived. [3]

The main transmitting station, which was remotely operated from the Highbridge site, originally consisted of a large array of radio masts at nearby Portishead Downs. High-power transmitters for the maritime service were operated from a site at Hillmorton, Rugby. By 1936, the station had a staff of 60 radio officers who handled over 3 million words of radio traffic per year. [4]

World War II

The station played a vital role during World War II in maintaining communications with the British merchant navy and with patrol aircraft in the North Atlantic. During the war, all communications with ships were one-way in order to avoid revealing the ships' locations to the enemy. [4] The station was short-staffed because many staff were on secondments to various government services, such as operating other radio stations and training new radio officers to work in naval convoys. [2] In 1943, the workload was so great that Royal Navy officers and 18 telegraphists were brought in from (amongst others) HMS Flowerdown, a Naval Shore Wireless Service station near Winchester. [2] [5]

Post-war expansion and decline

In 1948, the station was expanded again, adding two operating rooms with 32 new radio operator positions, a broadcasting and landline room, and a file of ship and aircraft positions plotted using magnetic indicators on a 36 by 16 ft steel map of the world. [2] Other maps covered the North Atlantic and Western European areas.

During the 1950s and 1960s there was a steady increase in traffic levels, and the telex-over-radio (TOR) system started operations. By 1965, the station employed 86 radio officers who handled over 11 million words of traffic per year, communicating with on average over 1,000 ships per day. [2] Queen Elizabeth II visited the station in 1958.

By 1974, traffic levels reached over 20 million words per year, handled by 154 radio officers. The rise in traffic was driven by demand from the oil market, the deep-water fishing industry, and the leisure boating market. [2] After the Portishead transmitter site closed in 1978, [6] and Dorchester in 1979, [7] the service – still called Portishead Radio – used transmitters at Rugby (Warwickshire), Leafield (Oxfordshire) and Ongar (Essex). [6]

Competition from satellite communications, beginning with Marisat in 1976 later the Inmarsat network, initially had little effect on the station's business, which continued to expand. Following the division of the Post Office in 1981, the station was operated by British Telecommunications. In 1983, a new control centre was opened, adding new radiotelephone and radiotelegraphy consoles, and an automatic radiotelex facility. [8] The transmitter sites at Leafield and Ongar closed around 1990. [8]

In addition to maritime and aeronautical radio services, the station provided communications facilities for fixed stations worldwide such as relief agencies, emergency and disaster relief companies, and industries where reliable landline communications were poor or non-existent. This was known as the 'Gateway' service and operated from the early 1980s until closure. [8]

In the station's penultimate year to March 1999, there were on average per month 571 radio telegrams, 533 radio telephone calls, and 4,001 radio telex calls. [9]

Closure and redevelopment of the site

In 1998, British Telecom Maritime Radio Services announced the planned closure of Portishead Radio. [9] The long-range services (HF bands 3–30  MHz) were planned to cease at 12:00 GMT on 30 April 2000. The short-range VHF maritime band (156–174 MHz) services were scheduled to close at the same time, and the medium-range services (MF maritime band 1.6–3.0 MHz) services at 12:00 on 30 June. The station formally closed at 1200 UTC on 30 April 2000. [10]

In September 2004, Sedgemoor District Council adopted a local development plan that proposed the site of Portishead Radio for future housing development. [11] In October 2007, planning permission for a development of 190 houses and flats on the site was granted, and shortly afterwards the radio station buildings were demolished.

In 2007, the buildings at the Highbridge site were demolished to make way for the Mulholland Park housing estate, named after former station manager Don Mulholland and his father Robert, who also worked at the station.

Commemoration

Around 2015, a sculpture by Rick Kirby of five female figures holding hands, titled 'Arc of Angels', was installed close to the Portishead transmitting site to commemorate the five radio towers and their role. [12]

In 2020, planned celebrations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the long-range maritime service were put on hold due to COVID-19. However, a book on the history of the service was published titled Portishead Radio – A Friendly Voice on Many a Dark Night, and a special amateur radio station GB100GKU was activated, making over 2,500 contacts from 69 countries. [13] [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Very high frequency</span> Electromagnetic wave range of 30-300 MHz

Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves from 30 to 300 megahertz (MHz), with corresponding wavelengths of ten meters to one meter. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted high frequency (HF), and the next higher frequencies are known as ultra high frequency (UHF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citizens band radio</span> Land mobile radio system

Citizens band radio is a land mobile radio system, a system allowing short-distance one-to-many bidirectional voice communication among individuals, using two-way radios operating near 27 MHz in the high frequency or shortwave band. Citizens band is distinct from other personal radio service allocations such as FRS, GMRS, MURS, UHF CB and the Amateur Radio Service. In many countries, CB operation does not require a license and may be used for business or personal communications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon</span> Distress radio beacon, a tracking transmitter that is triggered during an accident

An emergency position-indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB) is a type of emergency locator beacon for commercial and recreational boats, a portable, battery-powered radio transmitter used in emergencies to locate boaters in distress and in need of immediate rescue. In the event of an emergency, such as a ship sinking or medical emergency onboard, the transmitter is activated and begins transmitting a continuous 406 MHz distress radio signal, which is used by search-and-rescue teams to quickly locate the emergency and render aid. The signal is detected by satellites operated by an international consortium of rescue services, COSPAS-SARSAT, which can detect emergency beacons anywhere on Earth transmitting on the distress frequency of 406 MHz. The satellites calculate the position or utilize the GPS coordinates of the beacon and quickly passes the information to the appropriate local first responder organization, which performs the search and rescue. As Search and Rescue approach the search areas, they use Direction Finding (DF) equipment to locate the beacon using the 121.5 MHz homing signal, or in newer EPIRBs, the AIS location signal. The basic purpose of this system is to help rescuers find survivors within the so-called "golden day" during which the majority of survivors can usually be saved. The feature distinguishing a modern EPIRB, often called GPIRB, from other types of emergency beacon is that it contains a GPS receiver and broadcasts its position, usually accurate within 100 m (330 ft), to facilitate location. Previous emergency beacons without a GPS can only be localized to within 2 km (1.2 mi) by the COSPAS satellites and relied heavily upon the 121.5 MHz homing signal to pin-point the beacons location as they arrived on scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radiotelephone</span> Communications system for transmission of speech over radio

A radiotelephone, abbreviated RT, is a radio communication system for conducting a conversation; radiotelephony means telephony by radio. It is in contrast to radiotelegraphy, which is radio transmission of telegrams (messages), or television, transmission of moving pictures and sound. The term is related to radio broadcasting, which transmit audio one way to listeners. Radiotelephony refers specifically to two-way radio systems for bidirectional person-to-person voice communication between separated users, such as CB radio or marine radio. In spite of the name, radiotelephony systems are not necessarily connected to or have anything to do with the telephone network, and in some radio services, including GMRS, interconnection is prohibited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portishead, Somerset</span> Town in Somerset, England

Portishead is a town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary authority area, in the county of Somerset, England. With a population of 26,366 at the 2021 Census, the town is located on the Severn Estuary opposite Cardiff and Newport in Wales. The town is 8 miles (13 km) to the west of Bristol and 18 miles northeast of Weston-super-Mare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine VHF radio</span> Radios operating in the very high frequency maritime mobile band

Marine VHF radio is a worldwide system of two way radio transceivers on ships and watercraft used for bidirectional voice communication from ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and in certain circumstances ship-to-aircraft. It uses FM channels in the very high frequency (VHF) radio band in the frequency range between 156 and 174 MHz, designated by the International Telecommunication Union as the VHF maritime mobile band. In some countries additional channels are used, such as the L and F channels for leisure and fishing vessels in the Nordic countries. Transmitter power is limited to 25 watts, giving them a range of about 100 kilometres.

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is a worldwide system for automated emergency signal communication for ships at sea developed by the United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) as part of the SOLAS Convention.

From early in the 20th century, the radio frequency of 500 kilohertz (500 kHz) was an international calling and distress frequency for Morse code maritime communication. For much of its early history, this frequency was referred to by its equivalent wavelength, 600 meters, or, using the earlier frequency unit name, 500 kilocycles or 500 kc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highbridge, Somerset</span> Human settlement in England

Highbridge is a market town on the edge of the Somerset Levels near the mouth of the River Brue. It is in the county of Somerset, and is about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Taunton, the county town of Somerset. No longer a market town, the market site is now a housing estate. Highbridge is about 7 miles (11 km) north of Bridgwater, the district's administrative centre. Highbridge closely neighbours Burnham-on-Sea, forming part of the combined parish of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge and shares a town council with the resort town. The 2001 Census recorded Highbridge's population as 5,986. In the 2011 Census the population of the town was included in the ward of Highbridge and Burnham Marine, which totalled 7,555.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio repeater</span> Radio signal retransmitter

A radio repeater is a combination of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter that receives a signal and retransmits it, so that two-way radio signals can cover longer distances. A repeater sited at a high elevation can allow two mobile stations, otherwise out of line-of-sight propagation range of each other, to communicate. Repeaters are found in professional, commercial, and government mobile radio systems and also in amateur radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2182 kHz</span> Radio distress frequency

2182 kHz is a radio frequency designed exclusively for distress calls and related calling operations in the maritime service. It is equivalent to a wavelength of 137.4 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan's Hill</span>

Morgan's Hill is a 12.6-hectare (31-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Calne and Devizes in Wiltshire, England. The SSSI was notified in 1951 and again in 1987.

Telenor Kystradio is a part of Telenor and provides maritime telecommunication services along the coast of Norway, operating networks of marine VHF radio, medium frequency, high frequency and Navtex transmitters. As of January 2018 there are two coastal radio stations in Norway, Kystradio nord and Kystradio sør. The agency also issues marine radio licenses for both commercial- and pleasure ships, including callsigns and Maritime Mobile Service Identities, as well as radio operator certificates. Telenor Kystradio head office is based at Telenor Norway's head office at Fornebu. Telenor Kystradio also performs GMDSS Radio inspections, and are approved by the Norwegian Maritime Authority as well as most mayor classification authorities. The Radioinspeksjonen is located in Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund, Sandnessjøen, Bodø, Lofoten and Troms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KPH (radio station)</span> Coast radio station in the United States

KPH is a coast radio station on the Pacific Coast of the United States. For most of the 20th century, it provided ship to shore communications including telegrams and marine telex service. The station discontinued commercial operation in 1998, but is operated occasionally as a historic service – its signal can be received over a large portion of the western hemisphere.

Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) is a commercial mobile radio service used within the United States. It operates within the VHF frequency range, just above the North American Band III television range, and offers both voice and data communications to maritime customers. The system is operated by a network of private carriers across the country, with coverage primarily including coastal and inland waterways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Somerset</span> Overview of transport in Somerset

The earliest known infrastructure for transport in Somerset is a series of wooden trackways laid across the Somerset Levels, an area of low-lying marshy ground. To the west of this district lies the Bristol Channel, while the other boundaries of the county of Somerset are along chains of hills that were once exploited for their mineral deposits. These natural features have all influenced the evolution of the transport network. Roads and railways either followed the hills, or needed causeways to cross the Levels. Harbours were developed, rivers improved, and linked to sources of traffic by canals. Railways were constructed throughout the area, influenced by the needs of the city of Bristol, which lies just to the north of Somerset, and to link the ports of the far south-west with the rest of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial Wireless Chain</span> Radiotelegraphic communications network within the British Empire in the 20th century

The Imperial Wireless Chain was a strategic international communications network of powerful long range radiotelegraphy stations, created by the British government to link the countries of the British Empire. The stations exchanged commercial and diplomatic text message traffic transmitted at high speed by Morse code using paper tape machines. Although the idea was conceived prior to World War I, the United Kingdom was the last of the world's great powers to implement an operational system. The first link in the chain, between Leafield in Oxfordshire and Cairo, Egypt, eventually opened on 24 April 1922, with the final link, between Australia and Canada, opening on 16 June 1928.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leafield Technical Centre</span> Motorsport facility in Oxfordshire, England

Leafield Technical Centre is a former radio communications station, now a motorsports centre of excellence, in the hamlet of Langley, in the western part of the village of Leafield in Oxfordshire, England.

The Breeze formerly Quay West and Total Star Somerset was an Independent Local Radio station serving the Sedgemoor District, Bridgwater and West Somerset.

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, B (1994). "English in maritime radiotelephony". World Englishes. 13 (1): 83–91. doi:10.1111/j.1467-971X.1994.tb00285.x.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The story of Portishead Radio: Long range maritime radio communications: 1920–1995". 6 April 2001. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  3. 1 2 Bennett, Larry (November 2020). "GB100GKU". RadCom . Vol. 96, no. 11. p. 58-59.
  4. 1 2 Bennett, L C (2007). "Portishead Radio – GKA. The world's premier maritime radio coast station". Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  5. ↑ "Merchant Navy codes". 2003. Archived from the original on 21 July 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2006.
  6. 1 2 "100 years of the UK's long-range maritime radio service". Sea Breezes. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ↑ Davis, Joanna (19 May 2018). "'It's a part of our history': The story of Dorchester Radio Station's iconic antennas". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Slack, Terry. "History of Portishead Radio: 80's computerisation". coastradio.intco.biz. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008 – via Internet Archive.
  9. 1 2 "BT's maritime radio services (a consultative document issued by the Director General of Telecommunications)". Oftel. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  10. ↑ "Closedown of Portishead Radio GKA" . Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Sedgemoor district local plan 1991–2011, Appendix 4.1". Sedgemoor District Council. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  12. ↑ "Angels of Portishead". Public Art Portishead. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017.
  13. ↑ Bennett, Larry (31 July 2020). "Portishead Radio Website". Portishead Radio. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

51°29′14″N2°46′11″W / 51.48722°N 2.7696°W / 51.48722; -2.7696

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.