This photo shows the interior of the Aeradio room.
The Aeradio room equipment comprised the operator's desk and three racks of radio equipment. On the desk to the left were the controls for the Bellini-Tosi Medium Frequency (MF) Direction Finding (DF) receiver, and in the centre the control box with receiver selection, indicator lamps, volume controls and the dial for transmitter function selection. Other items on the desk were the microphone, morse key, telephone and, in some cases, the Radio Range monitor unit (not in this photo).
Click here to see the Airways Museum's Bellini-Tosi MF-DF console.
The radio equipment consisted of a High Frequency (HF) type J2876 transmitter which was located a kilometre or more from the Aeradio room and remotely operated by control lines. Selection of channels and other functions was made via a telephone dial on the operator's console and a bi-motional Strowger relay located in a rack adjacent to the operator. Reciprocal equipment was located in control racks at the remote transmitter site.
The three equipment racks were in a line at a right angle to the left of the operator's table. These racks housed, from right to left, three HF receivers (1C2869), the remote control and speech equipment.
The photo at left shows the equipment racks from the side - the operator's BT control console can be seen to the right.
HF radio frequencies in common use were 6585 and 6590 kHz during the day, while 3170 and 3175 were night frequencies. The third receiver was tuned for point-to-point (ground-to-ground) frequencies.
MF receivers had 'broad' tuning, allowing for 325 and 333 kHz to be heard simultaneously by tuning half way between the two.
Download a Movie Clip: A Position Report to Aeradio, 1950s-style
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