quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I spent from 1971 to 1978 working at CDAA (Circularly Disposed Antenna Array) sites at NSGA (Naval Security Group Activity) Clark Air Base PI, NSGA Misawa Japan, and NSGA Winter Harbor, ME.

...

That had to have been very interesting. Did you have anything to do with the operation of the goniometer? I'm especially interested in the manual version. Was it somewhat like an early telephone switchboard where you would connect/disconnect various patch cables to narrow down the focus of the array to a certain bearing?

Prior to encountering this video, I hadn't heard of the term goniometer associated with radio communications. Instead, it referred to a small, transparent protractor-like device used by orthopods and physical therapists to measure range of motion in different joints of the body.

quote:

Originally posted by reflex/deflex 64:
I believe there was one in central IL. I sprayed fields around it a couple times...

Right you are, Mr. Kotter! It's about five miles south of Bondville IL.

https://ece.illinois.edu/about/history/wullenweber

https://wikimapia.org/15916133...rection-Finder-Array

quote:

Originally posted by FiveFiveSixFan:

That had to have been very interesting. Did you have anything to do with the operation of the goniometer? I'm especially interested in the manual version. Was it somewhat like an early telephone switchboard where you would connect/disconnect various patch cables to narrow down the focus of the array to a certain bearing?

My specialty at the time was encryption/decryption devices and related communications equipment.

The "gonios" as they were called were the responsibility of the RF Distribution guys. I did wander through the gonio room as a shortcut to the comm center and was at least peripherally familiar with their operation.

These were motor driven and swept the entire array at a known rate which was converted to degrees. The RF was sent to equipment that interpreted the data based on signal strength and displayed it on a scope much like the radar screens you see in the movies. Operators would rotate the cursor to align with the strongest signal and that was converted to a bearing. The operators would then select various inputs related to signal strength and how accurate they felt the bearing was and send it off to be collated with bearings from other outstations resulting in a fix.

^^^^

A setup like that combined with top-of-the-line receivers equipped with the latest in filtering technology had to be quite an experience to operate. Thanks for the info.

Here's a great site with info on all the Navy facilities:

https://www.navycthistory.com/index.html

^^^^

Thanks for posting that!

We had one a Clark AB. It was a Priority B resource, so the SP’s were all over it

quote:

Originally posted by JR78:
We had one a Clark AB. It was a Priority B resource, so the SP’s were all over it

When were you at Clark? Sep 70 to Dec 71 for me.