A week with family is always better if I can escape now and again and do some exploring so I did some homework and found there was a disused NATO base less than an hour's drive from my accommodation.
Here's some history..
Allied Command Europe Highband, better known as ACE High, was a fixed service NATO radio communication and early warning system dating back to 1956. After extensive testing ACE High was accepted by NATO to become operational in 1964/1965.
The frequency supportability and frequency assignments were provided in accordance with the NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). The system was designed to be a combined UHF troposcatter/microwave radio system, providing long-range communications in the form of telephone, telegraph and data traffic in the NATO chain of command.
Its combined services produced over 200 channels and equipment was in place to multiplex them to contain up to 12 different calls each. There used to be 49 troposcatter links augmented by 40 Line Of Sight Microwave terrestrial stations, located in nine different NATO countries from northern Norway through central Europe to eastern Turkey. The transmitters broadcast at 832.56 - 959.28 MHz producing an average transmitting power of 10 kilowatts.
The explore..
From the satellite imagery it was clear that the place was literally in the middle of nowhere so I was pretty confident it would be an easy in. I usually tackle these places at first light but due to the hot climate I thought I would stand the best chance of being left alone in the midday heat.
So off up into the mountains I went, the roads were some of the best I've driven, with epic views too, and were fun even in the 3 cylinder shitbox French rollerskate I'd rented for the week.
After a short walk from the car I was already hot as balls so rather than my usual routine of finding the most complicated way in possible I decided to try obvious route first. High security bailing twine dealt with and I was in.
Here we go....
Security gate. I got this shot on the way out. the guys on the bikes gave me quite a scare as I was at the top of the antenna tower when they arrived and from a distance I thought it was the police or security of some kind. Turns out they were up to the same as me.
View from the guard tower
View from the top of the antenna tower
Admin block
Security beetle - this thing was huge
Water pump house
Can't beat a spiral staircase. The mezzanine floor above was full of spare parts and paperwork
More to follow.
Here's some history..
Allied Command Europe Highband, better known as ACE High, was a fixed service NATO radio communication and early warning system dating back to 1956. After extensive testing ACE High was accepted by NATO to become operational in 1964/1965.
The frequency supportability and frequency assignments were provided in accordance with the NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). The system was designed to be a combined UHF troposcatter/microwave radio system, providing long-range communications in the form of telephone, telegraph and data traffic in the NATO chain of command.
Its combined services produced over 200 channels and equipment was in place to multiplex them to contain up to 12 different calls each. There used to be 49 troposcatter links augmented by 40 Line Of Sight Microwave terrestrial stations, located in nine different NATO countries from northern Norway through central Europe to eastern Turkey. The transmitters broadcast at 832.56 - 959.28 MHz producing an average transmitting power of 10 kilowatts.
The explore..
From the satellite imagery it was clear that the place was literally in the middle of nowhere so I was pretty confident it would be an easy in. I usually tackle these places at first light but due to the hot climate I thought I would stand the best chance of being left alone in the midday heat.
So off up into the mountains I went, the roads were some of the best I've driven, with epic views too, and were fun even in the 3 cylinder shitbox French rollerskate I'd rented for the week.
After a short walk from the car I was already hot as balls so rather than my usual routine of finding the most complicated way in possible I decided to try obvious route first. High security bailing twine dealt with and I was in.
Here we go....
Security gate. I got this shot on the way out. the guys on the bikes gave me quite a scare as I was at the top of the antenna tower when they arrived and from a distance I thought it was the police or security of some kind. Turns out they were up to the same as me.
View from the guard tower
View from the top of the antenna tower
Admin block
Security beetle - this thing was huge
Water pump house
Can't beat a spiral staircase. The mezzanine floor above was full of spare parts and paperwork
More to follow.
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