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Radio Caroline South - Technical

Transmitter

2 x 10Kw Continental Electronics 316B transmitters

After the 1966 refit -

1 x 50Kw Continental Electronics 317C transmitter  and

1 x 10Kw Continental Electronics 316B transmitters as a standby

Aerial Heights

Originally as used by Radio Atlanta - 141’ (43m) high (from deck level). The top 91’ (27.7m) was welded section alloy Sparlight yachting mast. The bottom 50’ (15.2m) was what had survived of the Radio Nord mast.

The aerial was a wire cage series feed.

After the 1966 refit -

The aerial height was increased to 162’ (49m) -from deck level. The top 91’ (27.7m) was welded section alloy Sparlight yachting mast, with an added 21’ (6.4m) alloy middle section and the surviving 50’ (15.2m) of the original Radio Nord mast. (It was this mast which collapsed at sea in November 1972 - see Radio Caroline 1970’s)

The aerial was designed as a wire cage series feed, but the top 112’ (34.2m) of the mast was tuned and used instead.

The station claimed an aerial height of 168’  (51.2m).

Bryan Vaughan on air 1966 Main studio mixer unit Caroline South's transmitter Aerial mast after the 1966 refit

Right: The Mi Amigo’s aerial mast after the 1966 refit

Above: Caroline South’s transmitter

Right: Bryan Vaughan on air in the Caroline South studio, 1966

Below left: the main studio mixer unit

Below right: the news and production studio

Studio

Original studio equipment was as used by Radio Atlanta, but when the Mi Amigo was refurbished in 1966 the studio equipment was :-

Studio One

1 x  Piet Posthumus custom 10 channel mixer unit

2 x Gates CB 510 turntables

2 x Ampex  351 tape machines  

1 x AKG D12 microphone

3 x Spotmaster cartridge machines


Studio Two

1 x Gates Studioette mixer unit

2 x Garrard 301 turntables

2 x Ampex 351 tape decks

1 AKGD 12 microphone

2 x Spotmaster cassette machines

Radio Caroline QSL card issued shortly after the merger with Radio Atlanta

Thanks to Ian Anderson for providing information from his research into offshore radio aerial masts (originally published in Offshore Echos Magazine December 2007 and April 2008)

Click image to enlarge

QSL Card

Radio station engineering departments issue QSL cards to verify reception reports received from listeners


History

Key Dates

Ship and Location

Technical

Staff

Programmes

Key Dates Ships and Location Staff Programmes History


Where       next ?

Treasure Chest

Treasure Chest

Left: the studio on board Cheeta 2 ,1966

Photo: Freewave Nostalgia Collection/Carl Thompson

Back to Britain Gallery

Britain

Back to Radio Caroline South

Radio Caroline South

Left: Graham Webb on air in the Caroline South studio, before the 1966 refit.

Right:  the studio microphone, 1965