UK RESCUE 5680khz

[David_CL5P]

Anyone else noticed that transmissions from "new" UKRescue centre at NMOC Fareham not as good or as strong as those that used to emanate from Kinloss? Not sure if maybe HMCG at Fareham (1) don't have access to all/same transmitters that Kinloss had, (or 2) HMCG are cutting back on their HF network. Just that Kinloss transmissions used to boom out but over the last couple of months the Fareham transmissions are often weak readable and I'm located Portsmouth. Years ago when I was in the RAF the ARCC Kinloss (and before them Pitreive Castle) had remote control of VHF & UHF distress Txs & Rxs (243 & 121.5) at many RAF/RN bases and also several HF Tx/Rx at various military HF Tx/Rx sites (eg RAF:Greatworth Txs & Bampton Castle Rxs and RN at Forest Moor) so I guess their available network for 5680kHz (nights: 4718kHz) was extensive. Often past month or so I've heard SAR helos calling up on 5680 and not getting an answer from NMOC Fareham so maybe the receiver network isn't as good either. Good job they've got airwaves & Channel zero comms (lol). Maybe 5680 only being transmitted/received from their own coastguard radio sites/stations now and no longer access to military sites, and with CG stations being cut-back/reduced I wonder if that's depleting their radio capacity aswell. #JustWondering. On a side point been getting some good/readable stuff on 5680 from Belgium SARcontrol last month or so, certainly was busy when that Belgium trawler went down December 28th off Kent coast. aye david
[David_cl5p Portsmouth CL5P RAF Bomber/Strike Command V-Force control call-sign circa 1968]

[milly]

The same two transmitters sites are used now as were before.

Differences have been evident as the skill set of the MCA staff didn't, initially, include HF usage. As they have become more used to using HF the standard of communications has improved.
Something else to consider is that the link from Fareham to the DHFCS transmitters goes via the Kinloss circuitry.

[m0lsx]

HF is very variable & dependent upon conditions. On 48 meters (6200 to 6300khz) some days we would be heard all over Europe with a great signal & some days we could not be heard in the UK hardly at all, while Sweden, East Germany etc got a great signal., other days beyond ground wave was a waste of time & to avoid raids, we tried to limit ground wave as much as possible by carefully choosing our transmitter sites.

[Chris P]

5680 transmissions received today at 1112 Rescue 912 enroute to Norwich eta 30 mins ground station recd at S8 and heli at S5 on AOR7030 with wellbrook loop

[Mark5R]

5680 also heard here loud and clear

For anyone who does not have HF they can use the online HF SDR receiver at http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

[David_CL5P]

Hi Milly, can you say what/where Tx sites are used for 5680 so I can align aerials thanks in anticipation ta david