14-11-2016, 01:58 PM
Yes, It was the first maritime call made through what they told us was the new Earth Station at Goonhilly. Before that, British ships that were fitted with satcoms used Eik in Norway as the Earth station. We were first fitted with satcoms for the South Atlantic Task Force, but when that was all over, and the naval satcoms removed, we were fitted with a Racal Decca satcom system. We were chosen to innaugurate the maritime service because apart from the ship being under Ministry of Defence charter at the time, our managers (Curnow Shipping) were in Helston, Cornwall! Most of the Falklands news reports in the aftremath, 1983, were put through via our Satcoms because I was happy to do so, as long as the reporters paid cash for the connection. It was mainly Brent Saddler, & Mike McKay. The earth station charge was £3.50 a minute, and the ship charge on top of that! 
Horribly expensive!
Magnetic Detector,
Yes, before my time, but I am still familar with them. The weight tapping the coherer to shake the filings apart, and the clockwork to wind them up.
Bob
Horribly expensive! Magnetic Detector,
Yes, before my time, but I am still familar with them. The weight tapping the coherer to shake the filings apart, and the clockwork to wind them up.
Bob
