Navigation in the 1940s: The Four Course Radio Range

Recently, the staff of Radio Station WWRB and its parent company, Airline Transport Communications Inc. put together a model four course radio range, operated by control operators WA4SZE and KF4MVG. The original four course ranges were very large because they operated in the very low frequency range, requiring 200 foot high towers with wide spacing. This model system operates in the high frequency 28 MHz band, so it is much smaller. Despite the size difference, it is functionally identical to its 1930s-1970s forebears.

We'll be setting up a web page on the four course range soon with construction plans, photographs, history, and schematics for amateur radio operators to build their own ranges. More information on four course ranges can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Frequency_radio_range

The staff of Airline Transport Communications, Inc and Radio Station WWRB have been experimenting with various aircraft navigation systems for several years. If you would like to see pictures of our nondirectional beacon LYQ or our VOR, please see our web site photo gallery at http://www.wwrb.org .

Category:

Education

Tags:

• low frequency radio range
• LFR
• four-course radio range
• A-N radio range
• Adcock radio range
• the range
• four
• course
• low
• frequency
• radio
• range
• GPS
• VOR
• NDB
• vintage aviation
• aviation navigation
• WWRB
• Airline
• Transport
• Communications

[kc0rey]

This looks like a Commercial Venture. What is it doing on the Amateur Radio Band?

[AirlineTransportComm]

@kc0rey This is not a commercial venture and there are no plans to commercialize four course radio ranges. Four course radio range systems have been completely obsolete since 1949. Just as companies like Yaesu and ICOM often sponsor DX-peditions and contests, Airline Transport Communications Incorporated and Shortwave Radio Station WWRB have sponsored this not-for-profit non-commercial historical replica.

[ranickel]

This is very cool! Thanks for your efforts in creating this demonstration and putting up an excellent video!

[ronaldromero85]

Your vid is a favorite on Manama

[mazdarodi]

@kaguyabutterfly1 I agree that there is no need for four course anymore during our GPS era, but as a private pilot hearing them plan to get rid of VOR, I end up wondering what happens if and when any future enemy could use electromagnetic bursts from nukes to knock out our GPS sattelites. And if all our VORs and ADF stations are gone, what then? I know I sound paranoid, but does anyone else worry the GPS system being disabled in some way might send our asses back to the stone age?

[watcher818]

Great Demo of the old system.. Just received WWRB tonight and reading up on the station and the activities. Best regards.

[Aviator14]

Didn't they also have ADF and LORAN?

[kaguyabutterfly1]

@copernicus633 I know, which is what I was explaining to kc0rey, who did suggest it was a commercial venture.

[copernicus633]

@kaguyabutterfly1 Nobody is suggesting that. This is purely a historical presentation.

[brainman214]

Dave Dude:Good Luck with the new Audio processing unit for WWRB!Blessings,Brainy at BMSS

[geeayevette]

Part two...

So, and in conclusion, I'd like to stress that commercial aviation 'Walked the Walk' by using L/MF ADF navigation long before the A&N ranges became popular. Hope I helped clear up this little bit of aviation history. Best to you all.