Navigation in the 1940s: The Four Course Radio Range

Click to download Approach Plate A http://goo.gl/LPO4c
Click to download Approach Plate B http://goo.gl/ktnKR

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_Freq...

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 .

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[Steve Hays]

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

[AirlineTransportComm]

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.

[kaguyabutterfly1]

With GPS and other more recent instrumentation, there is no need to use four course radio anymore. The video even states that this was a early, obsolete technology. This is obviously a hobby of the staff of WWRB, who being part of a radio station, want to help preserve the history of this technology. But the idea of commercializing it and being taken seriously is pretty laughable.

[ArtemisVandelay]

A nuclear detonation is space just to get satellites is overkill. It is clear that sending out debris can destructively interfere with satellites, like the effect of the Chinese anti-satellite testing in '07. So I mean to say: you don't need a nuclear device to ruin satellites, but I have yet to hear about any being systematically taken out anyway. It kind of ruins the whole satellite concept for a long time if you do that, so any country interested in keeping their satellites better not.

[mazdarodi]

WOW!! Thank you for pointing this out to me. I had no clue of the Starfish Prime project, and if the Wikipedia info is correct, it totally confirms my fears. According to their info, the radiation belt remained for five years ruining a handful of satellites! My thoughts are that ADF and VOR would be easier to repair than the satellite network. What is your take on this Artemis Vandelay? Do you think they will ever use such nukes in action against satellites?

[ArtemisVandelay]

If your concern is an electromagnetic pulse produced by a nuclear device, that could be applied to disable VOR and ADF stations not properly equipped with protection for such. I'm unaware of whether those stations are protected, but I doubt it, as there hasn't been much emphasis on that since the cold war. Interestingly, one could get real bang for their buck if they detonated high enough to also make an artificial radiation belt that ruins satellites, like with Starfish Prime. Good luck!

[RadioHamGuy]

Great demo, that was very interesting to see and take a trip back in time.

[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]

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?