[Hallicrafters] S-118 and Consolan signals

[Waldo Magnuson]

Hi Deane,
    The Consolan system was found primarily along the west European 
seaboard from Spain to Norway.  There were two stations in the US, one 
in Nantucket and one in the San  Francisco (near Santa Rosa).  A 
station system had three low-frequency antennas, set in line, and 
transmitted a station identification followed by a series of 
combinations of dots and dashes and an equisignal.  The signal was 
transmitted in continuous 75 second cycles and radiated 360 degrees 
around the station in a sweeping fashion.  By counting the dots and 
dashes in any cycle and using a Consolan chart the bearing from the 
station could be determinated.  Ranges for signals were 500 miles in 
daylight and up to 1400 miles at night.  I used the SFO station in the 
mid 60s and I think the system was decommissioned in the late 1960s. I 
think the frequency was 190 KHz (maybe 192 I can't remember for sure).
73,  Skip Magnuson  W7WGM

 From Deane McIntyre:
Well a nice S-118 Mark II arrived last week - This rcvr is interesting 
as the BC band goes down to 490 kc (in order to cover the 500 kc 
distress frequency) and it last covers the 185 - 410 kc longwave band.
At 194 kc there is an arrow marked " Consolan TUK ". Anyone know 
anything about
the Consolan nagigation system - can find very little with Google but 
it seems that
TUK was the Consolan station in Nantucket MA.
73, Deane McIntyre VE6BPO