Long Range
Maritime
Communications
in the UK

Early History

Portishead Radio
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1927 to war
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1940-1960
-
in the 70's
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in the 80's
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GKA today
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Transmitter Sites

Wick/GKR

Oban/GNE

Content researched by
Terry Slack

HISTORY of Portishead Radio
70's - modernisation starts

April 1970 saw the transfer of the radiotelephone service from Baldock to Portishead. This necessitated the use of extra transmitters at Rugby and Portishead, and the temporary use of an additional control centre at Somerton (Somerset).

The area scheme previously mentioned was terminated in 1972, and with it the Naval presence at Portishead. However, traffic figures continued to rise, with the developing oil market and the deepwater fishing industry all providing work for the station. The leisure market continued to expand, with the early round-the-world yacht races providing valuable publicity for Portishead Radio and its services. By 1974, traffic levels had increased to over 20 million words per year, now handled by 154 radio officers.

Further expansion of the present operating area was impossible,so in 1976 work commenced on a purpose-built building to house the various
services then available to ships.A new computer-based message handling system was installed, and the manual radiotelex service became more popular, resulting in the development of an automatic system.

The Portishead transmitting site was closed in 1978, leaving the sites at Leafield and Ongar, operating alongside the main transmitting site at Rugby. However, the famous name of 'Portishead Radio' was maintained to provide the maritime community with a familiar and well-known service.