A VISIT TO VIM (Melbourne Radio)

What was all  that morse code that used to break through your broadcast radio when it was tuned
down to the low end of the dial?. Well it was Melbourne Radio, VIM  (if you lived near Melbourne that is) Transmitting on 500kcs.
The morse service was discontinued in January  1999  and the HF and VHF voice service closed on 30th June 2002.
Some of the Distress frequencies are monitored now by local authorities and the weather information is broadcast by
automated stations run by the weather bureau. A far cry from when the maritime traffic was high and the personalities
and different accents of the operators around the coast  made this aspect of shortwave listening most interesting indeed.

I was fortunate to have a tour of the site just after the 500Kc transmissions had been closed down
so i was able to see the big mitters and tenners while they were still there, i have no idea what the situation is now.

SOME PHOTOS OF MELBOURNE RADIO

These are small 20k jpeg files so they won't take long to load.
 

Sign on gate.

One of the 500kc mitters

Mr Boots looking into mitters

Patch cables in 500kc mitters room.(and Mr Industrial Boots)

Valves in big 500kc mitters.

Transformers in big mitters.

Some of the ssb HF mitters.

Feedlines going out to tenners

One of the feedline poles.

VHF equipment

Monopole tenners covering 2 to 20megs. View from road.

Base of monopole.

Main rack

Two of the receivers.

The rx tenners

One of the Tenners in the field.

Main operating console

Reading the maritime weather reports

Some of the mitters controls
 

A SAD DAY
The Last Voice Transmissions from Australian Coast Stations 01/07/002 ( Real Audio)

VIS/VIB/VIT               Streaming           Download
VIP/VID                      Streaming           Download
VIM                            Streaming           Download

 Audio Compile From The Last Few Days Of Australian Coast Radio And Last MF MCW Broadcast .

   
Hear some audio files of maritime radio including the last 500kc mcw morse broadcast, edited
highlights of HF ssb from VIM and a drama at sea with mayday calls and the auto alarm.

More Stuff On Aust Coast Radio. Don't know who this guy is but he stole my photos of vim.!.

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