Petersville rebroadcast facility
From RCSigs.ca
| Petersville rebroadcast facility | |
|---|---|
| Part of CFB Gagetown | |
 Petersville rebroadcast facility in 2002 | |
| Built | 1973 |
NB Tel Article - April 1973
The following article about the new facility near Petersville, leased from NB Tel appeared in the April 1973 issue of NB Tel News (Vol. 2 No. 4).
- NBTel has played a key role in updating communications within the Canadian Armed Forces.
- An automatic rebroadcast facility leased from the telephone Gompany provides full communications control over the 428 square miles of Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. It was activated last month by Brigidier [sic] General S. V. Radley-Walters.
- Located southwest of Petersville, the new repeater replaces a manned station which has been in operation continuously for the past two years. That station had required 24 hours per day, seven days a week supervision.
- The first phone patch telephone call was made through the new facility by BGen. Radley-Walters during a ceremony at the site. Those in attendance included Major John Dicker, Commanding Officer 3 Signal Squadron: Captain Dave Pettigrew, Operation Officer, 724 Communication Squadron and officials from NBTel.
- "These leased facilities," said BGen. Radley-Walters, "appear to be a winner. It will mean a tremendous saving in manpower. Three Signal Squadron will now be able to concentrate on new training and operational priorities."
- When a maneuver is planned, personnel at the Range Control Office in base camp must warn the airport, the department of Natural Resources and military flying organizations. This is a safety procedure designed to minimize the possibility of non-exercise personnel and aircraft from entering a live fire zone.
- At the repeater site a building has been constructed to keep the weather out and the curious safely away from the high voltages generated by the equipment.
- This equipment is activated by anyone in the Gagetown training area using a military radio tuned to either the two standard frequencies. The signal is then automatically retransmitted on the other frequency and sent down a 21-mile remote control telephone line to the Range Control Office.
- Two additional features have also been incorporated into this new system.
- All messages are taped automatically and kept for a specific time period. This procedure will prove invaluable should a serious accident ever occur in the area.
- The second feature is the radio/telephone patch system which allows any user in the area to talk directly to any telephone local on the base. The reverse is also possible.
- Since the early sixties when positive control of the Gagetown training area became periodically necessary, personnel of 3 Signal Squadron have established such a link with normal military radios.
- When the Combat Arms School moved to Gagetown over two years ago, it became necessary to establish a permanent operating station. It was located initially in a vehicle and then in a small drafty cabin.
- "The activation of leased facilities brought to a close a favorite retreat for some," said a spokesman from the base, "where a cup of coffee and a sympathetic ear were always at hand and confidences were never violated."
- To ensure that the manned station will be remembered in years to come, historical data about the station. its operations and the people who operated and maintained it, is being gathered.
- Equipment at the new repeater was installed and designed by NBTel. D. J. Crawford, Supervisor - Mobile Sales with the company's Special Services Group, was in charge of the sales and engineering of the system.
