RECEIVE STATION DETAILS

 Main antenna systems, attached to five 300ft. lattice masts, aligned for east/west reception. ‘Balancing’ antenna at right angles on 80ft. masts to provide some nulling of the very powerful Waunfawr partner transmitting station to the north.

There was also a ‘reserve’ antenna mounted on 36 wooden masts at 30ft. height.

The main purpose was to receive very long wave spark signals, from about 20 – 70 KHz (15000 to 4300 metres).

Most of the 8 operators were women. Each operator would sit alongside the transmitting operator who had remote control of the Waunfawr transmitter.

It had landline connections to the Central Telegraph Office in Fenchurch Street, London, to and from where most messages originated or were sent.

During WW 1, the Post Office controlled Tywyn station on behalf of the Admiralty.

Tywyn introduced one of the first 24 hour shift systems of operators in the country.

Tywyn’s prime purpose was to receive Trans-Atlantic messages from North America, particularly Glace Bay in Nova Scotia, but it also received messages from all parts of the world.

March 1920, full duplex operation with its partner transmitting station at Waunfawr was introduced. Speeds of 10 letters per second became practical.

Closedown: March 1923. Duties transferred to the more up to date station at Brentwood, Essex.

HISTORY SNIPPETS: Built 1913 as receive partner station for Waunfawr Transmitting Station (callsign MUU) near Caernarfon, about 40 miles north of Tywyn.

It replaced the abandoned Clifden Marconi site on western Galway coast of southern Ireland.

The station was visited by Marconi in person, and he moored his steam engined yacht ‘Elettra’ at Aberdovey harbour, about 3 miles south, in the Dovey estuary, in 1918. Crewe of about 30 !

Marconi’s dates: 25 April 1874 to 20 July 1937.

A special date was 22^nd September, 1918 when a message was sent from Waunfawr to New South Wales, Australia. This was the first time a message was received between the UK and Australia.The involvement of Tywyn station in this historic achievement is not entirely clear.

Eight bungalows were built for station operators and technical staff after WW 1. These are all currently occupied, but privately owned.

The main station building has been converted to two semi-detached houses, which are still occupied by private households.

The generator house also still exists alongside the original main station building. It has also been adapted for other purposes.

MARCONI (IMD) AWARD DETAILS: - see also www.gb4imd.org.uk

There are about 50 active official IMD stations active - in Europe, N & S America and Australia.

7 classes of award, but main one contact with at least 15 official IMD stations on any HF band   (500 KHz and 1.8 to 30 MHz only). SWL award for reception of at least 15 official IMD stations.

Signed and counter signed extract of log (handwritten or computer printout) required.

Issued by Cornish Amateur Radio Club. Address: IMD Awards Manager,  Cornish Amateur RadioClub, PO Box 100, Truro, Cornwall TR11XP, England.

Cost £5 (or 10 euro or 10 US$) – see www.gb4imd.org.uk for full award details.

 Please The Visit Telford & District Amateur Radio Society Website

www.tdars.org