BT Tower Cookridge

[Bugblatter]

Drove past today and it looks like something is being done to it. Scaffolding and the dishes seem to be missing. Is it possibly being taken out of commission?

[Brunel]

It is a microwave transmission and receiving tower. Less and less is being transmitted over the microwave links as more use is being made of fibre optic cables.

[Bugblatter]

Now seems to have been completely stripped of all obvious antennae and dishes.

[blackprince]

It is a microwave transmission and receiving tower. Less and less is being transmitted over the microwave links as more use is being made of fibre optic cables.

It's interesting that these very prominent microwave towers are being decommissioned. They appeared in the 1960's without much fanfare, apart from the PO Tower in London. As a hiker for many years they made great landmarks. I live within sight of one now but have noticed the number of dishes has been reduced. I often walk up the hill where it is located for great views over 7 counties on a clear day.
Just a thought but from a security point of view aren't fibre optic cables less secure, It would only take a JCB to cut one anywhere along its length by accident.

[Brunel]

The initial use of the microwave network, was to provide Military Communication for the cold war anti aircraft radar stations.

Nowadays, the fibre optical network is operated with lots of redundancy built in.