Lafayette radio-telegraphic station built in Croix d'Hins, France started operation in 1920. Conceived for the purpose of insuring adequate and uninterrupted (day/night) transatlantic communication facilities between the American Forces engaged in World War I and the government of the USA, radio-telegraphic station, the most powerful of the world at that time, was built in "Croix d'Hins" near Bordeaux, in collaboration between the US Navy and France. Station was actually finished after the war.
A team of 750 US Marines was sent to build the eight 250 meters high towers.
US Navy provided towers and transmitters France provided antenna system, tower bases, buildings, energy supply.
Station was destroyed in 1944 by the Germans. Last remaining tower (used for fire monitoring) was destroyed in 1953.
Amateur radio clubs F5KAY (Radio-Club du Bassin d'Arcachon) and F6KUQ (Radio-Club de Cestas) commemorated this 100th anniversary operating two special stations from August to December 2020
TM1LYTM100LY |
TM1LY & TM100LY operating schedule
The LAFAYETTE CENTENARY AWARDAny amateur radio station making a minimum of 5 QSO (or SWL reports) on 5 different bands with any of the stations (or both), any modes will be entitled to request a free special award (pdf delivered) granted by the organizing radio-clubs.Online request only - Details can be found here: << Award info >>. |
LAFAYETTE STATION - 19201000 kW arc transmitter (Poulsen arc) generating 500 kW on wavelengths 19150 to 23450 meters (12,8 to 15,7 kHz) built by FEDERAL TELEGRAPH Co (one + one backup) Antenna : 1200 m x 400 m horizontal array (16 wires), up 250 meters (=capacitive termination) + vertical radiating section (10 wires) + giant ground network 8 Towers built by PITTSBURG DES MOINES Co (250 meters high), 560 tons each   Photos : gallica.bnf.fr (Bibliotheque Nationale de France) - Copy/usage rules apply. Station included : main building, shop, refectory, technical buildings, coal building, train garage, 4 staff housing buildings, station manager house (called "The White House"), energy station, water tower, garage, gas station, station cooling basin (also used as swimming pool), school, and railway network going to each of the 8 towers and inside main building and inside train garage.  |
More information about the amateur radio operation :QRZ.com page: TM1LY TM100LY Radio Clubs web sites : F5KAY F6KUQ (
  
 )Updates on stations planned
operations will be published here and on QRZ.com
For live information, please monitor the dx-cluster.- 3 Jul 2020 licenses received for the two callsigns. - 21 Aug : first weekend of operation ongoing (TM1LY till friday, TM100LY till monday) - 25 Aug : first weekend of operation completed. TM1LY uploaded to clublog, TM100LY to follow. Will then start to check first award requests. - 28 Aug : Both logs are on clublog so that you can check before asking for the award. See the award page for progress update. See (hear) you on 18-20 sept for next activity with TM1LY and 26-27 sept with TM100LY. - 21 Sept : Next activity TM100LY on 26-27 sept. - 25 Sept : Check our QRZ.COM page or social media for special high bands activity on saturday at 10h UTC - 28 Sept : TM100LY log for 26/27 operation will be uploaded during the next week (TM1LY is up-to-date on clublog). - 30 Sept : TM100LY log is now uploaded on Clublog, QRZ.COM, eQSL and LOTW. All eQSL are processed (caution, several SWL forgot to mention the call of the station we were in contact with, preventing our confirmation). - 12 Oct : TM1LY is back next weekend (17-18 oct) - 19 Oct : TM1LY log is uploaded to Clublog & LOTW - 20 Oct : TM100LY is active next weekend, from friday. - 26 Oct : TM100LY latest log will be uploaded at the end of the week and then we will resume award requests check. - 28 Oct : TM100LY latest log is now on CLUBLOG. - 29 Oct: TM100LY latest log is now on eQSL, QRZ, LOTW. - 6 Nov: TM100LY is active this weekend, lower power and more focused on CW/Digital because of constraints. - 9 Nov: The log will be uploaded later this week. Will tell you. - 12 Nov : TM100LY log is uploaded (clublog,eqsl,qrz.com,lotw) - 21 Nov : TM1LY is active this weekend. F6BLP is the CW op. - 23 Nov: Final operation will be on 18-20 dec for both stations. - 21 Dec: Logs will be uploaded soon. Info about the award distribution is on the award page. News about continuation of the celebration in 2021 and copies of social networks post will continue to be added to the blog page. Updates about QSL will be on the qrz.com page. - 22 Dec : Logs are uploaded to Clublog - 22 Dec : TM100LY uploaded to eQSL, QRZ, LOTW Summary of the activity (french) Summary on the award (french) Blog pages : Various information published about the centenary. More information about LAFAYETTE Radio station : InvisibleBordeaux US Navy History of communications Navy-Radio.com Elmer Peterson photos History notes Video (from 3'15'') |