[Talk-GB] link microwave masts

[Dan Glover]

On 2021-01-01 09:59, Robert Hanwell via Talk-GB wrote:
> Ok thanks. I'm thinking updating this into the points on the map.
> 
> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Telecom_microwave_network
> 
> But as it's probably no current would you still mark it on the map?

This is timely, since it's a new year and time to look at things I 
didn't finish last year...

Quite a lot of data on currently licenced microwave links is available 
from Ofcom - though under what terms I can't remember right now. I will 
go and find out. It is used to compile this map 
https://carte-fh.lafibre.info//index.php?zone=uk

The problem with the historical Post Office/BT sites is where to draw 
the line. That Wikipedia article is far from comprehensive and includes 
schemes which were either experimental, sites long since gone, or 
proposals - not all of the "Backbone" network was actually built due to 
changes in requirements.

As it happens I have been (very slowly) researching the history of the 
PO/BT network and have a work-in-progress site with what I have found so 
far. Underneath it is a database of what I consider to be the main sites 
but my criteria for inclusion/exclusion are a bit arbitrary. The 
locations have been compiled mainly by using aerial photos once the 
general locations were identified. Very few have actually been visited 
by me and none have been independently surveyed.

99% of the "legacy" sites are still used either as mobile phone base 
stations, inter-exchange linking or for third party links (including for 
mobile phone networks). So the problem becomes whether to include all 
the currently active end-points for the BT licences, or just the 
historical core sites, or start adding everything, everywhere (pun not 
entirely unintentional). A lot may depend on the terms accompanying the 
Ofcom data. I know it suffers from the usual problems: much was compiled 
using 6-digit NGRs, but some has been done to greater precision 
resulting in the appearance of two sites near each other which are 
actually the same, etc. A handful of sites have been redeveloped.

At the moment the presentation of the pages relating to individual sites 
and routes is all over the place because various things have been tried 
and abandoned at different stages. In particular I decided to migrate 
from Google maps to OSM at quite a late stage and haven't yet gone back 
to finish that aspect. However, warts and all, it can be viewed from 
http://dgsys.co.uk/btmicrowave/

Happy to discuss further: 2021 is hopefully the year when I will 
"finish" the project...there is probably not much more archive material 
to be found, though I am starting to get "oral history" from those 
involved.


Dan