The BC Government must demand from Ottawa the construction and long term funding of
Radio Canada International Tofino & Uuculut Shortwave Relay Stations

 

Distribution
BC Parliamentarians

Subject
BC Shortwave Broadcasting Facilities (Radio Canada International)

Images that go with the following technical specification can be found at

 

Technical Notes

Signal reception conditions [in the target areas] will not be substantially different because all of the desired target areas are at least 3 (ionospheric) hops away. The Western US and the North Pacific Ocean can be used as 'skip zones' with respect to broadcasting frequencies above 10 MHz.

There are many factors that will affect the final placement of the relay station. It is expected that a location near Tofino, Uucluelet or Kitimat.

Two sites along the coastal road between Tofino and Ucluelet ideally meets all the necessary location requirements. Kitimat is too far North. Coverage of China, Korea (DPRK, South Korea) and the Russian Far East are secondary issues for Canada at this time with respect to its external policy. Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) in Asian countries has increased to a point where relay stations 1 or 2 ionospheric hops (2500 kms) have become preferable to permit optimal shortwave reception.

A site must chosen, based on the following conditions


Transmission site conditions are considered preferable

  • geography: an all sea path to the desired target areas, as this is a important requirement with respect to reducing long term transmitter output power requirements
  • geology: wet sea-land  conditions (for high HF reflectivity)
  • geology: near zero (1 in 750 years) tsunami risk
  • geology: minimal earthquake, rock fall & land slippage or any other related geological risks
  • geology: no tall mountains to interfere with groundwave signal transmission path to the sea.
  • electrical: electricity supply (a 500 kw transmitter needs ~ 1.25 megawatts to run at full power), avoidance of population centers (to comply with IEEE and EBU recommendations on exposure to EM fields)
  • accessibility and defensibility of transmitter site (s) with respect to paved roads, useful for staff morale -- nearby urban centres have more services
  • land: the site must be at least 500 m to 600 m above sea level, and not subject to any land claims disputes

 


 

 

 

ALLISS transmission technology is suitable for this location.

Important ALLISS features are listed here.

ALLISS offers all of the necessary HR "curtain array" antenna types.

ALLISS offers 360° coverage, allowing all target areas in 8000 km to be reached.

ALLISS modules become operational once constructed, and outfitted with HF transmitters.

ALLISS's design considerations reduce wastage by reducing audibility to target areas that are of no strategic value at the time of transmission.
 

  

Relay stations with ALLISS modules

Documentation format — Nation : Broadcaster : City (Modules, Date Sold)

  • France : TDF : Allouis (6 modules, 1995)
  • France : TDF : Issoudun (6 modules, 1996)
  • Germany : DW : Nauen (4 modules, 1997)
  • French Guiana : TDF : Montsinnery (2 modules, 1997)
  • Oman : BBCWS & VT Merlin : (2 modules, 2002)
  • China : SARFT : Xian : (12 modules, 2005)

 

Transmitter Compliment

Typically ALLISS modules possess a 500 kW polyphase shortwave transmitter.

  • Digital 'AM' type transmitters are preferred for their compactness, as opposed to 'push-pull' (Class-B) transmitters for ALLISS installations.
  • Essentially all 300 kW and 500 kW PDM, PSM, polyphase (4 x PDM) transmitters are preferred for structural reasons.
  • It is not customary to install a 300 kW transmitter in an ALLISS module, but such installations are possible.
  • TDF's Montsinnery Relay Station has 2 ALLISS modules installed, but without an installed shortwave transmitter. This same design arrangement is used by the BBC World Service Oman Relay Station Al-Seela.